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New York City

MD & DO Programs in NYC

A physician-written breakdown of every medical school in New York City — acceptance rates, average stats, and what each program actually values in an applicant.

New York City is home to some of the most competitive medical schools in the world. Columbia Vagelos, NYU Grossman, Icahn at Mount Sinai, and Weill Cornell all sit within a few miles of each other in Manhattan — and all four draw applications from the strongest pre-med students in the country.

This guide covers every MD and DO program in the NYC area, with honest data on what it takes to get in and what each school actually values beyond the numbers.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

MD

Washington Heights, Manhattan

Avg MCAT

522

Avg GPA

3.9

Acceptance

~3.5%

  • One of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the country
  • NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center for clinical training
  • Exceptional research infrastructure and NIH funding
  • Flexible Pathways curriculum with research and global health tracks
Advisor's take: Columbia is as competitive as Harvard. Research publications, a 520+ MCAT, and a compelling narrative are all expected. If you are applying here, your application needs to be flawless.

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

MD

Kips Bay, Manhattan

Avg MCAT

522

Avg GPA

3.94

Acceptance

~2%

  • Full-tuition scholarship for all MD students since 2018
  • NYU Langone Health — one of the top-ranked hospital systems in the country
  • Accelerated 3-year MD program option available
  • Strong research and clinical training in a world-class urban environment
Advisor's take: NYU Grossman is now one of the most applied-to schools in the country because of the full scholarship. The stats are elite and the competition is fierce. Apply here only if your numbers and narrative are exceptional.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

MD

Upper East Side, Manhattan

Avg MCAT

520

Avg GPA

3.87

Acceptance

~5%

  • FlexMed early assurance program for non-traditional and science-curious applicants
  • Mount Sinai Health System — 8 hospitals across NYC
  • Strong research culture with significant NIH funding
  • Values intellectual curiosity and non-traditional academic backgrounds
Advisor's take: Icahn is one of the most interesting schools in NYC because of FlexMed and its genuine openness to non-traditional applicants. If you have a compelling story and strong research, this is a school worth targeting carefully.

Weill Cornell Medicine

MD

Upper East Side, Manhattan

Avg MCAT

522

Avg GPA

3.87

Acceptance

~5%

  • NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center — top-ranked hospital
  • Tri-Institutional partnership with Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering
  • Strong research opportunities in biomedical sciences
  • Qatar campus offers global medicine perspective
Advisor's take: Weill Cornell rewards applicants with deep research experience and a clear academic identity. The Tri-Institutional environment is unmatched for students interested in physician-scientist careers.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

MD

Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Avg MCAT

511

Avg GPA

3.6

Acceptance

~8% (NY residents preferred)

  • Strong in-state advantage for New York residents
  • Urban medicine and health equity mission in Brooklyn
  • SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Kings County Hospital for clinical training
  • More accessible stats than Manhattan programs — strong value for NY applicants
Advisor's take: SUNY Downstate is one of the best value propositions for New York residents. The in-state advantage is real, the clinical training in Brooklyn is excellent, and the stats are more accessible than the Manhattan schools.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

MD

Morris Park, The Bronx

Avg MCAT

515

Avg GPA

3.75

Acceptance

~5%

  • Montefiore Health System — one of the largest academic medical centers in NYC
  • Strong primary care and community health mission in the Bronx
  • Significant research infrastructure and NIH funding
  • Values diversity, service, and commitment to underserved communities
Advisor's take: Einstein is a strong program that is often underrated by applicants focused on Manhattan schools. The Bronx location means genuine exposure to underserved populations — if that is your story, lead with it.

NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine

DO

Old Westbury, NY (Long Island, near NYC)

Avg MCAT

505

Avg GPA

3.5

Acceptance

~10%

  • One of the largest DO programs in the Northeast
  • Clinical rotations throughout the NYC metro area
  • Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) training integrated throughout
  • More accessible stats for applicants who need a strong DO option near NYC
Advisor's take: NYIT-COM is a legitimate DO option for students with slightly lower stats who want to stay in the NYC metro area. The DO designation carries less stigma than it once did — match rates into competitive specialties have improved significantly.

NYC's Hyper-Competitive Landscape

Dr. Tomei's Perspective

New York City is the most competitive medical school market in the country. I have worked with students who had 3.9 GPAs and 520+ MCATs who did not get into Columbia or NYU — not because they were not qualified, but because they did not differentiate themselves. In NYC, the numbers get you in the door. Your story, your research, and your clinical narrative are what get you in.
1

NYC has more top-20 medical schools per square mile than anywhere else in the country. Columbia, NYU, Icahn, and Weill Cornell are all within a few miles of each other.

2

NYU Grossman's full-tuition scholarship has made it one of the most applied-to schools in the country — and one of the hardest to get into.

3

Research experience is weighted heavily at all NYC MD programs. Even one meaningful lab role or published abstract changes your profile.

4

SUNY Downstate is the most accessible NYC-area MD program for New York residents — the in-state advantage is significant.

5

DO programs like NYIT-COM offer a legitimate path to competitive residencies. The stigma has faded; the training in the NYC metro area is rigorous.

Need Help Targeting the Right NYC Programs?

School list strategy is one of the most consequential decisions in the application process. Dr. Tomei can help you identify the right mix of reach, target, and more statistically favorable programs based on your actual profile.

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Deep-Dive Admissions Guides

NYU GrossmanTuition-free · 522 MCAT avgColumbia VagelosResearch-intensive · 522 MCAT avgIcahn Mount SinaiFlexMed available · 520 MCAT avgWeill CornellGlobal health · 522 MCAT avgAlbert EinsteinHealth equity focus · 516 MCAT avgAll School Guides →NYC & Long Island programs

Need help building your NYC school list? Physician-led medical school admissions guidance for NYC students.