October 21, 2025
Written By
Michael Minh Le
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Wondering what it really takes to get into Penn State College of Medicine? You’re not alone. For every student who gets that acceptance call, there are hundreds more stuck trying to decode what went wrong. The truth is, most applicants rely on guesswork, and it shows in their results.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the Penn State Medical School acceptance rate. You’ll learn how hard it is to get in, what GPA and MCAT scores are competitive, and the unique elements that set Penn State apart. Most importantly, we’ll walk you through the full application process, including timelines, essays, letters of recommendation, and the interview, with details tailored to this specific school.
But the best way to avoid guesswork? See real apps that earned acceptances. That’s why, at Premed Catalyst, we created an application database that gives you access to 8 real AMCAS applications that earned real acceptances to top medical schools like UCLA and UCI. And it’s completely free. Use it to reverse engineer what’s already worked.
Get your free resource here.
For the 2025 entering class, Penn State College of Medicine received over 11,000 applications. Out of that pool, just 151 students matriculated.
That puts the Penn State College of Medicine acceptance rate at around 1.37%.
And here’s something to keep in mind: Penn State is a private medical school with a public mission. So while Pennsylvania residents may have a slight edge, applicants from across the U.S. are still competing in a highly selective environment.
For the most recent class, the average GPA of accepted students was 3.77, and the average MCAT score came in at 511.
Compared that to national averages: 3.77 GPA and 511.7 MCAT.
Penn State’s stats might look on par with average. But don’t let that fool you. These are averages, not minimums. Competitive applicants often come in higher, especially in the science-heavy sections of the MCAT.
There’s no official cutoff, but applicants with a GPA under 3.0 or MCAT section scores below 125 are unlikely to be seriously considered.
To be eligible for admission to Penn State College of Medicine, applicants must complete the following prerequisites:
In addition, Penn State strongly recommends coursework in Biochemistry, Psychology, Sociology, and Statistics. Clinical experience and a demonstrated commitment to service are also essential parts of a competitive application.
To be eligible for admission, you’ll also need to satisfy the general requirements laid out by PSCOM:
PSCOM does not accept transfer students with advanced standing into the MD curriculum because of its unique integrated curriculum.
If you’re serious about applying to Penn State College of Medicine, you need to know the numbers, and they’re not small.
Tuition for 2024–25? About $60,034 per year for in-state students. And about $65,806 for out-of-state students.
But here’s the real story: once you factor in housing, food, books, and living costs, the total cost of attendance hits around $90,581 for in-state and $96,353 for out-of-state students.
That’s the number you need to plan for.
To help manage these costs, the College of Medicine encourages all students to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1 for incoming students and April 1 for returning students, using the school code 003329. Financial aid typically includes federal direct Stafford loans, Graduate PLUS loans, and institutional funding.
But here’s something you need to note: students pursuing the MD/PhD track benefit from full tuition coverage and a stipend, along with 80% coverage of health insurance. And in cases of financial hardship, medical students can apply for assistance through the Basic Needs Request Form or the College of Medicine Student Emergency Fund.
When you think of med school, it’s easy to lump all programs into one big blur of white coats, anatomy labs, and late-night study grinds. But Penn State College of Medicine stands out for its reputation and its research.
Let’s break down more of what makes this program so special:
From day one, Penn State challenges students to think beyond the classroom and into their communities. Programs like University Park Curriculum and Global Health Scholars push students to understand public health, rural medicine, and underserved populations. This school cares deeply about producing doctors who show up for more than just the diagnosis.
Forget sitting in lecture halls for hours passively taking notes. Penn State’s curriculum is case-based and team-driven. You’ll learn in small groups, simulate real patient care scenarios, and get hands-on experience fast. Their Systems Navigation Curriculum even pairs you with a health system from your first year.
Penn State gives you room to explore. Interested in business? There’s an MD/MBA. Passionate about law, public health, or bioethics? You can stack those degrees, too. The school is built to adapt to your career goals, not box you in.
For students who want to pair clinical care with cutting-edge research, Penn State offers a legit path. The MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program is fully funded (yes, tuition + stipend), giving students the chance to dive into research without drowning in debt. Plus, the school’s recent $2.8M NIH grant shows how seriously they take training physician-scientists.
Getting into Penn State College of Medicine takes more than hitting the GPA and MCAT averages. It takes clarity, intention, and ownership of your story. You’re not just applying with numbers; you’re applying with the life you’ve built. This means showing the “why” behind your path, not just what you’ve done.
In the sections below, we break down exactly how to do that.
For the Penn State College of Medicine, the application process uses the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) for the primary MD application.
The school does not operate on a true open rolling admissions. It has a firm primary application deadline (November 15) and a secondary application deadline (December 15) for the MD program.
That being said, you’ll still want to stay on top of the following application timeline:
Your personal statement for Penn State College of Medicine isn’t an essay to break down your resume. It's your narrative. It’s the story of who you are, what you care about, and the kind of doctor you’re becoming.
And your experiences are your proof. If you say you care about health equity, then show that with your hours in the free clinic, your research on disparities, and your leadership in underserved communities.
This is your shot to connect the dots. It’s your chance to show how the moments in your life shaped your purpose in medicine, not just that you checked boxes.
Your secondary essays provide the Admissions Committee a deeper look into who you are beyond your GPA and MCAT: they reveal your motivations, your fit with the school’s mission and values, and how you’ll contribute to the community.
Below are the most recent prompts for PSCOM and advice on how to tackle each one.
“If not currently enrolled in a full‑time academic program, please summarize your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (Maximum 75 words)”
Advice: This is a tight word limit, which means you must be ultra‑concise. Briefly list what you’ve done (jobs, volunteering, research) and your plan until matriculation. Show continuity, growth, and purposeful use of time.
“Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)”
Advice: Pick one clear, distinctive element, not your test score or GPA, but something personal, experiential, or identity‑based that adds dimension. Because of the word limit, focus on clarity: state the aspect, why it matters, and how it shapes you as a future physician.
“Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)”
Advice: Demonstrate that you’ve researched PSCOM: reference one or two specific program features, mission/values (PSCOM emphasizes respect, integrity, teamwork, excellence), and align with your aspirations. Because of the tight word count, be focused and avoid generic statements.
“Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)”
Advice: Use a concrete example (clinical team, research, community service, student group) where you collaborated, overcame challenges, and contributed to success. Be sure to reflect on what you learned about teamwork and how that will carry into medical school and beyond.
“Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under‑resourced communities or groups that have been historically marginalized or made vulnerable. (Maximum 250 words)”
Advice: Link your past experiences (or interests) with future action: pick a specific community or type of disparity you care about. Explain how PSCOM’s curriculum, resources, or culture will support you, and what you plan to do. Avoid vague “save the world” language. Be concrete and personal.
When it comes to letters of recommendation for Penn State College of Medicine (PSCOM), the school has clear guidelines that you’ll want to follow carefully. Missing or extra letters can lead to rejection.
If your undergraduate institution does not have a pre‑health committee letter, PSCOM requires a minimum of four letters and allows a maximum of six.
Among those letters (when you don’t have a committee letter), you must include:
If your undergraduate institution does have a pre‑professional (pre‑health) committee, PSCOM accepts a composite (“committee”) letter from that committee in place of the multiple individual letters.
If you’ve done graduate study (or have full‑time employment) after your bachelor’s: you must submit an additional letter from your graduate faculty or your supervisor.
All letters must be submitted through the AAMC Letter Service (i.e., via AMCAS). Direct letters or emailed letters outside AMCAS are not accepted.
PSCOM uses multiple interviewers and structured sessions, but does not publicly specify a classic Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. The format is more like multiple traditional interviews.
The website states: "Two faculty, staff members, and/or alumni of the College of Medicine will interview each applicant simultaneously."
The interviews are conducted virtually. But still treat it professionally. That means dress as you would in person, test technology ahead of time, be ready for a full morning/afternoon schedule, and stay engaged throughout the day.
Be ready to articulate why PSCOM specifically: reference its central‑Pennsylvania setting, affiliated hospital system, rural outreach, and community health emphasis.
Choosing a medical school isn’t just about prestige. It’s about finding a place whose mission, curriculum, environment, and values align with you.
Here’s a breakdown of when Penn State might be a strong fit, and when it might not.
Penn State is a good fit if you...
Penn State may not be a good fit if you...
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
If you’ve made it this far, you’re not looking for surface-level advice. You want results. But the reality is, most premeds still play the application game blind. They guess what to write in their essays, they copy what Reddit says about secondaries, and they cross their fingers that their stats are “good enough.”
There’s a better way.
We’ve put together a free resource that includes 8 full AMCAS applications, all from real students who got into top medical schools like UCLA and UCI. You’ll see their personal statements, most meaningfuls, and more.
Get your free resource here.
