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Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 10/10/23
Are you ready to gain admission to the Pritzker School of Medicine? Read on to learn more and get the competitive edge you need!
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine is a popular choice for medical school applicants. Ranked #18 in the country, Pritzker upholds a prestigious reputation and is considered a challenging school to get into.
If you’re looking for tips on how to get into the Pritzker, look no further. This is your ultimate guide to getting in; let’s get started!
Before applying, you should always research your target schools. Here we'll outline what you need to know about Pritzker.
Since 1927, Pritzker has focused on developing its world-renowned research institutions and academic programs. Pritzker’s mission statement is as follows:
“At the University of Chicago, in an atmosphere of interdisciplinary scholarship and discovery, the Pritzker School of Medicine is dedicated to inspiring diverse students of exceptional promise to become leaders and innovators in science and medicine for the betterment of humanity.”
The school takes its name from the Pritzker family, who have made sizable donations to the school.
Pritzker mainly operates on a pass/fail grading system, except for the required clinical clerkships (Ambulatory, Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Neurology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgery). They are graded and designated using an (Honors (H), High Pass (HP), Pass (P), or Failure (F) ) format.
According to Pritzker, their pass/fail and uncurved grading systems have resulted in a highly collaborative and supportive learning environment.
Pritzker offers multiple programs that allow MD students to incorporate their academic interests. Here are the MD program options at Pritzker.
Sources: Pritzker Accelerated Medical Scholars Program | Pritzker MD Program | Pritzker Combined MD Programs
*Important Note: Each combined degree program requires two separate admissions and financial aid applications.
Beyond the degrees mentioned above, Pritzker offers other MD/PhD programs.
The Pritzker School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is 1.37%. In the most recent application cycle, 6,564 people applied to Pritzker for one of the 90 available spots. The University of Chicago med school’s acceptance rate makes it one of the nation’s most selective schools.
To ensure you have enough time to complete your application, follow the Pritzker MD application timeline. You should begin preparing for medical school applications during college by taking prerequisite courses, volunteering, taking the MCAT, and building up your experience.
For expert MCAT prep in Chicago, book a free consultation with Inspira Advantage tutors. With over 15 years of experience, they know how to get you a guaranteed 520+ score.
Here are some Pritzker medical school deadlines you should know:
If you’re accepted to multiple schools, you have until the end of April to decide which one to attend.
We’ll outline Pritzker’s MD program admission requirements. Remember, separate admission and financial aid applications are required for combined MD programs, meaning these degrees have additional requirements.
The first University of Chicago med school requirement is to complete 90 credit hours from an accredited four-year U.S. or Canadian college or university. Although a bachelor’s degree isn’t required, it’s highly preferred.
Pritzker doesn’t technically have prerequisite courses but requires high competency levels in relevant topics. Pritzker’s required competencies are:
You don't technically need to complete all recommended courses to gain admission to the Pritzker School of Medicine, but you do need to be competent in each subject.
Although Pritzker doesn’t have a minimum MCAT score, it’s a competitive school. The median MCAT score achieved by admitted students is 521.
Pritzker doesn’t have a minimum GPA requirement. The GPAs of the entering class can be used as a jumping-off point; the average cumulative GPA and the average science GPA both equal 3.91.
During the Pritzker School of Medicine application process, every student who applies through AMCAS receives a secondary application via email. The secondary application requires a (waivable) fee of $85 and must be submitted with letters of recommendation.
Pritzker requires a minimum of three letters of recommendation, one of which must be a committee letter, composite letter, or premedical advisor’s letter. Your Pritzker medical school recommendations are submitted with your secondary application.
If you’re submitting individual letters, it’s recommended that two of them should come from the science faculty.
As part of your secondary application, you must answer three different prompts (with an optional fourth):
“1. Students at the Pritzker School of Medicine complete the majority of their clinical training at UChicago Medicine (UCM). UCM is one of the top ten most racially inclusive hospitals in the United States with a primary service area of 12 South Side zip codes where poverty is over double the state level. Additionally, our students lead six free clinics in diverse neighborhoods throughout the city of Chicago.
Please share with us the personal and professional experiences that have best prepared you to work in this diverse clinical environment.”
2. All MD students participate in our longitudinal Scholarship & Discovery research program, which offers protected curricular time, mentoring, and funding for students to pursue their scholarly interests. Please describe your research interests and share how our research opportunities will help you advance your career goals.
3. Share with us a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. In your response, identify both the coping skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice.”
The fourth prompt is optional:
“4. Please feel free to use this space to convey any additional information that you might wish the Committee to know. For example, if you are not currently completing a degree, please share your planned or current activities for this application cycle. We suggest that you limit your text to about 300 words.”
These secondary essays are another opportunity to show why you’re a great fit for Pritzker and why you’d make a stellar physician.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your Pritzker application, look no further. Here’s how to get into Pritzker medical school and improve your candidacy.
UChicago Pritzker doesn’t have a minimum GPA, MCAT, or prerequisite course requirements. However, this isn’t a sign that you don’t have to push yourself as hard academically.
Our number one tip isn’t to take these recommendations lightly. You should take every course, lab, extracurricular, and opportunity to show your commitment to attending Pritzker. Remember, this is a highly competitive school, so you should do everything you can to strategically position yourself as a stellar candidate.
You should do plenty of research on Pritzker’s history and what it has to offer. This is especially important for your interviews, as you’ll likely be asked why you want to attend Pritzker or what drew you to the MD program.
While research is not a technical requirement of admissions at Pritzker, it will play a big role in your future studies. As such, it’s important that you can demonstrate an innate curiosity about medicine and problem-solving skills ahead of time so that the Pritzker admissions committee can see that you are a natural fit for the MD program.
Almost all (98%) of a recent incoming class reported research experience! Individual research projects can also demonstrate your passions and interests to further supplement your secondary essays. Simply put, it’s hard evidence that your passions are what you mentioned in your essay, so don’t forget to include them.
If your primary and secondary applications are successful, you’ll be invited to an interview. MD Interviews occur from August to September of the admission year, with interviews taking place on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
To prepare for a Pritzker interview, try watching mock interviews, practicing with a friend, or enlisting the help of an interview coach.
Tuition at Pritzker costs $61,212 for the first two years (three quarters each) $81,216 for the third year, and $79,624 (four quarters each) for the final year. However, your tuition doesn’t factor in other costs such as books, room and board, transportation, insurance, personal expenses, and more. Here’s a chart detailing Pritzker’s estimated cost of attendance:
Remember, these are tuition estimates for the Pritzker School of Medicine – depending on your lifestyle and needs, these costs may be greater or lesser.
Still wondering how to get into Pritzker medical school? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.
Pritzker tuition costs $61,212 for the first two years, $81,216 for the third year, and $79,624 for the final year of a four-year degree.
Yes, Pritzker is considered a competitive and highly prestigious medical school. Pritzker School of Medicine is ranked #18 in the U.S. News world medical school rankings.
Pritzker is known as the best medical school in Chicago and is renowned for its research programs and academic excellence.
Yes, the Pritzker School of Medicine offers several combined MD programs, including MD/MBA, MD/MA, MD/MPH, MD/MS, and MD/PhD degrees.
The standard MD program at Pritzker takes four years to complete. However, the several combined MD degrees offered at Pritzker take at least five years to complete, depending on your course load.
Pritzker’s pass/fail grading system makes it unique and fosters student collaboration. It’s also one of the few medical schools located physically on a university campus.
The average MCAT score at Pritzker is 521.
The average cumulative GPA of Pritzker students is 3.91, and the average BCPM GPA is 3.93.
The Pritzker School of Medicine is an excellent option for any med student, especially if you’re particularly interested in research. Pritzker is a competitive school, so your application should show your passion, leadership skills, and academic achievements.
If you’re ever stuck at any point in the application cycle, reach out to an admissions expert to help get you into your dream medical school. Good luck!
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