Special Admissions Program

Early Decision

Applicants who have selected the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Katz) as their first-choice school are encouraged to apply under the Early Decision Plan.

The AMCAS^® application and transcript deadline is August 1 of the year before intended matriculation. Supplementary materials must be received no later than August 15. Interviews are scheduled for mid-September and applicants are notified of admissions decisions by October 1st.

Applicants accepted under this plan are prohibited from applying to any other medical school.

BA/MD Program

The Medical Scholars Program provides an opportunity for exceptionally qualified high school seniors to gain a conditional acceptance to Katz upon completion of their undergraduate degree. Katz offers this combined degree with Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA. Applicants to the BA/MD program must first be accepted to Washington & Jefferson College. Candidates who meet specific academic criteria are recommended to the School of Medicine for an interview.

Students with a strong academic background who have completed a variety of AP coursework and demonstrated exceptional standardized test performance are eligible for the program. A minimum combined SAT score of 1350, with no individual section less than 600 or a minimum ACT composite score of 31 is required. Students with demonstrated leadership and extensive community and healthcare experiences are encouraged to apply.

Students in this eight-year combined-degree program will complete their baccalaureate degree at Washington & Jefferson. The medical degree is granted by Katz. Students may choose to be a science major but are free to explore all available options as long as they complete the requirements of their baccalaureate program. Matriculation to Katz is conditional upon successful completion of all program requirements. For further information, please contact Mark Harris, PhD (mharris@washjeff.edu) at Washington & Jefferson College. 

Early Assurance

Katz offers several early assurance programs that allow students to be considered for acceptance in their junior year of college. Students enrolled at Temple University or Washington & Jefferson College are able to complete the MD program at either the North Philadelphia or St. Luke’s campus. The St. Luke’s Regional Campus also has an Early Assurance program for students from DeSales University, Lehigh University, Moravian College, and Muhlenberg College.  To be considered for the early assurance program, students must have at least a 3.6 overall and science GPA at the end of their junior year of college, a strong commitment to service demonstrated by leadership and extensive community and healthcare experiences.  

Students interested in the Early Assurance Program are nominated by the undergraduate pre-medical advisor during their junior year. Those selected to interview will participate in an interview day and be presented to the Admissions Committee for conditional acceptance. Students offered a conditional acceptance need to take the MCAT^® exam in May of their junior year.

Pre-Med Health Scholar Program

The Pre-Med Health Scholar Program at Temple University is available to exceptionally qualified high school seniors with a demonstrated interest in the field of medicine. Students interested in the Pre-Med Health Scholar Program will complete an undergraduate application to Temple University, submit a Pre-Med Health Scholar Program application and participate in an interview day at the undergraduate campus. Students who have a high school GPA of 3.8 or higher, a minimum SAT score of 1350 (or ACT of 32), demonstrated leadership and extensive community and healthcare experiences are encouraged to apply. 

Scholars are eligible to be granted early, conditional acceptance to Katz. To be nominated, students must have at least a 3.6 overall and science GPA at the end of their junior year. Those who meet the academic requirements of the program as well as continued leadership and extensive community and health care experiences during their undergraduate years will be nominated for consideration during their junior year at Temple. Those selected to interview will participate in an interview day at Katz and be presented to the Admissions Committee for conditional acceptance.

Students offered a conditional acceptance need to take the MCAT^® exam in May of their junior year.