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University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Philadelphia, PA / School Detail
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School Detail Interview Feedback Secondary Essays
APPLICATION FEE
$100
Tuition In State
$71,080
Tuition Out of State
$71,080
Average GPA
3.94
AVERAGE MCAT
521
OOS MATRICULANTS
88.2%

School Overview

Degrees
MD
Ownership
Private Non-Profit
Program Length
4 years
Total Enrollment
155
Founding Year
1765
Accreditation Year
1942
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SDN Insights

Cost of Attendance: $477,009
Estimate repayment

Estimated loan burden for PennMed using 4 years of in-state tuition, $1,500 annual fees, $3,000 monthly living expenses, government-derived local cost-of-living adjustment, $1,000 loan fees, and an 8.5% interest assumption.

Cost of Living: Near national average cost of living

Philadelphia, PA is close to the national average for cost of living. In the debt estimate, the government-derived local cost adjustment keeps the $3,000 monthly allowance at about $3,090 per month. Treat this as a city-level budgeting estimate, not the school's official cost of attendance.

Environment: Urban

With a combination of walkable pockets and strong biking infrastructure, the area near PennMed offers decent flexibility. Students can often walk to essentials and comfortably bike to destinations a bit farther afield.

Interview Feedback

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 7% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.

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Secondary Essays for PennMed

1. Academic and Research Experiences
Were there changes to your academic, professional and/or personal circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic that you would like to share? (Y/N, if yes 500 characters max)
2. Other
During the COVID-19 pandemic, if you elected Pass/Fail, please describe the reasons for your decision. (500 characters)
3. Other
Independently of the COVID-19 pandemic, have you taken any online courses for credit? (Y/N, if yes list the courses)
4. Career Goals and Future Aspirations
Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation? (Y/N, if yes 500 characters max)
5. Other
Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application? (Y/N, if yes 1000 characters max)
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About the School

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, established in 1765, is the oldest medical school in the United States. Located in Philadelphia, it is part of the Ivy League's University of Pennsylvania and is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The school boasts over 2,900 faculty members and secures nearly $1 billion in annual sponsored program awards, underscoring its prominence in biomedical research and education.

Curriculum

The school's curriculum, known as IMPaCT (Integrating Medicine, Patient Care, and Transitions), is a four-year multidisciplinary program organized around three themes: the science of medicine, the technology and practice of medicine, and professionalism and humanism. This integrated approach emphasizes self-directed lifelong learning and small-group instruction, preparing students for patient-centered care. Students have the flexibility to choose from approximately 150 electives and can pursue various MD+ options, including eight master's degrees and 11 areas of concentration.

Facilities

The Perelman School of Medicine is situated on the University of Pennsylvania's urban campus in West Philadelphia, in close proximity to its teaching hospitals, including the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and Pennsylvania Hospital. The campus also features the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, which houses specialized facilities such as the Abramson Cancer Center and the Roberts Proton Therapy Center, the largest proton therapy center associated with a medical center in the world.

Demographics

The student body at the Perelman School of Medicine comprises 775 M.D. students, 594 Ph.D. students, 186 M.D.-Ph.D. students, 329 master's students, and 704 post-doctoral fellows. The faculty includes 2,100 full-time members and 1,200 residents and fellows, supported by an administrative staff of 3,334.

Last Updated: Aug 21, 2026