All applicants to the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University must submit an AMCAS application and a Renaissance School of Medicine Supplemental Application. Accepted applicants must have a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation.
The Committee on Admissions will do a holistic review of your candidacy for medical school. Your ability, to some measure, will be evident in your academic record, your scores on competitive examinations, your faculty's statements and your extracurricular and work experiences. Candidates should be aware that the majority of those who apply to the Renaissance School of Medicine present exceptional credentials and the entering class reflects this fact. Motivational and personal characteristics as indicated in your application, letters of evaluation, and personal interviews are also a major part of our admissions assessment. The contribution you might make to our student body and the medical profession will, we hope, become apparent in reading your own statements and the comments of others. We cannot now, of course, make any estimate of the probability of favorable action on any one application. The Renaissance School of Medicine, in making a considerable effort to individualize its application process, hopes to attract applicants who are informed about the school and are particularly interested in the Renaissance School of Medicine. Applications from a wide variety of students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and academic interests are encouraged, as well as from groups that have been historically under-represented in medicine. The Renaissance School of Medicine adheres to the AAMC definition of underrepresented in medicine: "Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population." There is no discrimination in the admissions process on the basis of race, color, sex, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or veterans' status.
The Renaissance School of Medicine expects that each student admitted will complete the full curriculum of required courses and electives under the established School policies. Academic requirements for each year of medical school are available on the Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) webpage. Grades, MCAT scores, letters of evaluation, and extracurricular and work experiences are carefully examined. The candidate's motivation and personal qualifications, as indicated in the application, letters of evaluation and a personal interview also contribute greatly to the admissions assessment.*
Prospective students are advised to consult the current online edition of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR).
Since competition for any one school is keen, prospective applicants will profit from this overview of the medical school admissions process, as well as a description of the educational program of all accredited medical schools in the nation, including the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University.
*The submission of false or misleading information in the application materials or in connection with the application process shall be the grounds for rejection. If such submission is discovered after the rendering of an offer of admission, matriculation in the school or award of the degree, it shall be grounds for withdrawal of the acceptance offer, for dismissal or for revocation of degree.
Our Committee on Admissions has determined that for our 2025 entering class, premedical courses will be designated as HIGHLY recommended, not required.
The following courses are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University 2025 Entering Class:
Biology - 2 semesters with lab(s)
Chemistry - minimum of 4 semesters including coursework in general and organic chemistry and a course in biochemistry. A minimum of 3 semesters of lab is highly recommended.
English/Writing - 1 semester
Physics - 1 semester with lab
Social Science/Humanities - 1 semester of either psychology, sociology, logic or ethics, anthropology or philosophy
Statistics - 1 semester
The Committee on Admissions prefers a letter of recommendation from the PreMedical/PreHealth Advisor at your institution. If no such official exists, letters from two instructors, one of whom is in a science field, should be submitted. No other letters are solicited. However, the Committee on Admissions also welcomes letters from others who may provide important information about your candidacy.
Applicants who received their baccalaureate degree from a foreign institution are required to complete a minimum of one year of coursework in the U.S. (either undergraduate or graduate). It is in your best interest to have the coursework completed prior to application. Canadian applicants are not required to take a year's worth of coursework in the U.S. (Canadian applicants are considered international for our school.)
We welcome applications to the first year class from international applicants. Important: Financial aid is only available to those applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. An Affidavit of Support is required of all international accepted applicants. The Affidavit and supporting documents prove that the student will be able to support him/herself financially during medical school. You would have to show proof that you can cover the expenses for 1 year of medical school (~$95,000) at this time. This dollar amount is subject to change.
The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) must be taken within three years of matriculation. For the 2025 entering class, the earliest MCAT date considered will be January 14, 2022, and the last MCAT scores which will be accepted are for the September 14, 2024 exam. Foreign applicants must have completed at least one year of study in an American college or university. For information on the MCAT exam, please visit their website.
The CASPer Test - Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics
All applicants to the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University are required to complete an online assessment (CASPer), to assist with our selection process. Successful completion of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility. The CASPer Snapshot and CASPer Duet are not part of our admissions requirements.
CASPer is an online test which assesses for non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program, and will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing CASPer, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process.
In order to take CASPer, you will be responsible for securing access to a computer with audio capabilities, a webcam and a reliable internet connection on your selected test date. CASPer can be taken practically anywhere that you can satisfy the aforementioned requirements. No exceptions will be provided for applicants unable to take CASPer online due to being located at sites where internet is not dependable due to technical or political factors.
Please go to www.takeCASPer.com to sign up for the American Professional Health Sciences test CSP-10111 (U.S. Medicine) and reserve a test using your AMCAS ID Number and a piece of government-issued photo ID. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your CASPer test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly; there may be updates to the test schedule.
Please direct any inquiries on the test to support@takecasper.com. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of your screen on the takecasper.com website.
The CASPer test is comprised of 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. The test typically takes between 75-90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for CASPer, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at takeCASPer.com, and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test. The last CASPer test date for Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University is November 14, 2024 at 6:00 PM (EST).
CASPer test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to retake it.
