Applying for an Elective at MSKCC

U.S./Canadian medical students must be in their fourth year of medical school at the time they are participating in the electives. In addition the applicant must:

• Be in good academic standing and currently enrolled in an LCME-accredited or AOA-accredited medical school.
• Be a fourth year student at the time of the elective.
• Have completed all required clerkships at the medical school and be a fourth year student at the time of the elective.
• Submit proof of liability or malpractice insurance either through medical school or outside company.
• Submit proof of personal health insurance through medical school or personally-held coverage.

Yes. There is a one-time, non-refundable application fee of $100 to apply for one or more electives. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Canadian students must submit a check in US dollars (drawn on a US bank) or submit an international money order payable in US dollars. Applications will NOT be processed without the application fee.

Yes. Module dates must be followed as published on our website. Exceptions to the module dates are discouraged but special requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Note: Requests to change modules dates may reduce your chances of being scheduled for an elective.

No. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center does not charge tuition for our electives.

No. We must receive all seven requested documents before your application can be reviewed. This includes: (1) a completed on-line application (2) application fee (3) dean's letter of recommendation (4) official school transcript (5) MSKCC Health Statement (6) proof of liability/malpractice insurance through your medical school (7) proof of personal health insurance through your medical school or personally held coverage.

See How to Apply (Visiting US and Canadian Medical Students).

You will receive an e-mail confirmation with a copy of your online application.

Yes. There are two parts to the application process. Part 1: Submission of on-line application; Part 2: Submission of additional documentation which includes (a) Dean's Letter of Recommendation; (b) Official School Transcript; (c) completed Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Health Statement; (d) $100 non-refundable application fee. Your application will not be reviewed until all additional Part 2 documentation is received.

Your chances of being scheduled may increase if you include alternate choices for electives and module dates. This is especially true for the fall module dates. In addition, submission of completed applications with all requested documentation significantly expedites the review and acceptance process.

When deciding on which elective to apply for, consider your personal interests and the career path you would like to take. Which previous clerkships have sparked your interest? Ask your medical school advisor or other faculty members for guidance.

The academic year for the Elective Program begins in July and ends the following June. Note: Priority registration for elective spots is given to Cornell medical students during the month of April.

• For electives beginning in July, August and September, visiting students may submit applications beginning in April. Reviews of visiting student applications begin in May when Cornell priority registration is over. Decisions are made on a rolling basis.

• For electives beginning October through June, applications may be submitted no earlier than six months prior to the start of the elective. (Applications sent in earlier than six months will be returned without review.) Decisions are made on a rolling basis.

Completed application materials must be submitted no later than six weeks prior to the start of an elective.

No. We cannot hold applications for students. Completed applications should be submitted no earlier than six months prior to the start of the elective.

You will be notified approximately six to eight weeks after a completed application is received. No phone calls please; e-mail inquiries only. medstudent@mskcc.org

A link to the online application is located at the end of each elective description.

Some electives require a phone interview with the sponsor. You will be notified if an interview is required. In all other circumstances, applicants should not contact the sponsors directly. Sponsors are not aware of the availability of electives and are not equipped to answer detailed questions regarding application procedures. As a future physician, you also need to be mindful of time constraints placed on a practicing physician's busy schedule. All inquiries should be directed to the Medical Student Coordinator in the Graduate Medical Education office. No phone calls please; e-mail inquiries only. medstudent@mskcc.org.