What is the Pennsylvania State-Jefferson Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program?
The Pennsylvania State-Jefferson Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program is often referred to as PMM, or “Penn State BS MD.” In seven years, instead of eight years, you receive both a B.S. degree and an M.D. degree. Although you are limited to a B.S., keep in mind that you may choose to obtain a minor from Penn State during your undergraduate studies.
Penn State BS MD students have access to dedicated premedical advising, exclusive networking events with Jefferson faculty, and hands-on learning experiences through Penn State’s premier biomedical research institutions, including the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. Students can engage in undergraduate research, shadow physicians at Penn State Health, and participate in service initiatives like the Global Medical Brigades. The program also emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, offering unique opportunities such as the MD/MBA track at Jefferson and collaborations with Penn State’s renowned engineering and science programs, preparing students for leadership roles in medicine.
Why Choose Penn-State Jefferson BS MD?
- Because of the program’s shorter length, this is a great option for students committed to medicine who want to save a year of schooling in an already lengthy educational pathway.
- You will get a great foundation of science courses throughout the seven years. Among colleges and universities, Penn State is ranked #57 nationally in the US.
- Have the opportunity to take undergraduate courses that are interesting to you.
- Attend the #1 public university in Pennsylvania!
- Exposure to a quainter college town as an undergraduate and a more vibrant city in Philadelphia during medical school!
Program Overview
For the first 3 years (Year 1 – Year 3), you will be a Penn State undergraduate student and take your pre-med requirements as well as other courses for your Bachelor’s Degree. You have the option of adding on a minor as well. Major courses are courses similar to pre-med requirements at other schools, including general physics, general chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, and biochemistry (including laboratory courses).
You are also required to participate in a 1 credit healthcare internship. Students have access to all the resources available to any other Penn State undergraduate student.
In addition to your major and pre-medical preparatory courses, you will also take general education courses to fulfill the university’s breadth requirements and ensure a broad liberal arts education. General education courses are taken in domains of arts, humanities, social sciences, and health, including writing and public speaking. For a full list of general education courses, see Penn State’s official course list of general education courses.
Keep reading below for details about the Pennsylvania State-Jefferson Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program curriculum!
For the last 4 years (Year 4 – Year 7), you will be in the Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) at Thomas Jefferson University taking courses to fulfill your M.D. degree. These include your pre-clinical coursework as well as clinical rotations. For more information about the Thomas Jefferson University (Sidney Kimmel Medical College) curriculum, check out their official website!
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Admission Requirements
- Test optional, but previously accepted applicants had an average SAT score of 1570 or ACT score of 36. Qualifying scores must be from a single test date (no superscoring allowed).
- High GPA in rigorous high school coursework (e.g. AP/IB classes)
- Students should show evidence of 4 years of English, 2 years of algebra, 1 year of geometry, 1.5 years of trigonometry, 3 years of science, and 3 years of social studies, humanities, and/or arts
- Well-written responses to questions from SKMC at Thomas Jefferson University
- Applicants should demonstrate meaningful participation in school, community or other activities that demonstrate service and leadership along with exposure to healthcare
Pennsylvania State - Jefferson BS MD Application
- Select Rolling Admission on application (Common App/My PennState)
- Name of major on application: Accelerated Premedical Medical
- The application deadline is mid-October each year.
- Aim to complete Common Application a week early to ensure the Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR) is received before the deadline
- A limited number of applicants are invited after the initial application screening process to an interview at SKMC in January. Download our Cracking Med School Admissions Interview Guide here.
Program Requirements
- Students must maintain a minimum 3.5 science/math GPA every semester and a 3.5 non-science GPA by the end of the third year or else they may be asked to withdraw from the program.
- Students must score a minimum composite score of 508 with no lower than 127 on any subsection, along with a minimum composite score of 126 in the CARS subsection.
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The Insider's View
on Penn State BS MD Curriculum
How to get accepted to the Penn State BS MD Program: In order to get accepted to Penn State’s BS MD program, do your research into the undergraduate curriculum, medical school curriculum, student life and extracurricular opportunities. We wrote a detailed overview of these various components so that you can see for yourself why you are a good fit for this medical school. Additionally, you can use this blog post as a launching point to learn about more opportunities.
Penn State University Accelerated Medical Program Curriculum Details:
Here is what a sample Penn State BS MD curriculum (there are multiple ways to move through the curriculum) looks like:
First Year
SEMESTER 1
- BIOL 110 Biology Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (4 cr)
- CHEM 110 Chemical Principles I (3 cr)
- CHEM 111 Experimental Chemistry I (1 cr)
- MATH 140B Calculus and Biology I; or MATH 140 Calculus With Analytic Geometry I (4 cr)
- PSU 16 First-Year Seminar Science (1 cr)
- General Education Course (3 cr)
SEMESTER 2
- BIOL 230W Biology: Molecules and Cells; or alternate options (4 cr)
- CHEM 112 Chemical Principles II (3 cr)
- CHEM 113 Experimental Chemistry II (1 cr)
- MATH 141B Calculus and Biology II; or MATH 141 Calculus With Analytic Geometry II (4 cr)
- ENGL 15 Rhetoric and Composition; ENGL 30 Honors Freshman Composition; or ESL 15 ESL Composition for American Academic Communication II (3 cr)
- General Education Course (GHW) (1.5 cr)
Second Year, PMM II
SEMESTER 1
- CAS 100, 100A, 100B, or 100C Effective Speech (3 cr)
- CHEM 210 Organic Chemistry (3 cr)
- MICRB 201 Introductory Microbiology; or alternate options (3 cr)
- PHYS 211 General Physics: Mechanics (4 cr)
- General Education Course (3 cr)
SEMESTER 2
- CHEM 212 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr)
- CHEM 213 W Laboratory in Organic Chemistry – Writing Intensive (2 cr)
- PHYS 212 General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism (4 cr)
- General Education Course (3 cr); and General Education Course (GHW) (1.5 cr); and Supporting Course (3 cr)
Third Year, PMM III
SEMESTER 1
- BMB 401 General Biochemistry (3 cr)
- ENG 202A Effective Writing: Writing in the Social Sciences (3 cr)
- PHYS 213 General Physics: Fluids and Thermal Physics (2 cr)
- PHYS 214 General Physics: Wave Motion and Quantum Physics (2 cr)
- World Language Level 1
- General Education Course (3 cr)
SEMESTER 2
- BMB 402 General Biochemistry (3 cr)
- World Language Level 2
- General Education Course (3 cr)
- General Education Course (3 cr)
- Supporting Course (1 cr)
Fourth Year, SKMC I
- First-year medical subjects
- Pre-clinical sciences
Fifth Year, SKMC II
- Second-year medical subjects
Sixth Year, SKMC III
- Third-year medical subjects
- Clerkships
Seventh Year, SKMC IV
- Fourth-year medical subjects
- Programmed electives
Advising:
Dr. Ronald Markle is the PMM program advisor and a valuable resource for BS/MD students throughout their time in the program. For example, all PMM students are enrolled in a freshman seminar with Dr. Markle during their initial semester to introduce them to different student organizations, help them develop academic skills, and provide an avenue of communication with faculty. In addition, PMM students are collaborative across years as older students often serve as a source of knowledge about the school, classes, extracurriculars, and social scene.the
What students are saying about Penn State and Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Student Life
Penn State Undergraduate Student Life:
- Penn State University is a large, public research institution with its flagship campus located in University Park, Pennsylvania. It has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 42,223 students. About 31% of classes have fewer than 20 students at the University Park campus. The student-faculty ratio is 14:1, and Penn State boasts a 4-year graduation rate of 72% (Penn State at a glance).
- Penn State is known to have a vibrant and active social scene. For example, Penn State’s campus is known as the “Happy Valley” as students are generally happy and supported.
- There are also many extracurriculars for pre-meds to pursue. A list can be found here.
- As a public research university, there are many opportunities for students to get involved in undergraduate research.
Medical School Student Life:
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College (Jefferson) is known for its clinical training and new curriculum, JeffMD, which integrates scientific and clinical knowledge to provide students early clinical exposure and a more cohesive educational experience.
- Read more about Sidney Kimmel Medical College here on their official website.
- Several SKMC students conduct research. There are opportunities for medical students to receive funding for their work, work with renowned faculty, and seek mentorship from advisors in medical specialties of interest to benefit residency applications and learn more about a specific area of interest.
Financial Aid
While attending Penn State, students pay regular university tuition and are not eligible for tuition scholarships (e.g. Schreyer Honors College or Braddock scholarships). At SKMC at Thomas Jefferson University, students pay the regular rate and are eligible for financial aid consideration in accordance with the medical school’s standard policies.
Helpful Resources
Penn State Resources:
- Penn State BS MD application here: https://science.psu.edu/interdisciplinary-programs/premed-med-bsmd/admission-requirements
- Penn State BS MD Interview: How To Prepare and Stand Out
Here are useful Medical School Admissions resources:
- How To Write A Personal Statement For Medical School
- 5 Common BSMD Interview Questions and How to Prepare
- How to Research BSMD Programs: A Guide to Answering the “Why BSMD Essay”
Read our other popular school blogs here: