Drexel University College of Medicine (MD) Medical School - 2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
Drexel University College of Medicine, located in Philadelphia, is one of the largest private medical schools in the United States and one of the oldest institutions to have trained women physicians, tracing lineage through Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (1850) and Hahnemann Medical College. The college offers two curriculum tracks — traditional and problem-based learning — under its iDEAL model, giving students genuine choice about learning format. Drexel graduates match broadly across specialties and across the country, with strong placement in the Philadelphia region.
Entry Requirements
What you need to apply to Drexel University College of Medicine (MD).
Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Applications via AMCAS. Drexel accepts applicants nationally; there is no significant in-state preference given its private status. Secondary application required. CASPer is not currently required. Drexel accepts a large class, creating a relatively broader range of academic profiles among matriculants compared to smaller private schools.
MCAT median
512 (range 506–518)
GPA median
3.76 overall / 3.71 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
2.0%
Class size
305
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Resilience, academic trajectory, clinical experience, personal narrative, and mission alignment.
Notes
Estimates from public AAMC FACTS / AACOMAS / ADEA AADSAS / class-profile; verify current cycle.
Specialities offered
Primary Care, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine
Interview Format
How Drexel University College of Medicine (MD) interviews applicants.
Format
Traditional one-on-one or panel interviews with faculty and students
Interview window
August–March
Decision date
March 30 (AAMC standard)
Post-interview chances
Estimated post-interview acceptance rate approximately 15–20%; the interview invite rate is relatively high given the large class, but holistic scoring is competitive.
What to expect at a Drexel University College of Medicine (MD) interview
Drexel College of Medicine interview day is held on the Queen Lane campus in Philadelphia's East Falls neighbourhood. Candidates typically participate in two one-on-one sessions of 30–40 minutes each with a faculty physician and a current medical student. Interviewers have reviewed the full application beforehand and tend to focus on academic and clinical narrative, resilience (given the large class size and large applicant pool), and personal motivation. The day includes a tour of the Queen Lane campus, the basic science building, and Hahnemann University Hospital's former facilities, informal lunch with current students, and an admissions information session. Drexel uses a structured holistic review rubric aligned with AAMC Core Competencies.
What makes Drexel University College of Medicine (MD) different
Drexel University College of Medicine is consistently among the largest medical schools in the United States by total enrollment, accepting a class of approximately 300 students per year. The college traces its lineage through Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (1850) — one of the first medical schools to graduate women in the US — and Hahnemann Medical College. Drexel offers the iDEAL curriculum pathway allowing students to choose between two distinct learning formats: a traditional lecture-based track and a problem-based learning small-group track. The school has strong graduate medical education partnerships across Philadelphia and a large combined-degree portfolio.
Tutor insight
Drexel's large class size is both its strength and its challenge in interviews: the applicant pool is enormous (15,000–18,000) and the academic range is broader than smaller elite programmes. Interviewers focus heavily on resilience, self-awareness, and genuine motivation because the class includes many applicants who re-applied or have non-traditional academic trajectories. Know the iDEAL dual-track curriculum — ability to articulate which track suits your learning style (and why) is a genuine differentiator. The school's historic lineage through Woman's Medical College is worth knowing, particularly if you connect to the mission of expanding access to medical education. Drexel has among the higher Step 1 passing rates in Philadelphia so the academic rigour is real despite the larger class.
PrometheusQuestion Bank
595 medicine questions inside
Interview questions matched to Drexel University College of Medicine (MD)
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Drexel University College of Medicine (MD)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Easy·PanelQ1
AAMC Core Competency: Commitment to a Physician's Lifelong Learning
Medical knowledge doubles approximately every 73 days by some estimates. A treatment standard you learn in your first year of medical school may be obsolete by your fifth year of practice. How do you think about lifelong learning as a professional commitment, and what habits and systems will you build to ensure your practice remains current over a 30-year career?
Likely follow-up · What is maintenance of certification (MOC), and how do you feel about the current debates over its requirements and burden?
3 expert tips in Prometheus
Hard·Panel · MMIQ2
US Healthcare Ethics: Abortion Access Post-Dobbs
In 2022, the US Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade, returning abortion regulation to individual states. Physicians in some states now face criminal liability for providing abortion care that would be considered standard medical treatment elsewhere. You are a resident in an OB/GYN programme in a state with a near-total abortion ban. A patient presents with an ectopic pregnancy -- a life-threatening condition in which the foetus cannot survive. Your attending advises you to wait for more clinical deterioration before intervening, citing legal ambiguity. What are the ethical tensions here, and how do you respond?
Likely follow-up · What is the clinical standard of care for ectopic pregnancy, and how does delaying treatment affect maternal mortality risk?
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Drexel University College of Medicine (MD) - Frequently asked questions
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Applications via AMCAS. Drexel accepts applicants nationally; there is no significant in-state preference given its private status. Secondary application required. CASPer is not currently required. Drexel accepts a large class, creating a relatively broader range of academic profiles among matriculants compared to smaller private schools.
Traditional one-on-one or panel interviews with faculty and students. Drexel College of Medicine interview day is held on the Queen Lane campus in Philadelphia's East Falls neighbourhood. Candidates typically participate in two one-on-one sessions of 30–40 minutes each with a faculty physician and a current medical student. Interviewers have reviewed the full application beforehand and tend to focus on academic and clinical narrative, resilience (given the large class size and large applicant pool), and personal motivation. The day includes a tour of the Queen Lane campus, the basic science building, and Hahnemann University Hospital's former facilities, informal lunch with current students, and an admissions information session. Drexel uses a structured holistic review rubric aligned with AAMC Core Competencies.
Drexel University College of Medicine (MD) typically interviews in August–March.
Decisions are released March 30 (AAMC standard).
Drexel University College of Medicine is consistently among the largest medical schools in the United States by total enrollment, accepting a class of approximately 300 students per year. The college traces its lineage through Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (1850) — one of the first medical schools to graduate women in the US — and Hahnemann Medical College. Drexel offers the iDEAL curriculum pathway allowing students to choose between two distinct learning formats: a traditional lecture-based track and a problem-based learning small-group track. The school has strong graduate medical education partnerships across Philadelphia and a large combined-degree portfolio.
