2010–2011

Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) is a privately endowed, highly selective medical college located in New York City. Founded in 1898 as Cornell University

Medical College, the medical school campus embraces one of the most advanced centers in the world for the biomedical sciences, including NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Hospital for Special Surgery and Rockefeller University. In addition, WCMC’s extensive group of clinical affiliates spans the New York metropolitan region and beyond, serving a tremendous variety of communities, and forming what may well be the most diverse patient population of any medical college in the world. Learning thus occurs in every area of biomedical research, including basic, clinical and applied research, as well as every possible type of clinical care.

ON THE COVER: An artist’s rendering of Weill Cornell’s new Medical Research Building, currently under construction and slated to open in 2013.

MORE INFO VIDEO: GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P-MuLoFuSY

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Highlights of Weill Cornell Medical CollegeCornell University, one of the world’s foremost centers of learning and research, has dedicated its medical college in the heart of New York City to the highest principles of liberal education, encompassing spirited inquiry, collaborative learning, and individual initiative. The unique features of Weill Cornell Medical College include:

A progressive science curriculum based on problem-based learning, emphasizing active learning, self-directed inquiry, and small groups rather than lectures. The chief outcome of problem-based learning is that students master the same amount of material as in conventional curricula—or more—while truly enjoying the learning process.

Science and research opportunities that are unusually broad by virtue of the co-presence, on a single campus, of five renowned institutions dedicated to the health care sciences: Weill Cornell Medical College, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Hospital for Special Surgery and The Rockefeller University. A clinical program characterized by early patient exposure; core rotations at a state-of-the-art academic teaching hospital; and clinical rotations at a great variety of public hospitals, community hospitals and research hospitals throughout New York City and the region. A patient population that may be the most diverse of any medical center in the world. A special emphasis on internationalism: Students have performed clinical care and/or research in over 80 countries on six continents—usually with full funding from the Medical College. New York City: NYC is the world’s center for culture, arts, literature, science, the exchange of ideas, and the life of the mind. Housing on the medical center campus is offered to all students for the duration of their studies.

The Weill Cornell student body, who represent a broad range of interests, personal backgrounds, life experiences and accomplishments.

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MORE INFO VIDEO: WELCOME TO WEILL CORNELLhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ric5QW4QUEc

The Weill Cornell Medical College campus at sunset, with the East River in the distance

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The required period of study at WCMC extends over four academic years. Exposure to patients and to clinical medicine begins in the first semester and continues until graduation. The curriculum was completely revised in 1996 and has proven highly successful. The first and second years of study consist of six basic science courses as well as the course Medicine, Patients and Society. The core basic science courses are sequential, integrated, interdisciplinary block courses that employ problem-based learning (PBL) in small groups with the faculty. PBL emphasizes active learning and requires the student first to identify issues needed to solve a medical problem, then to seek out the information needed to solve the problem, and then to recon-vene in small groups with the faculty to apply the information learned. Lectures are few and emphasize the conceptual framework of a field. Anatomic dissection in a state-of-the-art facility and experimental laboratories complete the learning experience. The course Medicine, Patients and Society approaches the doctor-patient relationship from both conceptual and practical perspectives. Students spend the morning in seminar, and the afternoon in physicians’ offices. Areas treated include medical interviewing, physical diagnosis, human behavior in illness, medical ethics, public health, biostatistics, clinical epidemiology, and others. Students learn these vital topics in a patient-centered context. The third year is dedicated to clinical learning that emphasizes the core clerk-ships, including Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics-Gynecology, Psychiatry, Neurology and Primary Care. In these courses, students are assigned to clinical in-patient and out-patient services at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and throughout the network of clinical affiliates. Students are integral members of the health care team and actively care for patients, under the supervision of the faculty. The fourth year centers on completion of clinical requirements, a Public Health Systems clerkship, and electives. While electives can be taken at any time in the third or fourth years, most students focus on three major types of electives in the fourth year: clinical electives, often in subspecialty areas; research; and interna-tional electives. Two additional courses, the Public Health Clerkship and Medicine, Patients and Society 3 (focusing on end-of-life and ethics), are the only clinical courses of their type in the country. In the month before graduation, courses in advanced basic science allow students to study leading-edge biomedical science in depth.

The Curriculum

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MORE INFO VIEW ELECTIVES CATALOGhttp://weill.cornell.edu/education/curriculum/fourth/electives/electives

PBL is a teaching method in which students learn by actively seeking out information to solve problems. In contrast to lectures, in which information is delivered by the teacher to the student, PBL emphasizes active learning.

What is the rationale for PBL?PBL is based on education research that shows that adults learn best when they are actively solving problems and actively seeking out information, rather than receiving it passively.

How is PBL structured?At Weill Cornell Medical College, groups of 10 students and one to two faculty mem-bers meet three times each week, usually on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, for 90 minutes each session. At the Monday meeting, the group receives a new problem. The problem is usually, but not always, a clinical case. The group then begins to “brainstorm” about possible solutions to the issues at hand. By the end of the session, students have identified information that needs to be sought and have agreed who will work on what area. Between the adjournment of the PBL seminar on Monday and the next meeting on Wednesday, students actively seek out the information needed to solve the problem. Working singly or in pairs, they refer to original research, texts (in book and electronic formats), web sites of major scientific organizations, and other resources. At the Wednesday meeting, students exchange what they have learned, often making brief presentations and providing handouts. The class intranet site is used widely to disseminate information. This meeting identifies new issues to be resolved, and the group reconvenes on Friday to consolidate the learning.

What is the role of the teacher in PBL?At WCMC, the teacher is a faculty member (and not, for example, a graduate student) whose role is to coordinate and guide the discussion. The main purpose of the teacher is not to impart information to students, but rather to assist in the exchange of ideas and to guide the PBL process.

Does PBL work?Most studies have concluded that PBL works at least as well as lecture-based curricula. They have generally found that PBL students learn better in some areas and worse in no areas. Moreover, students rate their satisfaction as significantly greater in PBL formats.

Don’t most medical schools have PBL curricula now?Most U.S. medical schools use some form of PBL. However, few (<10%) use mainly PBL.

Does WCMC use “pure” PBL?No. WCMC uses a variety of teaching methods, including lecture, laboratory, PBL semi-nars, journal clubs, office-based tutorials, simulated patients, robotics, clinical clerkships and others. However, the heart of the basic science curriculum at WCMC is PBL.

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Problem-Based Learning

How long has WCMC instruction been based on PBL?WCMC first employed PBL methods in the Pathophysiology course in the early 1990s. Encouraged by the success of the experience, WCMC inaugurated its present PBL curriculum in 1996. We continue to make adjustments annually based on student and faculty feedback.

How does PBL differ from conventional medical school curricula?

PBL Conventional curricula

Small-group seminar Large lecture Active learning Passive learning Team learning Solo learning Students seek out information Teacher imparts information Discussion-based Listening-based Problem-solving skills Memorization skills Close contact with faculty Distant contact with faculty Bidirectional Unidirectional

PBL fosters lifelong learning, open-ended inquiry, and student-directed learning.

The Weill Cornell Community Clinic during a blood pressure screening day

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The principal teaching site for Weill Cornell Medical College is NewYork- Presbyterian Hospital, one of the world’s leading medical centers. The Hospital is consistently ranked in the top 10 of “Best Hospitals” in the country by U.S.News & World Report magazine. The presence of some 2,500 faculty members, 50 residency and clinical fellowship programs, and 500 residency positions, ensures a rich inter-action between medical students, residents and faculty. In addition, the extensive network of clinical affiliates allows students to experience all types of clinical settings, both in- and out-patient. During the clinical portion of their medical studies, students learn by actively caring for patients, under the supervision of the faculty. Weill Cornell’s model for clinical learning encourages the student to analyze clinical problems rigorously, then discuss the interpretation with the faculty, then implement the clinical plan. This encourages the student to develop independent clinical skills, while safeguarding the highest level of patient care. Weill Cornell’s extensive group of clinical affiliates includes New York Hospital-Queens in Flushing; New York Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, Brooklyn; New York Downtown Hospital in downtown Manhattan; Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, a public hospital in the South Bronx; The Brooklyn Hospi-tal Center in Fort Greene, Brooklyn; Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in Westchester County; the Westchester Medical Group; Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca; and The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. These institutions serve a tremendous variety of communities, which together may well form the most diverse patient population of any medical college in the world.

The Joan and Sanford I. Weill Education Center is a state-of-the-art educational facility. Its 21 teaching rooms—each equipped with several large-screen iMac computers and convertible into laboratories for microscopy—are ideal for small-group learning. The Weill Auditorium features electrical outlets at every seat and high-speed wireless network access, as well as advanced videoconferencing capabilities. Computers are featured prominently in the WCMC curriculum, including text, anatomic and microscopic images, video, sound, animations, simulations, bibliographic searching, access to databases and more. Over 100 computers are available throughout the Education Center and the Library. The Weill Cornell Medical Library, composed of the Samuel J. Wood Library and the C.V. Starr Biomedical Information Center, is a modern information resource. It contains extensive printed materials (books and journals) as well as numerous electronic resources. Our small class size, numbering 101 students per year, allows for especially personalized attention and instruction.

Learning Facilities

Clinical Instruction

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MORE INFO WEILL CORNELL LEARNING FACILITIEShttp://weill.cornell.edu/education/resources

The Weill Cornell Clinical Skills Center is dedicated to helping students learn the crucial skills of practicing medicine. Special areas of focus include medical interviewing, physical examination, patient-doctor communication and clinical procedures. The Center’s advanced facilities include:

Standardized Patient EvaluationStandardized patients are professional New York City actors trained to portray clinical vignettes. Students interview and examine standardized patients in exam rooms that are exact replicas of those in doctors’ offices.

SimulatorsThese are computerized manikins that reproduce clinical scenarios—especially medical emergencies—with great realism. For example, instructors may program the signs and symptoms of an asthma attack into the manikin’s computer, and the student evaluates and treats the “patient,” which responds appropriately to the student’s therapeutic decisions.

Task TrainersThese are smaller-scale manikins that allow students to practice such skills as blood drawing, pelvic examination, and so on.

The Center’s advanced audio-visual technology allows instructors and students to view any session in real time or to access digitally streamed recordings at any time from a secure server. Critiquing a scenario can hone a variety of skills that students need to be good doctors.

The Clinical Skills Center

Standardized patient evaluation helps young doctors better understand the relationship between patient and physician.

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Medical Student Research Day

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MORE INFO VIDEO: MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH DAYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7IOyqrGb8Q

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Weill Cornell Medical College and its scientific affiliates form one of the world’s leading centers for biomedical research. Research is ongoing at every level of basic, applied, clinical and translational research. While research experience is not required for admission or for graduation, the vast majority of students have engaged in research before and during their WCMC education. Campus’s research centers are:

Weill Cornell Medical College: The college’s present research laboratories have been com-pletely renovated in recent years, increasing laboratory space by more than 25%. In addition, construction has begun on a new 440,000 square foot medical research building directly across the street from the Medical College. This will more than double the school’s existing research space and serve as a hub for medical research in the New York City area.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Established in 1884, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world’s oldest and largest private institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. It is often regarded as the top center in the country—indeed the world—for cancer care.

The Hospital for Special Surgery: Founded in 1863, HSS was the first institution in the United States dedicated to the treatment of orthopedic conditions. Specializing in orthope-dics, rheumatology and sports medicine, HSS is one of the world’s premier centers for care in these areas.

The Rockefeller University: Founded in 1901, The Rockefeller University is one of the world’s premier biomedical research institutions. This graduate research university centers on 70 laboratories working in a broad range of fields, including molecular and cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, structural biology, biophysics and biochemistry. The faculty includes six Nobel laureates and 35 members of the National Academy of Science.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital: In addition to serving as Weill Cornell’s main site for clinical teaching, the Medical Center is home to a wealth of clinical research in virtually all areas of medical science. Among its many programs are numerous “Centers of Excellence” in gene therapy, reproductive medicine, burns, vascular medicine, women’s health, comple-mentary medicine, minimal-access surgery, and many other areas.

Research at Weill Cornell Medical College

MORE INFO http://weill.cornell.edu

MORE INFO http://mskcc.org

MORE INFO http://hss.edu

MORE INFO http://rockefeller.edu

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Since its inception in 1989, the Weill Cornell Community Service Program (WCCSP) has been a resource for many of the medical students to become active and stay involved in servicing their community. The hard work and commitment of our medical students does not end at graduation. Many of the newly appointed MDs continue to donate their time and services to the greater community of New York City and beyond. It is very common for alumni to continue contributing to our service programs in many ways. This type of involvement is a longstanding tradition at Weill Cornell Medical College. The WCCSP initiatives continue to expand and new projects emerge as students tap into their creativity to find new and innovative ways to teach and serve New York City. They work in partnership with their peers at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and local city agencies to address many of the pressing medical and social concerns of today’s world, among which are: teen pregnancy, homelessness, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, illiteracy, mentorship for our youth, healthcare for uninsured adults, and the pervasive lack of basic health information. Students learn and grow from their volunteer experiences. When exposed to the needs of their community, they are more likely to become compassionate and aware physicians who are sensitized to the special needs of the underserved. They increase their ability to communicate with others, witness the real-life effects of disease, integrate application with their theoretical studies, and gain a greater appre-ciation of how cross-cultural differences impact their delivery of service. They gain much by generously giving of themselves. Over 80% of WCMC students participate in volunteer community service. Their efforts range from medical services in soup kitchens and homeless shelters to teaching elementary and high school students about disease prevention. Most notable among their activities is the Weill Cornell Community Clinic, a student-led organization that provides high-quality, comprehensive, primary health care free of charge to uninsured New Yorkers. In this remarkable program, clinical teams consisting of two students conduct full patient evaluations and, under the supervision of the faculty, determine and implement appropriate patient care. The clinic offers a broad array of services, including diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions, provision of free medications, preventive medicine, social work and subspecialty referrals. The MD with Honors in Service is a special degree that recognizes students who have performed exceptional community service at WCMC. This honor is designated on the diploma at graduation.

Community Service

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MORE INFO WEILL CORNELL COMMUNITY CLINIChttp://wccc.med.cornell.edu

Students at Weill Cornell Medical College are successful by all measures. Our experience is that students learn extremely well. In the National Residency Matching Program, students achieve the most highly sought post-graduate training positions in the country. Weill Cornell alumni are pre-eminent in the profession: as scientists, as physicians and as academic leaders.

Student Success

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MORE INFO VIDEO: WEILL CORNELL MATCH DAY 2010http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cf77hTA6GQ

Weill Cornell seeks applicants who uphold the highest academic and personal standards. WCMC is among the most selective medical schools in the nation. Each year the Committee on Admissions selects 101 students from over 5,000 applicants. The Committee seeks students who it feels are best prepared for future leadership roles in medicine. In addition to thorough preparation in the basic sciences, appli-cants should have a broad liberal arts education with demonstrated accomplishment in the humanities and social sciences. We attempt to identify the best-qualified applicants from diverse academic and personal backgrounds. In keeping with the principles of Weill Cornell Medical College and Cornell University, we seek students with outstanding academic accomplishments who have also demonstrated exceptional personal initiative. Such initiative may take the form of leadership, creativity, research, community service, motivation, or other life experiences.

Principles of the Admissions Process

RequirementsWCMC requires two semesters, or their equivalent, in biology, chemistry and physics. These will typically be comprehensive introductory courses with laboratory. In biology, coursework will typically include molecular biology, cell biology and genetics. We recommend two semesters of organic chemistry, but we accept one semester of organic chemistry, with lab, and one semester of other advanced biology or chemistry coursework. Examples include biochemistry, physical chemistry, analytic chemistry and molecular genetics. WCMC requires two semesters of writing-intensive courses, one in the humanities or social sciences (e.g., history, philosophy, anthropology), and one focusing on English- language literature. In some instances, actual laboratory work experience may substitute for laboratory courses. Integrated science courses that include biology, chemistry, physics and math-ematical aspects of life sciences may be substituted for coursework in the three basic science areas on a credit-hour-by-hour basis. These courses should be rigorous, and competency in basic science content must be corroborated by achievement in other areas such as advanced science courses, research, and/or MCAT scores. WCMC strongly encourages applicants to undertake study in a broad range of disciplines, including the humanities and social sciences, beyond the minimal requirements for admission. Of particular value in the modern practice of medicine are statistics, ethics, psychology, anthropology, sociology and management skills. WCMC strongly encourages applicants to undertake study at an advanced, in-depth level in at least one discipline, beyond the minimal requirements for admission and the course requirements for their major.

MORE INFO ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTShttp://weill.cornell.edu/education/admissions

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All applicants must apply through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). AMCAS applications can be obtained only online (see below).The deadline to submit this application is October 15. When WCMC receives your verified application from AMCAS, we will send you an e-mail with instructions on how to access our Supplemental Application Form (SAF) online. The application fee is $75. This fee can be waived for applicants who have been granted a fee waiver from AMCAS, and for others under special circumstances. We require letters of recommendation: either a composite letter of recommen-dation from the applicant’s university pre-health careers advising office (preferred), or two letters from others such as teachers and supervisors in work, service or research. Applicants should request letters from persons who know them well and can discuss their capabilities, accomplishments and character. A teacher, whether at the undergraduate or graduate level, should be one who has worked with the applicant personally. If the applicant has had a substantial research, work, clinical or service experience, WCMC requests a letter from the supervisor in that experience. WCMC requires scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Information on the MCAT may be obtained online (see below). Scores should not be older than three years at time of application. Your application is not complete until we have received your MCAT scores, so that the latest date that you can take the MCAT and still be considered for admission is September of the year in which you are applying.

All additional materials (SAF, MCAT scores and letters of recommendation) must be received by WCMC by November 15.

The Tri-Institutional MD–PhD program has a separate application process and different deadlines; see page 22.

How to Apply

Selection CriteriaPremedical curriculumThe Committee on Admissions considers equally students with backgrounds in the basic sciences, social sciences and liberal arts. Each application is considered on an individual basis. We encourage applicants to pursue premedical curricula which allow them to sample a broad range of academic disciplines and to explore one or more areas in depth.

Letters of recommendationWCMC requires letters of recommendation as described above. These play an important role in the Committee’s assessment of your application and are submitted through AMCAS.

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MORE INFO AMCAS APPLICATIONhttp://aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm

MCAT INFORMATIONhttp://aamc.org/mcat

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The Global ExperienceWCMC has long been a leader in international medical education and supports overseas electives in virtually every part of the world. These programs, funded by Weill Cornell, often combine research with patient care and have brought stu-dents to over 80 countries to date, especially in the developing nations of Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Central and South America. In Haiti, for example, stu-dents join the work of Dr. Jean Pape at GHESKIO (Groupe Haitien d’Etudes du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes, The Haitian Group for the Study of Kaposi’s Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections), founded in 1981 as a major outreach program for patients with HIV/AIDS. In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the GHESKIO Center (although badly damaged) managed to treat hundreds of patients and save countless lives. The Weill Bugando University College of Health Sciences, located in Mwanza, Tanzania, is a new medical college organized as a collaboration between WCMC and St. Augustine’s University of Tanzania. WCMC students regularly enroll in clinical electives there, where the clinical programs emphasize infectious disease, HIV/AIDS and tropical medicine.

Former President Bill Clinton meets with GHESKIO director Jean Pape, MD, Professor of Medicine, shortly after the devastating earthquake in Port-Au-Prince. Because of their long-standing service to Haiti, as well as their heroic work after the earthquake, Dr. Pape and the GHESKIO Center received the 2010 Gates Foundation Award for Global Health.

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MORE INFO GLOBAL HEALTH INITIATIVEShttp://weill.cornell.edu/globalhealth/index.html

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MCAT scoresThe Committee regards the MCAT as a standardized tool which allows for one form of comparison among applicants. MCAT scores are considered as part of the application but do not outweigh other components of the application. There are no cut-offs for MCAT scores. However, the average MCAT scores for the class entering in 2009 were 10.6 in the Verbal Section, 11.7 in the Physical Sciences Section, and 12.1 in the Biological Sciences Section.

Extracurricular activitiesThe Committee is extremely interested in meaningful participation in extracurricular activities, whether on- or off-campus. Such participation should demonstrate com-mitment and involvement, as evidenced by extension over time, leadership roles and accomplishments.

Investigation of the field of medicineWe encourage applicants to explore medicine in some form before entering medical school. This exploration may take the form of research, volunteer activities in medicine, preceptor experiences in medical practices or laboratories, summer employment, etc. Again, we are interested in meaningful rather than perfunctory participation.

ResearchThe Committee values applicants’ research experiences, whether in basic science, social science or liberal arts. Research in biomedical sciences is encouraged.

Service The Committee regards clinical medicine as a service profession and encourages applicants to explore service opportunities, whether in medicine or in such fields as education, social service or others.

CharacterThe practice of medicine requires the highest level of personal integrity. WCMC seeks applicants whose characters are developing in a way conducive to the best practice of medicine. This will include emotional maturity, personal depth, commit-ment to others’ well-being, and ethical and moral integrity.

Each year the Committee interviews some 700 applicants. As we receive over 5,000 applications, only a small portion of applicants will be selected for interview. We select applicants for interview according to the extent to which we feel they fulfill our selection criteria. If you are offered an interview, we will notify you by e-mail or telephone and give you a choice of dates. Please confirm the preferred date as soon as possible by telephone or e-mail. If you are unable to come on any of the dates offered, we will do our best to arrange for alternative dates and/or times. If you live at a distance from New York City, we will try to schedule your interview at a time convenient to you—for example, when you plan a visit New York.

Interviews

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When necessary and feasible, a current student may serve as an overnight host. On the day of the interview, please plan to stay for all scheduled activities, which occupy most of the day. The day’s activities will include:

n An informational meeting with the Associate or Assistant Dean for Admissions

n A tour of the medical school

n Meetings and lunch with medical students

n Two interviews with members of the Committee on Admissions. (The interviews, scheduled for 30 minutes each, are designed to provide you with an opportunity to discuss your decision to pursue a career in medicine, your preparation for medical school, and your life interests and experiences.)

The Committee meets on a regular basis and discusses the applicants who have been interviewed. Decisions regarding acceptance are made by consensus of the Committee. While a small number of students are accepted in December, most of the class is selected in early March. If you are accepted to WCMC, we will notify you promptly after the decision by e-mail and via the U.S. Postal Service. If you would like to accept our offer of admis-sion, you must notify us within two weeks. We ask you to submit a tuition deposit for $100 by May 15 to indicate your intention to attend WCMC. If you do not wish to accept our offer of acceptance, please notify us promptly. This allows us to offer acceptance to other applicants on a timely basis. May 15 is the date by which applicants can hold only one acceptance at a U.S. medical school. After this date, the tuition deposit is not refundable. To matriculate, each accepted student must meet WCMC’s Technical Standards, demonstrating all attributes deemed by the Medical College to be essential for a safe and effective physician.

Wait List Each year in early March, a number of students are offered places on the wait list. If you are chosen for the wait list, we will notify you by e-mail. Please let us know promptly whether you would like to accept the position on the wait list, or instead to withdraw your application. The wait list is not ranked. As positions become available in the entering class, we offer acceptance to students on the wait list on an individual basis. Since many students who eventually matriculate are accepted via the wait list, this should not be construed as an unfavorable decision by the Committee.

Deferment Deferring enrollment for one year is possible. Requests for deferment are con-sidered on a case-by-case basis. If you wish to be considered for deferment, please write to us explaining why you would like to be so considered, and what your plans

Acceptance to the Medical College

are for the interval year. The Committee accepts proposals for deferment only when the planned activity will contribute significantly to the applicant’s career in medicine. The deadline for requesting deferment is June 1.

Early DecisionThis program allows highly qualified applicants to apply initially only to WCMC. The AMCAS deadline for the Early Decision (ED) Program is August 1. If you apply to WCMC under the ED program, you must adhere to the tenets of the program. If you are accepted to WCMC by ED, you will be notified by October 1. If you are ac-cepted, it is expected that you will enroll at WCMC. Under ED program guidelines, you may not apply to another medical school in the United States (AMCAS or non-AMCAS) unless we do not offer you acceptance by October 1 or we release you from the ED commitment.

Advanced StandingWhen vacancies occur in the third-year classes, students may be admitted with advanced standing. To be considered for admission with advanced standing (transfer), you must be currently enrolled in good standing at a medical school accredited by the LCME. Your qualifications must be comparable to those of WCMC students, and you must have compelling personal circumstances that favor transfer. Positions are extremely limited. Admission with advanced standing follows the guidelines of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). If you wish to apply to WCMC with advanced standing, please contact the Admissions Office. You will need to submit a formal application, official transcripts of all prior academic work, two letters of recommendation from medical school faculty members, and a letter of good academic standing from the Dean of Academic and/or Student Affairs. The Medical College’s main entrance at 1300 York Avenue in Manhattan

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Jakaya Kikwete

Weill Cornell often plays host to national and international leaders who visit the Medical College to discuss global health concerns with students and faculty. Past speakers have included His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania, who spoke in 2010 as part of Weill Cornell’s Global Health Curriculum.

MORE INFO VIDEO: PRESIDENT JAKAYA KIKWETE AT WEILL CORNELLhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Y9A0HWQzo

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Student LifeWeill Cornell Medical College is located in the heart of Manhattan, one of the world’s foremost capitals of science, culture, arts, business, and the life of the mind. Situated on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and overlooking the East River, WCMC enjoys one of the loveliest residential neighborhoods in the city. Students live on campus in single dormitory-type rooms, studios, or one- and two-bedroom apartments. Numerous food stores, restaurants, stores, theaters and other amenities are within a few minutes’ walk. Also within walking distance are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Carnegie Hall, The Museum of Modern Art, The Frick Collection, The Asia Society, The Hispanic Society, numerous art galleries, and the great strolls along Madison and Fifth Avenues. Students partake liberally of the wonderful opportunities of New York, from Yankee Stadium to Lincoln Center to SoHo and Greenwich Village. Olin Hall houses a student gymnasium, and runners enjoy the esplanade along the East River. Student organizations are many and varied, representing the broad interests of the student body. In addition to the student government, WCMC has student chapters of many medical organizations. These and other student organization sponsor social events, lectures and community outreach projects. Other groups have formed around music, literature, art, film and athletic interests.

Diversity in MedicineCornell University has been deeply committed to diversity from its very founding, and the Medical College upholds this principle. Our educational mission is dedicated to the inclusion of students from diverse ethnic, racial, economic and educational backgrounds. Special summer research programs are available for college undergraduates who have a major interest in the medical problems of the underserved.

Financial AidThe applicant’s financial status, or an application for financial aid, is not a factor in the decision to accept an applicant to WCMC. All financial aid is based on need, as determined by WCMC. While most medical students borrow money to help finance their education, WCMC’s robust financial aid program means that our graduates leave the institution with a debt load that is, on average, lower than graduates of other private and even of public medical schools. All loans from WCMC are subsidized, and tuition grants from Cornell are generous. All recipients meet at least annually with WCMC financial aid counselors to review their aid packages and to plan for financial management after graduation.

MORE INFO TRAVELERS SUMMER PROGRAMhttp://weill.cornell.edu/education/programs/tra_sum_res.html

MORE INFO FINANCIAL AIDhttp://weill.cornell.edu/education/admissions/app_fin_aid.html

MORE INFO NEW YORK CITY INFORMATIONhttp://nyc.gov

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International StudentsWCMC welcomes applications from international students. However, financial aid can be offered only to those applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Persons who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens or permanent residents must either pay for four years of tuition and expenses in advance, or deposit this sum in an escrow account.

MD-PhD Program The MD-PhD Program allows outstanding applicants to obtain both the MD and the PhD degrees in preparation for careers as physician scientists. Weill Cornell Medical College, The Rockefeller University and the Sloan-Kettering Institute comprise a tri-institutional group of world-renowned biomedical research institutions on contiguous campuses. Students in the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program command two complementary skills: advanced understanding of biomedical science and research, and outstanding grounding in human biology and clinical medicine. Students experience the excitement of modern biomedical research through a rigorous, yet flexible, specially tailored course of study and unrestricted access to experienced mentors in leading research laboratories. The faculties at Weill Cornell, Rockefeller and Sloan-Kettering are among the most distinguished medical and biomedical scientists in the world. The size of the graduate faculty ensures that there is broad expertise in all of the major biomedical research disciplines. The quality and size of the Program faculty and the limited number of students in the Program ensure that the students will receive outstanding research training as well as substantial contact with their advisers and other faculty members.

The Program consists of three parts:

n Two years of medical school education, including two year-long graduate level courses (Frontiers in Biomedical Science I & II). Students also complete three research rotations (in three different laboratories, in at least two different research institutions).

n At least three years of graduate education and original research to satisfy the requirements for the PhD degree. Students take two semester-long graduate courses and complete other formal requirements (defend a thesis proposal or present a research proposal and eventually write and defend their thesis).

n A final clinical year when students follow the third-year medical school curriculum plus additional clinical training depending on their interests. All students accepted into the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program receive full-tuition scholarships and stipends to cover living expenses for the entire period of study.

MORE INFO MD-PhD PROGRAMhttp://weill.cornell.edu/mdphd

MD with Honors in Research Program The MD with Honors in Research Program encourages and recognizes achievement in biomedical research by granting students a special degree at graduation. The student must successfully complete a laboratory or clinical research project, at WCMC or one of its affiliated medical centers, supervised by a member of the faculty. Time commitment to the project may vary from summer work and electives to a year of full-time research.

MD with Honors in Service ProgramStudents who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation and commitment to service have the opportunity to receive recognition of their excellence with the designation of “Doctor of Medicine with Honors in Service” at the time of graduation. To receive this recognition, the student must perform significant service to the community or the Medical College, and submit an original scholarly paper related to the work, under the sponsorship of a faculty member. Those applicants determined by a Service Committee to have fulfilled these criteria will be considered for receiving the Honors in Service recognition at Commencement.

MD–MBA ProgramThis program allows students to complete both an MD and an MBA in five years. The MBA portion of the program is completed at the Johnson Graduate School of Management of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Students may apply to the joint program during the first three years of study. Students interested in pursuing a joint MD-MBA degree through this program must apply to both programs separately and must meet the admission requirements of both programs. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other.

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MORE INFO MD-MBA PROGRAMhttp://www.johnson.cornell.edu/academic/accelerated

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WCMC seeks to develop a heterogeneous student body by selecting highly qualified applicants from diverse academic, geographic, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Many students majored in liberal arts during their under-graduate studies, and many are older students who have had life experiences outside their formal studies. While the composition of the class varies from year to year, the profile for the class entering in 2009 is as follows:

August 1 ...................... AMCAS application due for Early DecisionOctober 15 .................. AMCAS application due for all other applicantsOctober 15 .................. Complete application to MD–PhD program dueNovember 15 .............. Complete application to WCMC dueEarly March ................ Class selectedEarly April .................. Accepted Students’ weekend (check web site)May 15 ........................ Tuition deposit ($100) for accepted students dueMay 15 ........................ Only one medical school acceptance may be heldAugust (3rd week) ....... Matriculation and orientation; classes begin

Composition of the Class

Important Dates

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(mean 23.6 years)

Total average MCAT scores ..............................34.4Mean science GPA .............................................3.73Men ...................................................................... 55Women ................................................................ 46Underrepresented in medicine .......................... 25Age range ...................................................... 21–42 years MD–PhD candidates ........................................... 14Colleges represented .......................................... 61Science majors ..................................................... 73%Non-science majors ............................................. 20% Double Major, Science/Non-science ..................... 8%U.S. citizens or permanent residents ................. 99International students .......................................... 2

Applications received .................................... 5,580Applicants interviewed .................................... 732Matriculants ...................................................... 101

Office of AdmissionsWeill Cornell Medical College 445 East 69th Street, Room 104New York, NY 10021Tel: (212) 746-1067 Fax: (212) 746-8052www.weill.cornell.edu/education/admissionse-mail: wcmc-admissions@med.cornell.edu

Office of Student Affairs and Equal Opportunity ProgramsWeill Cornell Medical College445 East 69th Street, Room 110New York, NY 10021Tel: (212) 746-1058; (212) 746-1062

Office of Financial AidWeill Cornell Medical College445 East 69th Street, Room 110New York, NY 10021Tel: (212) 746-1065; (212) 746-1066e-mail: low2001@med.cornell.edu

Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD–PhD Program1300 York Avenue, Room C103New York, NY 10065Tel: (212) 746-6023; Fax: (212) 746-8678www.weill.cornell.edu/mdphd e-mail: mdphd@med.cornell.edu

Student HousingWeill Cornell Medical College Lasdon House420 East 70th Street, #2SNew York, NY 10021Tel: (212) 746-1001

Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences1300 York Avenue, Room A131New York, NY 10065Tel: (212) 746-6565; Fax: (212) 746-8906www.weill.cornell.edu/GSMSe-mail: gsms@med.cornell.edu

Important Contact Information

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WCMC is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. The Admissions Office is located at 445 East 69th Street (Olin Hall) on the corner of 69th Street and York Avenue. The Medical College can be easily reached by car, taxi, bus or subway.

Charles L. Bardes, MDAssociate Dean (Admissions)

Lori NicolaysenAssistant Dean (Admissions)

Woldine GuerrierAdministrative Assistant & Interview Coordinator

Staff : Joanne Cabrera Samantha Gierbolini Nydia Pagan-Arocho Melissa Gomez

Online ResourcesLearn more about Weill Cornell by joining one or more of our social media communities:

Admissions Staff

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WCMC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age or handicap in the administration of its educational programs or activities. Carlyle Miller, MD, is the Affirmative Action Officer and Handicap Program Coordinator for WCMC. He can be reached at Olin Hall 110, at (212) 746-1058.

Travel to Weill Cornell Medical College

MORE INFO CAMPUS MAPS/TRAVEL INFORMATIONhttp://weill.cornell.edu/contact/maps.html

MORE INFO FACEBOOK: Weill Cornell Medical CollegeTWITTER: @weillcornellYOUTUBE: WCMCnews

This publication is also available as an online book at http://www.scribd.com(search for “Weill Cornell”)

Students in the Samuel J. Wood Library at 1300 York Avenue

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MORE INFO

WEILL CORNELL LIBRARY FACEBOOK PAGEhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Weill-Cornell-Medical-College-Library/18152515765?ref=search

1300 York AvenueNew York, NY 10065

www.weill.cornell.edu