Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)

Address

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine / 500 University Drive / P.O. Box 850 / Hershey, PA USA 17033

Overview

Savvy Rank
The Savvy Rank is a combination of admissions selectivity (MCAT, GPA, acceptance rate), research ranking, and primary care ranking.
100
School Type
Whether the school confers an MD or DO degree, is an international (Intl) school for Americans or is a Canadian (CA) school
MD
Public/Private
Public
Year Founded
1967
US News Rank - Research
Unranked
US News Rank - Primary Care
Unranked
Cost
Out-of-state tuition, from cheap ($) to obscenely expensive ($$$$$)
$$
Weather Rating
How nice is the weather, from crappy () to excellent ()

City Size
< 1M

Getting In

Median GPA
3.84
Median MCAT
511
Research Rating
A combination of factors to show the school's research ranking and research opportunities, from very little research () to lots ()

Out-of-State Rating
Whether the school is very out-of-state friendly (), somewhat friendly (), not friendly (), or in-state only ()

International Friendly
How friendly the school is toward international applicants
Yes
Med School Class Size
Class sizes range from 40 students to 400




Application
AMCAS
Letters of Rec Required
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Secondary Essays

Secondary Essay Difficulty
How many essays, how long, and how unusual the prompts, from easy () to brutal ()

Screen Before Secondaries
Does the school read your primary before sending a secondary?
No
Typical Secondary Release Date
When does a school usually release its secondary relative to other med schools (though it may vary from year to year)?
Medium
Secondary Fee
$85
Other Tests

Interviews

Interview Type
Interview Invites Begin
Interview Format
MMI - Multiple Mini Interview; Traditional - two-way conversation
Traditional
Accepts Updates?
Does the school accept update letters?
Yes

Secondary Essay Prompts

Essay Topics (2024 - 2025)

1. Have you previously applied for admission to Penn State College of Medicine? (y/n)

a. if yes, were you granted an interview?

b. Please indicate the entering first-year class year(s) to which you applied, and explain how your qualifications have changed since your previous application. (Maximum 75 words)

2. Have you, previous to this application year, applied for admission to any medical school other than Penn State College of Medicine? (y/n) if yes, a. Please indicate the entering first-year class year(s) to which you applied, and (if not indicated in 1b above) explain how your qualifications have changed since your previous application. (Maximum 75 words)

4. Have you attended or participated in any of the following events or programs sponsored by or in conjunction with Penn State College of Medicine? If "yes", please check all that apply. Please describe your involvement. (Maximum 75 words)

5. Have you participated in the PA Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Primary Care Ambassador Program or any other state AHEC pathway program? (if yes, describe, 75 words)

6. If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (Maximum 75 words)

Personal Statements​

10. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

11. Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

12. Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

13. Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-resourced communities or groups that have been historically marginalized or made vulnerable. (Maximum 250 words)

Essay Topics ('23 – '24)

1. If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (Maximum 75 words)

2. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

3. Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

4. Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

5. Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (Maximum 250 words)

Essay Topics ('22 – '23)

1. If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (Maximum 75 words)

2. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

3. Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

4. Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

5. Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (Maximum 250 words)

Essay Topics ('21 – '22)

1. If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (75 words)

2. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (75 words)

3. Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (75 words)

4. Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (250 words)

5. Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (250 words)

Essay Topics ('20 – '21)

1. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

2. Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

3. Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

4. Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (Maximum 250 words)

5. For the University Park program: Please briefly describe (maximum 250 words) a past experience where you were immersed in a situation in which you needed to adapt, collaborate, and grow as an individual and a team member in order to succeed.

Essay Topics ('19 – '20)

1. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

2. Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

3. Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

4. Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (Maximum 250 words)

5. University Park Program, If yes, please briefly describe a past experience where you were immersed in a situation in which you needed to adapt, collaborate, and grow as an individual and a team member in order to succeed. (maximum 250 words)

Essay Topics ('18 – '19)

1. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

2. Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

3. Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

4. Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (Maximum 250 words)

Essay Topics ('17 – '18)

1. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

2. Explain why you decided to apply to Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

3. Please write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

4. Briefly describe an experience where you had to navigate a complex system (e.g. personal experience, group activity, or development of a project) to achieve an end. Reflect on the qualities and attributes required by you to achieve success in this experience. (Maximum 250 words)

Essay Topics ('16 – '17)

1. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

2. Explain why you decided to apply to Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

3. Please write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

4. Briefly describe an experience where you had to navigate a complex system (e.g. personal experience, group activity, or development of a project) to achieve an end. Reflect on the qualities and attributes required by you to achieve success in this experience. (Maximum 250 words)

Essay Topics ('15 – '16)

1. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

2. Explain why you decided to apply to Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

3. Please write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

4. Briefly describe an experience where you had to navigate a complex system (e.g. personal experience, group activity, or development of a project) to achieve an end. Reflect on the qualities and attributes required by you to achieve success in this experience. (Maximum 250 words)

Essay Topics ('14 – '15)

1. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

2. Explain why you decided to apply to Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

3. Please write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

4. Briefly describe an experience where you had to navigate a complex system (e.g. personal experience, group activity, or development of a project) to achieve an end. Reflect on the qualities and attributes required by you to achieve success in this experience. (Maximum 250 words)

Essay Topics ('13 – '14)

1. If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (Maximum 75 words)

2. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

3. Explain why you decided to apply to Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

4. Please write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

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