Admissions Requirements and Overview of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Welcome to the definitive guide for aspiring students looking to navigate the admissions process and excel at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, Geisel Dartmouth is known for its long-standing tradition of excellence in medical education, commitment to research, and dedication to improving community health. The goal of the Geisel School of Medicine's Admissions Committee is to enroll students who reflect all of those qualities and who will contribute to the uniquely close-knit and stimulating learning environment that defines Geisel.

Candidate Qualities and Holistic Review

We employ a holistic review process that places value on applicants who possess a strong academic foundation, diversity in all forms, a broad range of life experiences, and traits known to promote success in the field of medicine. The admissions committee looks for candidates who are not only academically outstanding but also demonstrate a genuine commitment to advancing healthcare and serving others. Specifically, the committee seeks students who embody the following attributes:

• Intellectual curiosity
• Integrity
• Empathy
• Compassion
• Ability to overcome obstacles
• Resilience
• Distance traveled
• Coachability
• A commitment to lifelong learning

Academic Requirements and Standards

The admissions committee carefully reviews the entire application with attention to personal, academic, scientific, and community engagement considerations. Candidates should have completed a minimum of three years of post-secondary study at a US and/or Canadian college or university, have a bachelor's degree, and have pursued a broad range of study in the sciences and humanities that provides a solid foundation in the scientific basis of medicine and in human behavior and society. All candidates are required to present scores from the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and achieve a score of 503 or above.

The Admissions Committee considers each application holistically, however applicants should be aware that accepted applications have an average MCAT score of 516 and an average undergraduate GPA of 3.77. Students with MCAT scores of 502 or below will not be sent a secondary. For 2026 entry, the MCAT exam must have been taken between January 2023 and September 2025.

Admissions Data Overview

Application Components

Geisel requires a minimum of three letters of recommendation and accepts no more than five. If your school has a premedical committee, we require a composite recommendation from your school's premedical committee or a packet containing a minimum of three individual letters but not more than five. We encourage you to submit letters from a science faculty member and from someone who can speak to your clinical experience. Other letters may come from supervisors, employers, and other colleagues who know you well. If you are in graduate school, a letter from your thesis advisor is recommended as one of the three required letters.

The Dartmouth supplemental essay offers candidates a valuable platform to showcase their personal experiences, values, and motivations for pursuing a medical career. These Dartmouth essay prompts are designed to assess an applicant’s alignment with Geisel’s mission and values. Crafting thoughtful and authentic essays that convey a genuine passion for medicine is essential.

Joint-Degree Programs at Dartmouth

In addition to the M.D. degree, Geisel medical students participate in the following degree programs:

MD-PhD Program

The MD-PhD program is committed to training physician-scientists for the 21st century who will provide excellent patient care, lead discovery in biomedical disease-oriented research, advocate for basic and translational biomedical research, and take leadership roles in biomedical research and the delivery of health care.

MD-MBA Program

The MD-MBA program is coordinated with Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. It is designed to create leaders in health care and medical administration and in entrepreneurial ventures in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical-product industries. Geisel is proud of its role in advancing medical knowledge, improving patient care, and preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders.