The University of Rochester School of Medicine is one of 17 medical schools in New York. As one of the private medical schools in the state, the University of Rochester School of Medicine has been widely recognized for several medical innovations, including the development of the first known vaccine against cancer.
Initially founded in 1952, the School of Medicine can be found on the campus of the University of Rochester medical campus with the School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, Wilmont Cancer Center, Strong Memorial Hospital, and Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Learn everything there is to know about the requirements, statistics, and how to get into the University of Rochester School of Medicine, to boost your chances for admission.
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Mission Statement
At the University of Rochester, we prepare you for the art and the science of your life’s work. We are guided by the core principle of Meliora, meaning “Ever Better.” We are a medical school where individuals achieve their highest objectives, unhindered by constraints on access, creativity, or participation. From the start of your medical education, you will be exposed to new opportunities and perspectives. Our Double Helix Curriculum, gives you early clinical experiences and immediate access to our revolutionary biopsychosocial model, helping you develop into a doctor who sees not only disease, but the entire person. Mentored research, international experiences, pathways and community outreach opportunities complement our curriculum. We achieve this by fostering the knowledge, skills, and behaviors of the physician/scientist/humanist and combining evidence-based medical science with the relationship-centered art that is Rochester medicine's distinctive trademark.
Available Programs
Offering a wide range of degree programs to applicants, the University of Rochester School of Medicine provides a traditional M.D. and multiple combined degree programs, including M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.B.A, M.D./M.S. in Medical Neurobiology, M.D./M.P.H., M.D./M.S. in Medical Humanities, and M.D./Combined Masters programs.
M.D. Program
The Doctor of Medicine degree or M.D. program offered by the University of Rochester School of Medicine is based on a four-year curriculum following the revolutionary Double Helix Curriculum. Students receive a medical education that blends basic sciences with clinical medicine starting their first year.
Combined Degree Programs
In addition to the M.D. program, the University of Rochester School of Medicine also offers students seeking multi-faceted careers with several opportunities in combined degree programs.
M.D./Ph.D.
The M.D./Ph.D. combined degree offered by the University of Rochester School of Medicine allows students to pursue their educational paths through clinical medicine and research. Funded by a Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) grant from the National Institutes of Health, the MSTP program provides training opportunities in biomedical research and clinical training.
M.D./M.B.A.
The M.D./M.B.A. in Healthcare Management combined degree program works in conjunction with the Simon Business School. Students will complete their first year of education at the Simon Business School then begin their medical school education.
M.D./M.S. in Medical Neurobiology
The M.D./M.S. in Medical Neurobiology combined degree blends coursework in the medical field with experimental studies. This combined degree program prepares students for teaching and other research-centric careers.
M.D./M.P.H.
Through the Academic Research Track of the medical school curriculum, some students opt to pursue the M.D./M.P.H. combined degree. This program works directly with the University of Rochester’s Department of Public Health Sciences.
M.D./M.S. in Medical Humanities
The M.D./M.S. in Medical Humanities combined degree helps to provide students with the necessary foundation to use perspectives and tools gathered from the humanities and art aspects of their studies. Using this knowledge base, students will apply this to health care.
M.D./Combined Masters
Special arrangements can be made by medical students looking to combine their M.D. with basic and translational sciences master’s degrees. Students can visit the Admissions Dual/Joint Degree website for more information.
Academic Curriculum
The University of Rochester School of Medicine follows a unique curriculum known as the Double Helix Curriculum - Translations and Transitions (DHC-TT). This curriculum follows a four-year course during which students learn the scientific foundations of clinical medicine and translate them to exceptional care.
The DHC-TT curriculum is broken into four primary phases, which cover basic, social, and informational science. The University of Rochester School of Medicine centralizes its education around the motto of the university, “Meliora - ever better,” spread across Medical Humanities and its three content pillars, which include:
- Collaborative Practice
- Technology in Medicine
- Professional Identity Formation
Content is delivered to students via iPad delivery, with mixed instructional methods, which include:
- Problem Based Learning
- Team-Based Learning
- Large Group Skill Sessions
- Small-Group Skill Sessions
Upon completing the DHC-TT curriculum, graduates form successful careers in the medical field with encompassed academic medicine, rural medicine, research, administration, and community advocacy.
Application Timeline
You can view the general medical school application timeline of the University of Rochester School of Medicine application process below. Since this information is constantly updated, it is best recommended to check the exact dates and timelines prescribed on the school’s portal.
Amissions Statistics
The average profile of the entering class for University of Rochester School of Medicine looks as follows:
Recommended Courses
To apply for the M.D. program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, you must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. The school gives preferences to students who have completed this coursework in a U.S. or Canadian accredited college.
The school recommends medical school prerequisites in general chemistry, statistics, genetics, physiology, and biochemistry. The following science coursework is required to be considered as an applicant to the University of Rochester School of Medicine:
The following non-science coursework is required:
Advanced placement courses may meet only one semester of the chemistry requirements and/or one semester of the physics requirements. These courses will not satisfy the biology or the non-science requirements. Upper-level courses may be taken to fulfill these requirements.
Tuition and Debt
The average graduate indebtedness for the University of Rochester School of Medicine is $177,471 upon completion of their programs.
The annual medical school tuition and fees as well as the total costs of attendance, including additional costs and health insurance, are approximately:
Funding Opportunities
The University of Rochester School of Medicine offers various funding opportunities to students, including medical school scholarships, loans, and work studies. 83% of the students at the University of Rochester School of Medicine are currently receiving financial aid. 65% of students rely on student loans, although the school encourages seeking out all other funding options.
Scholarships
56% of students receive scholarship assistance from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. The amount of scholarship assistance provided by the school is based on need pertaining to an analysis of family financial strength.
In addition to need-based funding opportunities, the school also provides a limited number of Merit-Based scholarships. These forms of financial aid are determined by the academic strength of the applicant. Merit-Based scholarships are granted at admission and are guaranteed through all four years of schooling as long as the student maintains their satisfactory educational path.
Loans
The Financial Aid Office at the University of Rochester School of Medicine guides students seeking assistance to ensure all students have the information needed. It is recommended that students seek out an Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan before pursuing any other forms of student loans.
Work-Study/Research
The Office of Medical Student Inclusion and Enrichment Programs (OMSIEP) works with students, identifying research interests and potentially providing funding to carry out such research. The funding the OMSIEP can provide comes from sources such as institutional endowments, Federal work studies, and external grant programs.
Selection Factors
In addition to the recommended courses, the University of Rochester School of Medicine looks specifically at applicants who exhibit the following:
- Evidence of altruism
- Accepting attitude
- Curiosity
- Empathy
- Maturity
- Professionalism
- Mindfulness
- Resilience
Experiences
The University of Rochester School of Medicine recommends the following shadowing hours and experiences for applicants:
- Hospital
- Private practice
- Pre-hospital care
- Scribing positions
The School of Medicine prefers sustained experiences over multiple single-day shadowings.
The following data shows the premedical experiences of last year’s matriculants.
Letters of recommendation
To be considered at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, all applicants must submit a minimum of one committee letter/packet or three individual letters. All medical school letters of recommendation should be submitted through the AMCAS Letter Service on official letterhead.
Interview Formats
In August, the admissions office will begin sending out interview invitations via email to applicants.
The interview format for the University of Rochester School of Medicine consists of two individual interviews and one 30-minute small group session, during which you will partake in three group activities.
During the group portion of the interview, applicants will participate in an orientation with Dr. Flavia Nobay, the Associate Dean of Admissions. After the orientation, applicants will take part in a tour led by current medical students. Lastly, the group session will conclude with a group activity conducted by a faculty moderator.
Do you need help preparing for your interview? Check out this video for practice questions and answers!
Acceptance and Waitlist Information
The earliest date that acceptance notices are sent out is October 15, and the latest date is August 1. The maximum allowed time for an applicant’s response to an offer is determined by the date the acceptance was received:
- October 15 - April 30: two weeks
- May 1 - June 30: five days
- July 1 - July 31: two days
The waitlist for the University of Rochester School of Medicine is not ranked and typically holds around 350 positions per cycle. Initial offers to waitlisted candidates will begin in April. As openings to the class arise, admission offers will be made. Approximately 30 acceptance offers will be granted to applicants on the waiting list.
The University of Rochester School of Medicine encourages applicants on the waitlist to submit medical school letters of intent and other substantial updates through the applicant portal through the Additional Documents Upload. Substantial updates may include:
Contact Information
- University of Rochester School of Medicine homepage
- University of Rochester School of Medicine admissions website
- University of Rochester School of Medicine M.D. Program homepage
- University of Rochester School of Medicine Combined Degrees homepage
- University of Rochester School of Medicine Financial Aid Office homepage
FAQs
1. What is the overall acceptance rate?
The overall acceptance rate at the University of Rochester School of Medicine is 1.80%.
2. What is the average GPA?
The average GPA for acceptance at the University of Rochester School of Medicine is 3.84, with a science GPA of 3.80.
3. What is the average MCAT?
The average MCAT for the University of Rochester School of Medicine is 518. A breakdown of the MCAT scores are as follows:
- Chemical and physical foundations of biological systems = 130
- Critical analysis and reasoning skills = 129
- Biological and biochemical foundations of living systems = 130
- Psychosocial, social, and biological foundations of behavior = 130
4. What is the interview format?
The interview format for the University of Rochester School of Medicine consists of two individual interviews. In addition to individual interviews, applicants will also participate in three group activities: an orientation, a student panel, a tour, and the last group activity.
5. How should letters of recommendation be formatted?
Letters of recommendation for the University of Rochester School of Medicine follow the AMCAS letter service. The school requires a minimum of one committee letter/pack or a minimum of three individual letters, all of which must be on official letterhead.
6. Does the University of Rochester School of Medicine accept out-of-state applicants?
Yes. The University of Rochester School of Medicine accepts out-of-state students and does not give preference to New York State residents.
7. Does the University of Rochester School of Medicine accept transfer students?
No. Transfer applicants are not accepted due to the unique curriculum that exposes students to clinical experience in their first year of study.
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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