Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Elective Program is available to international students who will be in their final year of medical school (final 12 months) at the time they are participating in the electives. Before submitting your application, you must read the Frequently Asked Questions.
Required Application Materials
If you are not yet a student in your final year of medical school, but will be at the time of the requested elective, the letter must state that you will achieve final year status on a specific date. Note: If your letter does not state this explicitly, your application materials will be considered incomplete and will be returned to you without review.
- Application for Final-Year International Medical Students. (This is a pdf file.)
- $100 Application Fee: International students must submit either a check in US dollars (drawn on a US bank), signed US travelers cheques, or an international money order payable in US dollars. Checks, travelers cheques, or money orders should be made payable to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Wire transfers and credit card payments are not accepted.
- Letter of Intent/Motivation: This letter should explain your interest in oncology and your reason(s) for choosing the electives listed on your application. Please note this letter may be reviewed by the elective sponsor and used to determine interest in participation and academic preparedness.
- Updated Dean’s Letter Requirements: Please submit a letter from you school’s Dean. Your dean's letter must be an original copy, printed on medical school letterhead. No faxed, scanned, or PDF copies will be accepted. The letter must state that:
- you are a final year student
- you are in good standing
- you are authorized to participate in an elective at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- you are pursuing the elective for academic credit
- your expected date of graduation
- the dates for which you are authorized to pursue elective training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering
- if English is not your native language, you have sufficient proficiency in English, including clinical terminology, to benefit from this program.
- If you are not yet a student in your final year of medical school, but will be at the time of the requested elective, the letter must state that you will achieve final year status on a specific date. Note: If your letter does not state this explicitly, your application materials will be considered incomplete and will be returned to you without review.
- Letter of Recommendation (in addition to the Dean's letter): This letter should be from a faculty member who can comment on your academic performance and clinical skills.
- Curriculum vitae: Your CV must contain the following information:
- Education: medical school (expected date of degree), graduate and undergraduate school (degrees conferred)
- Academic honors and awards
- Clinical education: (i.e. clerkships, clinical experiences, etc.) Include specific responsibilities, skills learned, etc.
- Research Experience
- Publications
- Employment: Include work related to your career path.
- Language skills: Proficiency in both conversational and medical English is mandatory.
- Updated Transcript Requirements: English translation of most recent academic transcript: Your transcript must list your school grades for all classes taken during medical school. If your school does not issue a transcript with grades, a separate dean’s letter must confirm this and explain the grading scale used. Note: The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Medical Elective Program is highly competitive. Applicants are required to demonstrate strong academic credentials (minimum GPA 3.0 or B average).
- USMLE Step 1 test score reports (both pages) are required from all applicants from international and off-shore medical schools. The only equivalent test scores that will be considered are those issued by German medical schools.
- Proof of health insurance for the period of the elective. Travel health insurance purchased through a local travel agent (displaying the dates of coverage) in the student’s home country is acceptable proof.
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Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Health Statement. If accepted, the student may be asked to submit updated health information as certain vaccinations must be dated within a specific time-period prior to the elective start date. All titers must be completed and listed on the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Health Statement. Health documents submitted on other forms will not be accepted.
Upon acceptance, you will be required to submit:
- Proof of health insurance for the period of the elective. Travel health insurance purchased through a local travel agent (displaying the dates of coverage and benefits) in the student’s home country is acceptable proof.
- Proof of malpractice insurance for the period of the elective. Malpractice insurance purchased through a US agent (displaying the amount of coverage and dates) is acceptable proof.
All approved students will need to apply for a Letter of Eligibility (LOE) from the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Students must submit a fee of $30.00 (by paper check only (no money order, no cash, no credit card payment) to the NYSED with their LOE application. The check should be sent via airmail together with the student's Dean's verification letter. The NYSED application form must be completed and mailed to the Albany address by the student with other documents listed. Students who do not receive their LOE prior to their start will not be allowed to begin their elective at Memorial Hospital.
Send all items to:
Medical Student Coordinator
Graduate Medical Education, Box 187
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10065
If you have further questions, please refer to the FAQ section below:
New Application Requirement
USMLE Step 1 test scores will be required from all applicants from international and off-shore medical schools. The only equivalent test scores that will be considered are those issued by German medical schools.
