Howard University, College of Medicine Admission
Howard University, College of Medicine Undergraduate Program
Howard University, College of Medicine Application

The Facts

Howard University is a rather small, private institution located in Washington D.C., and has a combined graduate and undergraduate population of over 6,000 students. The university's College of Medicine, however, is significantly smaller, and is home to about 454 graduate medical students. The average age of enrollment is around 25, and it is fairly rare for any of the students to enter the school directly from their undergraduate education. The school is perhaps best known for its emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship, as well as its connections within the Washington D.C. medical community. Aside from the basic MD degree, the school also offers a joint MD/PhD with available specialties in the areas of anatomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, genetics, microbiology, pharmacology, as well as physiology.

Admission to Howard University's College of Medicine is extremely competitive among the many students who apply; last year over 5,500 students applied for admission to the school, and approximately 100 of those students were accepted. Eventually however, only about 20 of the admitted students actually enrolled for the coming semester. The admitted students had average MCAT scores of 11.0 in Biology, 11.2 in Physics, and 10.8 in Verbal, as well as an average undergraduate GPA of about a 3.7. Students are notified of their admissions status on a rolling basis, and there is currently no early application in place.

Graduates of the university's College of Medicine often gain acceptance to some of the top residency programs in the nation, including the school's own residency program. Students most frequently specialize in areas such as orthopedic surgery, neuroscience, pathology, primary care, as well as general medicine.

Clinical Programs

Students at Howard University's College of Medicine are required to complete extensive clinical training beginning as early as their first year, and are also required to complete research internships. The training includes 12 weeks of medicine, 8 weeks of surgery, 8 weeks of ob/gyn, 8 weeks of pediatrics, 6 weeks of psychiatry, 4 weeks of rehabilitation and neurological disease, as well as 4 weeks of family practice. Students complete their training at affiliated institutions including Howard University Hospital, Howard University Cancer Center, Center for Sickle Center Disease, Walter Reed Army and National Naval Medical Centers, DC General Hospital, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, VA Medical Center, Providence Hospital, Greater Southeast Community Hospital, Prince George's Hospital Center, Washington Hospital Center, as well as the National Rehabilitation Hospital.

What's Good

"The connections within the medical community are fantastic, and you usually get one of your top residency choices."

"Students here are very supportive of one another, and there's a very familial atmosphere."

"Washington D.C. is a terrific area to study medicine in. There are always interesting research projects going on."

What's Bad

"It would be nice if there were some more variety in terms of joint degrees."

"There isn't any on campus graduate housing, and Washington is a very expensive city in which to live."

"The administration sometimes seems to be more concerned with the undergraduate students."

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