FAQ

**Response to COVID-19 - Information for 2021 Admissions Cycle**

Pass/Fail Coursework - Because many colleges and universities have moved to online/virtual formats this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic and may also be grading courses on a pass/fail or credit/no credit basis, we want to reassure you that we will accept credit as reported from your school for spring and summer 2020 courses. This includes prerequisite courses. We will continue to monitor the situation and determine if this policy needs to extend to Fall 2020 coursework as well.

Online Coursework and Labs - Because many colleges and universities have moved to online/virtual formats this spring and summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will accept online coursework and labs as long as they are from an accredited institution. This includes prerequisite courses. We will continue to monitor the situation and determine if this policy needs to extend to Fall coursework as well.

Letters of Evaluation – If the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the committee letter writing process at your school, please know that Geisel’s letters of recommendation policy allows for individual letters of recommendation to be submitted in lieu of a committee letter.

MCAT – We are monitoring information from the AAMC and Pearson VUE and understand March, April and almost all May dates for testing have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and students are being rescheduled.  At this time (May 2020), we understand the goal is to accommodate all applicants who are applying in the 2021 cycle and expedite scores.  Should this hold true, we do not anticipating making any changes to our MCAT requirement.

 

FAQs

• REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
• APPLY TO GEISEL
• INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
• AFTER YOU APPLY
• GETTING TO HANOVER, NH

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Do I have to finish my prerequisite course before applying?
No, your prerequisite courses do not all have to be complete at the time of application.  They do need to be completed by the time you matriculate at Geisel.

Can I fulfill a prerequisite with an online or community college course?
Our Admissions Committee prefers that the majority of prerequisite courses be taken in a classroom setting, but an online course may be used to meet Geisel prerequisite requirements if  the program is properly accredited in the US or Canada.  If you have a question about whether a particular course would count, you can email us a course syllabus for review.

We do accept prerequisite courses taken at community colleges.

Can AP courses count towards my prerequisites?
AP credit that appears on an official college/university transcript can be used toward fulfillment of the premedical requirements.

Can classes taken outside of the US or Canada count towards my prerequisites?
Classes taken outside the US or Canada can count towards the prerequisite requirements. AMCAS will not verify and report them, however, which means that you will need to provide us with an official evaluation from an educational credentialing service for each course.

Can audited or pass/fail classes count towards prerequisites?
No, all prerequisite courses must be taken for credit.

Do I have to take the MCAT?
Yes. All applicants are expected to present MCAT scores as part of their application. The MCAT must have been taken within the last 3 calendar years.

I have taken the MCAT more than once.  How do you view multiple scores?
We consider your most recent test most closely, but will also look at your other scores.

What is the average GPA and MCAT of your entering class?
Our average GPA is 3.66 and average MCAT is 514.

APPLYING TO GEISEL

Does Geisel participate in the AMCAS Early Decision Program?
No, Geisel does not participate in the AMCAS Early Decision Program.

Do you accept transfer students?
No, due to our small class size (92), we are not able to accept transfer students.

What are your deadlines for applying?
Geisel’s deadline for submitting an application through AMCAS is November 1. Geisel’s secondary application deadline is December 1.

Do you extend your deadlines?
No, out of fairness to all applicants, we do not extend our admissions deadlines.

How may I obtain a secondary application?
When you initiate your application with AMCAS, they will provide us with your preliminary information that includes your e-mail address. We will then send instructions for accessing our online secondary application to all applicants with an MCAT score of 503 or higher. You can make the choice whether to submit your secondary before or after your AMCAS application is verified. Please remember that if you withdraw from AMCAS or fail to be verified by the deadline, our secondary application fee is non-refundable.

How can I find out if my application is complete or still missing items?
You will be able to check this via Geisel’s secure online application portal.

How does the Admissions Office communicate with applicants?
For current applicants, we will communicate by email through the online application portal. It is very important to keep your “preferred” email address current in AMCAS. Prospective applicants may contact us at Geisel.admissions@dartmouth.edu or at 603-650-1505.

How do I change my name/address on my application?
Log into your AMCAS application and make the changes. AMCAS will notify us and update our system. Always remember to re-certify and re-submit when making changes in AMCAS. 

I made a mistake on my secondary application. Can I change the error after I submitted it?
If you make a mistake on your secondary, please contact the Admissions Office.

Can I send updates? What is the best way to do this?
On your status page in online portal, there is a Documents Upload option. This can be used to send updates.

How many letters of recommendation can I submit?
The maximum number of letters we will review and that may be uploaded is 5. We require a composite recommendation from your school's premedical committee or a packet containing a minimum of 3 individual letters from your school. If your school has no premedical committee, a minimum of 3 individual letters is required. These letters may be from faculty, supervisors, employers, and other colleagues who know you well. If you are in graduate school, a letter from your thesis advisor is recommended. Please submit all letters through AMCAS using one of their acceptable forms of receipt.

What dual and joint degree programs are available?
We offer the following joint degree programs:  MD/PhD; MD/MPH; MD/MBA; and MD/MS Engineering. Please consult the Admissions Requirements page for more details.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

Does Geisel accept applications from international students?
At Geisel we admit and enroll international students. They are an important part of the diversity of our student body. Any student who meets the premedical requirements (which include three years of post-secondary study at US and/or Canadian colleges/universities) is eligible to apply for admission. International applicants will be considered from the same pool as US citizens, Permanent Residents and DACA applicants.

Are international students eligible for financial aid?
International students are eligible to apply for need-based financial institutional scholarships and loans. More information can be found at the financial aid website.  

Do you consider applications from students who are eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status (DACA)?
Yes, we consider DACA-eligible candidates in the same pool as all other candidates. If admitted, DACA-eligible students are eligible to apply for need-based financial institutional scholarships and loans.

AFTER YOU APPLY

How do I find out my status after my application is complete, and when will I know your decision?
Geisel does not track your status. Once your file is complete, it will be forwarded to the Committee for review. You will hear from us via the online application portal once the Committee has made a decision on your file. Due to the large number of applications and the care taken in the reading of each file, our review process at Geisel can be lengthy one.

What is your interview season, and on what days do you conduct interviews?
Our interview season beings in September and continues through March. Interviews take place on Thursdays by invitation only.

What can I expect on my interview day?
The interview day is designed for us to get to know you, and for you to get to know us at Geisel. Upon arrival you will be greeted by staff and first year students and offered a light breakfast. The first session of the day is a 20 minute group exercise. This is followed by an orientation session which includes information about the curriculum, student life, and financial aid. It continues with a student-led tour of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, followed by a complimentary lunch. In the afternoon, you will have two thirty-minute interviews conducted by members of our admissions committee and the day will end with a campus tour of the Geisel School of Medicine. Throughout the day there will be opportunities to ask questions, meet students, and really get to know what makes Geisel special. 

If I will be in the New England area, will you review my file so I can consolidate interview trips?
It is fine to let us know if you will be in the area during a given time period.  We do try to read applications in the order they have been completed and cannot promise that we will be able to review your file in time to make a decision that fits within your travel window, but we will try if possible. We understand the costs involved in travelling to interviews and the logistics in potentially missing school and/or work and try to be accommodating if we can.

I am going to be out of the country during the application cycle.  Would I be able to interview via Skype?
No. We require our applicants to interview in person.

GETTING TO HANOVER, NH

What is the best way to get to Hanover? What are some transportation options?
If you are driving, we are about a 2.5 hour drive from Boston or a 5 hour drive from New York. The Dartmouth Coach, a private coach service, runs buses from Boston and New York.

If you are flying, we recommend flying into Boston’s Logan Airport and taking the Dartmouth Coach bus service to Hanover as it picks up passengers at all airport terminals and drops you off right on campus.  You can also fly into Manchester, NH, but please note there is no public transportation option to get you to campus from Manchester so you would have to rent a car or arrange for a shuttle service to take you to Hanover.  There is also a very small airport near campus in Lebanon, NH that students can fly into on Cape Air, but please know this is a very small airport and the planes are tiny.

Once you arrive on campus, it’s important to know that there are very few cabs in Hanover. Uber has just started serving this area, but service is limited.  Some of the hotels have shuttle services and special rates for students here for interviews, so be sure to ask about both when making a reservation. 

Is there a student hosting program?
Yes, our current students will host prospective students who are here for interviews. Once you have scheduled your interview, you will receive a link to our hosting webpage where you can view information and request accommodations from our student hosts.

Please know that at certain times of the year when students have exams, it can be difficult to find a host.