Traditionally, students spend much of the fourth year of medical school taking electives to decide which residency to pursue and then apply for residency. NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s three-year MD degree is designed to provide students who have already decided on a career path faster entry into a variety of medical specialties.

If you are a candidate for admission to the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, you can apply to the three-year MD pathway when you apply to the MD program. You can also choose to enter the three-year pathway shortly before the end of either your second or third year of medical school. Accepted students enter directly into one of the following twenty-one residence halls:

Upon meeting the academic and professional standards for graduation from medical school, you will be ranked for matching to an NYU Grossman School of Medicine residency program through the National Resident Matching Program^®. If you choose to rank us, you would be matched to a position at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine for residency.

Applying to the three-year program requires an additional application with essays explaining your choice of a particular residency. The managers of the residency program review submitted material and decide which candidates will be interviewed. You will be notified of your approval as soon as possible.

Although you don’t start your residency until after the third year of training, you get early access to potential mentors through rotations and electives in your specialty. This eases your transition from undergraduate medical training to postgraduate training.

You must meet academic and professional standards and participate in National Resident Matching Program to complete your placement in a specific residency program.

Change residence and apply to external programs

If your career interests change during your time in medical school, our flexible curriculum can accommodate your priorities. If positions are still available in the residency program you wish to switch to, you may be able to make the change and remain in the three-year MD program. If not, you can complete our MD curriculum in the traditional four-year term.

As a three-year MD student, you will begin residency training at the NYU Langone Health residency program after participating in The Match®. Alternatively, you are free to interview and rank residency programs at other institutions.