March 21, 2025
Written By
Michael Minh Le
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Getting into Albert Einstein College of Medicine feels impossible but is it? The acceptance rate is low, and you're competing against thousands of premeds with near-perfect stats, research credentials, and clinical hours that seem untouchable. But are the odds really stacked against you?
In this article, we'll break down the Albert Einstein Medical School acceptance rate with no fluff. We’ll look at the numbers, what they actually mean for your chances, and how to position yourself to stand out in a pool of highly qualified applicants. Whether Einstein is your top choice or one of many on your list, you'll walk away with a sharper picture of what it takes.
At Premed Catalyst, we’ve been through the stress of med school applications ourselves. That’s why we created the free resource we wish we had: a collection of 8 full AMCAS applications that earned acceptances at programs like UCLA, UCSF, and other top schools. You’ll see exactly what successful apps look like, down to the personal statements and activity descriptions so you can model what works for your Einstein application.
Grab the free resource here.
For the 2025 entering class, Albert Einstein College of Medicine received 8,897 applications. Only 165 students matriculated.
That makes the Albert Einstein Medical School acceptance rate 1.85%.
That number? It’s not just low. It’s a wake-up call. Getting into Einstein isn’t about sliding in with decent stats. It’s about standing out in a sea of excellence.
Let’s start with the numbers because like it or not, they matter. Your GPA and MCAT are the first filters, the baseline metrics that determine if your application even gets read. And at a school like Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the bar is set higher than most.
Here’s what you’re up against:
For comparison, the national average MCAT score is around 512 and the national average GPA is 3.75. So yes, Einstein expects more.
Before you spend hours fine-tuning your personal statement or perfecting your activities section, let’s make sure you actually meet the minimum requirements. Because no matter how compelling your story is, you won’t make it past the first screen if you miss the non-negotiables.
Here’s what Einstein expects before they even consider your application:
Coursework prerequisites (strongly recommend labs when noted):
If your degree is more than 5 years old, you’ll need to show proof of recent science coursework or research to demonstrate academic readiness.
Important note:
Einstein does not sponsor student visas and does not accept transfer applications. This is a one-shot deal, so make sure you're eligible before you hit submit.
In 2024, Einstein made history.
Thanks to the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Scholarship Fund, all tuition and academic fees for MD students are now fully covered. No application required. No strings attached, just maintain good academic standing.
But you’ll still need to cover living expenses, including:
Estimated annual cost:
Einstein trains doctors who show up for their patients, their communities, and the future of healthcare. It’s a school grounded in science, shaped by service, and driven by a responsibility to meet the health needs of a diverse, changing world.
Einstein’s MD curriculum is built to evolve. Overseen by the Medical Education Council, it’s designed to keep pace with the changing landscape of healthcare, equipping students not just to understand medicine, but to lead within it.
Here’s how it’s structured:
The curriculum is guided by two core lenses: Population Health and the Practice of Medicine. That means you won’t just treat illness. You’ll learn how to dismantle the barriers that cause it.
Research is not just encouraged. It’s required. Every student completes a mentored scholarly paper, ensuring they graduate with the tools to ask critical questions and contribute to the evidence base of modern medicine. Whether you're diving into lab work, clinical trials, or public health data, you'll learn how to ask the right questions and push the field forward.
Einstein’s home in the Bronx offers a uniquely rich training ground. Students learn medicine by caring for a diverse patient population with complex health and social needs. The result? Graduates who are exceptionally well-prepared to deliver compassionate, equitable care in any setting.
You know the odds. You’ve seen the Albert Einstein Medical School acceptance rate.
So now what?
You’ll need an application that cuts through the noise, something with soul. Let’s break down exactly how to do that.
Einstein uses a rolling admissions process, which means the earlier your application is complete, the earlier it’s reviewed, and the more seats are still available when they’re making decisions. That matters. A lot.
Waiting until the final deadline might not technically disqualify you, but it puts you in line behind thousands of applicants who hit submit weeks or even months earlier.
Be on top of this application timeline to stay competitive:
Your personal statement is your narrative. It’s not a list of achievements. It’s the story that shows who you are, why medicine matters to you, and how your journey has shaped that conviction.
But talk is cheap. Your experiences are the proof.
If you say you care about health equity, you'd better have experiences serving underserved communities. If you claim a passion for research, we need to see time at the bench or involvement in a project that mattered. Whatever your “why” is, prove it.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine's secondary application includes two optional prompts, each with a 3,000-character limit:
This prompt invites you to reflect on the personal journey that brought you to medicine. Think beyond your résumé and explore the life events, values, and experiences that have shaped who you are. You might discuss significant challenges you’ve overcome or milestones that have defined your growth.
Share the perspective you bring, whether it’s rooted in your cultural background, personal identity, or lived experiences, and explain how it informs the way you see and practice medicine.
This prompt is your opportunity to fill in any gaps and add depth to your application. Use it to explain anything that might raise questions, such as a dip in grades, time away from school, or inconsistencies in your timeline. If you’ve taken on new experiences since submitting your primary application, like a recent job, clinical role, or research project, this is the place to update the committee.
At Albert Einstein College of Medicine, these letters should provide insight into your character, commitment, and readiness for a medical career.
Here are the requirements for MD applicants:
Additional Letters: You may submit up to five letters in total, including those from mentors, employers, or others who can provide meaningful insights into your qualifications.
Here are the requirements for MSTP applicants:
In addition to the above, MSTP applicants must submit two confidential letters of reference from past research mentors. If you have only worked in one laboratory, indicate this in your secondary application.
When selecting your recommenders, prioritize those who truly know you, such as professors, mentors, or supervisors who can speak directly to your intellectual curiosity, work ethic, and interpersonal strengths. A strong letter isn’t just positive. It’s personal and precise.
Einstein uses a traditional, open-file interview format, which means your interviewer has seen your entire application. The grades, the personal statement, the secondaries—they know the facts. Now they want the why behind them.
This isn’t the time to recite your résumé. It’s your chance to add depth, connect the dots, and show who you are when the script ends. Be ready to reflect. Speak with clarity and conviction. Stay consistent with your story you outlined in your app, but don’t be afraid to go deeper.
Einstein is for the mission-driven. The grounded. The curious.
Einstein excels at giving you clinical exposure that matters. You’ll train in the Bronx—one of the most diverse and medically underserved communities in the country. That means complex cases, real stakes, and a deep understanding of what shapes health outside of hospital walls. You’ll leave not just clinically prepared, but socially aware.
It’s a training ground for physician-scientists who care about equity, access, and real change. The school’s dual focus on Population Health and the Practice of Medicine is more than a slogan. It shows up in the curriculum, the rotations, and the kind of physicians it produces. Research is mandatory. Reflection is encouraged. The training is intense, but rooted in purpose.
But here’s the honest truth: if research doesn’t interest you, if you don’t see yourself asking scientific questions or contributing to evidence-based change, then Einstein may not be the best fit. The curriculum lacks some flexibility for students interested in pursuing specialties outside of primary care, potentially limiting exposure to certain fields.
If you’re looking to cast a wider net throughout the state, you’re in luck. Medical schools in New York are some of the most diverse, well-resourced, and mission-focused in the nation.
To help you apply with clarity and intention, we’ve created detailed breakdowns of several other standout programs in New York. Each guide covers what the school values, the kind of applicants who thrive there, and how to craft a competitive application.
You’re working hard. You’re doing everything right or trying to. And still, the doubts creep in.
What if my story isn’t strong enough? What if I’m too late? What if I’m not what they’re looking for?
That voice in your head? We've heard it from thousands of students before they hit submit. And the truth is, most premeds don’t fail because they aren’t good enough. They fail because they have no idea what a successful application actually looks like.
That’s why at Premed Catalyst, we created a free resource with 8 real AMCAS applications that got accepted to top schools. You’ll get an insider’s look at personal statements, experiences, and secondaries that worked.
Use them to see the difference between “average” and “admit,” and then fix what’s missing in your own app.
Get your free resource here.
