The Ohio State University College of Medicine positions itself as an evolving, innovative, and collaborative leader – uniting education, research, and care to transform health while cultivating compassionate leaders and a culture of inclusivity. In addition to traditional four-year MD programs, The Ohio State College of Medicine offers several MD-granting program options, an accelerated three-year Primary Care Track, a Community Medicine MD Track, and seven dual degrees, including the MD/PhD offered by the school’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).

Are you a good fit for The Ohio State College of Medicine? If you are looking for a large interdisciplinary university, would like to translate research into better community health, and are a compassionate leader, the answer is yes! 

Essay #1 

The mission statement of The Ohio State University College of Medicine is to “improve people’s lives” through innovation in research, medical education, and patient care. Describe experiences that best demonstrate your potential to contribute meaningfully to two of these areas. What did you learn through these experiences, and how do they shape your goals as a future physician? (250 words)

Think about which of these areas applies to you most with regard to contributing to The Ohio State College of Medicine as both a medical student and a practicing physician. The school values people who take initiative, are empathetic, and are compassionate about medical care. As you prepare your response to this essay prompt, consider the following:

• Research: Have you worked on a project that improved the life of patients? Did your work teach you a new set of skills? Make sure to share which problem you were solving, the impact you had on this work, and how it will impact your medical journey.
• Medical education: As medical education is both the foundation of your knowledge and a process of lifelong learning, highlight a specific aspect of your educational journey that demonstrates your passion for learning. This could be the fact that you earned an additional academic minor, became fluent in another language, or earned a specific certification. And if you’ve ever attended any professional development seminars or webinars, include that information.  
• Patient care: Emphasize clinical or volunteer experiences that showcase your empathy, compassion, and commitment to improving quality of life or health-related outcomes.

Essay #2 

Describe an experience that shaped your understanding of health inequities in the United States. What factors were involved, and how did this experience influence your perspective or actions? (250 words)

A strong answer to this essay will provide a specific, concrete example highlighting a case of health inequity for which you can share both significant detail and personal reflection. Your answer should contain details including the root cause of the inequity (e.g., race/ethnicity, socioeconomic, geography, mental health), the outcome difference noted (e.g., delayed healthcare, lack of access to fresh food, social exclusion), and if you implemented any new action or if your perspective changed as a result of understanding and internalizing this health disparity. 

In your conclusion, connect your answer to The Ohio State College of Medicine’s mission. Highlight the actions you – as a future medical student and physician – would want to address to minimize health inequities, such as patient advocacy, education, or improving medical training to better recognize and address these issues.

The Ohio State College of Medicine Application Timeline

Date	Event
August 2026 to March 2027	Interview season
September 2026	Final MCAT administration date accepted
October 1, 2026	MSTP primary and secondary application deadline
October 15, 2026	Beginning date for admission decision announcements, with subsequent decisions released approximately every two weeks thereafter
November 2, 2026	MD primary application deadline
December 1, 2026	MD secondary application deadline
February 19, 2027	AAMC “Plan to Enroll” choice becomes available
April 15, 2027	Accepted students narrow offers to three medical schools (if applicable)
April 15, 2027	MSTP “Commit to Enroll” deadline (5:00 p.m. ET)
April 30, 2027	AAMC “Commit to Enroll” choice becomes available for accepted students; after April 30, accepted students must notify The Ohio State College of Medicine within 24 hours if they receive another acceptance offer
June 25, 2027	MD “Commit to Enroll” deadline (5:00 p.m. ET)
Any time during application process	Accepted students must notify The Ohio State College of Medicine via email if they will withdraw and matriculate elsewhere

Source: The Ohio State College of Medicine website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with The Ohio State College of Medicine directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

The Ohio State College of Medicine Class Profile

Here is a look at The Ohio State College of Medicine 2025 entering class (data taken from The Ohio State College of Medicine website):

Applicant Profile Numbers

National AMCAS applications: 52,349
Total Ohio State COM applications: 8,731
Total Ohio resident applications: 1,194
Total non-resident applications: 7,537
Total applicants interviewed: 699
Total acceptances: 393
Total new entrants: 211

Class Composition

Women: 54%
Men: 45%
Ohio residents: 58%
Non-residents: 42%
Class GPA: 3.83
Class science GPA: 3.79
MCAT composite: 514
Took at least two growth years: 40%
First-generation college attendees: 13%
Have a physician parent: 16%
Participated in research: 99%
Community Medicine Track (CMT): 13
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP): 8
Three-year Primary Care Track (PCT): 4
MedPath: 7