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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 (2027 entry) September 2026–January 2027Decisions (2027 entry) March 30, 2027
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Photo: Rehua · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Ajaxean · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Rehua · CC BY-SA 3.0

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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 Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) 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.

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) 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.

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) research strengths

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) is strong in these research areas:

  • Gene and cell therapy
  • Cancer immunotherapy
  • HIV/Infectious disease
  • Bioethics
  • Health equity

How the Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) interview runs

Format: Traditional one-on-one interview (typically 2 faculty/student interviews on interview day)

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) intake

Approximately 150 students per year.

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) 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

MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures are taken from Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's published admissions data. Class profiles are republished each year — confirm which entering class these numbers describe before you rely on them.

Working towards the MCAT score Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) expects? Build a week-by-week plan from your test date — free for the first two weeks.

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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 (2027 entry)
September 2026–January 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)
March 30, 2027
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
Open Prometheus for Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD)Browse 1,106 free questions →
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MCAT Strategy

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Interview preparation

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Personal statement help

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Sources

Where Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD)'s figures come from

Compiled from Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's published admissions material and checked for internal consistency. Not independently re-checked against the official course page for 2027 entry — confirm the figures with the school before you rely on them.

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) — official course page →Entry requirements, interview format and deadlines published by the school itself. The primary source for everything on this page.Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) — published admissions data →The class profile and admissions statistics this record's MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures were taken from.
FAQ

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

Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) matriculants have a median MCAT of 522. The middle range of matriculants is 517–526. US schools publish medians rather than cut-offs, and committees review holistically — the MCAT is weighed alongside GPA, clinical and research experience, letters of recommendation and secondary essays.

Apply to Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) with confidence

We've helped students turn their MCAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from Perelman School of Medicine, UPenn (MD) and other US medicine schools.

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