With free tuition, NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City has become one of the most competitive medical schools in the United States with an acceptance rate of approximately 2.4%. In fact, only 8.7% of applicants even receive interview invitations at NYU. In our experience, only top applicants receive interviews and those who are accepted excel in every way with regards to academics, scholarly and extracurricular experiences, and interpersonal skills and attributes.
What are NYU Langone medical school's admissions requirements? NYU has always been a very competitive and popular medical school and that popularity increased when the school started offering full tuition scholarships in 2018 as announced by the board of trustees.
In this comprehensive guide we will outline how to increase your chances of getting in to NYU medical school by explaining the different aspects of your background, candidacy, and application that will factor in to NYU's interview and admissions decision.
Keep in mind that NYU also has a medical school on Long Island (NYU Long Island School of Medicine) that is focused on educating primary care physicians. We will not be discussing NYU Long Island in this article.
There are many pieces that contribute to a successful NYU medical school application, but, you want to focus on five items to evaluate your competitiveness:
Let's discuss each of these items in greater detail.
We're proud that our medical students are well-rounded and versed in topics beyond the humanities and sciences.
NYU is one of the most competitive medical schools in the country, and is ranked number 2 in the country by U.S. News for research. So, as you can imagine, the GPA required to be seriously considered for medical school admission is quite high.
NYU will also expect you to demonstrate academic excellence through your coursework showing that you have tackled a challenging curriculum in college.
NYU has moved towards competency-based admissions requirements which means applicants are expected to demonstrate mastery across certain disciplines.
Here are the courses NYU that NYU "recommends" to be competitive for admission:
In addition to the courses listed, you should enroll in upper level science classes and show mastery of whatever discipline you major in. You do not need to major in a science. In fact, schools as prestigious as NYU hope to enroll a diverse group of students with a variety of intellectual interests and pursuits.
Related: Best Medical School Major
Related: Medical School Requirements
Related Article: Medical Schools in New York
NYU students have also earned very high MCAT scores. The median MCAT for NYU medical school accepted students is 523 with a range of 519 – 526.
In our experience, students who have MCAT score less than 518 have a tough time earning interviews from NYU unless there is something exceptional about their background, experiences, and/or circumstances.
So how are you going to hit your target NYU MCAT score? Prepare with the links below:
Range of MCAT Scores for NYU School of Medicine Matriculants
519-526
By reviewing what the vast majority of accepted students have participated in as premedical students, you can see what NYU values in an applicant's experience profile.
Since 92% of students accepted to NYU have community service experience, NYU clearly likes to see applicants who have committed their time to other communities and people. Ideally you want to pursue community service activities that are related to your established interests. We are seeing that medical schools, in general, are placing more value in social justice and advocacy efforts.
To demonstrate an understanding of what it means to practice medicine, NYU likes applicants to have shadowing or observational clinical exposure. 89% of students have this experience.
In combining the two categories above, 87% of students have community service experience that is medical or clinical in nature. This means that students have volunteered in a clinical setting such as hospice or a free clinic.
A whopping 98% of NY medical students have some research experience. No one expects you to be an "expert" in every category above. In fact, a trend we are noticing is that medical schools, including NYU, are seeking applicants who have diverse experiences but show a "spike" of interest, or a particular passion in one specific area. What that area is doesn't really matter, but, just as the field of medicine has a variety of specialists all who contribute something different, NYU is hoping to create a class of specialists who might have a niche in a certain area therefore being able to contribute to the overall diversity of the medical school class and community.
Across the board, we are seeing that medical schools value applicants who have worked in a clinical setting. While we expect the percentage of students who have paid clinical work experience to increase every year, most recently 34% of medical school applicants accepted to NYU had this experience.
Since research is so important to your medical school candidacy, start putting together a list of opportunities as soon as possible. The AAMC has a great list of summer research programs to get your search started. Visit their summer research page to find a local program.
You will not write a medical school personal statement for NYU, specifically. Instead, you will apply to NYU through a centralized application service called AMCAS. The personal statement you write for AMCAS will be sent to NYU and all other AMCAS medical schools you apply to. Here are some basics about the AMCAS personal statement:
"Use the Personal Comments Essay as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Consider and write your Personal Comments Essay carefully; many admissions committees place significant weight on the essay."
Click here to read more about some questions that you may want to consider while writing the essay.
NYU Grossman School of Medicine does not ask you to submit a CV or resume. Instead, NYU requires you to submit a centralized AMCAS application which requires you to write about your accomplishments in detail. These "work and activities entries" as they are called, are sent to NYU medical school as well as any other medical schools to which you apply through AMCAS.
Below are a few things you should know about the AMCAS work and activities.
AMCAS work & activities entries give you the chance to let medical schools know how much you've accomplished during your premed years.
We encourage you to use this space to your advantage, elaborating as much as possible about your roles, responsibilities, the insights you gained, as well as what you have learned from the experience. You should also write in detail about the impact or "difference" you have made through the experience.
Click here to read more about AMCAS Work & Activities Section (With Examples): The Ultimate Guide.
With regards to letters of reference the NYU requirements are a minimum of two letters and maximum of eight with a committee preferred if your school offers one. We find that most successful NYU applicants have six letters of reference. NYU Medical School secondary application fee is $100 and the decline is November 15th.
The 2025–2026 NYU Grossman secondary prompts are as follows. Character limits are 2,500 per essay unless noted.
NYU Grossman School of Medicine is among the most selective medical schools in the country. For the most recent admissions cycle, NYU received 8,385 applications, invited 9.9% of applicants to interview, and enrolled 99 students. The overall acceptance rate is approximately 2.4%, making it one of the most competitive medical schools in the United States.
Applications received: 8,385
Interview invitation rate: 9.9%
Matriculants: 99
Acceptance rate: approximately 2.4%
Average GPA: 3.98
Average BCPM GPA: 4.00
Average MCAT: 523 (range 516–527)
The NYU Medical School acceptance rate is approximately 2.4% making it one of the most competitive medical schools in the country.
NYU is a top-ranked medical school by US News and World Report.
NYU holds Multiple Mini Interviews with eight different stations that lasts about one hour in total. The MMI interview is a situational interview where you will be evaluated on "your decision-making, critical-thinking, and communication skills as they relate to healthcare and social issues." Like many medical schools in the U.S., NYU's MMI is a hybrid model and includes one traditional interview station that lasts 12 minutes. During this interview you will be asked typical one one one interview questions. NYU conducts a 360 degree interview meaning that faculty, medical students and staff who are trained in the MMI will assess and interview you.
As you can imagine, NYU graduates do quite well with many matches in very competitive specialties such as dermatology, neurological surgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology and plastic surgery. . NYU's most popular residency placements were in the following specialties and medical professions:
In order create an effective NYU medical school admissions plan, use the following medical school timeline to set goals.
It is important to remember that due to the competitiveness of the medical school application process you must submit your documents far in advance of deadlines. For example, we recommend that your primary application be submitted no later than mid July and your secondary application be completed by the end of August. Of course, depending the applicants profile, there may be exceptions to these "rules," so please contact our office if you have any questions.
NYU Medical School Admissions Timeline Tips
What GPA do I need to get into NYU Medical School?
The average GPA for NYU Grossman matriculants is 3.98, with a median science GPA of 4.00. NYU does not publish a minimum GPA cutoff, but the data makes clear that near-perfect science grades are effectively a baseline requirement. Applicants below a 3.90 overall GPA face a significant disadvantage unless other aspects of their profile are exceptional.
What MCAT score do I need to get into NYU Medical School?
The median MCAT for NYU Grossman is 523, with a range of 519 to 527. In our experience, applicants with an MCAT below 517 or 518 have difficulty earning interviews unless there is something truly exceptional about their background or circumstances. NYU considers MCAT scores from the prior three years.
Is NYU Medical School really free?
NYU Grossman offers a full-tuition scholarship to all enrolled students. Tuition is $68,600 per year, fully covered. Students remain responsible for living expenses, which in Manhattan are substantial. The full scholarship has significantly increased NYU's applicant volume and selectivity since it was introduced in 2018.
Does NYU Medical School require research experience?
Yes, in practice. 99% of NYU matriculants have research experience. While NYU does not formally require research, applicants without it are at a serious competitive disadvantage. The quality and depth of research matters — publications, presentations, and sustained involvement are meaningful differentiators.
What is the NYU Medical School interview format?
NYU uses a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with eight stations lasting approximately one hour total. The MMI evaluates decision-making, critical thinking, and communication skills as they relate to healthcare and social issues. One station is a traditional one-on-one interview. Faculty, medical students, and trained staff all serve as interviewers, and each evaluation carries equal weight.
Does NYU Medical School accept international students?
Yes. NYU accepts applications from out-of-state, Canadian, and international students. Approximately 89% of matriculants are from out of state.
What is NYU Grossman's three-year MD program?
NYU offers an accelerated three-year MD pathway for students who have a clear specialty interest at the time of application. The program includes a directed pathway to residency at NYU and is available to students who apply directly or opt in after matriculation. The reality is that many students spend a fourth year pursuing research to make themselves more competitive for the residency match.
When should I submit my NYU Medical School secondary application?
NYU sends secondaries to all applicants who submit a primary application; there is no pre-screening. We recommend completing your secondary within two to three weeks of receiving it. The final primary application deadline is October 15.
Although New York University School of Medicine is a very competitive medical college, it makes sense to apply if you are competitive. However, even tuition-free, keep in mind that living in Manhattan and the surrounding borough of New York City can be expensive. At NYU future students should expect to receive a top-notch medical education and access to a great clinical education and Langone Medical Center. You will also be positioned to match in to the speciality of your choosing and to have a fulfilling career in medicine.
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