Norton College of Medicine: A Comprehensive Overview of Programs and Rankings

The Alan and Marlene Norton College of Medicine, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, is a leading medical school in Central New York. As one of four medical schools within the SUNY system, it holds a significant position in medical education and healthcare within the state. This article delves into the various aspects of Norton College of Medicine, including its programs, rankings, admissions process, and unique features.

Introduction to Norton College of Medicine

Located in Syracuse, New York, SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine serves as the primary academic medical center for the central New York region. The College of Medicine traces its ancestry to Geneva Medical College founded on September 15, 1834, as part of Geneva College, today known as Hobart and William Smith Colleges. In 1950, State University of New York (SUNY) moved to add a medical center in Syracuse and ultimately acquired the College of Medicine from Syracuse University as a part of Governor Thomas E. Dewey's initiative to promote the expansion of SUNY in upstate New York. The Norton College of Medicine is dedicated to education, compassionate healthcare, and research and creating a vibrant and diverse learning environment.

Accreditation and Mission

SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine holds full LCME (Liaison Committee on Medical Education) accreditation, ensuring that the program meets the highest standards for medical education in the United States. The university’s mission statement is, “The mission of SUNY Upstate Medical University is to improve the health of the communities we serve through education, biomedical research, and patient care.” Norton College of Medicine’s curriculum emphasizes the importance of social determinants of health and seeks to remove any educational content that perpetuates or promotes racial, ethnic, or other harmful stereotypes in the healthcare field.

Values

Norton College of Medicine lists the school’s values as:

Driving innovation and discovery
Respecting people by treating everyone with dignity and grace
Serving the community
Valuing integrity through being open and honest
Embracing diversity and inclusion

Academic Programs at Norton College of Medicine

Norton College of Medicine offers a range of programs designed to cater to different career aspirations within the medical field. Students should thoroughly research all available medical programs at SUNY Upstate Medical University before applying. In this article, we will be going over the 5 degree options offered by Norton College of Medicine. SUNY Upstate Medical University does offer early assurance medical programs (EAPs). To apply for these early assurance medical programs, students must have completed 2 years of undergrad at an accredited college and currently be enrolled at an accredited institution.

Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

The Norton College of Medicine offers a traditional 4-year MD program designed to provide rigorous training in scientific, laboratory, and clinical practices. The Norton College of Medicine MD program helps educate and prepare individuals for a rewarding career as a physician. The university can help prep you for a career in a variety of specialties from pediatrics to emergency medicine. SUNY Upstate Medical University offers students a variety of amazing resources to help them receive the best education possible:

An academic medical center that includes a level-1 trauma center, children’s hospital, biomedical research enterprise, and cancer center.
A supportive environment and opportunities to learn alongside other students
Special Medical Rural Scholars Program
Opportunities for service learning

Three-Year MD Program (3YP)

Upstate Medical University's Norton College of Medicine launched a three-year MD program (3YP) in fall 2023. The three-year medical school option saves a year’s tuition and is geared for students who already know what specialty they would like to pursue. 3YP applicants will only be able to apply to one residency program. Acceptance into this program leads to a directed pathway to a designated residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University or UHS in Binghamton. Starting with their acceptance into the program, departments will incorporate 3YP students into their activities while also regularly meeting with them and advising them.

MD/MBA Program

The MD/MBA program follows a 5-year timeline and requires students to attend SUNY Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University to receive their education. Your education will begin at Syracuse University and finish at Norton College of Medicine.

Master of Public Health (MPH) Program

The Master of Public Health Program at Norton College of Medicine is fully accredited by the CEPH. A joint Master of Public Health degree program and a joint PhD program in biomedical engineering are offered by SUNY Upstate and Syracuse University. The campuses of the two universities are adjacent to each other on University Hill in Syracuse.

MD/PhD Program

This program combines the traditional teachings of an MD program with the teachings of a PhD program. The program typically takes 7 years to complete.

Read also: Unlock Norton Discounts

Rankings and Recognition

Norton College of Medicine is recognized for its dedication to medical education and research. It holds notable positions in various rankings, reflecting its standing among medical schools in the United States.

Rankings

#87 in Best Medical Schools: Research
#94 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care
#50 Most Diverse Schools
#67 Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas
#92 Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields
#48 Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas

Admissions Process

SUNY Upstate employs a holistic admissions process that evaluates applicants as complete individuals rather than focusing solely on academic metrics. To best tailor your application and ensure that you are putting your best foot forward and leaving a good impression on the admissions committee, it is crucial to understand these requirements.

Holistic Review

SUNY Upstate values diverse academic backgrounds and does not require specific undergraduate majors. The holistic review takes into account various factors beyond academic achievements, such as experiences, personal attributes, and potential contributions to the medical field.

Application Deadlines

Submit your AMCAS application by the October 15 deadline, with secondary applications due by December 1. Timeliness in residency planning and filing applications is CRITICAL!

Academic Requirements

SUNY Upstate Medical University has specific application criteria and academic requirements that students must meet in order to be considered for acceptance. Students who wish to apply to Norton College of Medicine should ensure their scores are comparable to the average GPA and MCAT score of recent entering classes. The recent entering class had an average overall GPA of 3.67 and an average science GPA of 3.61. The class’s average MCAT score was 510.96.

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MCAT and GPA

Norton College of Medicine does not have a minimum required GPA or MCAT score. The median GPA is 3.82 and the median MCAT score is 513.

Letters of Recommendation

All letters of recommendation must be submitted using the AMCAS Letters of Recommendation/Evaluation Service. Any letters sent directly to the college will not be read or considered. Students should provide a letter from a Health Professions Advisory Committee or Pre-Health Advisor. In the absence of such advisors and/or committees, applicants can submit 2 LORs from faculty members in different departments (1 must be a science department faculty member).

Required Coursework

SUNY Upstate Medical University lists required courses as well as recommended courses. Recommended courses do not need to be completed but can give you a leg up when applying. The college also states that prerequisites do not have to be completed prior to submitting your application, but the classes must be completed before enrolling.

General Biology I and I With Labs
General Chemistry I and II With Labs
Organic Chemistry I With Lab
Biochemistry - Organic Chemistry II Will Not Meet the Biochemistry Prerequisite
General Physics I and II With Labs - Physics Class Does Not Have to Be Calculus-Based
Statistics - 3 Hours (Calculus Will Not Meet the Prerequisite)
English Elective - 3 Hours
English Composition or Writing Course - 3 Hours

Recommended Courses

Genetics
Cell Biology
Physiology
Social Sciences

CASPer Exam

As of 2023, applicants are required to complete the CASPer exam as part of the Norton College of Medicine application process. The CASPer test is not required by all colleges but is required by some. This exam is an online test designed to assess the various non-cognitive abilities of a candidate.

Acceptance Rate and Admission Statistics

The Norton College of Medicine has an overall acceptance rate of roughly 2.9%. Each entering class is around 170 students, with the college receiving over 5,500 applications each year.

5,762 Total Applicants
172 Matriculants
Average GPA of 3.67
Average MCAT of 510.96

Application Process

Most medical schools in the United States utilize the AMCAS application system. Your AMCAS is your primary application and will be sent to all of the medical schools you select. On average, you should expect it to take 4 to 6 weeks for a college to review your AMCAS application. After the university has taken the time to review your primary application, they will send you an invitation to complete a secondary application. Secondary applications are unique to each medical school and generally contain essay prompts designed to help the admissions committee learn more about you, your values, ambitions, and motivations.

Secondary Application Essay Prompts

The SUNY Upstate Medical University secondary application ranges from 1 to 5 essay prompts each year. The college asks questions that will allow the admissions committee to get to know each applicant better and on a more personal level.

Essay Example

Which medical specialty are you thinking about pursuing at this point? (Please note, answers have a 1500-character limit.)

If you have not considered or decided on a medical specialty, discuss what options you are weighing and why you feel these options may be the best fit for you.

Here is a sample answer: After taking part in a pre-med shadowing study abroad program over the summer where I was able to shadow doctors in medically underserved areas, I feel confident in my choice to pursue Family Medicine/Primary Care in a rural New York area. By pursuing a career in family medicine, I feel I will be able to help aid the largest amount of patients possible and make difference in the lives of those living in these rural areas.

Tuition and Cost of Attendance

Students who wish to attend Norton Medical College need to budget for tuition and educational fees, but they also need to consider miscellaneous costs such as living expenses and incidentals. The following cost estimates have been provided by Norton College of Medicine.

Year 1: $76,478 Resident Total / $97,968 Non-resident Total
Year 2: $73,786 Resident Total / $95,276 Non-resident Total
Year 3: $83,464 Resident Total / $104,954 Non-resident Total
Year 4: $85,121 Resident Total / $106,611 Non-resident Total

Facilities and Resources

The university's main campus is located in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York flanking Interstate 81. It includes Upstate University Hospital, the Institute for Human Performance, Setnor Academic Building, Central New York Gamma Knife Center, Jacobsen Hall, Regional Oncology Center, Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, Weiskotten Hall, the Health Sciences Library, Silverman Hall and Geneva Tower residence hall. A clinical campus in Binghamton, New York was established in 1976. Medical students spend their first two years of medical school in Syracuse, New York and then approximately a quarter of the class completes their training in Binghamton.

Upstate medical is located at the heart of downtown Syracuse, University Hill with neighboring Syracuse University and SUNY ESF. Medical students on the Syracuse campus complete their clinical years at Upstate's own University Hospital and its affiliates. Students on the Syracuse campus learn alongside doctors at the Central New York Gamma Knife Center, Upstate's Clark Burn Center, the Joslin Diabetes Center etc.

Upstate University Hospital

Upstate University Hospital is a 752-bed non-profit, teaching hospital located in Syracuse, New York. Upstate University Hospital is a part of the Upstate Health System, as the flagship hospital in the system. There are seven clinical departments that offer surgery at Upstate University Hospital. Collectively, the hospital offers more surgeons, robotic instrumentation and specialty procedures than any other facility in Central New York, with the Department of Surgery providing the largest component.

Research Facilities

As a biomedical research enterprise, Upstate focuses on the most prevalent human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, nervous system disorders, vision, and infectious diseases. The quest for treatments and cures is built upon expertise in structural, molecular and systems biology. Upstate's clinical departments host more than 450 active clinical trials. Upstate's research expenditures of more than $35 million ripple through the state economy and generated an additional $20.7 million in indirect and induced activity.

Institute for Human Performance

Upstate Medical University completed the construction of the Upstate Cancer Center, a five-story $74-million facility, in July 2014 and expanded it in 2018 to meet patient's demands and further research capability. In addition, the Nappi Longevity Institute at Upstate Medical University-a five floor, nearly 200,000 square foot health and wellness complex-will be completed in 2023.

Notable Alumni

Norton College of Medicine has produced numerous distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions to the medical field and beyond.

A. V. Sir Frederick Ballantyne, M.D.
Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D.
Penny Budoff, M.D.
George W.
Mary Fowkes, MD/PhD - American physician and neuropathologist.
Sarah Loguen Fraser, M.D. - in 1876, became the first woman to gain an M.D.
Marcus J. Goldman, M.D.
David B. Levine, M.D.
Pamela Lipkin, M.D.
Clemence Sophia Harned Lozier, M.D.
Elizabeth R. McAnarney, M.D.
Patricia Numann, M.D.
James B. Preston, M.D.
Mark C. Rogers, M.D.
Thomas Szasz, M.D.
Nancy J. Tarbell, M.D. - C.C.
Samuel O. Thier, M.D.
Mary Edwards Walker, M.D.
Sid Watkins, M.D.
Michael Weitzman, M.D.
Thomas Bramwell Welch, M.D.
Frank E. Young, M.D.

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