The Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program is committed to reviewing applications holistically, with an emphasis on the applicants' commitment to physician-scientist training as evidenced by letters of recommendation, research experiences, GPA, and other academic and community accomplishments.
In past years, the AMCAS verification process has taken up to eight weeks. Access to the secondary application will not be sent to the applicant until the AMCAS is verified. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. Please make sure all other parts of the application (letters of recommendation) are submitted so that the admissions committee can review the application as soon as it is verified and the secondary is submitted.
Important Dates (2023-2024)
on the Choose Your Medical School tool
*All interviews for this application cycle will be held remotely.
MD-PhD Applications
Please note that the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program follows the Application and Acceptance Protocols established by the AAMC.
The Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program Interview Days are listed above. If you are applying to the program, you are strongly encouraged to keep these dates open on your calendar until you hear from us regarding a final decision. As we only have three interview days, rescheduling is discouraged.
MD-PhD applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their applications as early as possible. Items that typically hold an application from achieving a complete status include letters of recommendation and the medical college's secondary form. Access to the medical college's secondary form is only emailed to applicants whose applications are verified by AMCAS. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure their file is complete.
Successful applicants will have excellent undergraduate science preparation, substantial undergraduate research experience, and a strong commitment to combining an investigative career in the biomedical sciences with clinical medicine.
Diversity
There is a national need for physician-scientists who come from diverse backgrounds. Cornell was founded in 1865 as a university where “any person can find instruction in any study.” Cornell and Tri-I have been, and remain, committed to enrolling students who bring different perspectives and backgrounds to their education, both inside and outside of the classroom.
International Students
Applications from international students are welcome for the 2024 application cycle. All admitted students receive the same full funding, regardless of citizenship or residency status.
Applications from DACA recipients are accepted, and encouraged, for this cycle.
Technical Standards
Successful applicants must satisfy the requirements of both the medical and the graduate components of the Program, and all matriculants must satisfy the requirements in the Medical College's Technical Standards policy. Read more about the WCM Technical Standards here.
MD-PhD Admissions and Gap Years
While a meaningful research experience is a requirement for admission, taking a gap year(s) is not required. We do not value research done after earning a baccalaureate any more than that done while an undergraduate. National surveys (and our own experience) have demonstrated that doing post-bacc research does not reduce the time taken to earn a PhD. Further, applicants who have taken a gap year(s) have fared no better than their peers at being offered an interview or being accepted into our program (at least since 2016).