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About the Admissions Process

Offers of admission to the program are made on a rolling basis. Applicants are usually contacted two-three weeks after the interview to inform them of their status. Students who are offered admission are required to post a $300 deposit in order to hold their place. The deposit is returned to those who matriculate in the program or who withdraw from consideration prior to a deadline the date of which is detailed in the offer letter. We normally admit 4-6 students/year.

International Applicants
International applicants must complete all academic requirements for admissions listed above in an accredited United States or Canadian College or university.

For students admitted into the Penn State MD/PhD program, we offer a Second Look-Day. Second Look day is usually held the first weekend in April, and is available to all applicants accepted into either the MD or MD/PhD programs. Second-Look Day provides the opportunity to learn about student life in greater depth than was possible during the interview day. For MD/PhD students, this provides an opportunity to meet with faculty with whom you might be interested in doing research, to meet with current students and an opportunity to explore housing options. The MD/PhD program will pay up to $500 towards travel and hotel expenses for the Second Look day.

  • AMCAS deadline is November 15
  • Applications must be completed by January 15
  • All Letters of Recommendation Must Be Submitted Directly to AMCAS.   

More About Electronic Supplemental Applications >>>

Requirements for Admission

Interviews will be 2 days in length.  Applicants will arrive on Sunday afternoon, will be given a tour of Hershey, then dinner with students.  Monday will be interviews with faculty, lunch including an oral research talk from an MD/PhD student and a tour of the campus.  Our goal is to have our applicants gain a better understanding of our program, campus and the Hershey area during their visit.

Penn State College of Medicine now offers a joint MD/PhD in Engineering Sciences and Mechanics Degree Program which will provide educational opportunities to College of Medicine and Engineering Sciences and Mechanics students interested in state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary engineering science and mechanics topics that will have a transformational impact in medicine, health care and the life sciences.  Current examples include:  neural engineering; bio-nanotechnology; sensing and imaging technologies; health monitoring; advanced materials; electromagnetics; mechanics; biomechanics; multiscale modeling; optics and biophotonics, among others.  Students in the joint degree program will be trained to translate innovations in engineering science and mechanics to medical practice and new medical and health care technologies and products.

The Penn State College of Medicine MD/PhD Program is interested in students who are considering a career that involves both biomedical research and clinical care.  This program gives students the opportunity to obtain the necessary training in clinical and basic sciences in a seven to eight year period.  The joint-degree provides the student with knowledge of the breadth of clinical science plus the ability to design experiments and conduct biomedical research, with modern technology.  Men and women who are physician-scientists spend most of their professional time doing research as well as seeing patients. Many physician-scientists do research that has ties to human biology and human disease, and work at academic medical centers, research institutes, and industry.  If you are fascinated by biology and disease and have an aptitude for science, are passionate about understanding how things work, and enjoy helping people, then this program may be for you.  To learn more about a career as an MD/PhD, visit:
https://www.aamc.org/download/124766/data/mdphdpresentation.pdf

What we look for

We are seeking Schreyer Honors College freshman and sophomores who have a strong academic record and a passion for a clinical/research career. We look for students interested in research, clinical exposure and who have demonstrated leadership qualities and diverse life experiences.

The Program

  • Students will spend two summers at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA and are expected to join a research lab at University Park during the academic year.  
  • Once per week clinical exposure during their internship will be provided. 
  • Stipends will be provided for the summer sessions in Hershey.  
  • Students will be considered for early admission to the MD/PhD Program during their junior year.

Applying to the Program

  • Students should attend the yearly information session for Schreyer Honors College given by the MD/PhD Co-Directors in late winter.  
  • Students should also attend the MD/PhD annual retreat held in State College each spring.  
  • Applications are submitted through the College of Medicine SURIP website and are due by March 15.

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