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Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

Hershey, PA Class Size: 155
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Statistics Tuition Friendliness Mission Statement Situational Judgement Tests Dates & Deadlines Prerequisite Courses Dual Degree Tracks Contact Information Secondary App Questions Interview Questions

Gaining admission to Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine is Moderately Competitive. Applicants typically have an average GPA of 3.84 and an average MCAT score of 511.

Statistics

To summarize, listed below are the most important academic statistics for Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine applicants:

Average GPA:
3.84
Average MCAT:
511
Competitiveness:
Moderately Competitive
Note: Competitiveness is assessed based on the school's acceptance rate, average MCAT, and average GPA.

Tuition

Affording medical school can be tough, often requiring students to take on significant loans. Information about the yearly tuition for Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine is below.

In-State Tuition:
$60034
Out-of-State Tuition:
$56000

For more information about tuition at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, visit the following link: https://med.psu.edu/md/tuition

Friendliness

Some schools prefer in-state candidates, while others are more receptive to out-of-state or international applicants. View our school "friendliness" scores for Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine below:

IN-STATE

In-State Friendliness:
Friendly

OUT-OF-STATE

Accepts Out-of-State:
Yes
Out-of-State Friendliness:
Very Friendly

INTERNATIONAL

Accepts Canadian:
No
Accepts International:
No
International Friendliness:
Not Friendly

Note: Most schools will be labelled "Neutral" for In-State Friendlines because they don't have a strong bias for in-state applicants compared to out-of-state applicants. In other words, we believe these schools view In-State and Out-State applicants more or less equally. Schools labelled as "Out-of-State Friendly / Very Friendly" have a high proportion of their class filled with Out-of-State applicants.

Mission Statement

It is always important to read and understand a medical school's mission statement before applying. Often, you will find out what the medical school stands for, and if you fit in with the general "vibe" of the medical school. However, being honest, most medical schools have the same run-of-the-mill mission statement as everybody else. Anyways, you can be the judge. Below you can find the mission statement for Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine:

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine Mission Statement:
The College of Medicine (and our academic hub, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center) are committed to enhancing the quality of life through improved health, the professional preparation of those who will serve the health needs of others, and the discovery of knowledge that will benefit all.

For more information on the mission statement for Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, visit the following link: https://med.psu.edu/mission-values

Situational Judgement Tests

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine does not require the completion of either the CASPer® nor the AAMC PREview™ examinations.

CASPer®:
No
AAMC PREview™:
No

Dates, Deadlines, and Fees

Throughout your application cycle, there are many dates to be cognizant of in order to ensure the successful completion of your application.

Primary Application Deadline:
November 15
Secondary Application Deadline:
Dec 15
Secondary Application Fee:
$90
Note: The primary application deadline refers to when your primary application (i.e., the initial AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS application) needs to be completed. Please be aware that there are processing times associated with primary applications—for instance, there can be a several week processing time associated with verifying your acadmic transcripts when initially submitting the AMCAS application. Upon receipt of the primary application, most schools will then shortly send you a secondary application with targeted essay questions relevant to the specific school.

The secondary application deadline is the final day for all your application materials to be together, which includes submitting the secondary essays, all letters of recommendation, all test scores, etc. Sometimes, schools may have earlier deadlines for letters of recommendation. However, note that for the vast majority of schools it is best to submit your secondary application as soon as possible: within 2 weeks of receiving the secondary application is a good rule-of-thumb.

Below are some other helpful dates:

Interview Cycle Start:
May
Interview Cycle End:
May 15
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Prerequisite Courses

Most schools have a list of prerequisite courses that you need to have completed before matriculating. View information provided for Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine below:

Interpreting Semester Hours
Typically,
3 Semester Hours = A single semester-long course = 1 or 2 quarters
4 Semester Hours = A single semester-long course + associated lab unit
6 Semester Hours = Two semester-long courses = 3 quarters
8 Semester Hours = Two semester-long courses + two associated lab units

PHYSICS

Semester Hours:
Lab?
Not Required

Physics recommended.

CHEMISTRY

GenChem = General Chemistry

OChem = Organic Chemistry

Biochem = Biochemistry

GenChem Semester Hours:
GenChem Lab?
Not Required
OChem Semester Hours:
OChem Lab?
Not Required
Biochem Semester Hours:
Biochem Lab?
Not Required

Chemistry recommended.

BIOLOGY

GenBio = General Biology

HL Bio = Higher Level Biology

GenBio Semester Hours:
GenBio Lab?
Not Required
HL Bio Semester Hours:
HL Bio Lab?
Not Required

Biology recommended.

HUMANITIES & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Semester Hours:

ENGLISH/WRITING

Semester Hours:

Writing-intensive course recommended.

MATHEMATICS/STATISTICS

Mathematics Semester Hours:
Statistics Semester Hours:

Statistics recommended.

OTHER REQUIRED COURSES

Required "Competencies": Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior; Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills; Scientific Inquiry and Thinking & Reasoning.

OTHER RECOMMENDED COURSES

SOURCE: https://med.psu.edu/md/apply/requirements

Special Programs

Many schools have dual-degree programs for motivated applicants. View the ones offered at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine below:

MD+PhD (MSTP - Medical Scientist Training Program):
Yes
MD+MPH (Public Health):
Yes
MD+MBA (Business, Healthcare Administration):
Yes
MD+JD (Law):
MD+MA (Master of Arts):
MD+MS (Master of Science):

Contact Information

View contact information (phone and email) available to contact Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine below:

CONTACT #1

Title:
E-mail:
studentadmissions@hmc.psu.edu
Phone:

CONTACT #2

Title:
E-mail:
Phone:

Secondary Application Essay Prompts

Below are the past secondary (supplemental) application essay prompts for Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine.

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)
Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (75 words)
Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (75 words)
Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (250 words)
Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (250 words)

Interview Questions

Below are common interview questions that you might encounter on your important day for Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine.

What are your thoughts on the future direction of healthcare?
Can you give a brief overview of your background and significant experiences?
Why are you interested in pursuing an MD/PhD?
What do you believe will be the most rewarding aspect of being a physician?
Choose a word to describe yourself and explain why.
What interests you about Penn State College of Medicine?
How do you think your involvement in extracurricular activities will benefit you as a physician?
(If applicable) Can you discuss any international experiences or research you've been a part of?
What would you like to know about Penn State College of Medicine or Hershey?
Describe an extracurricular activity that was particularly meaningful to you.
Why do you believe you possess the qualities of a good doctor?
How do you envision contributing to the Penn State College of Medicine community?
Discuss a significant volunteer experience you had in a medical setting.
Are there any medical specialties you are particularly interested in?
Describe your clinical experiences.
How do you perceive the integration of medicine and research at Penn State?
Why did you choose your undergraduate major?
Describe a research project you found particularly engaging.
If you could converse in any historical language, who from the past would you choose to speak with and why?
Are there personal qualities or experiences you believe you need to work on or improve?
How would you handle not being accepted to medical school this cycle?
Have you faced any significant challenges or adversities? How did you overcome them?
What books have you read that influenced your perspective on medicine or healthcare?
Describe a memorable experience from your undergraduate years.
Discuss an experience from your application that was particularly significant.
What are your concerns or questions about medical education at Penn State College of Medicine or life in Hershey?
Who inspired or influenced your decision to pursue medicine?
How have you prepared yourself for the demands of medical school?
How do you plan to cope with the intense workload and long hours inherent in medical training?
How do you perceive the biggest challenges in healthcare both domestically and globally?
Why did you choose to pursue a career in medicine?
What strategies or preparations did you employ for this interview?
What values or qualities do you believe are crucial for a medical professional to uphold?
How do you handle criticism or feedback?
How do you manage stress or challenging situations?
Describe how teamwork or collaboration has played a role in your academic or extracurricular experiences.
How do you envision balancing personal life and a demanding career in medicine?
How do you keep yourself updated with current healthcare trends or news?
What initiatives or changes would you like to see in the medical field in the future?
How do you prioritize tasks or responsibilities in high-pressure situations?