Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York · Highly competitive · Founded 1963
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Admissions statistics
- Median MCAT
- 520
- MCAT range (25–75)
- 516–523
- Median GPA
- 3.95
- GPA range (25–75)
- 3.88–4.00
- Science GPA (est.)
- 3.94
- Acceptance rate
- 3.3%
- Interview rate
- 9.6%
Median MCAT by section (estimated)
- Chem / Phys
- 130
- CARS
- 129
- Bio / Biochem
- 130
- Psych / Soc
- 131
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
- ~4.6%
- Out-of-state applicants
- ~3.0%
- Overall (reported)
- 3.3%
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 +8.2 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.14 (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 | 514.9 | 516 | 520.1 | 523.1 |
| In-state | 514.1 | 516.9 | 521.1 | 524.5 |
| Out-of-state | 515.6 | 518.2 | 523.1 | 525.1 |
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
- 90
- Public / Private
- Private
- Setting
- Not reported
- % Out-of-state
- 73.4%
- Orientation
- Research-oriented
Research vs. service orientation
Research-oriented (92/100) — Top-15 NIH funding (#11, ~$490M), U.S. News Research #11, long-established NIH-funded MSTP since 1977.
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
- $99,803
- Avg. graduate debt
- $179,556
- Secondary fee
- $110
- % receiving aid
- 67%
Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2025-2026). 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: not required
- AAMC PREview: varies — verify
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: The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai advances science, medicine, and health care delivery for the benefit of humanity through a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and belonging. We conduct groundbreaking research; educate and nurture the next generation of exceptional clinicians, researchers, teachers, and leaders; and deliver the most advanced compassionate care with an unwavering commitment to health equity.
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.
- If you are currently not a full time student, please briefly describe the activities you are participating in this academic year. · 100 words
- Were there any adverse circumstances in your premedical preparatory journey including but not limited to impact from COVID-19? · 100 words
- (Optional) If you are committed to a particular community or if there is an important aspect of your identity not addressed elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here. Briefly also explain how such factors may have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. · 150 words
- What is the toughest feedback you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it? · 250 words
- Describe a situation that you have thought to be unfair or unjust, whether towards yourself or towards others. · 250 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
Open-file, conversational format (not classic MMI); typically two ~30-minute one-on-one interviews with admissions committee members (avg ~2.2 interviews, ~31 minutes each), sometimes with scenario/ethics-based questions; applicants report a free-flowing dialogue.
Questions applicants report
- Why medicine?
- Tell me about an emotional encounter you had with a patient.
- How have you disseminated your research?
- Walk me through an ethical scenario and how you'd reason through it.
- How do you connect patient care to systems-level drivers in urban/diverse settings?
- Tell me about your clinical experiences.
Key facts
- Degree
- MD
- Type
- Private
- Location
- New York
- Region
- Northeast
- Interview format
- Traditional
- Preclinical grading
- Not reported
- Licensing exam
- USMLE
- Oldest MCAT accepted
- January 2021
- International applicants
- Considered
- DACA applicants
- Considered
- Early Decision
- Not offered
- Deferral
- Allowed
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 Mt. Sinai?
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has a median MCAT of 520 (typical accepted range about 516–523). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (516) is a reach without other strengths.
What GPA does Mt. Sinai require?
The median accepted GPA is about 3.95 (roughly 3.88–4.00). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.
What are the prerequisites for Mt. Sinai?
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 Mt. Sinai hard to get into?
Its acceptance rate is approximately 3.3% — highly competitive for US MD programs.
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