I. PURPOSE
To establish guidelines for the selection of medical students to the School of Medicine (“SOM”) at New York Medical College (“NYMC”).
II. POLICY
NYMC SOM believes that students benefit from learning alongside individuals with a broad range of experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and life circumstances. Strongly motivated students with a variety of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds enrich the learning environment and help prepare others to provide effective care to patients from varied backgrounds and circumstances. Within this framework, the SOM seeks to admit a multi-faceted cohort of students who demonstrate the requisite academic readiness and humanistic attributes to become competent, compassionate and culturally sensitive physicians. This selection process is guided by the principles of holistic review which incorporate a method of assessing an applicant’s qualifications by which balanced consideration is given to the collective preparatory experiences, personal attributes and academic metrics of each candidate.
As defined by the American Association of Medical College (AAMC), holistic review is “a flexible, individualized way of assessing an applicant's capabilities by which balanced consideration is given to experiences, attributes, and academic metrics and, when considered in combination, to how the individual might contribute value as a medical student and physician.” In a holistic admissions process, selection criteria are broad-based, are clearly linked to school mission and goals, and promotes equal access and opportunities to everyone who applies as an essential element to achieving institutional excellence. A balance of experiences, attributes and academic metrics (E-A-M) is used to assess applicants with the intent of creating a rich interview and selection pool and student body; applied equitably across the entire candidate pool; and grounded in data that provide evidence supporting the use of selection criteria beyond grades and test scores. Admissions staff and committee members give individualized consideration to how each applicant may contribute to the medical school learning environment and the practice of medicine, weighing and balancing the range of criteria needed in a class to achieve the outcomes desired by the school.
Admissions decisions are made in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law.
No applicant will be disadvantaged or denied admission on the basis of any characteristic protected by law.
We seek to admit students whose experiences, achievements, attributes, and commitment to medicine will contribute to a robust educational environment and the delivery of excellent patient care.
III. SCOPE
This policy applies to all administrators, faculty, admissions staff, and interviewers in their designated role in the selection process of students to NYMC-SOM.
IV. EFFECTIVE DATE
This policy is effective immediately.
V. POLICY MANAGEMENT
Executive Stakeholder: Dean of the School of Medicine
Oversight Office: School of Medicine Office of Admission
