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US Medicine · 2027 Entry

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) Medical School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Philadelphia, PA, United StatesEstablished 1765Interviews September–JanuaryDecisions March 30
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Full guide

How to get into Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) medicine

Step-by-step: entry requirements, MCAT prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.

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Interview guide

Prepare for the Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) interview

Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.

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Overview

About Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD)

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1765, is the first medical school established in North America. Located in West Philadelphia adjacent to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Penn Medicine is a leading center for biomedical research, gene therapy, and translational medicine. The curriculum emphasizes scholarly pursuit and leadership in academic medicine.

What makes it different

Penn is the oldest medical school in the United States. The school pioneered CAR-T cell therapy and has strong ties to the Penn Institute for Immunology and the Abramson Cancer Center. Penn's MD-PhD MSTP is among the largest and most funded in the country.

Course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD curriculum. Perelman's curriculum was redesigned to integrate clinical correlates from the start of Year 1. A scholarly pursuit (research or scholarly project) is a graduation requirement. Early clinical exposure through Penn's Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship model.

Research strengths

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) has notable research strength in Gene and cell therapy, Cancer immunotherapy, HIV/Infectious disease, Bioethics, Health equity.

Interview

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) interviews via Traditional one-on-one interview (typically 2 faculty/student interviews on interview day).

Intake

Approximately 150 students per year.

At a glance

Founded in 1765, based in Philadelphia, PA. Programmes offered: Gene Therapy, Translational Medicine, Oncology, Immunology, Cardiovascular Medicine.

Entry requirements

What you need to apply to Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Strong academic record, research experience, and clinical exposure expected. No specific major required. AMCAS application; secondary required for all.
MCAT median
522 (range 517–526)
GPA median
3.97 overall / 3.95 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
3.0%
Class size
150
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Not required
AAMC PREview
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Research, academic excellence, intellectual leadership, and long-term commitment to academic medicine.
Notes
MCAT/GPA approximate from Penn Perelman class profile data.
Specialities offered
Gene Therapy, Translational Medicine, Oncology, Immunology, Cardiovascular Medicine
Interview

How Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) interviews applicants

Format
Traditional one-on-one interview (typically 2 faculty/student interviews on interview day)
Interview window
September–January
Decision date
March 30
Tutor insight
Penn's traditional interview is conversational and relationship-focused — interviewers are often interested in your story, your reasons for medicine, and your research narrative. Prepare a clear, compelling personal statement and be ready to discuss your research in accessible, meaningful terms. Penn values candidates who can articulate why they want to be academic physician-scientists; a vague interest in "helping people" without specific intellectual depth will not stand out. The Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship is a distinct feature — express genuine enthusiasm for this model if it aligns with your learning preferences.
Practice

Practise for your Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD)

Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

MediumPanelQ1

Holistic Review: Overcoming Financial Hardship as a Pre-Med

Your path to medical school has included working 30 hours a week throughout your undergraduate years to support yourself and contribute to your family's finances. Your GPA reflects some semesters where you were managing a family health crisis while taking 18 credit hours. You did not participate in some extracurricular opportunities because you could not afford to volunteer without pay. How do you present this context to an admissions committee?

Likely follow-up · The AAMC's holistic review explicitly asks committees to contextualise academic metrics within an applicant's circumstances. How do you bring up financial hardship without sounding like you are making excuses?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
HardPanel · MMIQ2

AAMC Core Competency: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking

A researcher publishes a widely publicised study claiming that a common over-the-counter supplement significantly reduces the risk of heart disease. The study is observational, has a small sample size, and was funded by the supplement manufacturer. Many of your patients begin asking whether they should start taking it. How do you evaluate this evidence, and what do you say to patients who are eager to begin using the supplement based on media coverage?

Likely follow-up · What specific features of study design would you look for to assess whether the findings are reliable enough to inform clinical recommendations?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
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FAQ

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) — frequently asked questions

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