MD Program: University Park

Applying to the University Park Curriculum

How do you select the group of first-year students for the University Park Curriculum track?

We invite all Penn State College of Medicine applicants interested in the University Park Curriculum track to join us for our Closer Look Zoom Sessions; this is the first step to learning more about the University Park track. All Penn State College of Medicine 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. Throughout our closer look zoom series and University Park interview process, prospective UP medical students will be able to meet current students, faculty and staff. We believe this secondary interview process will enable interested students to better understand the unique features of the University Park Curriculum and help the selection committee evaluate how the applicant might fit into its small, team-oriented, self-directed educational setting. The College of Medicine then extends offers to the selected students. We encourage all interested applicants to email the University Park admissions team to indicate their interest in learning more.

When will you make a decision about whether I have been selected?

We anticipate making offers to candidates during March and April of each year for the following summer.

How soon should I make my decision to attend if I am offered a position in the University Park Curriculum?

We recommend that you accept your position and provide a deposit as soon as you have decided that Penn State College of Medicine’s University Park Curriculum is your choice for your medical school education.

If I am offered a position in the University Park Curriculum but decide not to choose it, will my decision affect my acceptance into Penn State College of Medicine’s central curriculum in Hershey?

No. All students offered admission to the University Park Curriculum have already been accepted to Penn State College of Medicine’s central curriculum. Declining an offer for the University Park Curriculum will not change the acceptance you already have to Penn State College of Medicine’s central curriculum in Hershey.

Program Overview

Am I eligible to receive a scholarship if I am selected to study in the University Park Curriculum?

Incoming first-year medical students receive a University Park scholarship.

Will I still be eligible for external scholarships?

Students may apply for additional internal and external scholarship opportunities. Financial aid eligibility is based on need.

How many students are currently enrolled in the University Park Curriculum?

The University Park Curriculum accepts 12 new medical students each year.

When does the academic year begin?

The academic year begins in mid-July. 

Will I receive the same MD degree as my peers in the Hershey Curriculum upon graduation from medical school?

All College of Medicine students, whether based in Hershey or University Park, graduate with the same Penn State College of Medicine degree.

Features of the University Park Curriculum

Will the content for first-year students in the University Park Curriculum be the same as for first-year students in the Hershey Curriculum?

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.

Will the faculty teaching first- and second-year students at University Park be the same as the faculty in Hershey?

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. 

Will students have the opportunity to complete elective clinical rotations at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and/or elsewhere, both nationally and internationally?

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.

How often should I plan to go to Hershey for academic requirements?

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.

More About University Park

Is it required that I have my own transportation? What public transportation options are available to me?

Penn State College of Medicine highly recommends that students have access to a vehicle during their four years in the College of Medicine.

What is it like to live in State College?

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:

• Happy Valley Adventure Bureau
• State College News, Community and Entertainment
• Centre Daily Times

Where is the University Park campus? What hospital is it affiliated with?

The University Park Regional Campus is in State College, Pa. Classes 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.