October 15, 2025
Written By
Michael Minh Le
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So you're thinking about applying to Drexel University College of Medicine, but you’re not sure if you’re competitive enough to beat the odds. Maybe you’ve already seen the Drexel University Medical School acceptance rate and feel like it’s impossible, or maybe you just don’t know what it means for you.
In this guide, we’ll break it all down. You’ll learn how hard it really is to get into Drexel, the average stats of accepted students, and what they’re looking for in your personal statement, secondaries, letters, and the interview. We’ll also cover what makes Drexel’s program unique, how it compares to other med schools in Pennsylvania, and how to know if it’s the right fit for you.
And if you’re serious about getting in the first time, you need to see what a successful application actually looks like. That’s why, at Premed Catalyst, we’re giving you free access to our Application Database: 8 full AMCAS applications that earned real acceptances to top schools like UCLA and UCI. No fluff. Just real apps that worked.
Get your free resource here.
For the 2025 entering class, Drexel University College of Medicine received over 12,000 applications. Out of those, just 260 students matriculated.
That makes the Drexel University medical school acceptance rate roughly 2.2%.
That's slightly higher than some of the most ultra-competitive med schools, but with tens of thousands of hopefuls and just a few hundred seats, Drexel is still highly selective.
And when it comes to your odds? They’re not the same for everyone. Even though Drexel is a private school, in-state applicants from Pennsylvania have a leg up. In recent cycles, the acceptance rate for in-state applicants was about 6.4%, compared to just 1.6% for out-of-state students.
Let’s talk numbers. The average GPA for Drexel med students? 3.75. The average MCAT? 512.
Those numbers are in line with national averages, but don’t mistake “average” for “easy.” You’ll need a strong academic foundation to even be considered.
Generally speaking, applicants with a GPA below 3.2 or MCAT scores under 505 will find it tough to stay in the running.
To be eligible to apply to Drexel University College of Medicine, you’ll need to complete the following prerequisite coursework:
In addition, Drexel strongly recommends coursework in Biochemistry, Genetics, Calculus, and Statistics, especially for students aiming to show academic depth.
Beyond academics, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
For the 2025-2026 academic year, tuition at Drexel University College of Medicine is about $65,000 per year, not including living expenses, fees, insurance, and other essentials. Add it all up and you're looking at a total cost of attendance around $90,000 annually.
Yes, it's a lot.
But here’s the brutally honest truth: almost every med student takes out loans.
Over 80% of Drexel med students rely on federal loans to finance their education. The school participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program, and students can also apply for institutional scholarships and need-based aid. There are some merit-based awards, but they’re limited, so you’ve got to stand out academically and personally.
Drexel also encourages students to apply for external scholarships and offers financial literacy resources so you don’t drown in debt without a plan.
There are over 150 medical schools in the U.S. So, why Drexel? What makes it worth the tuition, the application, the all-nighters prepping for the interview?
Let’s take a look at the school’s personality, purpose, and history.
Drexel has a deep-rooted history of prioritizing diversity in medicine. It was formed through a merger of two legacy institutions, one of which was the first medical school for women in the U.S. Today, Drexel continues that mission with a commitment to training physicians from underrepresented and non-traditional backgrounds.
Drexel’s model isn’t anchored to a single university hospital. Instead, students complete rotations at over 20+ clinical affiliates across Pennsylvania and beyond. This means you're not just seeing one version of medicine. You’re getting a real-world education across urban hospitals, community clinics, and underserved areas.
Drexel’s "Foundations and Frontiers" curriculum isn’t about memorizing pathways in isolation. It’s systems-based, team-driven, and includes critical courses in population health, healthcare economics, and digital medicine.
Translation: you're learning how to be a doctor in the 21st century, not the 19th.
Some schools make you wait years before touching a stethoscope. Drexel doesn’t. You start clinical exposure within the first year, integrating what you learn in lecture halls with real patients in exam rooms. That early contact makes your classroom learning stick, and gives you the confidence that, yes, you belong here.
There’s no shame in saying med school is hard. Drexel gets that. With wellness programs, academic advisors who actually know your name, and a learning environment that balances rigor with empathy, this is a place where students are challenged, but never left behind.
Getting into Drexel University College of Medicine means more than just hitting a GPA or MCAT threshold. It means showing up with a story that proves you’re more than the average premed, just checking off boxes.
At Drexel, community service, grit, and maturity matter just as much as numbers. If you want your application to stand out, you need to show that you’ve put in the work, that you know why you’re doing this, and that you're already becoming the kind of doctor you’d trust with your own family.
In the next sections, we’ll break down the application timeline, personal statement, secondary essays, and more, so you know exactly how to bring your story to life.
Drexel College of Medicine uses the AMCAS application system for its MD admissions.
While Drexel does review applications over time (i.e. interview invites and rejections may go out early), it does not operate purely on a rolling‑acceptance basis in the sense of offering acceptances continuously; rather, all acceptances are held until after the application deadline.
Below is an overview of the application timeline you need to follow to stay competitive:
Your personal statement for Drexel University College of Medicine is your narrative. It’s not just your “why” but the proof of your “why.” It’s where you stop listing accomplishments and start connecting the dots.
If you say you care about health equity, then you should show experiences in community clinics and advocacy work. If you say you care about mental health, then you should show experiences in crisis counseling or working with underserved populations battling stigma. Your experiences are your proof.
Bonus points: Drexel values compassion, innovation, and service, so make those themes loud and clear.
The secondary essays give AdComs a chance to see beyond grades, test scores, and your résumé. They want to hear about your journey, resilience, self‑awareness, and how you might fit into their community.
Below are the 2025–2026 Drexel University College of Medicine secondary prompts and advice on how to tackle each.
Prompt 1. Tell us about yourself and why you feel like you may be a good fit for Drexel University College of Medicine. (1,500 characters)
You should use this prompt to blend your personal narrative with specifics about Drexel. Don’t merely list traits; show who you are through a short anecdote or pivotal moment. Then explicitly connect your qualities and goals to distinct aspects of Drexel (its mission, its urban health focus, emphasis on diversity, translational research, etc.). The “fit” part is critical. Make Drexel’s values feel like they naturally align with your story, not just a list of platitudes.
Prompt 2. We recognize that each applicant’s journey is unique. If there were any extenuating circumstances that limited your involvement in service, academic, or other preparatory experiences—including MCAT preparation/taking—please share them here. If none, simply type “N/A.” (1,500 characters)
This is your chance to explain setbacks or constraints without sounding like you’re making excuses. Be factual, brief, and focused on how you responded or adapted. If you truly had no extenuating circumstances, typing “N/A” is fine. Don’t force something. But don’t neglect this prompt if you do have something meaningful to reveal (illness, family issues, financial hardship, etc.). It helps contextualize your application.
Prompt 3. If you have applied to medical school before, reflect on any meaningful experiences, growth, or updates that you feel have enhanced your application since the last time you applied. If this is your first application cycle, simply type “N/A.” (1,500 characters)
If you’re a reapplicant, this is your chance to show progress. What changed, what you’ve learned, how your application is stronger now. Avoid rehashing old content; focus on new insight or maturity. If this is your first time applying, “N/A” is acceptable.
When you apply to Drexel’s MD program, letters of recommendation are nonnegotiable. They tell admissions who you are beyond grades and MCAT. Use them wisely.
How many and from whom:
Committee / Packet / Interfolio preference:
When applying, you’ll indicate whether your letters will come via a committee letter, Interfolio, or direct individual submissions.
Drexel uses a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format rather than a traditional one-on-one interview.
You’ll rotate through a series of short stations, usually eight to ten of them, with each one lasting about six to eight minutes. At each station, you’ll face a unique scenario or prompt, and you’ll respond to it while a different evaluator observes and scores you.
This setup is designed to test qualities like your ethical reasoning, communication skills, empathy, and how you handle pressure, rather than just your academic knowledge. The emphasis is on process over “right answers.” They want to see how you approach problems, structure your response, and communicate under pressure.
And because each station has a different evaluator, the MMI helps reduce individual interviewer bias and gives multiple opportunities to showcase your reasoning and interpersonal traits.
Medical schools are not one‑size‑fits‑all. The “right fit” means the school’s strengths, culture, and mission align with your values, learning style, and professional goals.
Here’s how Drexel stacks up.
Drexel University College of Medicine is a good fit if you:
Drexel University College of Medicine may not be a good fit if you:
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
You’ve seen the numbers. You’ve read what it takes. And maybe you're wondering: do I actually have a shot at getting into Drexel?
Here’s the truth: most premeds don’t know what a successful application even looks like. They spend months building something in the dark, hoping it's enough. That’s exactly why we built the Premed Catalyst Application Database.
This free resource gives you access to 8 real AMCAS applications that earned students interviews and acceptances to top-tier schools. You’ll see their stats, personal statements, secondaries, and more. No guesswork. No gatekeeping. Just real examples from students who were exactly where you are now.
Get your free resource here.
