Albany Medical College: How to Get In

Mission Statement

The mission of the Albany Medical College is to: educate medical students, physicians, biomedical scientists, and other health professionals from demographically diverse backgrounds to meet future primary and specialty health care needs; foster biomedical research that leads to scientific advances and improvement of public health; and provide a broad range of patient services.

Available Programs

There are seven main groups of programs, some of which further specialize in particular fields. The main advantage of the Albany Medical College is the learning hospital inside the complex in the form of the AMC Hospital, which serves more than 3 million people in the area. This provides a direct learning opportunity for both practical physician training and different types of medical research.

Additionally, there are programs for graduates to enter fellowship and residency programs, as well as continue their education inside some of the medical fields available in the institution.

Finally, Albany Medical College also offers programs and studies for nurses and physician assistants, complementing the possibilities for medical education on primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.

M.D. & M.D. with Distinction

The majority of matriculants at the Albany Medical College enter programs leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, which in itself has five different focuses. Additionally, students can achieve this degree with distinction in their field, positioning themselves as future top researchers and practitioners in their field.

Applicants with appropriate qualifications and recommendations will be accepted to enroll in a four-year course with elective subjects and develop their medical and research skills to become top physicians, clinicians, or medical and policy academics.

Distinctions:

Doctorate of Professional Studies in Health Ethics and Policy

To obtain the title of Ph.D. of Professional Studies in Health Ethics and Policy, a student will need to portray a vast understanding of not only medical and health ethics and policy, but the ability to independently research, analyze, and produce findings in a professional and applicable manner.

Those who finish the program successfully will be expected to be able to work independently in creating and analyzing public policy on multiple levels, as well as track the effects of any policy using the most current standards and practices.

Joint Degree Programs

For those who wish to pursue a carrier in research and academic medicine as well as obtain the highest degrees in their respected fields, applying for a joint degree program might be the best possible solution.

By combining multiple disciplines simultaneously, a student can both acquire the degrees faster, obtain more practical knowledge and experience, and have lower costs of tuition overall.

Are you planning to apply to MD-PhD programs? Check out our tips for how to get in:

Academic Curriculum

The curriculum for all programs at Albany Medical College can be divided into the academic and practical aspects and as the student's tenure in this institution progresses, it will be expected of them to distinguish themselves not only by knowing the current advancements in medicine and biology, but also to be aware of best practices when it comes to ethics, advocacy, policy, and especially their commitment to primary care.

During the first year, accepted students will enroll in courses teaching the basic sciences (Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Physiology) with a focus on normal somatic and physiological functions.

By the second year, longitudinal themes are integrated into the curriculum. These will focus on clinical skills, ethical and health system issues, as well as evidence-based medicine, nutrition, and informatics.

Additionally, for those aiming to graduate with Distinction, there is an emphasis on clinical and academic presentation and cooperation. Students, especially those focusing on academics and policy creation, will be required to cooperate with their mentors and prepare a suitable project that they will need to present.

Starting from the third year, the focus will shift toward care, starting with ambulatory settings. This will give students a great grasp of clinical practices and primary care. Basic sciences knowledge will also be reinforced in the final two years.

In the fourth year, students will be required to rotate in hospital-based settings, usually inside the AMC Hospital, preparing them for residency and practice. In the fourth year, the students will also choose their elective courses focusing either on policy, research, or education and presentation.

Application Timeline

The following is medical school application timeline for Albany Medical College. Please make sure to check with the school’s official website for the most recent updates on any deadlines or changes in the application timeline. 

Admissions Statistics and Eligibility

Even though the Albany Medical College doesn't accept international, Canadian, or students with DACA status, the competitiveness is very high, and only ~6.39% of applicants even reach the interview phase.

The overall matriculation rate for all students is ~1,26%, with a clear statistical disadvantage for applicants coming from out-of-state.

• Overall Acceptance Rate: 1,26%
• In-State Acceptance Rate: 2,79%
• Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 0,95%
• Average MCAT Total Score: 511
• Lowest MCAT Accepted: 506
• Average GPA: 3.74
• Lowest GPA Accepted: 3.30

Albany's Overall Acceptance Rate:

Recommended Courses

The Albany Medical College requires four medical school prerequisites from all applicants as part of their premedical coursework. These courses are acceptable from premedical education institutions, community colleges, and as AP, but can’t include online coursework.

The four required courses are:

Additionally, three recommended courses can be used towards the credit hours necessary for these four.

Each course requires at least 6 credit hours, which translates to basic and intermediate courses in these fields. Applicants without the minimum requirements will not be considered for an interview.

Tuition and Debt

Albany Medical College communicates with students on the mattes of financing and aid through the Financial Aid Office (FAO) which is the primary source of information for those who want to attend Albany.

Additionally, the FAO will provide assistance and guidance for the development of the student's short-term and long-term spending plans to secure their financial stability in the future. The FAO will award and certify need-based aid for enrolled students and offer a lifetime service to graduated students.

Cost of Attendance for In-State Students:

• Tuition and Fees: $57,723
• Other: $20,258
• Health Insurance: $4,018
• TOTAL: $82,269

Cost of Attendance for Out-of-State Students:

• Tuition and Fees: $57,723
• Other: $21,228
• Health Insurance: $4,018
• TOTAL: $82,969

According to the LCME Student Financial Aid Questionnaire, the percentage of students attending the Albany Medical College that are receiving some kind of financial aid is 82%. The average indebtedness of graduates is $219,946. This amount correlates with 150% of average annual salaries for fields expected to be entered once the student acquires their degree which is around$147,500.

Selection Factors 

The selection criteria for hopefuls applying to the Albany Medical College can be divided into three categories. All candidates will be selected for their academic achievement, goals, and values. The values expressed by the AMC are:

The college is committed to equal opportunity for students regardless of personal characteristics such as race, gender, age, origin, orientation, or status. This is also shown in the fact that there is no expiration date on when the students have finished their prerequisite coursework.

Those who qualify via their MCAT score and GPA will be considered under the discretion of the committee and called for a series of interviews that would showcase the student's desire and capability to contribute to the institution and the medical field in general.

MCAT and GPA

Applicants need to complete the MCAT no later than June 30th for the year they are planning to apply to their program.

While any passing score for the MCAT will be considered, the minimal score of the most recent applicants was 506 points in total.

Students are expected to apply with a high GPA, keeping in mind that the lowest matriculated GPA of recent matriculants was 3.37.

Course Requirements

Applicants are required to successfully complete a minimum of three years of college work or 90 semester hours. These need to be completed in an accredited university or college. While colleges, medical schools, and universities worldwide will be considered, please take note that Albany Medical College doesn't accept international students, including those with Canadian citizenship.

Successful completion of one year of each of the following, with related laboratory experience, is also required:

Recommendation Letters

The AMC prefers letters of recommendation submitted by a premedical advisory committee and will give preferential treatment for students that provide at least two of such letters before the final application date.

Additionally, letter packets and individual letters are accepted and will be expected to detail your personal attributes, personality, and scholastic abilities. Individual letters can either be sent by a faculty member or by a supervisor in any paid or volunteer research or clinical position.

The AMC will not consider more than four letters of recommendation.

Check out our tips for stellar medical school recommendation letters:

Extracurriculars

While shadowing hours are not specifically required, it is highly beneficial to demonstrate such experience in your application. This may be done through the recommendation letter of the person you were shadowing, or as part of your AMCAS Work and Activities section, showcasing your experiences.

Additional experiences, such as in clinical and volunteer work, policy, advocacy, or activism will also be beneficial for the applicant, especially for the programs that focus on these fields.

The most common premedical experiences for first-year students are:

Sample Albany Medical College Secondary Essays

Prompt: Describe yourself (1000 character limit).

I view my life as a continuous learning experience in which I am enriched by experiencing the unfamiliar. This is why medicine as a career is so exciting to me—as a physician, the learning never stops. Stagnation terrifies me; it’s why I involve myself in many hobbies such as music, painting, and car restoration. Mastering one hobby fuels my confidence in other domains. For instance, learning intricate pieces of music gives me the confidence to perform well in other detail-oriented tasks. 

I strive to preserve my relationships despite life’s many demands. Having a strong family unit has been instrumental in overcoming challenging moments of my life and I work to reciprocate all they have given me. Whether it was piano lessons or supporting me as I went out of state for college, my family showed unconditional love.

When people think of me, I want them to see me as kind, generous, and someone they’d love to have coffee with. I want to lead an impactful life both as a person and physician. (Character count: 999)

Prompt: In the "Work and Activities" section on your AMCAS application, you provided the following list of experiences. Please select the experience that you feel has been the most meaningful in influencing your desire to pursue a career in medicine, explain why, and also describe what aspect of that experience best equips you to make an impact in the medical profession (1000 character limit).

My time volunteering at Newcastle Care strongly influenced my decision to pursue medicine. Before Newcastle, I believed I needed to achieve status or esteem before I could do something relevant for others. Serving at Newcastle Care demonstrated to me the capacity I had to be impactful. Being able to work directly to create activities, and improve the care facility showed me that wanting to improve a situation is a matter of initiative. I learned valuable lessons in the challenges an underserved patient population experiences. This population experiences a discrepancy in care and lack of access to the factors that contribute to a high standard of health such as a healthy diet and insurance that covers regular doctors’ visits. These factors put this population at a disadvantage and further inhibit socioeconomic movement. As a future physician, this experience informs my ability to understand patients of various backgrounds and best work with them to find successful avenues of treatment. (Character count: 993)

Interview Format for MD and MD/Ph.D. Applicants

The Albany Medical College uses the MMI interview format to screen its applicants. The applicants will have an orientation before the interviews begin, as well as a student-led tour and panel. During these, they will be provided with the welcome curriculum from the advising dean.

Interview invitations are sent beginning August of the application year. To prepare for your interview, do not forget to practice with MMI questions and other common medical school interview questions.

Acceptance and Waitlist Information

It is customary for roughly two hundred applicants to be offered a position on the waitlist. From this number, 35 will be granted entry to the college. 

During the process, the applicants will be required to confirm their stay on the waitlist several times. Once those that are still willing to go forth with the program are left the invites for entry will be sent. Learn how to get off a medical school waitlist in our blog.

Contact information

You can get more information by using the AMC Office of Admissions Email ([email protected]) and requesting any type of information you deem relevant.

Additionally, you can inspect the Albany Medical College official website for all of the information about the faculty, programs, or coursework.

FAQs

To your success, 

Your friends at BeMo 

BeMo Academic Consulting

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