Skip to main content
NextGen MedPrep logoNextGenMedPrep
US Medicine · 2027 Entry

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) Medical School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Syracuse, NY, United StatesEstablished 1950Interviews (2027 entry) October 2026–March 2027Decisions (2027 entry) March 30, 2027 (AAMC standard)
Book a mock interviewOfficial course page ↗

Photo: Alannafmanning · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Start here
Full guide

How to get into SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) medicine

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

Open the guide →
Interview guide

Prepare for the SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) interview

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

Read the guide →
Overview

About SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD)

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine was established in 1950 and sits in Syracuse. It is a SUNY public medical school, and its mission is to train physicians for the healthcare needs of Central and Northern New York. It is affiliated with Upstate University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center and the region's primary academic medical center.

Each class holds about 175 students, who train across a broad network of clinical sites in urban academic, suburban community, and rural settings. Research runs through the Upstate Cancer Center, and the school partners with Crouse Health and other regional hospitals.

What makes SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) different

SUNY Upstate is the only allopathic medical school in Central New York. It plays a critical role in healthcare across the vast rural and semi-urban region stretching from Syracuse to the North Country and Southern Tier. Its particular strengths are primary care and rural medicine.

Its research programs cover cancer, neuroscience, and biochemistry, through the Upstate Cancer Center and affiliated institutes.

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) course & teaching

Traditional curriculum. 4-year MD. Years 1–2: traditional organ-system-based preclinical curriculum integrating anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and clinical correlation. A longitudinal clinical skills course begins in Year 1 with standardized patient encounters. Years 3–4: core clerkships at Upstate University Hospital and affiliated regional hospitals, with rural rotation opportunities in Central and Northern New York communities.

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) research strengths

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) is strong in these research areas:

  • Cancer biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Rural health outcomes
  • Infectious disease

How the SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) interview runs

Format: Traditional panel interview — faculty and student sessions in separate one-on-one format

SUNY Upstate Norton College of Medicine conducts traditional one-on-one interviews with faculty physicians and a current student, each lasting approximately 30–45 minutes. Interviewers review the application beforehand and ask open-ended questions about motivation, clinical and research experiences, ethics, and interest in Central New York healthcare.

As the only allopathic medical school in Central New York, the school has a distinctive obligation to train physicians for rural, underserved, and upstate communities; interview questions often probe commitment to that regional mission. The full interview day includes an admissions presentation, student Q&A session, and a tour of Upstate University Hospital.

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) intake

Approximately 175 students per year.

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) at a glance

Founded in 1950. Based in Syracuse, NY.

Programmes offered:

  • Primary Care
  • Rural Medicine
  • Cancer Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Emergency Medicine
Entry requirements

What you need to apply to SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Prerequisite coursework in biology, chemistry (general and organic), physics, and mathematics. Applications via AMCAS; secondary application required. Strong preference for New York state residents, particularly those with ties to Central, Northern, or rural New York. The school values community service, clinical exposure, and research experience.
MCAT median
513 (range 508–518)
GPA median
3.81 overall / 3.63 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
2.6%
Class size
175
In-state preference
Strong — primarily in-state
In-state matriculants
85%
CASPer
Not required
AAMC PREview
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
New York state mission, rural healthcare commitment, clinical and community service experience.
Notes
Estimates from public AAMC FACTS / AACOMAS / ADEA AADSAS / class-profile; verify current cycle.
Specialities offered
Primary Care, Rural Medicine, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience, Emergency Medicine

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

Working towards the MCAT score SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) expects? Build a week-by-week plan from your test date — free for the first two weeks.

Open the MCAT planneror see UCAT tutoring
Interview

How SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) interviews applicants

Format
Traditional panel interview — faculty and student sessions in separate one-on-one format
Interview window (2027 entry)
October 2026–March 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)
March 30, 2027 (AAMC standard)
Post-interview chances
Approximately 20–35% of interviewed applicants receive an offer, with in-state applicants converting at higher rates consistent with SUNY mission preferences. Estimates based on publicly available data; verify with admissions.
Tutor insight
SUNY Upstate is the key medical school for Central New York, and it attracts applicants who genuinely want to train and practise in the region. Show that you understand the upstate New York healthcare landscape, including rural physician shortages and the hospital system's role in the community. The traditional interview format rewards conversational authenticity, so prepare to discuss your experiences in depth rather than list them. As a SUNY school, in-state preference is strong. Out-of-state applicants need clear, compelling reasons for choosing Upstate over other schools. The school is competitive but more accessible than the NYC-based SUNY schools. Strong metrics alone will not carry you without a narrative that matches the school's mission.
Practice

Practise for your SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD)

Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

HardMMI · PanelQ1

US Healthcare Ethics: Dobbs Decision and Physician Obligations

Following the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, abortion is now regulated at the state level. Some states have enacted near-total bans with limited medical exceptions; others have codified broad access. You are a medical student on OB-GYN rotation in a state with a near-total ban.

Your attending physician identifies a 14-week pregnancy with a confirmed lethal fetal anomaly. The patient wants to terminate. The attending says the law's exception requires documentation of 'medical necessity' reviewed by a hospital committee, which may take two weeks. How do you think about your obligations in this situation?

Likely follow-up · What are the professional medical organisations' positions on physician obligations when law and clinical best practice conflict?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
MediumPanelQ2

Service Orientation: Narrative Medicine and Patient Story-Listening

During your pre-medical years you participated in a narrative medicine programme at a hospice, where your primary role was to sit with dying patients and listen to their life stories — not provide any clinical care. You have been asked how this experience contributed to your readiness for medical school. How do you answer?

Likely follow-up · What is narrative medicine, and how does the Columbia University programme define its role in medical education?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Open Prometheus for SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD)Browse 1,106 free questions →
Get support

Apply to SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) with confidence

We've helped students into SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) and other US medicine schools — get tailored support for each stage of the application.

MCAT Strategy

Build an MCAT prep plan that hits the median score profile for SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD).

Learn more

Interview preparation

Practise the Traditional interview format with students who interviewed at SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD).

Learn more

Personal statement help

Get your personal statement reviewed by successful applicants.

Learn more
Sources

Where SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD)'s figures come from

Compiled from SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine's published admissions material and checked for internal consistency. Not independently re-checked against the official course page for 2027 entry — confirm the figures with the school before you rely on them.

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) — official course page →Entry requirements, interview format and deadlines published by the school itself. The primary source for everything on this page.
FAQ

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) — frequently asked questions

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) matriculants have a median MCAT of 513. The middle range of matriculants is 508–518. 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.

Apply to SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) with confidence

We've helped students turn their MCAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) and other US medicine schools.

Book a SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD) mock
See all us medical schools