The Medical College of Wisconsin, founded in 1893, is one of the largest private, independent medical schools in the United States and a significant NIH-funded research institution in the upper Midwest. Located on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus, MCW trains approximately 200 students per year and operates a comprehensive academic health system partnership with Froedtert Health. Research strengths span genomics, cardiovascular medicine, cancer biology, and health equity. As a private institution, MCW draws students nationally and has no state residency preference.
What makes it different
MCW is one of the largest private medical schools in the United States and a major research center in the Midwest, consistently among the top NIH-funded independent medical schools. Its partnership with Froedtert Health provides access to a large urban academic health system in Milwaukee. The school has particularly strong research programs in genomic medicine, cardiovascular disease, and cancer through the MCW Cancer Center.
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. Preclinical years use an integrated organ-system curriculum. Core clerkships at Froedtert Hospital, Children's Wisconsin, and affiliate hospitals in the MCW Health network. Research tracks and a dual MD-PhD program available. A community health track provides extended underserved-community clinical experience in Milwaukee.
Research strengths
Medical College of Wisconsin (MD) has notable research strength in Genomic and precision medicine, Cardiovascular biology, Cancer biology, Neuroscience, Health equity and disparities.
Interview
Medical College of Wisconsin (MD) interviews via Traditional one-on-one or panel interviews (in-person). MCW uses a traditional interview format with typically two one-on-one sessions with faculty, clinicians, or senior students, each approximately 30 minutes. The full interview day at the Milwaukee campus includes orientation, tours of the Froedtert & MCW health system, and informal lunch with current medical students. Interviewers have reviewed the application and ask both motivational and behavioral questions. MCW's strong research enterprise and Milwaukee's diverse urban patient population shape the interview focus.
Intake
Approximately 265–274 students per year across three campuses (Milwaukee flagship, Green Bay, and Central Wisconsin).
At a glance
Founded in 1893, based in Milwaukee, WI. Programmes offered: Genomic Medicine, Cardiovascular Research, Cancer Biology, Health Equity, Neuroscience.