Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) is a unique and prestigious medical school designed for students who are passionate about becoming physician-scientists and advancing the forefront of medical knowledge. As part of the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, CCLCM offers unparalleled access to cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art facilities, and exceptional clinical training. This institution is deeply committed to fostering innovation, collaboration, and compassionate care, making it an ideal choice for students who aspire to make significant contributions to both science and medicine. Read more to learn how to get into Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine!
CCLCM’s distinctive curriculum is research-focused, granting all students a tuition-free education and preparing them to become leaders in academic medicine. The program emphasizes self-directed learning, small-group discussions, and mentorship, allowing students to develop the skills necessary to excel in research, clinical practice, and education. For those looking to gain admission to Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, showcasing a strong foundation in academics, a passion for research, and a commitment to the patient-centered care philosophy will be key to standing out. Keep reading to learn more about Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine’s curriculum below!
Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta from Cracking Med School Admissions can provide invaluable support to help you navigate the unique application process for CCLCM. Their expert guidance and tailored strategies can help you craft a compelling application that highlights your dedication to innovation and your alignment with CCLCM’s mission. With their mentorship, you’ll be well-prepared to achieve your goal of attending this prestigious institution and making a meaningful impact in academic medicine.
Many of our Cracking Med School Admissions mentees receive partial or full tuition scholarships at Case Western Medical School each year! If you are not yet applying, plan your premed journey through our premed advising packages. If you are applying to medical school, then definitely work with us through our medical school application packages!
Why Choose Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University (Lerner College Program)?
- Tuition-free
- Excellent choice for those passionate about research
- Small class sizes build camaraderie among students and with their professors
- All your peers and mentors LOVE research!
Applications
Cleveland Clinic Lerner has a separate secondary application than Case Western Reserve University. Make sure not to confuse the two!
For both the Cleveland Clinic Medical School secondary application and the Case Western Reserve University Medical School secondary application, be sure to emphasize 1) Research and 2) Commitment to gain strong clinical skills.
Cleveland Clinic Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts:
- Greatest Challenge Essay: The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (2000 characters max)
- Research Essay: Please tell us about ONE research project to which you made a significant contribution. In your essay, describe your role on the project, the hypothesis of your research and whether you contributed to hypothesis generation, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results, and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. In addition, please briefly share your motivation for pursuing this research project and reflect on how this experience affected your future career goals. (3500 characters max)
- Personal Growth: Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today. (1000 characters max)
- Cultural Awareness: Many have been reckoning with the impact of systemic injustices on social environments and healthcare equity. Describe a personal experience that has deepened your cultural awareness and humility, and the impact of that learning on how you look at health and healthcare. (1500 characters max)
- Career Essay: What does your ideal career entail fifteen years after medical school graduation? (1000 characters max)
- Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap. (1000 characters max)
OPTIONAL – Additional Information Response for Cleveland Clinic Medical School Secondary Application: Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (2000 characters max)
Need Help With Your Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Secondary Essays?
Get the Cracking Med School Admissions team’s expertise through our secondary essay editing packages. If you have questions, email us at info@crackingmedadmissions.com or contact us.
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Interview Format
Be prepared to be grilled about research on your Cleveland Clinic Medical School interview!
To ace your traditional interview, you need to know how to answer common medical school interview questions. It’s important to practice, practice, practice.
Cracking Med Resources for Interviews:
- How to answer “Tell me about yourself” Medical School Interview Question
- How to answer “Why this Medical School?”
- 43 Questions To Ask Your Medical School Interviewers
- Download our Cracking Med School Admissions interview guide below
Contact us if you want to schedule a mock interview with our Cracking Med School Admissions team! Take a look at our interview packages.
download your interview guide
If you are prepared, the interview gives you the perfect opportunity to standout and shine by sharing with people what you are passionate about.
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Acceptance Rate
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Admissions Statistics (all MD Programs, including Lerner College)
- Case Western Medical School Average GPA: 3.87
- Case Western Medical School Average MCAT: 518
How Did Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Students (all MD Programs, including Lerner College) Do On Their USMLE Step Exams?
- Average CWRU USMLE Step 1 Percentage Passing Rate (first attempt): 97%
- Average CWRU USMLE Step 2CS Percentage Passing Rate (first attempt): 99%
Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders
We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With
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The Insider's View on CCLCM's Pre-clinical years
How to Get Into Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine – Know the Curriculum:
Curriculum Overview:
The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) curriculum is uniquely designed to train physician-scientists through an innovative, research-focused approach. The five-year program emphasizes self-directed learning, with a pass/fail grading system and a heavy integration of research, allowing students to pursue independent projects alongside clinical training. The curriculum features problem-based learning, small group discussions, and early clinical exposure, fostering critical thinking and collaboration. With access to world-class resources at the Cleveland Clinic, students are equipped to develop both clinical expertise and research skills, preparing them to excel as physician scientists.
As a CCLCM student, you have a five-year curriculum, which is unique from the typical four-year MD curriculum. You spend your first two years as a pre-clinical student. Then, you take your USMLE Step 1 after your second year. During your third to fifth in the Lerner College program, you will participate in core clinical rotations at Cleveland Clinic. In your fourth year, you will complete their thesis research.
Pre-clinical Years:
The first two years are pre-clinical years, divided into various blocks, based on organ system.
The first year consists of the following blocks:
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory (6 weeks)
- Gastroenterology (3.5 weeks)
- Endocrinology and Reproductive Biology (4 weeks)
- Renal (3 weeks)
- Musculoskeletal (2 weeks)
- Neurosciences (5 weeks)
- Hematology, Immunology and Microbiology (7 weeks)
- Behavioral Sciences (3 weeks)
- Interwoven topics (e.g. anatomy, embryology, physiology, histology, genetics etc.).
The second year consists of the blocks organized by organ system, similar to the first year. However, you go more in-depth with each organ system:
- Musculoskeletal (2 weeks)
- Neurosciences (3 weeks)
- Endocrinology and Reproductive Biology (3.5 weeks)
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences (6 weeks)
- Hematology (4 weeks)
- Renal (2 weeks)
- Gastrointestinal (4 weeks)
- Interwoven topics (e.g. immunology, pathology, oncology, infectious diseases/microbiology and biostatistics and epidemiology threadss
Grades:
CCLM does not use grades for any course or clinical rotation. Instead, students are expected to attain a defined level of achievement (Achieved/Exceeds Competencies) for each of nine competencies:
- Clinical Skills
- Clinical Reasoning
- Medical Knowledge in Basic and Clinical Sciences
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Reflective Practice
- Personal Development
- Health Care Systems
- Research
Unique highlights about pre-clinical years:
- No grades/rankings cultivate a collaborative community among students
- Students are assessed based on their portfolios, allowing them to focus on professional and academic development
- Large Health Education Campus encourages interprofessional learning
Learn more about Cleveland Clinic's campus!
Taking Time Off:
There is less flexibility to take time off during the first and second years but there is a 4-week vacation period in the third and fourth years. However, students may need some of this vacation time to complete their residency interviews.
Research Opportunities:
- Cleveland Clinic students receive a stipend and have their whole fourth year of medical school to dedicate to scholarly research,
- Cleveland Clinic students also participate in a 10-week translational research block at the start of their first year and an 8-week clinical research block at the start of their second year.
To learn more about research at Cleveland Clinic, please click here.
Tip – How to Get Into Cleveland Clinic Medical School – Have ideas about what professors you want to research with and what type of research you want to do. Show that you are an independent researcher who wants to move medicine forward!
Learn more about Cleveland Clinic’s philosophy:
What students are saying about Cleveland Clinic Lerner College
The Insider's View on CCLCM's clinical years
Clinical Years:
Students participate in their clinical rotations during their third to fifth years of medical school. There is a lot of time for advanced clinical electives in their fourth year and fifth years. When students take their four-week vacation will vary during their third year. All students take another four-week vacation at the end of their fourth year.
The third year curriculum consists of the following blocks:
- Longitudinal Ambulatory Block – outpatient experiences in internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, and emergency medicine (12 weeks)
- Team Based Care 1 – inpatient experiences in internal medicine and surgery + elective (8 weeks rotation, 4 weeks elective)
- Team Based Care 2 – inpatient experiences in pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology and outpatient women’s health + elective (8 weeks, 4 weeks elective)
- Team Based Care 3 – inpatient and outpatient experiences in neurosciences and psychiatry + elective (4 weeks each, 4 weeks elective)
The fourth year curriculum consists of a research project and Master’s level thesis (12-15 months). Students will still engage in a weekly ½ day outpatient clinic during their research thesis year.
The fifth year curriculum consists of two acting internships, with at least one in Cleveland at one of the CWRU affiliated medical centers. Students also complete 24 weeks of electives throughout the year.
To check out more details about the Lerner College of Medicine curriculum, please click here.
Unique highlights about clinical years:
- Students spend a lot of time on their research project during their fourth year while still completing clinical rotations
- More than 55 advanced clinical electives for students in their fourth and fifth years
Main Clinical Rotation Sites:
- Cleveland Clinic (students encouraged to take all core rotations here)
- Louis Stokes VA Medical Center
- MetroHealth Medical Center
- Case Medical Center/University Hospitals of Cleveland
Tip – How to Get Into Cleveland Clinic Medical School – Be able to discuss clinical opportunities you want to pursue at CWRU and Cleveland Clinic! Be specific.
What students are saying about clinical rotations at CCLCM
Housing & Social
Where do students live?
- Cleveland Clinic offers a student housing program to help students find off-campus housing best suited for their housing needs.
- Housing for students at Cleveland Clinic includes a range of convenient and affordable options located near the campus in Cleveland. Popular neighborhoods such as Little Italy, University Circle, and Coventry Village are close by, offering a variety of apartments, townhomes, and rental houses.
- These areas provide easy access to local restaurants, cafes, and other amenities, creating a welcoming and comfortable place to live. For those who prefer more space or a quieter environment, suburbs like Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights are excellent choices, with a short and manageable commute to campus. With so many housing options available, students can find accommodations that suit their lifestyle and budget while staying immersed in the vibrant Cleveland community.
Social Life:
- The social life at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) is enriched by a supportive and collaborative community of students who often bond over shared academic and extracurricular interests. On campus, students participate in various clubs and organizations, including specialty interest groups, research initiatives, and community service projects, fostering personal and professional growth.
- Outside of academics, Cleveland’s vibrant city life offers plenty of opportunities for fun and relaxation, from exploring the restaurants and cultural attractions in University Circle and Little Italy to attending sporting events or concerts downtown. Many students enjoy outdoor activities such as kayaking on Lake Erie or hiking in the Cleveland Metroparks.
Getting around:
For neighborhoods close to campus, many students live in walking or biking distance. RTA buses also run between the campus area and these neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are also close to Cleveland Clinic, where most clinical rotations are. Public transportation, like the RTA Mass Rapid Transit, is accessible.
Tip – How to Get Into Cleveland Clinic Medical School – During your interview, talk about specific aspects of the social life and medical school’s culture that you are excited about!
financing
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College is tuition-free for all students. However, in the research thesis year, a continuation fee (~5 percent of tuition) is required of students.
Cracking Med School Admissions Resources
Here are useful Cracking Med School Admissions resources:
- How To Write A Personal Statement For Medical School
- Download Cracking Med School Admission’s FREE AMCAS Activities Workbook
- Premed Timeline: Planning For Medical School Applications
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