Admissions Process & Requirements
The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and 90 semester hours (135-quarter hours) of undergraduate and/or graduate-level course work from an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university located in the United States or Canada are required. Feinberg does not place emphasis on any major field of study. Required are at least yearlong courses in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry (or one semester of organic plus a semester of biochemistry) and physics. We also recommend courses in statistics, writing and social science. In addition, students are expected to have clinical exposure and research experience. Find detailed information about our admissions process including:
- Requirements (MCAT, Letters of Recommendation)
- Application Timeline
- Interview Process
What is the timeline for the Office of Admissions to send out acceptances to prospective candidates who have interviewed?
The Feinberg School of Medicine has a modified rolling admissions process that utilizes a batched approach to sending acceptances. We interview candidates September through early February. Our pool of interviewees is very large, so many decisions are pending until after the interview season is completed. Some prospective students receive acceptances during the active interview season, the first acceptances being sent in November, but many of our slots are not committed until March.
How does the admissions process work at the Feinberg School of Medicine?
How do I apply to Feinberg?
Is there an age limit for applicants through AMCAS and/or Feinberg?
Do you offer deferred matriculation into an entering class?
Yes, accepted applicants can apply for deferral. The admissions committee evaluates requests based on whether the proposed time away will enhance the student’s medical development. Deferrals are usually one year in length. The student should contact the Office of Admissions to obtain details on deferral requirements and the approval process.
Once my application is complete, how long will it take for me to hear back from Feinberg about an interview decision?
Application review time varies from applicant to applicant. Interview invitations are released on a rolling basis from August through mid-January of the application cycle.
How will I receive notification of my application status for Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine?
Your application status will be available through our applicant portal. Invitations to complete the Northwestern Supplemental Application and to interview will be sent by email.
How do I schedule an interview at Feinberg?
If you are invited to interview, you will receive an email from our Office of Admissions letting you know how to schedule your interview day.
Do you have a student hosting program?
Can I find out in advance who my Feinberg faculty and student interviewers will be?
What if I have a last-minute problem on the day of my Feinberg interview?
Are applicant updates accepted? Are transcripts accepted?
If applicants would like to notify us of an update to their application, we ask that they send it to the main med-admissions@northwestern.edu email address, in the body of the email or as a PDF attachment. Please include your AAMC ID number in the update letter.
Only those transcripts initially submitted through AMCAS are required for review of your application. If applicants would like to notify us of updates to their coursework, we ask that they do so through a brief, written update email, rather than sending an updated transcript. We do require a final transcript from every matriculating student prior to the start date.Do Illinois residents get preference?
What are the average GPAs and MCAT scores of candidates accepted to Feinberg? Are there any GPA or MCAT cut-offs?
The undergraduate median GPA for the 2020 entering class was 3.90. The median MCAT score was 519. There are no minimum MCAT or GPA scores required for entrance to the Feinberg School of Medicine. Although high academic performance is an important aspect of a successful application, we complete a holistic review, including the academic course load and rigor, academic honors, extracurricular activities, clinical and research experience and letters of recommendation.