Selection Factors
An individualized holistic review of each complete application including, but not limited to, the candidate's academic history, the college attended, MCAT® scores, Casper results, recommendations, extracurricular activities, work experience, medically-related experience, and community service activities is used to select candidates for interview. While not required, many students have participated in research activities and this information is also considered.
The personal attributes of applicants and the corresponding pre-professional, thinking and reasoning and scientific competencies are considered during holistic review in The Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Katz) admission process. The areas of evaluation, including the personal attributes of applicants are based on the general competency domains used to define the Katz medical education program objectives. The AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students (https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/core-competencies) also served as a guide in developing the list of attributes.
Interview
Katz does not conduct “stress” interviews. The interviewers will make every attempt to put you at ease to give you the opportunity to express the “real you.” In general, Katz seeks candidates with:
- strong interpersonal skills;
- who have the ability to listen and take another’s point of view;
- who possess self-confidence;
- who are compassionate; and
- who are socially conscious.
You will be considered for admission at the campus you select on the supplemental application. Your campus selection is binding. In making admissions decisions, we will make every effort to honor your selection.
Interviews are held from September through April. The interview day opens with a welcome from an admissions office representative who provides an overview of the medical curriculum as well as clinical, service learning and extracurricular opportunities.
Applicants to the North Philadelphia campus are interviewed by faculty from the North Philadelphia campus. Candidates being considered for admission to the St. Luke’s Regional Campus interview with faculty from the regional campus in Bethlehem.
The interview day consists of three interviews. A primary interview with a voting faculty member on the Admissions Committee, a secondary/blinded interview by a member of the faculty or student member of the Admissions Committee who does not see your application materials, and a community interview with a member of the local community of the campus where the interview is taking place.
The interview day also includes a virtual tour of the campus and an information session with current medical students during which the applicant will be able to learn more about student life.
The interview day for MD/PhD candidates consists of the three interviews described above for admission to the MD program plus an interview with the Director of the MD/PhD program and an interview with a member of the MD/PhD Advisory Committee. MD/PhD applicants must first be accepted by the MD program before they can be considered for acceptance to the MD/PhD program.
After interviewing, applicants are notified of the Admissions Committee’s decision in either November, January, March and at the end of the interview season. Some candidates may be placed on the continuing candidate list after interview and will be considered after April 30th through matriculation. Each application cycle is unique and so, the number of students taken off the wait-list varies from year to year. Katz encourages applicants on the continuing candidate list to send letters of interest starting in April.