Requirements

Prospective students are encouraged to pursue a balanced education with a major in an area of interest. No preferences is given to those who have majored in the sciences over those who have pursued the humanities. We work to recruit a student body with broad academic interests and encourage applications from students who have majored outside the traditional premedical disciplines of biology and chemistry, including the other sciences, engineering, the humanities and social sciences.

The equivalent of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours of undergraduate and/or graduate-level coursework completed at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university is required for entrance to the MD program. A bachelor's degree is required prior to matriculation; this requirement is waived for Northwestern undergraduates enrolled in a dual-degree program where the degree is granted upon completion of the first year of medical school.

At least yearlong courses in biology, physics, general (inorganic) chemistry and organic chemistry are required. We also recommend courses in statistics, writing and social sciences. In addition, students are expected to have clinical exposure and research experience. The admissions committee evaluates all coursework completed prior to application, including postbaccalaureate and graduate studies.

Required Courses (Two Semesters/Three Quarters, Lecture & Associated Lab)

• Biology
• Physics
• Inorganic Chemistry (or equivalent)
• Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry (or equivalent)*

*It would be acceptable to have one semester/two quarters of organic chemistry plus one semester/one quarter of biochemistry, with associated labs.

Highly Recommended Courses

• English Composition
• Statistics
• Biochemistry

Encouraged Courses

Additional coursework in genetics, public health, the humanities and the social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, ethics)

AP Coursework

Science AP courses for which an applicant has received course credit at their undergraduate degree-granting institution will be considered as fulfilling the pre-medical science course requirements. Applicants should keep in mind, however, that the committee will expect to see advanced level undergraduate courses in the science disciplines for which the AP credit was awarded.

FAQ

Is there an age limit on coursework?

There is no age limit on coursework completed, so you would not have to retake courses prior to applying. However, if a student has taken the pre-med coursework quite a while ago, they may want to retake the courses, perhaps through a postbaccalaureate program, in order to prepare for the MCAT and medical school.

Can I complete coursework after submitting my application?

We recommend that the required pre-med coursework be completed by the time of application, or as early in the application season as possible. This coursework must be completed prior to entering medical school.

Is community college coursework accepted?

Coursework completed at a junior or community college will be included in our holistic review. We recommend that the required pre-med courses be completed at a four-year college or university.

Are online courses and labs accepted?

Taking an online course from an accredited U.S. or Canadian university or college is acceptable, though to make your application the most competitive, we recommend that the required pre-med courses, especially Organic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry, be standard classroom/lab courses. We do not accept online lab courses. 

Are summer courses accepted?

A summer course is acceptable if it covers the equivalent of a yearlong course. Please note that the degree of difficulty of the school and the courses taken, as well as the breadth of the academic program and the life experiences of the individual, are considered by the Committee on Admissions.

Special Note: We do not advise that students complete a required pre-med course over the summer unless a grade will be given for the course and it covers the equivalent of a yearlong course. It is acceptable to take other courses online and as Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit during the summer.

How much research and clinical experience is required prior to entering medical school?

We strongly recommend that applicants have research and clinical experience (i.e., working or volunteering in a hospital or clinic setting). There is no required amount of research or clinical experience, however a robust exploration of medicine allows for more meaningful exposure to your future chosen profession of medicine. The average amount of volunteer and clinical experience is 200-300 hours, but there is a wide range overall.

 

All Feinberg applicants are required to submit an American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application electronically. The AMCAS application should be submitted between late May/early June (when it becomes available) and no later than 11:59 p.m. Nov. 1, 2024, for 2025 matriculation. Visit the AMCAS section of the American Association of Medical Colleges site for submission details.

AMCAS requires that all applicants submit an email address. Feinberg applicants are required to maintain their AMCAS-submitted email address for receipt of individual and group communications. Applicants are advised to remove any qualifiers or blocks on their email addresses. Changes to one's email address or other contact information must be made through AMCAS, which will then update our office in their daily uploads.  

Deadline extensions for the AMCAS application are not available.

The Feinberg Committee on Admissions is not able to consider AMCAS applications submitted after Nov. 1, 2024. All supporting documents (including secondary application and letters) must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2024.

FAQ

Is there a preliminary review of the AMCAS application?

Shortly after an applicant's AMCAS application is received (four to six weeks after it is submitted to AMCAS), they are sent a secondary invitation email. There is no preliminary screening of the AMCAS application.

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required of all applicants. For 2025 matriculation, we will accept MCAT scores from exams taken in January 2022 through September 2024.  Students are encouraged to take the MCAT exam or any retests no later than June of the application year. The latest MCAT scores considered will be from the September 2024 test dates.

Applicants are required to indicate any upcoming MCAT testing dates when submitting the Feinberg secondary application.

Find information concerning the test via the MCAT section of the American Association of Medical Colleges site.

FAQ

Can I apply to Feinberg before I take the MCAT?

Yes. Applicants should not delay applying simply because an MCAT score is not yet available. Candidates will be invited to complete the secondary application prior to the receipt of an MCAT score, however we will not invite an applicant for an interview without an MCAT score.

What if I plan to retake the MCAT after I submit my application?

An applicant needs to indicate on their AMCAS application any additional MCAT exams they intend to take.  If one's plans change and they do not take a planned MCAT exam, they must update this on their AMCAS application so that review of their secondary application will not be delayed. Please also let our office know (med-admissions@northwestern.edu ) when you’ve updated your AMCAS application, so that we can ensure that you are no longer on MCAT hold.  

I took the MCAT several times. Do you see all of my scores?

Feinberg can see all of your MCAT test scores from previous administrations of the MCAT. We do not combine scores of the sections to make your cumulative score higher.

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 2024 entering class was 3.92. The median MCAT score was 520. There are no minimum MCAT or GPA scores required for entrance. 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.

Letters of recommendation must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2024.

Traditional MD Applicants

Your letters may be written by your college’s pre-medical/pre-health advisory committee, which may be presented as either a comprehensive and detailed committee letter or letter packet. If your college does not have a pre-medical/pre-health advisory committee or other similar service, you may procure individual letters.

• Committee/Composite/Advisor Letter: A comprehensive and detailed letter authored by a pre-health committee or pre-health adviser and intended to represent your institution’s evaluation of you. If your institution writes a committee letter WITH individual letters included, this will be acceptable, and they will all be considered during the review of your application.  If your institution writes a brief committee letter WITHOUT individual letters included, you will need to send at least two additional individual letters.
• Letter Packet: A packet or set of letters assembled and distributed by your institution, often by the institution’s career center. A letter packet may include a cover sheet from your pre-health committee or adviser. However, unlike to a committee letter, a letter packet does not include an evaluative letter from your pre-health committee or adviser.
• Individual Letter: A letter written by, and representing, a single letter author. If you submit individual letters, you will need to submit a total of three separate letters to meet Feinberg’s letters requirement. At least one of these letters should come from a science faculty member who has taught you. The other two letters may come from a variety of sources, preferably faculty members (science or non-science) or a research supervisor, but may also include a long-term employer. 

Nontraditional MD Applicants

Nontraditional applicants/students are generally defined as those who have taken two or more years off between undergraduate studies and matriculation to medical school. If you submit individual letters, you will need to submit a total of three separate letters to meet Feinberg’s letters requirement. For nontraditional applicants, letters may be procured from any combination of the following sources: science or non-science faculty members; supervisors from research, clinical shadowing, volunteer, or work experiences.

Transmission of Letters/Official Letter Guidelines

Feinberg accepts letters submitted through the AMCAS Letter Service.  It is expected that the required recommendations are dated, have the signature of the letter writer(s) and are on official school or business letterhead stationery (with the official school or business insignia).  Recommendations should be relevant to the applicant's current/recent studies, research, or clinical involvement, therefore recently written letters from individuals with whom you are currently interacting or who have interacted with you recently, will tend to be stronger than those from individuals who worked with you quite a while ago.  Please refer to AAMC’s Guidelines for Writing a Letter of Evaluation for a Medical School Applicant for further guidance for your letter writers.

Submission of Additional Letters

Do not send more than the required amount of letters (one committee/composite/advisor letter, letter packet, or three individual letters) prior to receiving an invitation to interview at Feinberg. Please note that additional recommendations (requested after a student is invited for interview) should be sent directly from the recommender either via AMCAS or e-mail (med-admissions@northwestern.edu) for addition to one's file.

FAQ

What happens if my letters of recommendation are received by AMCAS after the deadline?

Your application will still be processed, but you will not receive any confirmation when your file becomes complete. We cannot guarantee that late letters will be included when your file is reviewed by the Committee on Admissions.

We will send you an invitation to submit the Feinberg secondary application once your AMCAS application has been received by our office, so please check your email frequently beginning at this time.  

In order to successfully receive the secondary invitation email, please remove the spam filters from your email and include northwestern.edu among your approved senders. Gmail offers instructions on how to add approved senders to bypass the spam filter.

All applicants are invited via email to complete the secondary application and pay the processing fee of $95 at the secure applicant website. 

The secondary application must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2024.

Feinberg will automatically waive the Secondary Application fee for applicants who have been granted an AMCAS Fee Waiver (obtained though the AAMC Fee Assistance Program).  MD and MSTP applicants who were not granted a fee waiver by AMCAS and for whom the application fee would constitute a significant financial burden may contact the Office of Admissions directly (med-admissions@northwestern.edu) to request a secondary application fee waiver.  Please submit your fee waiver request after you have been invited by our office to submit the secondary application.

Accepted students must provide proof of positive immunity prior to matriculation to the university. Incomplete health requirements will restrict participation in certain clinical activities. For further information, please review the Entrance Health Requirements for Medical Students.

Criminal Background Check

Criminal background checks are required by the state of Illinois. Illinois has joined a growing national trend in requiring background checks on students, employees and other persons having direct contact with patients. The objective of this program is to enhance patient health and safety, facilitate student access to affiliated clinical facilities and ensure eligibility for licensure. Feinberg reserves the right to rescind an offer of acceptance based on adverse information discovered during the criminal background check.

All accepted students’ criminal background checks will need to be completed no later than by July 1 of the matriculation year.

Learn more about the criminal background check process from the AAMC.

Drug Screening

All accepted Feinberg students will be required to undergo drug testing for commonly abused controlled substances prior to matriculation at Feinberg. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all students entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of patients operate in clinical settings with good judgment and ethical behavior. Substance abuse can impair a student’s capacity to safely function in such a setting. All of our clinical affiliates require that physicians, staff and students undergo drug screening. Because students begin interacting with patients during the first week of school, drug testing must be completed by July 1 prior to matriculation.

Applicants will be asked to evaluate themselves according to the technical standards established by the faculty before matriculation and at various points throughout the curriculum. These standards include observation and communication skills, reasoning abilities and motor skills necessary for the performance of laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures. 

Below are the technical standards the faculty deems necessary for a student to matriculate, remain in good standing and ultimately to achieve all the competencies necessary for graduation with the MD degree. The Feinberg School of Medicine therefore requires applicants to confirm their ability to comply with these standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, as a condition of admission to the MD program. The Feinberg School of Medicine is committed to the full and equitable inclusion of qualified learns with disabilities. Students with disabilities should contact Accessible NU for information on how to request accommodations through Accessible NU’s confidential accommodations process.

Perception

Students must be able to observe and interpret demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences. The student must be able to accurately and efficiently determine and interpret physical findings in patients. The student must also be able to use touch perception or the functional equivalent to palpate and percuss during physical examinations.

Communication

Students must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with patients, families and colleagues. They must be able to obtain a medical history in a timely fashion and establish therapeutic relationships with patients. Students must be able to record information accurately and clearly and communicate effectively and efficiently with other healthcare professionals in a variety of patient settings.

Motor Skills

Students must be able to perform basic laboratory tests and physical examinations. The student must be able to adhere to universal precautions in performing these activities.

Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative & Quantitative Abilities

Students must be able to calculate, measure, reason, analyze and synthesize. The most critical skill required of physicians, problem solving, demands all of these abilities. Students must be able to participate and learn through a variety of modalities including but not limited to classroom instruction, small groups, team and collaborative activities.

Behavioral & Social Attributes

Students must demonstrate the ability to exercise good judgment, the timely completion of responsibilities related to the diagnosis and care of patients and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and colleagues. Students must be able to work collaboratively in a healthcare team and function in stressful work environments such as hospitals and clinics. They must be able to demonstrate reasonable flexibility in adapting to changing work situations.

 

NU Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance Non-Discrimination Statement

Northwestern University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, genetic information or any other classification protected by law in matters of admissions, employment, housing or services or in the educational programs or activities it operates. Harassment, whether verbal, physical or visual, that is based on any of these characteristics is a form of discrimination.

Northwestern University complies with federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination based on the protected categories listed above, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination based on sex (including sexual misconduct) in the University’s educational programs and activities. In addition, Northwestern provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants, students and employees with disabilities and to individuals who are pregnant.

Handling Violations

Nondiscrimination and reasonable accommodation violations

Any alleged violations of this policy or questions with respect to nondiscrimination or reasonable accommodations should be directed to Northwestern’s Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 4-500, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

Sexual misconduct or harassment violations

Any alleged violations of this policy or questions with respect to sexual misconduct or sexual harassment should be directed to Northwestern’s Title IX Coordinator, 1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 4-500, Evanston, Illinois 60201, 847-491-3745, TitleIXCoordinator@northwestern.edu. 

Title IX violations

A person may also file a complaint with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights regarding an alleged violation of Title IX by visiting the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights website or calling 800-421-3481.

It is the policy of Northwestern University to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) based on sex in the University’s educational programs and activities. Title IX also prohibits retaliation for asserting or otherwise participating in claims of sex discrimination.

The Title IX coordinator and the deputy coordinators (listed under Our Staff) have been designated to oversee Northwestern’s compliance with Title IX and to respond to reports of violations. For more information about Title IX, go to Northwestern's Title IX website. A person may also file a complaint with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights regarding an alleged violation of Title IX by visiting the U.S. Department of Education's website or calling 800-421-3481.

Northwestern University Disabilities Statement

Northwestern University does not discriminate or permit discrimination on the basis of disability in matters of admissions, employment, housing, or services or in the educational programs or activities it operates. The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance has a Section 504 coordinator who coordinates compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and applicable federal and state regulations. The coordinator may be contacted at:

• Section 504 Coordinator
• Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance
• 1800 Sherman, Evanston campus
• 847-467-6165
• ocr@northwestern.edu

Northwestern University has adopted internal grievance procedures providing for prompt, equitable, and impartial resolution of grievances alleging any action prohibited by the ADA or Section 504. These procedures apply to reports of discrimination or harassment on the basis of disability by staff, faculty, students, applicants for both University employment and academic admission, vendors, contractors, and third parties.

For the complete Grievance Procedure, including information about filing a grievance, investigation and resolution of grievances, confidentiality, and other topics, please see https://www.northwestern.edu/equal-opportunity-access/respond/disability-grievance.html