FlexMed: Your Complete Guide to Admission, GPA & How to Get In

What Is the FlexMed Program at Mount Sinai?

FlexMed is an EAP at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Its purpose is to permit high-achieving undergraduate students to secure a seat in medical school sooner, allowing for a more streamlined path toward medicine. FlexMed also permits students to pursue coursework in the humanities, social sciences, or engineering. 

It is important to note that FlexMed is not an accelerated program like QuARMs. You’ll still have to fulfill all of the requirements of your bachelor’s program before entering the MD program at the Icahn School of Medicine.

How the FlexMed Pathway Works 

You’ll submit your application in the second year of your undergraduate degree, and if successful, you’ll receive news of your acceptance at the beginning of your third year. Once accepted into the FlexMed program, you’ll be expected to sign a formal statement confirming your intention to attend the Icahn School of Medicine. 

Keep in mind, any student who decides to apply to other medical schools or sit for the MCAT forfeits their place in FlexMed early assurance program. There is, however, no penalty if you eventually decide later in your undergraduate degree that Icahn School of Medicine is not right for you.

Brief Historical Context

The FlexMed program evolved from the Humanities and Medicine Program (HuMed) launched at Icahn School of Medicine in the late 1980s. HuMed targeted high-achieving Humanities majors by waiving traditional premed requirements and exempting the MCAT, providing a special summer science program instead.

HuMed’s success led to the broader FlexMed program, which now accepts undergraduates from any major. The goal is to diversify medical education by attracting students from varied academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, ultimately producing more well-rounded physicians. 

Would you like to learn more about medical school early assurance programs? Check out our video:

The Five Essential Attributes of FlexMed Applicants

Additionally, the FlexMed program lists the following five personal attributes as essential for successful FlexMed applicants:

• Team player
• Life-long learner
• Self-improving and well
• Change Agent/Change Leader
• Advocate

In thinking about these attributes and how you might fulfil the criteria, consider the following questions for each attribute: 

Want a quick breakdown of FlexMed acceptance rates and requirements ? Watch our expert video below:

FlexMed Acceptance Rate: Available Seats, GPA, & SAT/ACT

The FlexMed program is highly competitive, meaning that any applicant must brace themselves for going up against some tough competition. In their very first application cycle, the program received 800+ applications for only 35 available spots. In more recent years, the number of available spots has risen to around 50, but the number of applicants remains higher than ever!

Important FlexMed statistics as of this writing:

• 800-1000 applications annually
• Estimated 140-160 selected for interview annually
• Estimated 50-60 available spots annually.
• ~ 6-7% acceptance rate

Competitive applicants typically demonstrate very strong academic performance, which translates to:

• Estimated GPA 3.9 for competitive applicants
• Estimated SAT/ACT: 1500+/34+ for competitive applicants

This means that fewer than 1 in 10 applicants are accepted into the program. Due to the limited number of available seats, the FlexMed admissions committee evaluates applicants holistically, looking for individuals who demonstrate exceptional academic performance, intellectual curiosity, leadership, and a clear commitment to medicine.

FlexMed Program Requirements: Full Checklist

The FlexMed application requirements are used to assess your academic capabilities, leadership potential, and dedication to medicine. While the FlexMed program waives certain traditional premed prerequisites, successful applicants must submit several required materials, requirements, and show certain personal attributes.

Required Materials for FlexMed Application

Before hitting send on your FlexMed application, make sure you’ve compiled the following required materials:

1. The standard FlexMed application – this is done through Icahn’s applicant portal

2. Your SAT/ACT examination results

3. Your academic transcripts

4. Three letters of recommendation

5. A personal statement component, consisting of three essays

6. An application fee of $110 USD 

Eligibility Requirements for FlexMed Application

Here is a breakdown of the general application requirements for the FlexMed program:

1. Open to all undergraduate majors in their second year of study

2. Must be a full-time student at a postsecondary institution in the US or Canada

3. International students can apply if they attend a postsecondary institution in the US or Canada

4. Must have a strong academic record (GPA of 3.5 or higher)

5. Must have taken either the SAT or ACT  

FlexMed Coursework and Clinical Requirements

The FlexMed program also requires that successful applicants complete the following requirements before undertaking their medical studies at the Icahn School of Medicine:

1. One year of Biology or Chemistry at the postsecondary level (with lab work)
2. One year of an English course at the postsecondary level, involving writing-intensive coursework 
3. One semester of physics (AP or IB high school physics with a score of 5 accepted to meet this requirement)
4. One semester of health policy, public health, or global health studies
5. One semester of ethics
6. One semester of statistics (preferably biostatistics)
7. A senior thesis or its equivalent (any academic area)
8. 100 hours of clinical experience providing exposure to illness and healthcare delivery.

These coursework requirements ensures that students have a foundational understanding of core sciences, which is essential for medical school readiness.

Overall, the FlexMed program encourages students to choose subjects with significant molecular content to better prepare for medical studies​. Furthermore, the program strongly advises that students develop proficiency in a second language to better attend to the needs of future patients at Mount Sinai.

Administrative requirements for FlexMed Application

Two administrative items will need to be addressed before entering the Icahn School of Medicine, which are:

1. Filling out the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application the year before your matriculation.
2. Completing the Icahn School of Medicine’s supplemental application (except for the essay component). You will not be charged the usual application fee when you do so.

The school stresses that these steps are simply clerical formalities. It is important, however, to understand that this is not a re-application process, and you’ll not be assessed again. 

FlexMed Application Timeline 

The FlexMed admissions cycle starts and ends in August. In August of each year, the application process is opened to new applicants, while the due date for all applications is January 15. Note that this application does NOT involve AMCAS—students must apply to Icahn directly. 

How to Get Into FlexMed: 6 Proven Strategies

Let’s take an in-depth look at proven strategies that will strengthen each element of your FlexMed application, improving your chances of acceptance.

1. Maintain a High GPA

Don’t slack off in any of your courses, not even the 8 AM elective you’re wishing you hadn’t signed up for! The FlexMed program accepts high-achievers only, regardless of major. The higher your GPA, the better your chances, so make the most of every course you take.

Pro tips: You can boost your GPA by taking courses in disciplines you excel in, and by joining study groups to help keep you accountable and motivated.

If you find yourself struggling in any course, be sure to seek help from professors and TAs during their office hours. If you find that you still need extra help for a particular subject, consider hiring a tutor. 

2. Aim High on Your SAT or ACT

The SAT or ACT is an important indicator of your academic abilities, which is why the FlexMed admissions committee wants to see high scores from applicants. Previous data suggests that successful FlexMed applicants score an average of 1350 or above on the SAT.

Pro tip: Taking the extra time to study and prepare yourself will benefit you immensely. Think of it this way: putting a lot of time and effort into preparing for the SAT/ACT now could end up sparing you from the time and effort you’d have to put into sitting the MCAT later!   

3. Complete Required Science Coursework Early

Make sure that you have completed not only the prerequisites involving the mandatory science course and the SAT/ACT, but also the requirements for your Bachelor’s program.

Pro tip: If in any doubt, consult an academic advisor to make sure you are exactly where you should be, and remember, all of the necessary prerequisites required to apply to FlexMed must be completed by the January 15 deadline. 

4. Select Strong References

A crucial component of your FlexMed application is three strong letters of recommendation, and you should have one each from the following:

• A high school teacher/guidance counselor or college professor/faculty advisor
• A professor in the sciences
• An academic or professional reference, such as a research mentor or supervisor 

Who should you ask?

When deciding whom to choose as your references, it is important to consider who knows thoroughly and can convincingly speak about your abilities and academic performance to date.

Pro tip: Ask yourself the following questions to identify strong recommendation writers:

• How well does this mentor know me? And for how long?
• What valuable insights can this mentor offer to the admissions committee?
• Is this mentor a good fit as a reference for the FlexMed program specifically, or is there someone who might be a better fit?

What should you consider?

Be considerate when approaching your mentors by avoiding last minute requests, ideally giving them at least a month’s notice so the task doesn’t impede on their personal life. Also, provide your chosen letter writers with essential information that they’ll need to draft a compelling letter, from copies of your academic transcripts to more information about your extracurricular activities.

Pro tip: Sharing the list of the five essential attributes for FlexMed applicants will allow your writers highlight any evidence they have that you possess those attributes.

For example, a professor who worked on a research project with you will be able to speak about your strengths as a team player, while a professor who supervised your work as a TA could write about your mentorship abilities and commitment to helping others.

5. Write Reflective and Strategic Essays

Your references can speak about you in a compelling and persuasive way, but only you can speak for yourself.

The personal statement component of the FlexMed application consists of three essays. As of this writing, the prompts of the latest FlexMed application cycle are:

• Describe something in your life that has given you a sense of personal, professional, or academic accomplishment. (300 words limit)
• Describe something in your life that has given you a sense of personal, professional or academic disappointment. (300 words limit)
• How FlexMed will change your educational plan and enhance your future career in medicine? (300 words limit)

Pro tips: Use your essays to show, and not tell, the admissions committee how you’ve embodied the five essential personal attributes of FlexMed applicants mentioned earlier. Here are some more tips to remember:

6. Prepare Thoroughly for Interviews

The FlexMed program emphasizes that its assessments are holistic in nature. Interviews offer the program the opportunity to assess AAMC Core Competencies and FlexMed attributes based on your answers about your academic excellence, commitment to clinical medicine, research experience, service activities (e.g. your extracurriculars for medical school), and more.

The interview stage follows the traditional interview format, consisting of two 30-minute interviews. Each applicant will meet two interviewers from the Members of the MD Admissions Committee. Invitations to interviews are sent out on a rolling basis starting in the middle of March and lasting until the end of March.

Pro-tips: Familiarize yourself with common medical school interview questions, such as "tell me about yourself" and "What's your greatest weakness?" and brainstorm what strong answers would be based on your life experiences.

Doing mock interviews is also a crucial part of your preparation, since it allows you to gain familiarity and confidence in dealing with the dynamics of an interview. Seeking help from your mentors and/or professional academic consultants will ensure that you’re doing your med school interview preparation effectively. Remember that practice makes perfect!

Is the FlexMed Program Worth It?

The FlexMed Program, like any early acceptance or accelerated program, has distinct advantages and disadvantages, as well as important considerations. Here are a few important aspects to consider before deciding whether you should apply to the program.

Advantages of the FlexMed Program

1. Intellectual Flexibility

The FlexMed program allows for the freedom to explore a wide variety of interests apart from medicine during your undergraduate degree. Because you’re not restricted to the typical prerequisites, you will have a chance at receiving a more well-rounded education than that of a traditional premed student based on your priorities.

2. Change of Mind

There is no penalty for choosing to withdraw from the FlexMed program if you realize you want to pursue a different path in life. For this reason, FlexMed gives you the best of both worlds: the early assurance of a spot at the Icahn School of Medicine and the freedom to still explore other academic interests, and, if necessary, to choose a different postgraduate career instead.  

3. No MCAT

MCAT prep is a huge, lengthy commitment – the FlexMed program frees you from all of that added time and stress! For any student who finds exams a struggle, the lack of the MCAT is a major advantage. 

4. Save Time and Money.

A traditional premed student’s journey from high school to med school is already a tough one, typically applying to 15-20 medical schools. The cost of applying to so many schools can add up to thousands of dollars. Getting into FlexMed means avoiding the lengthy process involved in application systems such as AMCAS or TMDSAS, which in turn equals having more time and less stress.

5. Different Approach to What Makes a Good Physician. 

The FlexMed program is built on the principle that it is not scientific or medical aptitude alone that makes a good physician. Medicine as a calling requires many different types of intelligence, and the ability to apply different aptitudes and skills in various contexts. For instance, if you’re an applicant who believes that your passion for studying foreign languages and cultures will help you communicate with patients from many different backgrounds.

Disadvantages of the FlexMed Program

1. Limits Medical School Options.

Acceptance into the FlexMed program means giving up the opportunity to apply to other medical schools, as well as the opportunity to sit the MCAT. If you would rather try your luck at several different medical schools, remember that you’ll be required complete medical school prerequisites and submit your MCAT score. 

2. Harder to Commit to Medicine

 The freedom of the FlexMed program might feel a little too open for some students. If you struggle to make decisions when you don’t have a clear pathway in place, then it may be difficult to choose what to study during your undergraduate. It may also make it harder to feel certain that medicine is indeed your calling.

Important Considerations of the FlexMed Program

If you are selected for the FlexMed program, keep in mind that you still have a lot of work to do to maintain yourself in good standing. The Icahn School of Medicine reminds all successful applicants that they meet the following requirements after acceptance:

1. Successful completion of your Bachelor’s degree

2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above

3. Completed 100 hours of clinical experience

4. No instances of being disciplined for unprofessional/unethical behavior

5. Prompt responses to all deadlines from the Icahn School of Medicine

6. Physically and emotionally capable of coping with the demands of medical school

Deciding whether the FlexMed program is the best pathway for you ultimately comes down to what your priorities, personal and professional goals are.

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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