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US Medicine · 2027 Entry

Columbia University VP&S

2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is a US MD program in New York, NY that takes 2027-entry applications through AMCAS. Its published class profile lists a median MCAT of 521 (range 516–526), a median GPA of 3.90, a 3.3% acceptance rate and a class of 140. The school holds a traditional interview: October 2026–February 2027. Decisions for 2027 entry: March 30, 2027.

Location
New York, NY, United States
Established
1767
Interviews (2027 entry)
October 2026–February 2027
Decisions (2027 entry)
March 30, 2027
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Columbia University VP&S (MD) — Low Memorial LibraryColumbia University VP&S (MD) — Photograph of Butler Library

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Photo: JSquish · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Jay Dobkin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Ajay Suresh · CC BY 2.0

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Full guide

How to get into Columbia University VP&S (MD) medicine

Step-by-step: entry requirements, MCAT prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.

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Interview guide

Prepare for the Columbia University VP&S (MD) interview

Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.

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The program

What the Columbia University VP&S MD program is like

Integrated, 4 years, clinical rotations in Northern Manhattan, the tri-state area, Cooperstown, New Mexico and Arizona.

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Overview

About Columbia University VP&S (MD)

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S), founded in 1767, is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States. Located in the Washington Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan, VP&S is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia and is a leading center for biomedical research, clinical innovation, and global health.

The school has a strong tradition of producing physician-scientists and academic leaders.

What makes Columbia University VP&S (MD) different

VP&S has an elite MD-PhD MSTP program with full funding. The school's location in upper Manhattan provides access to a uniquely diverse patient population including a large immigrant and underserved community — a key feature of training. Global health opportunities are extensive through Columbia's global partnerships.

Columbia University VP&S (MD) course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. Columbia's curriculum dispenses with the traditional first/second/third/fourth-year designations, organized instead into three phases — Fundamentals, the Major Clinical Year, and Differentiation & Integration (electives, a scholarly project, and USMLE milestones).

Columbia University VP&S (MD) research strengths

Columbia University VP&S (MD) is strong in these research areas:

  • Neuroscience
  • Precision medicine
  • Global and community health
  • Cancer biology
  • Stem cell research

How the Columbia University VP&S (MD) interview runs

Format: Traditional interviews (typically two one-on-one sessions with faculty and/or a student)

Columbia University VP&S (MD) intake

Approximately 140 students per year.

Where Columbia University VP&S (MD) is

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons was founded in 1767 and is based in New York, NY.

Programmes offered:

  • Biomedical Research
  • Global Health
  • Neuroscience
  • Oncology
  • Primary Care
Practise

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Entry requirements

What you need to apply to Columbia University VP&S (MD)

Columbia University VP&S (MD) at a glance

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Medicine — 2027 entry at a glance
MCAT / GPA (medians)521 · 3.90 (MCAT range 516–526)
Acceptance rate3.3%
Class size140
In-state preferenceNo stated in-state preference
Interview formatTraditional interview
IntakeApproximately 140 students per year
Decisions (2027 entry)March 30, 2027
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Medicine admissions profile — 2027 entry
Admission overviewBachelor's degree and MCAT required. Strong research background and clinical experience expected. Secondary application required. Columbia values intellectual curiosity, leadership, and commitment to improving health equity.
MCAT median521 (range 516–526)
GPA median3.90 overall / 3.88 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate3.3%
Class size140
In-state preferenceNone
CASPerNot required
AAMC PREviewNot required
Holistic review emphasisResearch experience, commitment to underserved communities, global health interest, and intellectual leadership.
NotesChecked 2026-09-14 against the school's own published figures: class of 140. Not confirmed from the school's own pages: MCAT, GPA, science GPA, acceptance rate.
Specialities offeredBiomedical Research, Global Health, Neuroscience, Oncology, Primary Care

MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures are taken from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons's published admissions data. Class profiles are republished each year — confirm which entering class these numbers describe before you rely on them.

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Interview

How Columbia University VP&S (MD) interviews applicants

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Medicine interview — 2027 entry
FormatTraditional interviews (typically two one-on-one sessions with faculty and/or a student)
Interview window (2027 entry)October 2026–February 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)March 30, 2027
Tutor insight
Columbia's interviews are traditional one-on-one conversations, so prepare to discuss your intellectual motivations and research background in depth. Be ready, too, to talk through ethical questions and global or population health issues, reflecting Columbia's emphasis on health equity. Given VP&S's location, demonstrating a genuine interest in serving diverse and underserved communities will resonate strongly.
Practice

Practise for your Columbia University VP&S (MD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to Columbia University VP&S (MD)

Two questions from our US bank that match Columbia University VP&S (MD)’s panel format. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

HardMMI · PanelQ1

Race in Clinical Algorithms

Clinical algorithms such as the eGFR kidney function equation and the Vaginal Birth After Cesarean calculator have historically included race as a variable. Research shows this can systematically underestimate disease severity in Black patients, delaying specialist referral and treatment.

How do you think about the appropriate use of race in clinical medicine, and what does removing race from these algorithms mean for clinical practice?

Likely follow-up · What is the difference between biological race and socially assigned race, and why does that distinction matter for clinical decision-making?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
HardMMI · PanelQ2

Thinking Critically About AI Diagnostics

AI tools that screen chest X-rays for pneumonia or retinal images for diabetic retinopathy show high sensitivity and specificity in controlled studies but perform worse in real-world settings, especially for populations underrepresented in training data. How would you think critically about using such tools in your practice?

Likely follow-up · What is algorithmic bias, and how does it arise from underrepresentation in training data?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Open Prometheus for Columbia University VP&S (MD)Free medicine interview question bank for Columbia University VP&S (MD) applicants →
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Interview preparation

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Sources

Where Columbia University VP&S (MD)'s figures come from

Checked against Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons's own website on 14 September 2026: our record for the school was reconciled with what it publishes there. For most US schools that is class size and interview format only, so MCAT, GPA and acceptance-rate figures remain unconfirmed.

Columbia University VP&S (MD) — official course page →Entry requirements, interview format and deadlines published by the school itself. The primary source for everything on this page.Columbia University VP&S (MD) — published admissions data →The class profile and admissions statistics this record's MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures were taken from.Columbia University VP&S (MD) — published admissions data →The class profile and admissions statistics this record's MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures were taken from.
FAQ

Columbia University VP&S (MD) — frequently asked questions

Columbia University VP&S (MD) matriculants have a median MCAT of 521. The middle range of matriculants is 516–526. US schools publish medians rather than cut-offs, and committees review holistically — the MCAT is weighed alongside GPA, clinical and research experience, letters of recommendation and secondary essays.

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