Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai MBA Admissions

Application Guidance from Admissions Consultants

Icahn Mission Statement

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai advances science, medicine, and health care delivery for the benefit of humanity through a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and inclusive diversity. We conduct groundbreaking research; educate and nurture the next generation of exceptional clinicians, researchers, teachers, and leaders; and deliver the most advanced compassionate care with an unwavering commitment to health equity.

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Is it hard to get into the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai?

Admissions to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is highly selective. There are typically over 7,000 applicants for a class size of 140 students. This class includes about 30 – 60 students admitted through the FlexMed pathway.

The average GPA is 3.85+ and MCAT is 519. Personal statements and secondary application responses are critical for presenting yourself as an applicant for the MD program.

Below we provide some insight into the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai admission process and secondary application items.

Icahn Secondary Application Questions

What is the toughest feedback you ever received?
How did you handle it and what did you learn from it? (250 words)

Demonstrating an ability to accept feedback or criticism is an important and valued characteristic in the MD selection process. We suggest approaching prompts like this by considering each activity on your AMCAS application. Reflect on instances in each activity when you received feedback.

This feedback could have come from a peer, supervisor, research mentor, or physician. What was the feedback or advice you received? Why do you think you received it? Why was this feedback or advice particularly insightful? Once you identify this component, then think about how you responded to it. What action did you take? How did this improve your ability to perform in your given role? How will you apply what you learned in this instance to future pursuits?

Describe a situation that you have thought to be unfair or unjust, whether towards yourself or towards others. How did you address the situation, if at all? (200 words)

Answering this prompt, which asks about unfairness, assesses applicants’ emotional maturity and ability to reflect on a difficult situation. Responding well to this question will require carefully selecting an unjust experience or encounter and appropriately explaining how it was addressed by the applicant. Similar to the approach suggested in the previous prompt, it is helpful to take inventory of the activities listed on AMCAS application.

Applicants will first want to explain how the situation was unfair or unjust, with emphasis on personal reflection. Applicants should explain how the situation was appropriately addressed and what they learned, and provide examples of how this insight was applied to future experiences.

If you are currently not a full-time student, please briefly describe the activities you are participating in this academic year. (100 words) 

This prompt applies to students who have graduated from undergraduate or graduate school are pursuing activities outside of a degree program. Examples include research, community service, and clinical volunteering. This prompt is only 100 words, so be concise and to the point in what you are describing. No need for extensive elaboration or reflection here – the idea is just to get a sense of what you’re currently doing.

If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity or a commitment to a particular community, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. (100 words)

(Aspects might include but are not limited to significant challenges in or circumstances associated with access to education, living with a disability, socioeconomic factors, immigration status, or identification with a culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. Completing this section is optional. )

This short prompt asks about diverse aspects of personal identity. Applicants should discuss an aspect of their identity that in some way informed their desire for a career in medicine. Applicants often believe this means this has to directly tie into medicine; however, we encourage applicants to consider how certain values, skills, and ideals inherent to the aspect they are discussing influence and advance a career in medicine.

Icahn School of Medicine Application Timeline

AMCAS Application Deadline: October 1

Secondary Application Deadline: November 1

Letters of Recommendation: October 1

Interview Dates: September – February

Decision Notification: December – August

Additional Application Information:
https://icahn.mssm.edu/education/admissions/application/timeline

*The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai accepted students on a rolling basis starting in December. An alternate list is assembled in March and students are often accepted off this list between March and pre-orientation in August.

For more information about the Icahn School of Medicine’s process, reach out to us via any of the contact options below.

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