How to Get Into Columbia Medical School: Requirements and Strategies
/How hard is it to get into the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons? Learn the Columbia Medical School acceptance rate and admissions strategies, plus secondary essay examples
LEARN HOW TO GET INTO COLUMBIA MEDICAL SCHOOL
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Part 1: Introduction
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) consistently ranks among the top ten programs in the nation, and with an acceptance rate of 2%, the prospects of landing yourself a coveted spot in the annual pool of Columbia-trained physicians can seem daunting, to say the least.
In this guide, we’ll break down the Columbia Medical School application piece-by-piece in order to prepare you to put your best foot forward when the application deadline rolls around. We’ll also discuss approaches to the Columbia Medical School secondary essays and interviews.
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Part 2: Columbia Medical School MD programs
Columbia offers several tracks through which prospective students can complete an MD:
The 3-year PhD-to-MD Program for those who have already completed their PhD in a biological or related science
The Columbia Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) through which students can receive an MD-PhD dual degree
The Columbia-Bassett MD track for students interested in rural healthcare
The MD-OMFS Program for graduates of Columbia’s dental school
These tracks range in popularity and selectivity. For example, though most applicants seek the traditional, four-year path to their MD from Columbia, only ten admitted students are selected for the prestigious Bassett track, which boasts a remarkably high residency match, with most of the program’s students getting their first choices in residencies.
Additionally, Columbia also offers several dual-degree programs that medical students can apply to after matriculation. These include:
The MD-MPH Program
The MD-MBA Program
Columbia Medical School tuition and scholarships
Beginning with the 2018 entering class, Columbia Medical School became the first program in the nation to replace student loans with scholarships for all students who qualify for financial aid, thanks to a new scholarship fund with a $300 million endowment.
Given that the 2023–2024 first-year cost of attendance (including estimated living expenses and fees) runs $108,499 earning a Columbia MD isn’t cheap. However, under the new scholarship plan, Columbia aims to increase access to their program regardless of financial constraints.
Students whose families earn less than $125,000 per year will receive full-tuition scholarships (note: this may vary if your family has significant assets besides yearly income), and all students who would otherwise have loans included in their financial packages will no longer have to fear the daunting task of repayment.
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Part 3: How hard is it to get into Columbia Medical School?
Columbia Medical School admissions statistics
With an acceptance rate of just 2%, Columbia Medical School’s admissions statistics are daunting. Let’s take a look at some numbers for the class of 2027:
Applications: 7,203
Interviews: 804
Matriculants: 140
Median GPA: 3.9
Median MCAT score: 522
With statistics like these, the margins for gaining admission to Columbia’s MD program can be slight for even the best and brightest applicants. How do you stand out from the crowd of other 4.0 GPAs and top-percentile test scores? You’ll need to ace your secondary application essays. Luckily for you, we’ve got you covered on that front (and more) below.
(Suggested reading: Average GPA and MCAT Score for Every Medical School)
Columbia Medical School admissions requirements
Here are the coursework prerequisites you’ll need in order to apply to VP&S:
English: One year of English or another writing-intensive course
Biology: One year with labs
Physics: One year with labs
Chemistry: Two years, one of which must be Organic Chemistry, both with labs
In addition, biochemistry, statistics, and biostatistics are highly recommended but not required. Note that AP credit will not count towards the prerequisites listed above.
You’ll need to have taken the MCAT within three years of applying. For the 2024–2025 application cycle, this means a test score earned between January 2021 and September 2024.
(Suggested reading: Medical School Requirements: The Definitive Guide)
Thinking holistically: Requirements beyond grades
Getting into Columbia Medical School is tough and will require long-term planning to highlight your suitability for their programs beyond mere test scores and grades. Columbia seeks well-rounded individuals with a potent mix of academic excellence, commitment to healthcare, and a genuine passion for serving others.
We’ve listed some of our best advice in this regard below.
Clinical Experience: Volunteering or shadowing in hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare settings demonstrates your dedication to the field. It also gives you firsthand exposure to the challenges and rewards of medicine.
Research: Participating in research – whether basic science, clinical, or public health-focused – shows initiative, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to follow a project through. This is highly valued by a research-intensive institution like Columbia. In fact, it’s vital if you’re applying to their MSTP program.
Leadership: Taking leadership roles in student clubs, organizations, or volunteer projects demonstrates your ability to inspire others, manage teams, and take on responsibility.
Unique Passions: Don't be afraid to highlight unique interests and talents. Columbia values diversity of thought and experience. Whether it's playing a musical instrument, proficiency in another language, or a passion for the arts, these can showcase your well-roundedness and make you a more memorable applicant.
(Suggested reading: How to Choose the Right Extracurricular Activities for Medical School)
Columbia Medical School application timeline
Let’s go over the dates and deadlines that you’ll need to be aware of in order to apply to Columbia Medical School. Similar to the majority of medical schools in the U.S., you’ll use the AMCAS application to apply to Columbia.
May 1, 2024: AMCAS application opens
May 28, 2024: AMCAS application can be submitted
July 2024–October 2024: Columbia secondary application sent to all applicants and applications processed
August 2024–January 2025: Interviews invitations sent
October 15, 2024: AMCAS application deadline
October 22, 2024: Secondary application deadline
October 29, 2024: Deadline for supporting documents, including MCAT scores and letters of recommendation
March 2025: Admission offers sent and waitlist opens
April 15, 2025: Admitted students must withdraw from all but three schools
April 30, 2025: Admitted students must withdraw from all but one school
May 2025–August 2025: Waitlist applicants reviewed
(Suggested reading: The Ideal Medical School Application Timeline)
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Part 4: Columbia Medical School secondary application essays (examples included)
Once you’ve submitted your AMCAS application and selected Columbia as a school of interest, you’ll receive your invitation to complete Columbia’s secondary application, which you can submit between July and October.
This application requires you to write seven essays of varying lengths (with additional responses required if you’re applying for programs besides the typical four-year degree), and you’ll need to take each prompt seriously.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of Columbia’s secondary essay questions, shed light on the best approaches to knocking them out of the park, and provided sample responses based on composites of successful applicants to show you how it’s done.
(Suggested reading: Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts)
Columbia Medical School MD secondary essay prompts
Question 1: Have you previously applied to Medical School? (200 characters)
This question should be relatively easy to answer. If this is your first application cycle, go ahead and answer “No.” If you’re a reapplicant, describe your past application attempt(s) in a sentence or two. With just 200 characters on the table, you likely won’t have room for much else.
Example:
I applied to medical school during the 2021–2022 application cycle. Though I was placed on a few waitlists, I ultimately did not receive an acceptance offer.
Question 2: If you took time off from your undergraduate studies, please briefly summarize your reasons for doing so. (250 words)
Question 3: Did you work for compensation during college, during the year, or the summer? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? (300 words)
Question 4: If you have graduated from college, please briefly summarize what you have done in the interim. (300 words)
Question 5: Please describe your most meaningful leadership positions. (300 words)
Question 6: Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons values diversity in all its forms. How will your background and experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? (300 words)
Question 7: Is there anything else you would like us to know? (400 words)
Gain instant access to med school secondary essay examples for every single prompt required by every medical school in the United States and Canada. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing in the future for new subscribers.
Columbia MSTP secondary essay prompts
In addition to the essays above, you’ll need to respond to the following prompts if you plan to apply to Columbia’s MSTP (the dual MD-PhD program.)
MSTP Question 1: What academic honors have you received? (e.g. prizes, scholarships, fellowships, honors societies). (5000 characters)
MSTP Question 2: What are your major research interests? (20 words)
MSTP Question 3: PhD Goals (5000 characters)
MSTP Question 4: Additional Information (5000 characters)
Columbia-Bassett secondary essay prompts
Columbia-Bassett Essay 1: What aspect of Columbia-Bassett has the most appeal to you?
Gain instant access to med school secondary essay examples for every single prompt required by every medical school in the United States and Canada. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing in the future for new subscribers.
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Part 5: Columbia Medical School interview
Columbia begins inviting top applicants to interview in August and continues the interview process through January. They extend interview invitations to roughly the top 10% of their yearly applicants, so if you’re one of the lucky few to get the opportunity to interview, that means the admission committee sees something special in you and all that’s left is nailing this one important application component.
In the 2023–2024 application cycle, interviews at Columbia were held virtually. As of March 2024, Columbia has not yet updated its policy for the 2024-2025 cycle but we will continue to monitor this and update when it is available.
Columbia utilizes a traditional med school interview format, meaning you should be prepared to answer questions such as “Why Columbia?” speak about your most significant extracurricular activities, how you expect your medical career to unfold, and what you’ve done both in and outside the classroom to prepare for med school.
Our research has shown that many questions asked during a Columbia Medical School interview are specific to the applicant. If you mention something on your application, you should expect to be able to discuss that topic in greater detail. We’ve found the following questions are commonly asked at Columbia interviews:
Where do you see your career going?
What questions do you have for me?
Why Columbia / New York?
Tell me about this class you took.
Have you thought about what field of medicine you might like to end up in?
You've been out of school for a while. Do you think you are ready to take on a full course load?
What sort of relationship, long-term or short-term, would you like with your patients?
What do you think will be the most difficult part of medicine?
You may have thorough answers for questions such as “Why Columbia?” but do you really know what kind of relationship you would like to have with your patients or can you speak to the particulars of a class you took that adds something to what you mentioned in your application?
These considerations are vital to interview success. In such a high-pressure situation, your nerves are likely to get the better of you without adequate preparation. Make sure you’ve thought through your responses so you can walk into the interview calm and collected; conveying who you really are to adcoms.
(Suggested reading: How to Ace Your Medical School Interviews)
Invited to a med school interview? Congrats! There's no need to land in waitlist purgatory or the rejection pile. Learn how to craft memorable, acceptance-worthy responses using the resource below.
Gain instant access to the most common traditional and MMI interview questions, plus sample responses for each, to help you craft responses that lead to acceptances. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing in the future for new subscribers.
Final thoughts
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons continues to hold fast to its top-ten ranking for good reason, and with their new scholarship-based loan replacement fund making the program even more alluring to potential applicants, one can only expect future admissions cycles to grow even more competitive.
In an application landscape where a far greater number of applicants boast high GPAs and MCAT scores than can be admitted, it’s becoming increasingly important to nail your supplemental essays in order to distinguish yourself from the pack. By following this guide, you’ll be one step closer to landing one of Columbia Medical School’s coveted spots.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
THERE'S NO REASON TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THE MED SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS ALONE, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MUCH ON THE LINE. SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION TO ENSURE YOU LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE.