Columbia University Medical School: How to Get in

Columbia University Medical School Mission Statement

"Our mission is to provide continuing medical education to Columbia faculty, professional trainees, and to the larger community of physicians and other healthcare professionals in the New York area and beyond. Our primary goal is to serve their educational needs by:

• Presentation of contemporary, relevant clinical knowledge using best practices for adult learning.
• Translation of research into medical knowledge; and
• Improved health outcomes through application of knowledge of disease prevention and treatment."

Admissions Statistics for Columbia Medical School

Admission to Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is highly competitive. Here are some recent statistics:

• Overall success rate: 1.91%
• In-state success rate: 2.22% 
• Out-of-state success rate: 2.00%
• Median GPA: 3.95
• Median MCAT: 522

Columbia medical school overall success rate:

Eligibility

At the time of application you must have at least three full years of Undergraduate education from an accredited college in the US or Canada. You must have completed a baccalaureate degree by the time of matriculation at Columbia medical school.

While International students are welcome to apply, Columbia notes they “rarely” admit students who studied at foreign (non-US or Canada) Universities. Although if you have at least one year of college at a US institution this may be waived.

Selection Factors at Columbia Medical School

Applicant Profile

Columbia medical school will assess your suitability based on the following criteria:    

• Academic achievement    
• Evidence of excellence and leadership potential in medicine    
• Integrity    
• Ability to relate to others and concern for their welfare    
• Letters of recommendation    
• Extracurricular activities/interests    

It can be difficult to determine how a school like Columbia will assess you on each of these criteria, but it is important to emphasize they are looking for “well-rounded” candidates overall. This means that stellar scores, while important, won’t guarantee you’re accepted. 

GPA & MCAT

The median GPA for matriculants to Columbia medical school is 3.95. There is no minimum GPA to be considered for admission to Columbia, but because of the highly competitive selection process we recommend aiming for that average or higher.

The median MCAT score of matriculants is 522. Your MCAT score is valid only if taken up to four years prior to your application cycle. If you took the MCAT more than once, your highest overall score will be used by the Admissions Committee. Your MCAT score will be an important component of your application, so learn more about what is a good MCAT score and how to create the best MCAT study schedule before you begin.

Coursework and Undergrad

The mandatory medical school prerequisites are:    

• 1 year of Biology (with labs)    
• 1 year of Physics (with labs)    
• 1 year of Chemistry (with labs)    
• 1 year of Organic Chemistry (with labs)    
• 1 year of English/writing intensive course

You must obtain at least a “C” grade on all prerequisites and they must have been completed within 10 years of your application, with Biology “preferred” within 5 years of your application. If you are a mature or non-traditional applicant you may have to retake courses for admission. AP credits in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, or English require an additional year at the collegiate level. Online courses are not accepted.

Additionally, courses in biochemistry, statistics, and biostatistics are highly recommended. There are no preferred majors or programs as long as you meet the prerequisites. 

Are you looking to get into an Ivy League medical school? Check out our tips for how to get accepted:

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation should be submitted on official letterhead and include your AMCAS ID. The following criteria applies:   

• A minimum of 3 letters of recommendation is required, but you may submit up to 7   
• 1 letter must be from a science faculty member, teacher, or research mentor   
• Letters are accepted from individuals and premedical advisory groups   
• Your writers should be those who know you very well and can speak with knowledge of your experiences and abilities.

Make sure your letter writers can speak to Columbia’s suitability criteria above. Your writers should showcase you as a well-rounded promising physician. It is especially important for them to speak to your qualifications in areas such as leadership, integrity, and personality as these can be traits that are more difficult to show in other areas of the application.

Extracurriculars and Experiences

Your extracurriculars will be an important part of the AMCAS Work and Activities component of your med school application, so learn more about which extracurriculars for medical school you should pursue, and how many volunteer hours for medical school you need to prepare yourself.

Shadowing

Although shadowing experience is not required, it is strongly recommended. 89% of matriculants in recent years had prior experience shadowing a physician at the time of entry to the program. If you still need shadowing experience, learn how to ask to shadow a doctor to get started.

Clinical Experience

Recent data shows that 90% of matriculants had experience volunteering in a medical or clinical setting. Furthermore, 48% of matriculants had paid employment experience in a medical or clinical setting.

Research

The vast majority of matriculants (99%) had prior research or lab experience at the time of entry, the most of any category so make sure you have research experience before you apply to Columbia.

Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement for Columbia Medical School requires a careful approach. Begin by reflecting on your journey to medicine, emphasizing specific experiences that have shaped your aspirations and demonstrated your commitment to the field. It’s essential to showcase your understanding of Columbia’s mission and values, and providing specific examples of how your previous experience and future goals align with their emphasis on compassionate patient care, innovative research, and service to underserved communities.

Ultimately, your personal statement should provide a holistic view of who you are, your motivations, and why you are an ideal fit for Columbia’s medical program.

Secondary Essays

Columbia requires applicants to complete secondary essays as part of the application process. These essays provide an opportunity for applicants to elaborate on their personal experiences, motivations for pursuing a career in medicine, and specific interests in Columbia's program.

It’s important to look up prompts and examples when writing your own essays. Here are some examples of previous prompts:

1. Have you previously applied to Medical School? Comments: (200 characters)
2. If you took time off from your undergraduate studies, please briefly summarize your reasons for doing so. (250 words)
3. Did you work for compensation during college (either during the school year or summers)? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? (300 words)
4. If you have graduated from college, please briefly summarize what you have done in the interim. (300 words)
5. Please describe your most meaningful leadership positions. (300 words)
6. Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons values diversity in all its forms. How will your experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? (300 words)
7. Is there anything else you would like us to know? (400 words)

As you can see these are all short essays, so you need to be concise! Most of these questions are aimed at assessing your path towards medicine and are a great place to explain gaps and extenuating circumstances.

Interview Format at Columbia Medical School

Columbia uses the Personal Interview format. Interviews are scheduled from August-January via email. To prepare for your interview, you should familiarize yourself with common medical school interview questions such as “why do you want to be a doctor?” and “tell me about yourself”.

Since the interview season is so long you never know when you may receive an interview invite. It is thus important to prep early for your interview and schedule your interviews properly.

You can also review these Columbia medical school interview questions the admissions committee might ask. Make sure your answers to these questions are specific to Columbia Medical School and not just generic answers!

Get ready for your medical school interview with our sample questions and answers:

Acceptance and Waitlist Information

The waitlist is not ranked. The Admissions Committee reviews waitlist applicants from May until August each admissions cycle. The waitlist closes when classes begin in mid-August. Offers are made to waitlist applicants as spots become available.

If you are offered admission, you must mark your status as “Plan to Enroll” on April 15 and withdraw your applications from all other medical schools. By June 1 you must “Commit to Enroll.” No deposit is required to reserve your spot.

Application Timeline at Columbia Medical School

Columbia clearly states that they do not use rolling admissions. Instead, all decisions are made at the end of the interview season, and all decision letters are sent out in early March.

You must submit both an AMCAS application and a secondary application when applying to Columbia. The fee for the secondary application is $110 USD.

Columbia’s application timeline follows the cycle below:

Tuition and Debt

Medical school tuition fees are $73,501 USD per year for both in-state and out-of-state students. Including other mandatory fees, the total per year is $108,499 USD.

The amount of average graduate indebtedness is $95,578 USD with 89% of students receiving financial aid.

Funding Opportunities

Columbia is proud of its Vagelos Scholarship Program, which meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for eligible students. Currently, about 84% of medical students at Columbia receive some form of financial aid. Students who complete the Financial Aid application are automatically considered for the Vagelos Scholarship. You will be asked to provide information about family and personal income, and any assets you or your family may have.

For more information on financial aid and scholarships visit the Columbia financial aid website.

Residency Match Rates at Columbia Medical School

Graduates of Columbia have excellent match rates. In previous years over 95% of graduates match into a residency, with most of those not matching choosing to pursue careers outside of medicine.

The most popular residencies students matched into were internal medicine and psychiatry. Many students were matched into residencies at Columbia-affiliated hospitals or other hospitals in the NYC area.

Columbia Medical School: Available Programs

There are five medical programs offered at Columbia medical school:

Note that if you apply to any of the non-standard MD programs and do not make it to the interview stage, you will automatically be placed in the standard MD applicant pool.

Campus and Faculty

Columbia Medical School is located in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, New York City. The medical school is part of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) campus, situated at West 168th Street and Broadway. The location provides excellent public transportation options, with nearby subway stations (1, A, C lines) and bus routes making it easily accessible from different parts of the city.

Studying at Columbia puts you in the center of one of the most important cities in the world. If you are interested in the big city, Columbia is probably the school for you!

Affiliated Teaching Hospitals

Columbia is affiliated with several prestigious teaching hospitals in the New York City area, providing you with extensive clinical training and research opportunities. The primary affiliated hospital is New York-Presbyterian Hospital, consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the nation. It includes specialized centers such as the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and the Allen Hospital. Other key affiliates include the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and the Harlem Hospital Center.

Research Fields

Columbia is well known for several research fields:

1. Cancer Research: Columbia is home to the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, which focuses on innovative cancer research and treatments.
2. Neuroscience and Neurology: Columbia's Zuckerman Institute and the Neurological Institute of New York lead pioneering research in brain function, neurological diseases, and mental health.
3. Genetics and Genomics: The Institute for Genomic Medicine at Columbia conducts cutting-edge research on the genetic basis of diseases, leveraging genomic technologies to advance personalized medicine.

Given how important research is to your application and for your future at Columbia it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with one of more of these research centers. You can bring them up in your application or in the interview to showcase your interest in Columbia and the research you have already done.

Notable Faculty

Columbia University has several notable faculty members, including Nobel laureates who have made significant contributions to medical science. This includes Dr. Richard Axel, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2004 for his work on the olfactory system. Dr. Eric Kandel, another Nobel laureate, received the same prize in 2000 for his research on the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. Other distinguished faculty include Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a renowned oncologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Emperor of All Maladies".

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.ps.columbia.edu/education/academic-programs/md-program/admissions

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Disclaimer: BeMo does not endorse or affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. The content has been developed based on the most recent publicly available data provided from the official university website. However, you should always check the statistics/requirements with the official school website for the most up to date information. You are responsible for your own results. 

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