MD Program

Prerequisites for Admission

Penn State College of Medicine is committed to developing tomorrow’s diverse group of humanistic, systems-thinking physicians who will serve a broad spectrum of communities and lead in many areas of our health care system. We seek applicants who come to medicine with a passion to serve and a commitment to excellence and life-long learning. In today’s rapidly changing health care environment, physicians must acquire a depth of understanding in the life sciences, humanities, clinical sciences, and health system sciences. We seek students who bring a full, rigorous, and holistic backgrounds of study and experiences to medical school and who are poised for the depth and breath of learning to become health care scholars and leaders.

We accept students with good standing backgrounds who are, or will be, graduates of accredited colleges and universities in the U.S. or Canada before matriculation to Penn State College of Medicine. There are no restrictions on the type of major a student selects who possesses competencies in designated prerequisite areas outlined below. The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and the CASPer Test for personal characteristics are required and used in a holistic manner with other aspects of the application in the selection process.

Prerequisite Preparation For Admission

Penn State College of Medicine recognizes that its applicants bring varied and rich undergraduate academic and personal experiences to their admissions credentials. In order to acknowledge the diversity and flexibility of our applicants' preparation, we have chosen to describe the competencies we expect of our students at the time of entry into medical school. Instead of listing prerequisite course requirements, we describe required competencies that will most often be met through traditional and/or newly established interdisciplinary courses of study in an accredited institution of higher learning. We define competency as the acquired knowledge to solve problems in the discipline. Applicants will indicate whether the acquired competency was obtained by course work or other activity such as research or work. Competitive applicants shoul 5ad d demonstrate competency in each of the following five areas adapted from the MCAT description:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems: The contribution of biomolecules to the structure and function of cells; the interaction of molecules, cells and organs in carrying out the functions of living organisms; the interplay of complex systems, tissues and organs in sensing internal and external environments and maintaining internal environment stability in the setting of changing external environments.
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems: Application of physical principles to explain how complex living organisms transport materials, sense their environment, process signals and respond to changes; use of principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions to form the basis for the molecular dynamics of living systems.
• Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior: Biological, psychological and sociocultural factors that influence how individuals perceive, think about and react to the world; how they influence behavior and behavior change;how we think about ourselves and interact with others; and how they influence well-being and access to resources that influence well-b 5ad eing.
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills: Comprehension of texts, extrapolating ideas to new contexts; assessing the impact of introducing new factors, information or conditions to ideas from the text.
• Scientific Inquiry and Thinking & Reasoning: Knowledge of scientific principles, scientific reasoning and problem-solving; reasoning about the design and execution of research; data-based statistical reasoning; and general mathematical concepts and techniques.

Mastery of competencies is reflected by a strong performance in the classroom and on the MCAT, knowledge gained from formative experiences, and letters of reference. Applicants should have engaged in-depth study based on the AAMC-HHMI Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians and AAMC Behavioral and Social Science Foundations for Future Physicians.

In addition to the above science and thinking and reasoning competencies, Penn State College of Medicine expects applicants to demonstrate achievement of interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies. The following competencies are derived from the interpersonal and intrapersonal descriptions 5ad within the AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students.

• Interpersonal: Desire to help others; awareness that social and behavioral cues affect interactions and behaviors; interacts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds; works collaboratively in teams; listens effectively and conveys information clearly.
• Intrapersonal: Behaves in an honest and ethical manner; fulfills obligations in a timely and satisfactory manner; tolerates and adapts to stressful or changing environments; sets for continuous improvement; reflects on actions and solicits feedback.

Coursework and Experience

Although the most common methods of becoming competent in the science, thinking and reasoning, interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies will be formal coursework and personal experiences, we acknowledge that students may accomplish the learning in other ways.  Alternative methods of preparation, in combination with coursework, might include research or employment experiences.  

Advanced Placement Coursework

Penn State College of Medicine recognizes Advanced Placement (AP) courses for competencies only if they appear as earned credits on the applicant’s college transcript. However, many of the most com 5ad petitive applicants have fulfilled AP coursework in those same areas during their baccalaureate years.  

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the MD Program admission requirements, please contact us at 717-531-8755 or StudentAdmissions@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.