Intellectual curiosity. Integrity. Empathy. Compassion. Ability to overcome obstacles. Resilience. Distance traveled. Coachability. A commitment to lifelong learning. The goal of the Geisel School of Medicine's Admissions Committee is to enroll students who reflect all of those qualities and who will contribute to the uniquely close-knit and stimulating learning environment that defines Geisel. Dartmouth receives approximately 7,000 completed applications a year for about 92 places in the entering class. Geisel's student body is national in scope and impact.
Academic Requirements
The admissions committee carefully reviews the entire application with attention to personal, academic, scientific, and community engagement considerations. We seek to select a group of students each year who are reflective of our nation and who will contribute positively to, and benefit from, our institutional mission. We employ a holistic review process that places value on applicants who possess a strong academic foundation, diversity in all forms, a broad range of life experiences, and traits known to promote success in the field of medicine.
Specific academic requirements are listed below:
- One year (8 semester hours or equivalent) of biology and physics.
- Two years (16 semester hours or equivalent) of chemistry, which must include one semester (or equivalent) of organic chemistry and one semester (or equivalent) of biochemistry.
- One half-year (3 semester hours or equivalent) of college-level mathematics, including either calculus or statistics.
- Candidates should have completed a minimum of three years of post-secondary study at a US and/or Canadian college or university, have a bachelor's degree, and have pursued a broad range of study in the sciences and humanities that provides a solid foundation in the scientific basis of medicine and in human behavior and society.
- Students are encouraged to major in a field of particular interest and, if possible, to pursue independent investigations in that field.
- All candidates are required to present scores from the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and achieve a score of 503 or above. The Admissions Committee considers each application holistically, however applicants should be aware that accepted applications have a median combined MCAT score of 515 and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.65. Students with MCAT scores of 502 or below will not be sent a secondary.
- For 2024 entry, the MCAT exam must have been taken between January 2021 and September 2023, with results to us by December 1, 2023.
- Student matriculating at the Geisel School of Medicine must agree to meet the Essential Standards for Matriculation, Promotion and Graduation which can be reviewed here, and immunization requirements.
Other requirements:
Students matriculating at the Geisel School of Medicine must agree to meet the Essential Standards for Matriculation, Promotion and Graduation which can be reviewed here, and immunization requirements.
Joint-degree programs at Dartmouth
In addition to the M.D. degree, Geisel medical students participate in the following degree programs:
MD-PhD program
The MD-PhD program is committed to training physician-scientists for the 21st century who will provide excellent patient care, lead discovery in biomedical disease-oriented research, advocate for basic and translational biomedical research, and take leadership roles in biomedical research and the delivery of health care. For more information, visit the MD-PhD program website or call (603) 646-5800.
MD-MBA program
The MD-MBA program is coordinated with Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. It is designed to create leaders in health care and medical administration and in entrepreneurial ventures in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical-product industries. Students apply to the Tuck School during their second year of medical school. The MD-MBA program admits up to 6 students per year and is typically completed in either five or six years. For more information, visit the MD-MBA Program website or call (603) 646-5800.
Health policy programs
MD-MPH and MD-MS programs are offered in concert with The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Students apply after enrolling in the MD program. These unique programs provide students with the academic knowledge and skill sets to make an impact in evidence-based public health practice and quality improvement. For more information, visit the TDI programs page or call (603) 646-5678.
Engineering program
The MD-MS program with Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering is designed for people who intend to pursue clinical practice and want to develop research skills in a related engineering area. It is also well suited to students who want to study technologies they will employ as practicing physicians. The program provides a funded research experience in engineering that is expected to lead to a research publication and provides practice in engineering design and analysis. For more information, visit the Thayer School of Engineering website or call (603) 646-2230.
Important Dates
May 2, 2023: AMCAS Applications Open
May 30, 2023: Applications may be filed with AMCAS
August 2023: Interviews begin
November 1, 2023: AMCAS Submissions Close
December 1, 2023: Final Deadline for Secondary Applications
March 14, 2024: Interviews End