MD Program
Medical Education at University Park
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Penn State College of Medicine has a tradition of excellence in education that is scientifically and clinically rigorous with a deep foundation in scholarship and humanistic care. Leveraging the resources offered at the largest campus of Penn State, we invite you to learn in a small-town environment that emphasizes inter-professional team skills, curiosity and a commitment to the calling of medicine.
What's Happening at University Park?
Why University Park?
Faculty-Student Ratio
The small class size fosters a close-knit learning community where students receive personalized attention and support from faculty and peers. This unique learning environment promotes critical thinking, teamwork and a collaborative approach to medical education and clinical care.
Community Partners
A longstanding partnership with Mount Nittany Medical Center provides robust longitudinal clinical training opportunities in all three phases of the curriculum. Physicians from other systems and practices in the State College area offer additional support.
Rural Focus
As part of the deep commitment to serving our surrounding rural communities, the curriculum tackles prevalent rural healthcare challenges and meaningful solutions.
World-Class Research
The University Park location also offers unique access to faculty, programming and resources of Penn State's largest campus.
Community Engagement
Students will authentically engage with multiple local communities through outreach programs and clinical experiences.
Sustainability
In addition to a focus on rural health, the University Park program emphasizes sustainable approaches to healthcare.
I chose University Park because I was searching for a curriculum that combined collaborative learning, early patient interaction and close mentorship. This program checks all those boxes while also providing a support network of faculty and fellow students who are eager to listen and share advice.
Michelle Le
Class of 2024
Applying to University Park
We invite all Penn State College of Medicine applicants interested in University Park to join us for our Closer Look Zoom Sessions; this is the first step to learning more about the University Park track.
All applicants will go through the same admissions process, and once the applicant has received an offer of acceptance to the College of Medicine, they can begin to interview for one of the twelve spots at University Park.
During the University Park interview process, meeting with current students, faculty and staff will enable you to better understand the unique features of the University Park track and help the selection committee evaluate how the applicant might fit into its small, team-oriented, self-directed educational setting. Offers will be extended to the selected students.
We encourage all interested applicants to email the University Park admissions team to indicate their interest in learning more.
Offer timeline: We anticipate making offers to candidates during March and April of each year for the following summer. We recommend that you accept your position and provide a deposit as soon as you have decided that the University Park curriculum is your choice for your medical school education.
If you are offered a position at University Park but decide not to choose it, your decision will not impact acceptance into the MD program in Hershey. All students offered admission to the University Park curriculum have already been accepted to the central curriculum in Hershey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Incoming first-year medical students receive a University Park scholarship.
Students may apply for additional internal and external scholarship opportunities. Financial aid eligibility is based on need.
All students in Penn State College of Medicine must achieve the same competencies and overall educational outcomes (subcompetencies) in order to graduate from its College of Medicine.
All medical faculty teaching our students are faculty in Penn State College of Medicine. Some are based in Hershey, some are based in University Park, and some teach in both locations.
Yes. Based on their interests and career goals, students have the opportunity to complete clinical rotations at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and medical institutions outside the Penn State Health system, both nationally and internationally.
This will vary according to needs and availability of coursework and faculty. Trips to Hershey occur during orientation and for educational sessions and assessments that are common for all students.
Penn State College of Medicine highly recommends that students have access to a vehicle during their four years in the College of Medicine.
State College is a small, vibrant community. It has all the sporting and cultural amenities of a world-class university in the intimate setting of a small college town. State College is surrounded by farmland and an expanse of forests and mountains. To learn more about life in State College, visit the following:
Penn State University Park is located in the borough of State College, Pennsylvania, and surrounding townships.
Classes for the MD program take place in the Park Avenue facility, in an educational space designed specifically for the College of Medicine. The Park Avenue facility is next to Mount Nittany Medical Center, the site for most core inpatient experiences.