Medicine

NYU School of Medicine trains future physicians with an innovative, flexible MD degree curriculum known as the Curriculum for the 21st Century, or C21. Our program enables students to master the skills necessary to succeed in medicine and provides opportunities to customize their studies at designated points in their training. 

C21 is organized in four stages:

• foundational basic science instruction
• clinical skills
• research and specialization
• career preparation 

Regardless of which pathway you choose, we track your progress toward the MD degree by using curriculum stages that correspond with your coursework, rather than academic years.

Stage One: Preclerkship

As a first-year student at NYU School of Medicine, you complete an 18-month preclerkship course of study that lays a foundation in biological sciences that’s traditionally provided in the first 24 months of medical school. Preclerkship modules include the Practice of Medicine, in which you learn practical skills, including how to interview patients, make physical diagnoses, write notes, communicate effectively, and navigate the healthcare system.

The preclerkship curriculum is designed to complement concepts taught in the classroom, including those fundamental to anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, embryology, genetics, immunology, histology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, and other disciplines.

Stage Two: Core Clerkships

You participate in 12 months of core clerkships that emphasize evidence-based care strategies and interactions with others on a healthcare team. These take place at NYU Langone, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. Opens in a new tab, or the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System. Opens in a new tab. You may also rotate through additional inpatient and outpatient clinical training sitesthroughout our healthcare network, including NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital. Opens in a new tab and NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn. Opens in a new tab.

In 4 12-week blocks, the core clerkships provide firsthand patient-care experience—in ambulatory care, medicine, surgery, neurology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics and gynecology—about 6 months earlier than at most other medical schools.

Two of the core clerkship blocks are followed by one-week intensives, in which teams of students discuss concepts learned and their clinical applications.

Stage Three: Individualized Exploration

As a student on the four-year pathway, you have six months of individualized explorationafter completing your core clerkships. The first six to eight weeks provide protected study time to help you prepare for and take Step 1 of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE). Opens in a new tab—the first of the three-part national examination required to earn U.S. medical licensure.

You also complete NYU School of Medicine’s comprehensive clinical skills examination, an assessment that provides individual feedback on the clinical skills you developed throughout the preclerkship and clerkship stages of your training. The exam helps prepare you for the USMLE Step 2: Clinical Skills.

After completing NYU School of Medicine’s clinical skills exam and USMLE Step 1, you spend the remainder of this six-month stage taking electives and selectives and beginning a concentration.

Stage Four: Career Preparation

During the career preparation stage, you complete a critical care clerkship and select an advanced subinternship in surgery, medicine, or pediatrics. These allow you to take on additional patient care responsibilities and to prepare for your residency.

Four-Year MD Pathway

The following chart shows an MD student's typical progression through our four-year MD degree program.

At NYU School of Medicine, we’re proud that our medical students are talented in both humanities and biological and physical sciences, which positions them well to solve healthcare’s biggest challenges. If you’re an undergraduate considering medical school, we encourage you to pursue all your interests and passions when choosing a major—you don’t need to have a singular focus on the sciences.

As part of our holistic admissions approach, we consider several factors when reviewing applications: 

• performance in undergraduate courses
• scores on the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT)
• personal aptitudes and experiences that have influenced applicants’ decision to become a physician

We understand that you bring your own perspective to the application process. We’re looking for you to demonstrate, in your own way, a commitment to improving the human condition, a compassionate leadership ability, and a developed sense of self-awareness. You can express these qualities in the multiple mini interview process and through the recommendations of previous mentors. 

Your participation in extracurricular activities that show leadership, including community service and volunteer work, and your experience in collaborating with others on research and healthcare initiatives can also influence your application. 

Foundational Academics for MD Candidates

Our MD program candidates are knowledgeable in core scientific subjects and demonstrate strong communication skills, which form the foundation necessary for success in medical school.

Bachelor’s Degree and GPA

Applicants to NYU School of Medicine must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada or an equivalent international degree based on credential evaluation by World Education Services. Opens in a new tab. 

The median and average undergraduate GPAs for students in our most recent incoming class were 3.93 and 3.87, respectively, compared with the national average of 3.55 according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Citizens and permanent residents of both the United States and Canada can apply.  

Premedical Coursework 

NYU School of Medicine does not have prerequisites. We recommend that MD program applicants demonstrate proficiency in the following premedical courses:

• general biology with labs
• general physics with labs
• inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry with labs
• genetics
• English
• statistics

We consider courses completed at schools of dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine, or pharmacy as part of your application materials but do not provide credit for such courses.

Medical College Admissions Test

Your score on the MCAT®, a standardized, multiple-choice examination, helps our admissions committee assess your ability to solve problems and think critically about behavioral and scientific concepts. You take the test no later than September of the year you apply to medical school. 

We consider MCAT® scores only from three years prior to your expected matriculation date. For example, if you plan to enroll in fall 2019, the oldest acceptable MCAT Score would be from fall 2016.

The median and average MCAT® Scores among students in our most recent incoming class were 521 and 519, respectively, on the new exam. (We will only be accepting the new MCAT® exam that was introduced in April 2015.)

Technical Standards and Criminal Background Check

All accepted applicants meet NYU School of Medicine’s technical standards. Opens in a new tab, which define the physical, mental, emotional, and social abilities that support success in medical school. You also complete a criminal background check. Opens in a new tab, at no additional cost, to ensure patient safety. 

NYU School of Medicine is proud to offer all current students and future matriculated students enrolled in our MD degree program full-tuition scholarships, regardless of need or merit. We also offer additional merit-based scholarships and need-based loans for students who need assistance covering additional medical school costs, and provide one-on-one financial literacy education and debt counseling.

In addition to the full-tuition scholarship, all students who are accepted into an NYU School of Medicine MD degree program are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships that recognize academic excellence.

To be considered for financial aid, and to maintain the funds awarded to you, you must be in compliance with NYU School of Medicine’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national or ethnic origin when awarding financial assistance.