Frequently Asked Questions
Application Process
  1. Can I apply through AMCAS?
  2. May I submit a copy of my AMCAS application in lieu of the WCMC-Q form?
  3. What is the application submission deadline?
  4. May I apply to WCMC-Q via the Early Decision Program (EDP) applicant?
  5. Can I apply for both New York and Qatar campuses in the same year?
  6. How does the application process work?
  7. I was "rejected" for admission to WCMC in New York this year, can I still apply for the MD program in Qatar?
  8. Does the WCMC-Q Medical Program have a rolling admissions policy?
Admission Requirements
  1. How many letters of recommendation do I need to submit?
  2. Can I send letters from other people, such as employers, doctors and current students?
  3. Can I submit copies of my transcripts?
  4. Can I include additional documents with my application?
  5. Do you accept MCAT scores from previous years?
  6. What if my latest MCAT was taken more than three years ago?
  7. What are the average MCAT scores?
  8. Must I be a science major?
  9. What university courses are required for admission? Must that include lab requirements?
  10. Can I take my prerequisites in a community college?
  11. Is an undergraduate degree an admission requirement?
  12. What are the average university grades of successful applicants?
  13. Must I attend the interview?
  14. When will I hear back from the Committee on Admissions in regard to the result of my interview?
  15. If I am not accepted, can you tell me why?
Clinical Training and Residency
  1. Where will clinical training be completed?
  2. If I join WCMC-Q, will I get the same medical education as WMC in New York?
  3. Is Cornell's Medical Program in Doha listed by IMED (International Medical Education Directory)?
  4. As a graduate of WCMC-Q, may I obtain a license to practice medicine in the United States?
  5. Why are graduates of WCMC-Q considered IMGs (International Medical Graduates)?
  6. Are graduates of WCMC-Q eligible for ECFMG certification?
  7. Why are IMG's required to be certified by ECFMG (the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates)?
  8. Can WCMC-Q medical students apply to residency programs in the United States through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)?
  9. Is there a residency program in Doha?
  10. May I pursue an MD/PhD in Doha?
  11. What is Cornell's accreditation status in the United States?
Financial Concerns
  1. What is the cost for studying at the Medical Program at WCMC-Q?
  2. Is financial aid available for students entering the Medical Program?
General
  1. How long is the Medical Program?
  2. What is the size of the incoming class?
Transfer Issues
  1. If I successfully finish a basic medical science program at another medical college, can I transfer into the clinical phase of the program at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar?
  2. If I successfully complete the basic science portion of the WCMC-Q Medical Program, can I then transfer into the clinical phase of the Medical Program at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City?
Cultural Concerns
  1. Would there be a cultural problem with male doctors conducting physical examinations of women?
  2. Are applicants from the United States (or from China, Russia, South Africa, etc.) eligible for admission?
  3. Since I do not know Arabic, would I (if accepted at WCMC-Q) have trouble conducting patient examinations and communicating with patients in Doha?
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Answers

Application Process
  1. Can I apply through AMCAS?
    No. Since the AMCAS application system is not currently well suited to our overseas location, especially given the fact that a high proportion of our applicants are from outside the United States, applicants to WCMC-Q are required to use our own Medical Program Application.
  2. May I submit a copy of my AMCAS application in lieu of the WCMC-Q form?
    You may not substitute one form for the other. However, any applicant who has filed with AMCAS is strongly encouraged to supplement his/her WCMC-Q application form with a complete copy of the AMCAS form.
  3. What is the application submission deadline?
    External applicants must submit completed applications by February 1, 2008. Internal applicants must submit completed applications by March 1, 2008
  4. May I apply to WCMC-Q via the Early Decision Program (EDP) applicant?
    We do not participate in the Early Decision Program. Applicants who have not completed the WCMC-Q Pre-medical Program must apply no later than February 1. Applicants will find it advantageous to apply and complete their applications as early as possible.
  5. Can I apply for both New York and Qatar campuses in the same year?
    No. It is a policy of the Committee on Admissions that one may not apply in the same year to both Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and to Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. Dual applicants will not be considered and will be procedurally withdrawn.
  6. How does the application process work?
    Upon receipt of your application, the Office of Admissions will inform you if any of the required supporting documents are missing. As soon as all materials are received, you will be notified that your application is complete and is being reviewed to determine whether an interview will be granted.
  7. I was "rejected" for admission to WCMC in New York this year, can I still apply for the MD program in Qatar?
    You may apply for admission in the next year.
  8. Does the WCMC-Q Medical Program have a rolling admissions policy?
    No, we do not have a rolling admissions policy. External candidates (applicants from outside the WCMC-Q Premedical Program) are considered together in a single meeting at the end of March, and their decisions are made available at the beginning of April. Internal candidates (applicants from within the WCMC-Q Premedical Program) are considered together in a meeting at the end of May, and their decisions are made available at the beginning of June.
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Admission Requirements
  1. How many letters of recommendation do I need to submit?
    You must submit one letter of reference from the Pre-professional Advisory Committee of your college or university, or at least two letters from professors who can provide a detailed evaluation of your performance in appropriate university science courses.
  2. Can I send letters from other people, such as employers, doctors and current students?
    Yes, you may submit letters from other people who know you and who can appraise your suitability for the practice of medicine, but they are not a substitute for the required letters of recommendation (outlined above). We prefer letters from people who know you well.
  3. Can I submit copies of my transcripts?
    Transcripts should be either original-issue documents or officially notarized copies; these should be sent directly to Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar by the issuing or notarizing authority. Notarized true copies of transcripts must bear hand-written signatures and official stamps of appropriate educational or government authorities. All foreign language transcripts must be translated into English; the accuracy of those translations must be certified and notarized by an appropriate authority.
  4. Can I include additional documents with my application?
    Yes. We will accept most materials that you send in support of your application. However, please limit the documents to those that will give the Committee on Admissions extra insight into you as an individual. Do not send us reprints of published articles, or copies of your senior thesis and/or research papers.
  5. Do you accept MCAT scores from previous years?
    Yes. MCAT scores can be up to three years old at the time of application. Your application will not be considered complete until we have received your MCAT scores.
  6. What if my latest MCAT was taken more than three years ago?
    If your latest MCAT scores are over three years old, you will need to send a letter explaining why you waited to apply to medical school and why you have not taken this test recently.
  7. What are the average MCAT scores?
    With the MCAT, as with university grades, our standards are very high. You may find it useful to know that the average MCAT scores for last year's entering class at WCMC was 10.7 in physical and 10.8 in the biological sciences. However, you should be advised that our selection process involves a multiplicity of considerations.
  8. Must I be a science major?
    No. We value diversity of undergraduate study. However, if your field of concentration was in a non-science area, we recommend that you now undertake additional coursework in the required basic sciences, and that you strive to develop your knowledge beyond the introductory level in these subjects, in order to prepare for the challenge of medical school. Many individuals pursue medical careers after receipt of a Bachelor's degree. Frequently, additional science courses and labs are required before they are prepared to apply to medical school. Therefore a number of schools now offer post-baccalaureate premedical programs. You may find a list of these schools at Qatar Foundation http://services.aamc.org/postbac/
  9. What university courses are required for admission? Must that include lab requirements?
    We require applicants to have completed rigorous courses at university in the sciences, including two semesters each of biology/zoology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics; and at least two semesters in English composition or literature. While there is no specific lab requirement, our highly selective process reflects our belief that a rigorous laboratory experience is essential to a thorough basic training in scientific concepts and methods.
  10. Can I take my prerequisites in a community college?
    It is not recommended.
  11. Is an undergraduate degree an admission requirement?
    It is not a prerequisite for filing an application. However, external applicants (i.e. those who have not completed the accelerated WCMC-Q Pre-medical Program) are generally expected to have earned at least the equivalent of an American bachelor's degree by the time they have enrolled in our Medical Program. An applicant's prior university career should reflect appropriate levels of mastery in the following subjects:
    • Calculus
    • Physics
    • Inorganic Chemistry
    • Organic Chemistry
    • Biology/Zoology
    • English
  12. What are the average university grades of successful applicants?
    We apply the same high standards at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar as those applied at Weill Cornell Medical College (WMC). The mean science Grade Point Average (GPA) for this year's entering class at WCMC-Q was 3.5 out of 4. However, our Committee on Admissions recognizes that, for a variety of reasons, grades alone are not reliable indicators of applicant capability to excel in the field of medicine. Our decisions take into account a range of other important factors, such as the personal qualities of applicants, evidence of their interest in the field of medicine, reports of multiple interviews, and of course, MCAT scores, before offering a place at WCMC-Q.
  13. Must I attend the interview?
    Yes. The interview forms an essential part of the selection process. It follows that no candidate called for interview by the Committee on Admissions can be offered a place in the entering class unless he or she has completed that interview. Interviews are held in Doha.
  14. When will I hear back from the Committee on Admissions in regard to the result of my interview?
    All external candidates (applicants from outside the WCMC-Q Premedical Program) will be interviewed between January and the end of February, and be notified of their final decisions at the beginning of April. Internal candidates (applicants from within the WCMC-Q Premedical Program) will be interviewed in April and be notified of their final decisions at the beginning of June.
  15. If I am not accepted, can you tell me why?
    Due to the large number of applications we receive, and the complexity of the selection process, we are not able to provide individual information of this sort.
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Clinical Training and Residency
  1. Where will clinical training be completed?
    WCMC-Q students will do clinical training at the Hamad Medical Corporation, which manages a rapidly expanding healthcare system and includes the 900-bed Hamad General Hospital as well as a network of 24 modern primary care clinics. A university hospital a short walk from the medical school campus is scheduled to open in 2010; it is an integral part of the Education City project. Moreover, as the Gulf region grows, we expect appropriate opportunities to become available in nearby cities as well (e.g. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Manama, etc).
  2. If I join WCMC-Q, will I get the same medical education as WMC in New York?
    Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) is an integral part of Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) in New York and thus follows the same medical educational program; the two programs are educationally equivalent. Students that graduate from WCMC-Q will, like their peers in New York city, receive a Cornell University MD degree.
  3. Is Cornell's Medical Program in Doha listed by IMED (International Medical Education Directory)?
    Yes, and this listing is of critical importance to IMG's who seek licensure in the United States. The International Medical Education Directory (IMED) was created by the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education Research (FAIMER) which itself was established by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). To be eligible for certification by ECFMG, among other requirements, an IMG's medical school must be listed in IMED.
  4. As a graduate of WCMC-Q, may I obtain a license to practice medicine in the United States?
    Students and graduates of the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar are eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination ( USMLE ) through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates ( ECFMG ). The USMLE is the sole examination system for students and graduates of both US and foreign medical colleges who seek medical licensure. International medical graduates (IMGs) are thus not required to undergo a separate licensing examination.
  5. Why are graduates of WCMC-Q considered IMGs (International Medical Graduates)?
    Anyone who graduates from a medical school whose location is outside of the geographic boundaries of the United States or Canada is considered an International Medical Graduate (IMG). Cornell is the first American university to step outside of these geographic limits by establishing a medical program and by awarding its MD degree. Thus WCMC-Q students will be the only IMGs with US medical degrees.
  6. Are graduates of WCMC-Q eligible for ECFMG certification?
    Yes. To be eligible for certification by ECFMG, among other requirements, your medical school must be listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER®). WCMC-Q is listed in IMED. To verify this, you may wish to access IMED.
  7. Why are IMG's required to be certified by ECFMG (the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates)?
    Medical schools outside the United States and Canada vary in their educational standards and curricula. The purpose of ECFMG Certification is to assess the readiness of graduates of these schools to enter U.S. residency and fellowship programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
  8. Can WCMC-Q medical students apply to residency programs in the United States through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)?
    Yes. WCMC-Q Medical Program graduates may enter ERAS and the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) as International Medical Graduates (IMGs). Our first graduates will enter this process in 2008. Cornell University is confident that graduates of WCMC-Q will compete favorably for places with graduates of medical schools located within the United States.
  9. Is there a residency program in Doha?
    Hamad Medical Corporation, our affiliate hospital in Doha, offers a residency program.
  10. May I pursue an MD/PhD in Doha?
    We do not currently offer the MD/PhD Program in Doha.
  11. What is Cornell's accreditation status in the United States?
    Cornell University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, with Doha, Qatar listed as an Additional Location. Weill Cornell Medical College, located in New York, is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
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Financial Concerns
  1. What is the cost for studying at the Medical Program at WCMC-Q?
    Tuition for the Medical Program will be the same as that in effect at Cornell University in New York. For the academic year 2008-2009, the amount has been set at US $44, 465. Accepted students seeking aid may apply to the Qatar Foundation which has developed a need-based no-interest loan program that can cover up to 100% of a student's cost of attendance without regard for citizenship or national origin.
  2. Is financial aid available for students entering the Medical Program?
    Yes. The Qatar Foundation provides need-based loans of up to 100% of the fees to all international students who qualify for such assistance, without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, or gender. Moreover, special grants of up to 100% of fees are available for citizens of certain countries through a variety of modalities. For example, friends of Cornell University have already provided generous grants enabling qualified Bosnian, Lebanese and Syrian students to enroll. Qatari citizens who enroll at WCMC-Q are fully funded by their government.
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General
  1. How long is the Medical Program?
    It is a four-year Program culminating in conferral of the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.
  2. What is the size of the incoming class?
    Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar will admit up to fifty students to the Medical Program.
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Transfer Issues
  1. If I successfully finish a basic medical science program at another medical college, can I transfer into the clinical phase of the program at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar?
    Cornell University follows AAMC guidelines in regard to transfer applicants from other institutions. If a vacancy occurs in the third year class of WCMC-Q, transfer applicants from LCME accredited medical schools may be considered. To be considered, applicants' qualifications must be comparable to those of WCMC-Q students, and one must have compelling personal circumstances that favor transfer. Transfer between medical schools is not common.
  2. If I successfully complete the basic science portion of the WCMC-Q Medical Program, can I then transfer into the clinical phase of the Medical Program at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City?
    There is no provision for full transfer between the two programs. Rather, it is expected that students will graduate from the specific program to which they have been admitted. Cornell's programs in New York and Doha offer equivalent training and equivalent M.D. degrees.
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Cultural Concerns
  1. Would there be a cultural problem with male doctors conducting physical examinations of women?
    One should not expect a generalized cultural problem of this sort in Qatar. Doha is a culturally diverse and international environment. Just as in the United States, where patients may express preference for examinations conducted by someone of like gender, in Qatar, one will encounter modest patients. However, among patients who adhere to traditional Islamic values, such modesty should be more accurately described as a cultural tenet or religious precept that a physician must always respect.
  2. Are applicants from the United States (or from China, Russia, South Africa, etc.) eligible for admission?
    Yes. Cornell University is committed to administer all educational policies and activities, including admissions, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethic origin, age, handicap, or gender.
  3. Since I do not know Arabic, would I (if accepted at WCMC-Q) have trouble conducting patient examinations and communicating with patients in Doha?
    English is the medium of instruction and training at WCMC-Q. Doha is a demographically diverse international city in which English is widely spoken, so your Arabic language deficiency should present no insurmountable barriers to the conduct of patient examinations. At the same time, however, a working knowledge of Arabic would certainly be a distinct asset.
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Last modified on Tuesday, 08-Jul-2008 16:09:08 SAUST