Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Secondary Application Essay Tips and Timeline [2025–2026], Class Profile
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, located in New York City, is dedicated to training future physicians and scientists who will transform healthcare and biomedical research. As the medical and graduate school for the Mount Sinai Health System, the Icahn School of Medicine offers unparalleled clinical, research, and educational opportunities in a world-class urban environment. The school emphasizes bold thinking, creativity, and a culture of collaboration while supporting students through a holistic admissions process and a personalized approach to education. With strong values rooted in professionalism, fairness, equity, and social responsibility, the Icahn School of Medicine provides powerful training pathways designed to prepare leaders capable of addressing the most pressing challenges in medicine and research.
The admissions committee at the Icahn School of Medicine takes a holistic approach, seeking well-rounded applicants who demonstrate academic excellence, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to service. Beyond the required coursework in sciences, statistics, and writing, the school values applicants with experiences that show exposure to health disparities, social determinants of health, and broader fields such as public health, sociology, or global health. Successful candidates are expected to bring resilience and a demonstrated ability to thrive in rigorous academic and clinical settings. The Icahn School of Medicine especially looks for individuals with the potential to become leaders – innovative thinkers who can connect science, medicine, and social responsibility to drive meaningful change in healthcare.
Icahn School of Medicine Secondary Essay Tips
Essay #1
What is the toughest feedback you ever received? How did you handle it, and what did you learn from it? (250 words)
Consider a time when you have received particularly difficult feedback. This may have been but is not limited to a professional or academic situation. Briefly describe the feedback and how it made you feel. Focus the majority of your response on how you handled it and what you learned. How did you respond to and process the feedback? In what way did you change your approach moving forward? Consider anything you may have learned from the feedback itself or the process of incorporating it into your work. Your response should show your ability to accept feedback and a desire to constantly improve.
Essay #2
Describe a situation that you have thought to be unfair or unjust, whether towards yourself or towards others. How did you address the situation, if at all? (250 words)
Reflect on any situation you have believed to be unfair or unjust. Was there a time when you or someone else was treated unequally or immorally? Describe the situation. Why was it unfair or unjust? How did experiencing this or witnessing this make you feel? Focus your response on how you addressed the situation. Did you say or do something in response to the unfair act? If so, describe your reason why and what resulted from your actions. You may wish to comment on your role as a medical student and future physician in addressing unfair or unjust situations.
Other Essay Prompts
If you are currently not a full time student, please briefly describe the activities you are participating in this academic year. (100 words)
If you have graduated from college, provide a clear and succinct summary of your activities since graduation. You may also share your plan for the upcoming year. This includes but is not limited to work experience, research, community service, shadowing, and any other activities or hobbies. Have you published a paper, given a presentation, or attended a conference? Have you lived in a new place or started a new hobby? Your response should provide a thorough picture of how you are spending your time and demonstrate how you are preparing for medical school after graduating college.
If you are committed to a particular community or if there is an important aspect of your background not addressed elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (150 words)
Respond to this prompt if you feel there is a particular community you are committed to or part of your identity you have not yet highlighted in your application. You may choose to highlight a story or experience that demonstrates your connection to this identity or community. Why is your identity or community important to you? What challenges have you overcome because of it? Discuss how this experience has influenced your decision to pursue a medical career. Did it spark your goals to care for a particular community or patient population? If you do not have an answer for this prompt, it is okay to leave it blank.
Additional Prompt for MD/PhD Applicants Only
Please tell us why you have chosen to apply to the MD-PhD Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. (250 words)
To answer this prompt effectively, reflect on your research interests and your goals for your career as a future physician-scientist. Research the MD-PhD Program at the Icahn School of Medicine. Reference specific aspects such as program values, curriculum, resources, and research opportunities that align with your goals and interests. You may also discuss your desire to work with specific faculty members who have expertise in your field of interest. How will the offerings at the Icahn School of Medicine help you achieve your goals as both a physician and a scientist? What fields of study do you hope to contribute to? Be specific and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the MD-PhD program.
Icahn School of Medicine Application Timeline
| Date/Time Frame | Event |
| May | AMCAS application available |
| July-January | Application screening by Icahn School of Medicine MD Admissions Committee |
| July-October | Invitations for secondary applications sent via email |
| August | Interview invitations begin to be sent via email |
| September-February | Interviews occur |
| October 1 | AMCAS application final due date |
| November 1 | Secondary application final due date |
| January-July | Decisions released |
| January | Rolling admissions decisions begin |
| March | Waitlist assembled |
| March-Start of School | Students accepted from the waitlist |
| March-April | Explore Icahn (revisit weekend) |
| May | Waitlist offers considered |
Source: Icahn School of Medicine website
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with the Icahn School of Medicine directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***
Icahn School of Medicine Class Profile
Here is a look at the Icahn School of Medicine as of May 2025 (data taken from the Icahn School of Medicine website):
MD, PhD, and master’s students: 1,200+
Faculty: 4,560+
Residents and clinical fellows: 2,685
Degree-granting programs: 13
Total NIH funding: 11th
Research labs: 350+
Basic and clinical science departments in top 20 of NIH funding: 16
Current faculty members elected to National Academy of Medicine and/or Science: 27
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