Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
New Jersey · Competitive
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Admissions statistics
- Median MCAT
- 515
- MCAT range (25–75)
- 513–518
- Median GPA
- 3.89
- GPA range (25–75)
- 3.82–3.94
- Science GPA (est.)
- 3.86
- Acceptance rate
- 12.7%
- Interview rate
- 15.3%
Median MCAT by section (estimated)
- Chem / Phys
- 129
- CARS
- 128
- Bio / Biochem
- 129
- Psych / Soc
- 130
Section medians are projected from the total using the publicly published national section distribution (CARS runs lowest, Psych/Soc highest). Schools rarely publish their own per-section medians, so this is an estimate; real values are shown when we've sourced them.
Acceptance rate by residency Premier estimate
- In-state applicants
- ~28.2%
- Out-of-state applicants
- ~8.4%
- Overall (reported)
- 12.7%
We split this school's overall acceptance rate into residency estimates using Premier's model of in-state vs. out-of-state selectivity and applicant mix, smoothed across schools. It reflects typical residency preference, not a guaranteed outcome — and it's an estimate, not an officially published in/out-of-state rate.
vs US MD matriculants: MCAT +3.2 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.08 (nat. 3.81). MCAT 10/25/75/90 percentiles, median, and acceptance/interview rates are publicly sourced.
MCAT range by residency Premier estimate
| Matriculants | 10th | 25th | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined | 510.4 | 510.9 | 516.1 | 520.6 |
| In-state | 509.2 | 512.3 | 517.1 | 521.6 |
| Out-of-state | 511.3 | 511.9 | 516.1 | 519.1 |
The box spans the 25th–75th percentile; the whiskers reach the 10th and 90th. We use this school's published 25–75 range as-is and model the hidden tails and the residency split, using its out-of-state share — calibrated across every US MD program and validated to within ~1.5 points of reported figures. Estimates are shown to one decimal. How this works.
Class profile
- Entering class size
- 165
- Public / Private
- Private
- Setting
- Not reported
- % Out-of-state
- 39%
- Orientation
- Balanced
Research vs. service orientation
Balanced — research & service (52/100) — U.S. News Research-only listing (Tier 3) + CDI research institutes, but no MSTP/MD-PhD and a strong community/underserved "Human Dimension" mission with primary
In-state vs. out-of-state class makeup
Course exams
Core clerkship exams are NBME-standardized “shelf” subject exams — standardized nationally, so they're consistent across MD schools. Whether the preclinical years lean on in-house, NBME-based, or a mix of exams isn't something schools publish in one place — so we don't guess per school; confirm specifics with the school.
Cost & aid
- Cost of attendance
- $128,157
- Avg. graduate debt
- $247,297
- Secondary fee
- $100
- % receiving aid
- 80%
Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2026-2027 (cost); Fall 2023 entering class (admissions stats)). Schools report "tuition" vs. "tuition & fees" differently and some (e.g. NYU Grossman, Kaiser early cohorts) award universal scholarships — always confirm on the official page. Debt & % receiving aid are compiled from publicly available figures.
Prerequisites & requirements
Typical for US MD programs — confirm this school's exact list.
- Biology
- 1 year with lab
- General Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Organic Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Biochemistry
- 1 semester (recommended/required)
- Physics
- 1 year with lab
- English / writing
- 1 year
- Math / statistics
- 1 semester–1 year (varies)
- Psychology & Sociology
- Recommended for the MCAT
Required tests
- MCAT — required
- CASPer: required
- AAMC PREview: required
Letters of recommendation
- A committee letter, or 3–5 individual letters
- Typically 2 science faculty + 1 non-science
- A letter from research/clinical mentors strengthens the file
Application timeline (AMCAS)
Most US programs admit on a rolling basis — applying early materially helps.
What this school weighs
- GPA & MCAT (academic readiness)
- Clinical experience & shadowing
- Research experience
- Community service & volunteering
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement & secondary essays
- Interview performance & mission fit
- State residency (especially at public schools)
Mission focus: To develop our students, residents, fellows, faculty, and healthcare environment to deliver the highest quality care for all. ● Embrace and model our professional reverence for the human condition, empathy towards suffering, excellence in medical care, research and discovery, and humility in service; ● Continue to serve and learn from the engagement of underrepresented minority populations among student, faculty, staff, and community; ● Integrate lifelong learning and inquiry into their…
Secondary essay prompts (2024-2025)
⚠ Crowdsourced & anecdotal — secondary prompts change every cycle and may be incomplete. Always confirm on the school's own secondary application.
- Why are you interested in attending the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine? · 500 words
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine values social justice and diversity in all its forms. Describe a circumstance where you sought to learn about a culture, group or idea different than your own and how that impacted you. · 500 words
- Describe your experience with the field of medicine (or a related field) that has prepared you for advanced study in this area. Specifically, how have your life experiences prepared you to pursue a degree in medicine, including: coursework, clinical work, experiences in overcoming adversity, work opportunity, volunteer activities, and/or research experiences? · 500 words
Interview
⚠ Anecdotal — based on applicant-reported experiences (e.g. SDN). Format and questions vary year to year; treat as a guide, not a script.
Format: Traditional
One-on-one, conducted virtually (~30 minutes, roughly one interview). Applicants describe interviewers as conversational, engaging, and friendly; rated low stress, with recurring themes of health equity, interprofessional collaboration, narrative medicine, and cultural humility.
Questions applicants report
- Why HMSOM?
- What is your biggest strength?
- What is a challenge facing medicine?
- Tell me about the most influential patient interaction you've had.
- What is one thing you would like me to tell the admissions committee about you?
- Describe a time you struggled in a team setting and what you did.
Key facts
- Degree
- MD
- Type
- Private
- Location
- New Jersey
- Region
- Northeast
- Interview format
- Traditional
- Preclinical grading
- Not reported
- Licensing exam
- USMLE
- Oldest MCAT accepted
- September 2023
- International applicants
- Not considered
- Early Decision
- Offered
Stats from the school's published class profile and publicly available national data. Tuition, debt, secondary fee, oldest-MCAT, PREview, interview format, and mission are compiled from publicly available figures. Prerequisite, timeline, and letter guidance is typical for US MD programs and may differ at this school. Some figures are being verified. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the AAMC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What MCAT score do I need for Hackensack Meridian?
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine has a median MCAT of 515 (typical accepted range about 513–518). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (513) is a reach without other strengths.
What GPA does Hackensack Meridian require?
The median accepted GPA is about 3.89 (roughly 3.82–3.94). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.
What are the prerequisites for Hackensack Meridian?
Like most US MD programs, expect a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (all with labs), biochemistry, and English, plus math/statistics. Psychology and sociology are recommended for the MCAT. Always confirm the school's exact list.
Is Hackensack Meridian hard to get into?
Its acceptance rate is approximately 12.7% — competitive for US MD programs.
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