How to Get Into Perelman School of Medicine: An Applicant’s Guide

In this guide, we’ll cover how to get into the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn Perelman School of Medicine), including its acceptance rate, admissions statistics, GPA and MCAT benchmarks, and what Perelman values most in its applicants.

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The Perelman School of Medicine Acceptance Rate: 2.45%

The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) has an estimated acceptance rate of 2.45% for the 2024 admissions cycle. Based on official data from the AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database, the school received 6,288 verified applications and enrolled 154 new students.

Here’s a closer look at Perelman’s acceptance data over the past five years:

The Perelman School of Medicine has maintained an exceptionally low acceptance rate, averaging about 2.42 percent over the past five admissions cycles, according to the AAMC. The number of applicants has ranged from just over 6,000 to more than 7,300 per cycle over the last four years, competing for roughly 149 to 157 seats each year. 

How Hard Is It to Get Into the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania?

It is extremely difficult to gain admission to the Perelman School of Medicine. In 2024, only 2.45% of applicants were admitted, meaning over 97 out of every 100 applicants are rejected. The school received 6,288 verified applications for 154 seats, which is enough students to fill its incoming class more than 40 times over.

The Perelman School of Medicine Admissions Difficulty Scale was created by comparing acceptance rates and overall selectivity across all accredited US medical schools.

What is Perelman’s Acceptance Rate for Out-of-State Applicants?

Perelman’s out-of-state acceptance rate for 2024 was 2.35%. Out-of-state applicants made up the majority of the applicant pool, accounting for 85.2% of all applications (5,355 out of 6,288). Of these, 126 students matriculated.

What Is Perelman’s Acceptance Rate for In-State Applicants?

Perelman’s in-state acceptance rate for 2024 was 3.66%. In-state applicants made up only 8.25% of the application pool (519 out of 6,288). Of these applicants, only 19 matriculated.

What is Perelman’s Acceptance Rate for International Applicants?

Perelman’s international acceptance rate for 2024 was 2.17%. International applicants represented 6.58% of the total application pool (414 out of 6,288), with only 9 students matriculating.

How Many People Apply to the Perelman School of Medicine Every Year?

An average of about 6,400 people apply to the Perelman School of Medicine each year. According to AAMC data, the number of applicants over the past five years has ranged from 6,017 to 7,327.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Into the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Here are some tips to get into the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

1. Demonstrate Alignment With Perelman’s Mission In Your Secondary Essays

Perelman’s mission highlights their dual emphasis on excellence and compassion:

“Our mission is to advance knowledge and improve health through research, patient care, and education in a community that fosters innovation, stimulates critical thinking, embraces equal opportunity, supports lifelong learning, and sustains our legacy of excellence.”

When applying, you need to demonstrate how your journey reflects the values UPenn Perelman School of Medicine prioritizes. For example, if you have worked in a clinical environment, describe not just the technical tasks you performed but also the compassion you showed patients or their families in your secondary essays and/or personal statement. 

Highlight how you brought innovation or critical thinking to the project by sharing any research you’ve been involved in or any student initiatives you’ve led. If you have pursued learning opportunities outside of the classroom, discuss how this reflects a genuine commitment to lifelong learning. 

By framing your experiences around Penn’s mission by emphasizing excellence, compassion, innovation, and lifelong learning, you can show admissions officers that you understand what the Perelman School of Medicine is looking for: students who combine strong academic achievement with the personal qualities that define Perelman’s culture.

2. Build Strong Research Experience

The UPenn Perelman School of Medicine is one of the most research-intensive medical schools in the US. Its mission directly emphasizes advancing knowledge through research. The MSAR data makes it clear just how important research experience is for Upenn Perelman:

This level of consistency in the percentage of matriculants with research/lab experience shows that research or lab experience is essentially expected from Perelman applicants. In fact, in 2024, every single matriculant reported research or laboratory experience.

To be a competitive applicant, you should plan to include substantial research in your background, whether that is through a long-term laboratory position, a summer research program, a senior thesis project, or clinical research in a hospital setting.

It’s not necessary for you to produce a first-author publication in a top journal. What matters most is showing that you engaged deeply with the scientific process, developed persistence and problem-solving skills, and contributed meaningfully to a research team. 

In your application essays and interviews, reflect on what your research taught you about pursuing knowledge and how it shaped your curiosity about medicine. Since UPenn School of Medicine explicitly identifies research as part of its mission, your ability to demonstrate this experience will directly strengthen your candidacy.

3. Prioritize Volunteer and Community Service

Perelman places strong emphasis on compassion and service. This is reflected in the MSAR data on matriculant experiences.

More than 85% of matriculants reported general community service, and an even higher percentage had direct medical or clinical service experience over the last four years. This means Perelman is looking for students who demonstrate compassion not just in theory but in practice, both inside and outside healthcare settings.

To strengthen your application, you should aim to commit to long-term service rather than one-off activities. Working consistently in a free clinic, a community health organization, or a patient support program shows sustained dedication. At the same time, community involvement outside medicine can also reflect compassion and a commitment to serving others. 

Medical-related service helps show that you understand the needs of patients and underserved populations. By linking your service experiences back to Perelman’s emphasis on skillful compassion, you make clear that you fit their vision of the physician-leader they hope to train.

4. Shadow Physicians to Understand the Career

Physician shadowing is a key part of a successful application to Perelman. According to MSAR data, most admitted students report shadowing or clinical observation experience, even though the number of hours required is not excessive.

With 95% of 2024 matriculants having shadowed physicians, this has clearly become an expected component of applying to Perelman. While Perelman has no minimum shadowing hours recommendations, you should have enough to show you understand the physician’s responsibilities. The key is reflecting on the lessons you learned from observing patient care.

When you write about shadowing in your essays, focus less on the number of hours and more on what you learned. Perhaps you noticed the challenge of balancing patient care with administrative demands, or you observed how physicians communicated compassion in difficult situations. These insights show admissions officers that you are making an informed decision about pursuing medicine and that you have realistic expectations of the career. 

By thoughtfully incorporating shadowing into your application, you signal maturity and readiness for the path ahead.

The Perelman School of Medicine MD Programs Offered

The Perelman School of Medicine offers several MD programs:

The Perelman School of Medicine Tuition and Scholarships

The Perelman School of Medicine tuition for the 2025–2026 academic year is $71,080. The required fees for the year, including general, clinical, technology, and disability fees, total $6,411, bringing tuition and fees to $77,491.

The estimated total cost of attendance for a first-year medical student, including tuition, fees, health insurance, and living expenses, is $112,583.

How Much Is the Perelman School of Medicine for 4 Years?

The total estimated cost of attendance over four years at Perelman is approximately $457,775.

Here’s a complete year-by-year breakdown of how much each year will cost at Perelman:

Scholarships

The Perelman School of Medicine awards about 35 full-tuition MD scholarships each year. All admitted students are automatically considered, with recipients announced in April. Selection is based on academic excellence, leadership, broad intellectual interests, and unique life experiences that may enhance a medical career.

Perelman also offers four-year need-based scholarships, determined through a detailed financial analysis using the FAFSA. 

Merit- and need-based awards can cover partial or full tuition and, in some cases, living expenses, making them highly competitive and reflective of Perelman’s commitment to supporting exceptional students.

The Perelman School of Medicine Application Timeline

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the Perelman School of Medicine’s application timeline:

FAQs

1. Does Perelman Accept Transfer Students?

Yes, Perelman accepts transfer students, but transfer admissions are extremely rare. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic performance, compelling personal or family circumstances requiring relocation to the Philadelphia area, and a clear alignment with Perelman’s curriculum structure. International medical graduates are not eligible for transfer.

2. Does Perelman Require Casper or Other Situational Judgment Tests?

No,  Perelman does not currently require Casper or other situational judgment tests such as AAMC’s PREview exam. Instead, the admissions committee evaluates non-academic qualities, such as ethical reasoning, communication skills, and professionalism, through the secondary application essays, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and structured one-on-one interviews.

3. Is Shadowing a Physician Required for Admission to Perelman?

Physician shadowing is not required for admissions to Perelman, but it is strongly recommended. Competitive applicants often complete 30–50+ hours of shadowing, ideally across multiple specialties and practice settings (e.g., primary care, surgery, community clinics). This experience demonstrates a realistic understanding of the physician’s responsibilities and challenges, which Perelman values when assessing readiness for medical training.

Final Thoughts

With an acceptance rate of just 2.45%, every part of your application to Perelman must be strategically crafted to meet the school’s high standards. Our Perelman School of Medicine admissions counselors offer expert guidance to help you stand out in one of the nation’s most selective applicant pools. 

From highlighting your academic achievements to aligning your research and service experiences with Perelman’s mission, we can help you maximize your chances of admission.