Frequently Asked Questions
Admission Requirements
- Are applicants required to complete any external standardized examinations?
- Is there any exemption from the SAT/ACT or SAT Subject Test exams?
- Do A-levels or IB's exempt me from sending yearly transcripts?
- Do I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS test?
- Where can I find information about these required tests?
- What are the minimum SAT/ACT scores for admission?
- How can I gauge the strength of my own standardized test scores against those of students with whom I would be competing for admission to WCMC-Q?
- What is the institutional code for TOEFL and SAT for WCMC-Q?
- What is the institutional code for ACT for WCMC-Q?
- I am thinking of enrolling at the Academic Bridge Program in Education City. Will success at ABP guarantee admission to WCMC-Q?
- What is the deadline for submitting applications to the Pre-medical Program?
- Can I submit copies of my transcripts?
- Why do you require teacher and counselor reference letters?
- Which of my teachers should I choose to write a reference letter?
- My teacher/advisor is not used to writing reference letters. Is this a problem?
- If selected, must I attend the interview?
- When may I expect to have an interview?
- How are admission decisions made? Do you use a formula?
- If I am not accepted, can you tell me why?
- Do you give admission priority to Qatari citizens?
- What is the cost for studying at the Pre-medical Program at WCMC-Q?
- I need financial assistance. Will this affect my chances of being admitted?
- Is financial assistance available to non-Qatari nationals?
- Can I transfer into Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar?
- Are WCMC-Q Pre-medical students given preference over external applicants for acceptance into the Medical Program?
- If a student is not admitted into the Medical Program after the Pre-medical Program, what options does the student have?
- Is it true that students experience high workload and stress levels?
- I have always attended all-girls (or all-boys) schools. Will I fit into Cornell's co-educational environment?
- Can I speak with someone from the admissions office if I need advice?
Answers
Admission Requirements
- Are applicants required to complete any external standardized examinations?
Yes. Applicants are required to take either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT with Writing. We also strongly recommend taking three SAT Subject Tests: one in Mathematics (level II) and two sciences. These tests are independent of any particular textbook or method of instruction, thus allowing international applicants to demonstrate appropriate mastery of relevant subjects. - Is there any exemption from the SAT/ACT or SAT Subject Test exams?
The SAT exam, or the ACT exam with writing is required of all students who are applying to Cornell, with no exceptions. The International Baccalaureate or A-Levels will not serve as replacements. WCMC-Q strongly recommends SAT Subject Tests. - Do A-levels or IB's exempt me from sending yearly transcripts?
No. We need to receive yearly transcripts as well as predicted A-levels or IB marks. - Do I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS test?
A student who does not achieve a 600 or above in the Critical Reading section of the SAT or who does not score 25 or higher on the English portion of the ACT must take an English Proficiency test. The following tests are considered suitable measures of English ability: the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). You should note that these are only one indicator of English proficiency. We also consider: 1) your scores on the SAT Critical Reading and Writing or ACT English tests, 2) your performance in English courses you are taking or have taken, 3) your writing on the application form and in the essays you submit, and 4) the communication skills you display in your interview. - Where can I find information about these required tests?
Please use the following links: - What are the minimum SAT/ACT scores for admission?
We don't have specific SAT/ACT "cutoffs", but standardized testing plays an important role in the selection process. Excellence is expected. - How can I gauge the strength of my own standardized test scores against those of students with whom I would be competing for admission to WCMC-Q?
It would be useful for you to consider the test performance profile of a recently admitted class. The middle 50% score ranges (25th percentile to the 75th percentile) of students admitted directly to our Pre-medical Program in 2012 were:
Test 25th Percentile 75th Percentile SAT Critical Reading 503 625 Writing 505 608 Math 670 710 TOEFL iBT 107 114 IELTS 7.5 8.0 Please note that although standardized tests are important the Committee on Admissions reviews the complete application.
- What is the institutional code for TOEFL and SAT for WCMC-Q?
The institutional code for both TOEFL and SAT is: 3999 - What is the institutional code for ACT for WCMC-Q?
The institutional code for ACT: 5268 - I am thinking of enrolling at the Academic Bridge Program in Education City. Will success at ABP guarantee admission to WCMC-Q?
ABP helps students strengthen their English language and their academic skills. However, successful completion of the ABP does not guarantee admission to WCMC-Q. The Committee on Admissions evaluates each student’s entire academic record up to the time of application, including their academic record in the ABP (if applicable). For details, please review our admissions requirements. - What is the deadline for submitting applications to the Pre-medical Program?
An application must be submitted by February 1. All supporting documents must be recived by March 1.
SAT Reasoning Test SAT Subject Tests TOEFL IELTS
- Can I submit copies of my transcripts?
No. Transcripts must be official or attested and must be translated into English, and be certified by the school and/or the relevant official authority. In addition, all transcripts must have a true signature and be stamped by the school. Transcripts should reflect subjects studied each year and marks received. If you have attended more than one school, we will require official records from each school. We prefer transcripts to be sent directly from school authorities. - Why do you require teacher and counselor reference letters?
Your teacher and counselor are in a position to provide valuable insight into your academic abilities and potential, your learning style, your achievements in school, and your personal character traits as observed in the school community. When supported by sufficient evidence and information, letters of reference provide well-documented assessments that enable the Committee on Admissions to make informed decisions. Such letters are sometimes used to explain apparent inconsistency or weakness in a student’s record. In sum, letters of reference address the question of your admissibility from the perspective of your past performance. It is also very important that your references s form they receive from the online application. - Which of my teachers should I choose to write a reference letter?
Academic references from science and math teachers are most helpful because they are in a better position to understand the academic background required for successful completion of our Pre-medical Program curriculum. However, you should feel free to submit more than two teacher references and not more then 5 additional references could come from non-science teachers. - My teacher/advisor is not used to writing reference letters. Is this a problem?
If the teacher or advisor you have chosen is not familiar with the practice of writing reference letters, he or she will find clear guidance in the downloadable Reference Form we provide to teachers and advisors. A typical letter of reference is about one page long and uses specific examples and observations to illustrate what the teacher feels are your most important qualities. Letters may be written in the teacher’s or advisor’s native language, but a certified English translation must then be provided. - If selected, must I attend the interview?
Yes, interviews are part of the normal selection process. Applicants who are selected to appear for personal interiews must participate in this process in order to be considered for admittance. Interviews are conducted at our campus in Doha. Please refer to our Interview Day information sheet. - When are interviews held?
Interviews take place between the beginning of February and the end of April. Please be aware that not every applicant will be interviewed. When your application and all required items have been submitted, the Committee on Admissions will review your file and then decide on your eligibility for an interview. - How are admission decisions made? Do you use a formula?
We do not rely upon any single formula to determine admission decisions. Standardized testing plays an important role, of course, but probably not as much as you think. We closely examine each student's high school record, the rigor of his/her coursework, his/her grades within the context of the educational system standards, public examination results, and scholastic rank. In addition to these empirical factors, we also require applicants to write detailed and thoughtful personal statements, in essay form. Consideration of each student's extracurricular activities is a very important piece of Cornell's selection process. Moreover, we consider factors that cannot be quantified such as recommendations and interviews. Finally, every student is expected to demonstrate that he/she is fluent in the English language. - 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. - Do you give admission priority to Qatari citizens?
Yes, up to 70% of the positions are available to Qataris, provided that they meet Cornell’s rigorous selection criteria. At present our student body is approximately 20% Qatari. At present, more than thirty nationalities are represented. There will always be a significant number of non-Qatari students because it is a priority to build an institution with an enduring international character.
- What is the cost for studying at the Pre-medical Program at WCMC-Q?
Tuition for the Pre-medical Program will be the same as that in effect at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. For students entering for the academic year 2012-2013, the amount has been set at US $43,185.00. Accepted students seeking aid may apply to 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. - I need financial assistance. Will this affect my chances of being admitted?
No. Admission to WCMC-Q is “need-blind", meaning that the Committee on Admissions screens, evaluates and accepts students without reference to their ability to pay. - Is financial assistance available to non-Qatari nationals?
Qatari nationals who attend Cornell are funded by the government of the State of Qatar. Non-Qataris who seek financial aid may apply to Qatar Foundation who offer need-based no-interest loans that can cover up to 100% of a student’s cost of attendance without regard for citizenship or national origin. This financial assistance program is based on a family's demonstrated need for help in meeting the cost of a Cornell education. Financial aid applications are available on the Qatar Foundation website.
- Can I transfer into the Pre-medical Program from another academic institution?
Students who enter the Pre-medical program must successfully complete all the required Pre-medical courses at WCMC-Q, regardless of whether or not they have had similar courses elsewhere. Students who are accepted into the Pre-medical program after prior academic experience at another college must start at the beginning and will take just as long as other students to complete the Pre-medical program. - Are WCMC-Q Pre-medical students given preference over external applicants for acceptance into the Medical Program?
Yes, provided they qualify. Admission to the Medical Program is highly competitive, and some WCMC-Q Pre-medical students are not admitted each year. Nevertheless WCMC-Q is committed to taking its students first. There is room in the Medical Program for every qualified WCMC-Q Pre-medical student. A limited number of seats are offered to the most-qualified external applicants. - If a student is not admitted into the Medical Program, what options does the student have?
WCMC-Q Pre-medical Program course credits are transferable; that is, those credits can be counted toward graduation requirements of an undergraduate degree at Cornell University or indeed at any other American college or university to which a student might transfer. Credits based on courses in which grades of C or higher have been earned at an accredited college are commonly transferable between accredited American colleges and universities. - Is it true that students experience high workload and stress levels?
There is a lot of work. Our faculty expect a lot from their students. However, we don't think this is a bad thing, and neither do our students. One student found the experience "overwhelming" to start with, but ultimately reassuring. "It’s like a journey: you change and improve and, hopefully, by the end of the program, you're going to be ready to enter the profession." said another: "You soon come to realize that faculty and students here are all in the same boat. We have a unique family identity. The door is always open to our professors if we have any problems or don’t understand a concept. It's the same way with students here, we all help each other with our studies and are very supportive of each other." Yet another student remarked: "No two days are the same. Then there are all the social and charity events we organize and fund outside of the curriculum, often to help worthy causes in Qatar. We have organized blood drives with Hamad Medical Corporation, fund-raising campaigns, inter-college sports events and community outreach projects, for example." - I have always attended all-girls (or all-boys) schools. Will I fit into Cornell's co-educational environment?
There would be a natural period of adjustment, but you would be helped by upper class students who went through it before you. Our faculty and our Teaching Assistants (‘TAs’) also help you make the transition. It will be a lot easier than you think. One of our students said "I think coeducation enriches the environment and it's more natural. I don't think it gets in the way of what we're here for." A male student remarked "I attended an Egyptian high school in Qatar which had different buildings for boys and girls. When I came here I adjusted quickly. First of all I wasn’t sure if the girls would be embarrassed if I talked to them, but within one or two months everyone was talking." Students who had always attended co-educational schools face a different adjustment. One female student observed: "Although I was aware there were schools in Arab countries that had only males or females, I was shocked when I came here and the boys sat at one table and the girls at another. But soon they were all like one big family. The boys became like brothers to us." - Can I speak with someone from the admissions office if I need advice?
Yes. The staff in the Office of Admissions is here to help you. Feel free to contact us at any time at admissions@qatar-weill.cornell.edu or at 974-4492-8500.
