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Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Nashville, TN Class Size: 90
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Statistics Tuition Friendliness Mission Statement Situational Judgement Tests Dates & Deadlines Prerequisite Courses Dual Degree Tracks Contact Information Secondary App Questions Interview Questions

Gaining admission to Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is Ultra Competitive. Applicants typically have an average GPA of 3.95 and an average MCAT score of 521.

Statistics

To summarize, listed below are the most important academic statistics for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine applicants:

Average GPA:
3.95
Average MCAT:
521
Competitiveness:
Ultra Competitive
Note: Competitiveness is assessed based on the school's acceptance rate, average MCAT, and average GPA.

Tuition

Affording medical school can be tough, often requiring students to take on significant loans. Information about the yearly tuition for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is below.

In-State Tuition:
$67000
Out-of-State Tuition:
$67000

For more information about tuition at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, visit the following link: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/financial-aid/md-cost-of-attendance/

Friendliness

Some schools prefer in-state candidates, while others are more receptive to out-of-state or international applicants. View our school "friendliness" scores for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine below:

IN-STATE

In-State Friendliness:
Neutral

OUT-OF-STATE

Accepts Out-of-State:
Yes
Out-of-State Friendliness:
Very Friendly

INTERNATIONAL

Accepts Canadian:
Yes
Accepts International:
Yes
International Friendliness:
Very Friendly

Note: Most schools will be labelled "Neutral" for In-State Friendlines because they don't have a strong bias for in-state applicants compared to out-of-state applicants. In other words, we believe these schools view In-State and Out-State applicants more or less equally. Schools labelled as "Out-of-State Friendly / Very Friendly" have a high proportion of their class filled with Out-of-State applicants.

Mission Statement

It is always important to read and understand a medical school's mission statement before applying. Often, you will find out what the medical school stands for, and if you fit in with the general "vibe" of the medical school. However, being honest, most medical schools have the same run-of-the-mill mission statement as everybody else. Anyways, you can be the judge. Below you can find the mission statement for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine:

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Mission Statement:
The vision of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is to shape a future in which all persons reach their full health potential. The core values of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine are integrity, inclusion, humility, equity, mutual respect, and excellence.

For more information on the mission statement for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, visit the following link: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/about-the-school/#:~:text=The%20mission%20of%20Vanderbilt%20University%20School%20of%20Medicine,out%20this%20mission%2C%20we%20make%20these%20strategic%20commitments%3A

Situational Judgement Tests

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine does not require the completion of either the CASPer® nor the AAMC PREview™ examinations.

CASPer®:
No
AAMC PREview™:
No

Dates, Deadlines, and Fees

Throughout your application cycle, there are many dates to be cognizant of in order to ensure the successful completion of your application.

Primary Application Deadline:
November 1
Secondary Application Deadline:
Nov 19
Secondary Application Fee:
$95
Note: The primary application deadline refers to when your primary application (i.e., the initial AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS application) needs to be completed. Please be aware that there are processing times associated with primary applications—for instance, there can be a several week processing time associated with verifying your acadmic transcripts when initially submitting the AMCAS application. Upon receipt of the primary application, most schools will then shortly send you a secondary application with targeted essay questions relevant to the specific school.

The secondary application deadline is the final day for all your application materials to be together, which includes submitting the secondary essays, all letters of recommendation, all test scores, etc. Sometimes, schools may have earlier deadlines for letters of recommendation. However, note that for the vast majority of schools it is best to submit your secondary application as soon as possible: within 2 weeks of receiving the secondary application is a good rule-of-thumb.

Below are some other helpful dates:

Interview Cycle Start:
July 31
Interview Cycle End:
February
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Prerequisite Courses

Most schools have a list of prerequisite courses that you need to have completed before matriculating. View information provided for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine below:

Interpreting Semester Hours
Typically,
3 Semester Hours = A single semester-long course = 1 or 2 quarters
4 Semester Hours = A single semester-long course + associated lab unit
6 Semester Hours = Two semester-long courses = 3 quarters
8 Semester Hours = Two semester-long courses + two associated lab units

PHYSICS

Semester Hours:
Lab?
Not Required

Recommended: "Applicants should demonstrate competence in the basic principles of physics and mathematics underlying living systems."

CHEMISTRY

GenChem = General Chemistry

OChem = Organic Chemistry

Biochem = Biochemistry

GenChem Semester Hours:
GenChem Lab?
Not Required
OChem Semester Hours:
OChem Lab?
Not Required
Biochem Semester Hours:
Biochem Lab?
Not Required

Recommended: "Applicants should demonstrate competence in the basic principles of chemistry as it pertains to living systems. Studies in biochemistry are an exemplary way to prepare students for training in medicine science."

BIOLOGY

GenBio = General Biology

HL Bio = Higher Level Biology

GenBio Semester Hours:
GenBio Lab?
Not Required
HL Bio Semester Hours:
HL Bio Lab?
Not Required

Recommended: "Applicants should demonstrate competence in the understanding of molecular and cellular biology, genetics, and how they regulate organ and organismic structure and function. Fields of study analyzing diverse human properties are view in a strong, positive light."

HUMANITIES & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Semester Hours:

Recommended: "It is imperative that the applicant demonstrate competence in the humanistic understanding of patients as human beings and as part of a familial and social structure. In this regard, studies in psychology and sociology are viewed favorably."

ENGLISH/WRITING

Semester Hours:

"It is required that the applicant speaks, writes, and reads English fluently."

MATHEMATICS/STATISTICS

Mathematics Semester Hours:
Statistics Semester Hours:

Recommended: "Applicants should demonstrate basic competence in statistics or biostatistics, which is important to understand the quantitative aspects of medicine and biomedical research."

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

OTHER RECOMMENDED COURSES

SOURCE: https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/md-admissions/admission-requirements/

Special Programs

Many schools have dual-degree programs for motivated applicants. View the ones offered at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine below:

MD+PhD (MSTP - Medical Scientist Training Program):
Yes
MD+MPH (Public Health):
Yes
MD+MBA (Business, Healthcare Administration):
Yes
MD+JD (Law):
Yes
MD+MA (Master of Arts):
MD+MS (Master of Science):

Contact Information

View contact information (phone and email) available to contact Vanderbilt University School of Medicine below:

CONTACT #1

Title:
E-mail:
mdadmissions@vanderbilt.edu
Phone:

CONTACT #2

Title:
E-mail:
Phone:

Secondary Application Essay Prompts

Below are the past secondary (supplemental) application essay prompts for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Please reflect on the upbringing, background, and experiences in your life that have shaped who you are as a person and will help define the person you want to be in the future. In other words, what makes you who you are? (800 words)
Tell us about a time when you interacted with someone who is different than you. What did you learn? What would you do differently? (600 words)
Everyone needs help at various times in their lives. Describe a time you asked for help and what you gained from that experience that has influenced your approach to asking for help. (600 words)
Optional: If you have completed your undergraduate education, please comment on what you have done or have been doing since graduation. (200 words)
Optional: If applicable, please describe how the COVID-19 outbreak affected your pathway to medical school. You may discuss any academic, personal, financial, or professional alterations to your plans. NOTE: Disclosing certain hardships or obstacles that have been faced during this time will not negatively affect an application. (200 words)

Interview Questions

Below are common interview questions that you might encounter on your important day for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Elaborate on (specific activity) on your AMCAS application.
What other medical schools have you interviewed at?
Can you describe a community service or leadership activity that had a major impact on you?
Describe a difficult decision you had to make in the past.
Can you name three adjectives that describe you?
Can you explain your timeline with regard to your schooling and job experiences?
What should I emphasize to the admissions committee about you?
What questions do you have about Vanderbilt Medical School?
Can you explain the significance of one of the activities you listed as most meaningful on your AMCAS application?
Tell me about your research projects.
Can you describe a typical day in your life?
What type of setting do you want to practice medicine in?
What are you currently doing?
Give an example of a time when you failed.
Why did you choose medicine?
How do you handle difficult situations? Can you provide an example from your past?
What differentiates you from other applicants?
Have you had any shadowing or volunteering experiences to solidify your decision to pursue medicine?
How are you? How was your flight?
How did you become interested in medicine?
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Describe your involvement and specific role in your research experiences.
Can you describe a book, movie, or other form of media that has had a significant impact on your worldview?
Can you name three qualities your best friends would use to describe you?
How did you decide you wanted to go to medical school?
Describe your childhood.
Do you plan on continuing your research in medical school?
How would you like me to present you to the admissions committee?
Describe your family.
(If you did your undergraduate or graduate studies at Vanderbilt) Why do you want to stay at Vanderbilt?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years, career-wise?
Why did you take a year off before applying to medical school?
Tell me about your family and your upbringing.
What qualities do you possess that would make you a good doctor?
Where did you grow up?
What do you want to know about Vanderbilt?
What do you bring to the table that sets you apart from thousands of other applicants?
Tell me about one of your research experiences.
Tell me about a time when you disagreed with authority or rules.