Admissions Process

Entering Class Profile

Founder's Day 2016The 161 members of the Class of 2016 entered their first year of medical school on August 8, 2012.  The class includes 96 men and 65 women. They were selected from a pool of 6,910 applicants.

Members of the class have a collective total of 78 undergraduate majors ranging from biomedical engineering, mathematics, and chemistry to economics, political science, and philosophy.

In addition to English, incoming students speak 26 different languages. The most commonly spoken languages are Chinese, Hindi, and Spanish.

GPA and MCAT Averages

Average Total GPA: 3.77

Average Science GPA 3.72

Average Total MCAT: 34.4

Class of 2016 Race and Gender Pie Charts

Twenty-nine students self-identified as part of underrepresented minority groups. Among the 161 matriculates, represented racial and ethnic groups include 14 (8.7 percent) African and African American; 44 (27.3 percent) Asian; 16 (10 percent) Hispanic; and 79 (49 percent) white. Eleven new students chose not to self-describe.

There are 20 (12.4 percent) nontraditional students, individuals who have taken off two or more years between their undergraduate studies and medical school, in the class. Together with the traditional students, the M1 class ranges in age from 21 to 31 years old, claim 66 institutions as their undergraduate alma maters, and hail from 33 states and nine foreign countries.

Six members of the 2016 class have earned advanced degrees, including one Doctor of Philosophy, one Master of Arts, three Masters of Science, and one Master of Health.

Thirty-seven students obtained research awards during their academic career. Twenty-seven students have been awarded and participated in fellowship programs.

As undergraduates, 135 students received academic honors. Forty-five members of the class achieved Phi Beta Kappa honors; 83 students graduated with Latin or honor society recognition; and 86 students received a scholarship during undergraduate school, two were National Merit Scholars and one was a Presidential Scholar.

No. of Students Joint Degree Program
13 Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
20 Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME)
6 Northwestern Undergraduate Premedical Scholars Program (NUPSP)

Research Experience

Cochard and first year anatomy lab

90 percent of students engaged in research on the undergraduate or graduate level. Thirty percent are authors on a research publication or presentation.

Thirty-seven students obtained research awards during their academic career. Twenty-seven students have been awarded and participated in fellowship programs.

As undergraduates, 135 students received academic honors. Forty-five members of the class achieved Phi Beta Kappa honors; 83 students graduated with Latin or honor society recognition; and 86 students received a scholarship during undergraduate school, two were National Merit Scholars and one was a Presidential Scholar.

Global Health Opportunities

Global Health

Over half of the entering class has traveled outside the U.S. These experiences included working with Support for America Reads Programs, College Partnership for Kids, and the ChemPal Program. 

Medical students can engage in global clinical experiences at one of 18 affiliated universities, health clinics, and INGOs around the world.

Volunteer Experience

Christine Stock with student

Some members of the class have volunteered for organizations. Over 100 students in the class have been a tutor and 96 students have volunteered as a teacher. 

This page last updated Oct 26, 2012

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