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.
COVID-19 Update for 2024 Applicants
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption in the lives of many applicants. We recognize the unprecedented financial, academic, and personal challenges applicants continue to face.
As such, Weill Cornell Medical College and the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, while remaining committed to upholding their standards of academic excellence, will continue to be flexible in this admissins cycle.
This includes:
Pass/Fail Prerequisites
Pass/Fail prerequisite courses completed during the spring, summer, and fall of 2020; and spring of 2021 semesters will now be accepted.
Online Prerequisites
Online prerequisite courses and labs completed during the spring, summer, and fall of 2020; and spring of 2021 semesters will now be accepted.
Secondary Application
Our secondary application has been updated to allow applicants the opportunity to share unique situations related to the COVID-19 pandemic that they have encountered.
Remote Interviews
Interviews will continue to be conducted entirely remotely via video conference this year. However, we look forward to inviting accepted applicants on campus for revisit day in the spring 2024.
Please continue to check this page for updates.
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).
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 pairs 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 underrepresented backgrounds. The Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program therefore encourages applications from students who are members of under-represented racial and ethnic groups, from disadvantaged backgrounds, and/or who have a disability.
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.