Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine: Admission Requirements and Application Process

Are you looking for a prestigious medical school that can provide you with an excellent medical education? Also known as the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine and the Mayo Medical School, the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM) is one of the best medical schools in the nation. As part of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, MCASOM has a history of pioneering medical education and research. Established by the Mayo Foundation in 1972, the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is known for its distinct culture of professionalism and mentorship and emphasizes patient-centered care and interprofessional collaboration in its medical education. With its exceptional education, groundbreaking research, and commitment to improving healthcare, the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is an excellent choice for anyone pursuing a career in medicine.

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Class Profile (Class of 2027)

• Applicants: 5,499
• Interviews Offered: 790
• Class Size: 108 (57 in Rochester, 51 in Scottsdale/Phoenix)
• Acceptance Rate: 2%
• Median GPA: 3.94
• Median MCAT: 521
• Underrepresented in Medicine: 24%
• First-Generation College Students: 10.2%
• MD-PhD Students: 10.2%

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine Application Process

As a top-ranked medical school, the application process for the Mayo Clinic is highly competitive, with less than five percent of applicants being offered admission to its prestigious MD and MD-PhD programs. Like most medical schools, the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine requires you to submit a primary application through AMCAS.

The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is looking for students who are not just academically talented but also committed to transforming health care, changing lives, and transforming the future of medicine as the next generation of physicians, so it’s important to have a well-rounded application.

Academic Prerequisites

To be eligible to apply, you’ll need to hold a bachelor’s degree or Pharm.D. from an accredited US or Canadian institution and have a 508 or higher on the MCAT. The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine does not have specific course requirements, but the admissions committee is looking for aspiring physicians with a strong understanding of the life sciences and social sciences, as well as non-academic experiences such as community service, research, or work experience.

Application Deadlines

Deadlines for the 2024-2025 application cycle have not been released yet, so stay up-to-date with the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine admissions page.

AMCAS Application

• Identifying Information: You’ll submit your biographic information here.
• Schools Attended: You’ll need to enter all high schools, colleges, and universities attended, as well as official college and university transcripts.
• Biographic Information: Here, you’ll enter additional personal information, such as language proficiency, residency, and any challenges you have faced.
• Coursework: Enter all postsecondary courses you took. These will be used to determine your AMCAS GPA.
• Work/Activities: You’ll enter up to 15 experiences here, such as employment, extracurriculars, honors and awards, and publications.
• Letters of Evaluation: You’ll need to submit one committee letter or three individual letters of evaluation.
• Essays: You’ll need to submit a personal comments essay of 5,300 characters or less explaining why you are pursuing medicine. This essay is sent to all medical programs you apply for.
  • If you’re applying for the Medical Scientist Training Program, the MD/PhD program offered in partnership with the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, you’ll need to submit two additional essays, the MD/PhD essay and the Significant Research Experience essay. If your work was published, you should include the full citation in the Work/Activities section.
• Standardized Tests: In this section, you’ll submit your MCAT scores from a test within three years of your expected matriculation. You can also submit scores from any AAMC Preview, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, or MAT exams.
• Fees: Finally, you’ll need to pay a $175 application for the first medical school you apply for and $45 for additional schools.

For more information, see the 2024 AMCAS Applicant Guide.

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine Secondary Application

After submitting the AMCAS application, you’ll need to submit a secondary application, which includes a $120 fee. You’ll also need to rank your preferences for the Mayo Clinic campuses:

• Arizona 4-Year Track: You’ll spend all four years at the Arizona campuses, completing preclinical classes in Scottsdale and clerkships in Phoenix.
• Minnesota 4-Year Track: You’ll spend all four years at the main Mayo Clinic campus in downtown Rochester, Minnesota.
• Arizona/Florida Track: You’ll complete preclinical classes at the Arizona campus and clinical clerkships on the Florida campus in Jacksonville.
• Minnesota/Florida Track: You’ll complete preclinical classes at the Rochester campus and clinical clerkships on the Jacksonville campus.

Finally, you’ll need to answer the following questions:

• Why are you specifically interested in pursuing your medical education at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine? Please tell us in a few sentences why you are interested in the top track choice you indicated. (500 words)
• Each of us relates to others through characteristics that make up our individual diversity. Tell us how your diversity is reflected not only in your personal and professional activities, but also in your relationship with others, particularly in diverse learning environments. (500 words)

Mayo Clinic Medical School Interviews

Around fifteen percent of candidates are invited by the school to interview with the campus of their choice. If you select multiple campuses, you’ll interview with your top-ranked campus. The virtual interview process consists of a welcome session, two one-on-one interviews of about 30 minutes each, a virtual campus tour, opportunities to connect with current medical students, and a Q&A session.

Our Tips for Acing the Interview:

• Your interviewer will most likely have reviewed your application in depth, so try emphasizing experiences and qualities that are not already listed in your application.
• Come with questions: This is also your opportunity to learn more about the patient care, learning environment, and outreach efforts at MCASOM. Thoughtful questions can show that you are genuinely interested in the school.
• Practice, practice, practice! An experienced admissions coach can support you through the application and interview and help you determine which personal qualities will make you stand out.

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine MD Curriculum

As a student at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, you’ll learn and train alongside some of the most talented medical professionals at the highest-ranked hospital in the world. The medical curriculum at MCASOM is undoubtedly unique, with an emphasis on clinical training, biomedical research opportunities, academic enrichment opportunities, and a distinct culture.

The Mayo Clinic Model of Care & School Culture

The Mayo Clinic Model of Care is a unique approach to health care and medicine Mayo Clinic utilizes, with a focus on multispecialty, integrated patient care, professionalism, and relationship-building with patients, including the belief that white coats may prevent physicians and patients from forming strong relationships. As such, first-year students participate in a Stethoscope Ceremony rather than the traditional White Coat Ceremony. Each student is also assigned a MedSib family, consisting of a faculty member and a student from each year, to provide mentorship and support.

Pre-Clerkship Phase (18 Months)

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine medical students will begin science courses about the principles of disease and human structure, then move on to specific organ systems and a transition to clerkship course preparing them to interact with patients in various practice settings. In this phase, students also develop teamwork and clinical skills through patient evaluations and understand the social determinants of health, earning a certificate in Health Systems Sciences. Students will also prepare to take the USMLE Step I in this phase.

Clerkship Phase (18 Months)

Medical students gain hands-on experience through core clerkships in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery.

Post-Clerkship Phase (12 Months)

In the final phase of the MD program, medical students will complete a subinternship, social medicine rotation, and clinical elective rotations. Students will also prepare for their future residencies with the Transition to Residency and Internship Bootcamp.

Clinical rotations take place at a variety of locations, including national and international locations, giving students the opportunity to customize their education and explore the specialized areas of medicine Mayo Clinic offers, such as pediatric gastroenterology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and cardiovascular surgery. Students interested in rural primary care can also participate in the Community Physician Apprenticeship Program, offered with the Department of Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and Mayo Clinic Health System and focused on continuity care in outpatient and hospital environments.

Academic Enrichments

Throughout the MD program, students have dozens of academic enrichment opportunities to pursue dual degrees, selectives, and global health and research experiences. MCASOM partners with institutions like ASU, Carnegie Mellon, and Northeastern to offer dual degrees and certificates in 3D bioprinting and biofabrication, law, health informatics, and more. Global experiences like the Mayo International Health Program and Global Surgery selective give students the opportunity to learn about health care delivery for underserved international populations. As a top-ranked research institution, MCASOM’s parent institution, the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, provides an extensive network of research opportunities, and more than 80 percent of MCASOM students publish a research article by the time they graduate. As a Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine student, you can take advantage of selectives throughout the MD program to pursue a broad range of research topics, including biomedical ethics, nephrology, health care in global settings, and diversity in clinical trials.

Cost of Attending the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine

As a private medical school, the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine has a fairly high tuition. However, MCASOM is committed to providing financial aid and ensuring low student debt among its graduates; MCASOM graduates owe about $134,500 in medical school debt on average compared to the national average of $202,000. All students are automatically considered for scholarships, but many supplement institutional scholarships with external loans, grants, and scholarships. Check the Office of Student Financial Aid and Registrar page for more information.

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine FAQs

Q: What dual degrees are available?

• A: Popular dual degrees are the MD/MS in Health System Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Science of Health Care Delivery and the MD/JD. See the full list of dual degrees here.

Q: Can I apply as an international student?

• A: If you are an international student with proof of eligibility for Canadian provincial or federal financial aid support or for filing FAFSA, you can apply.

Q: If I took the MCAT multiple times, will the admissions committee look at all of my scores?

• A: No, only your highest score will be considered.

Read More

For more helpful resources as you apply to medical school, check out these articles:

• The Ultimate Guide to the Medical School Application Process
• UCSF School of Medicine: Admissions, Programs, and Tuition Costs
• Yale School of Medicine: Your Guide to the MD Admissions
• A Guide to the T20 Medical Schools in the U.S.