Perelman School of Medicine at the U. Pennsylvania Secondary Questions

Here are Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s secondary questions.

2024-2025

1. Were there changes to your academic professional and/or personal circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic that you would like to share with the committee? (Y/N) (if yes, 500 characters max)

2. During the Covid-19 pandemic, if you were offered an option to continue courses with a standard grading system or switch to Pass/Fail, and you elected Pass/Fail, please describe the reason(s) for your decision here. (500 characters)

3. Independently of the Covid-19 pandemic, have you taken any online courses for credit? (Y/N) (simply list if yes)

4. Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? (Y/N) (simply list if yes)

5. Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation? (Y/N) (500 characters if yes)

6. Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application? (Y/N) (1000 characters if yes)

7. Did you participate in a pre-medical enrichment or pathway program during your undergraduate studies? (Y/N) (1000 characters if yes)

8. The Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) is deeply committed to recruiting a class inclusive of diverse perspectives and experiences; this enriches the instruction we provide, enhances team-based learning, and ensures our students’ preparation to address the health needs of a pluralistic society. How would your life experiences contribute to the student body and how would you contribute to an inclusive atmosphere at PSOM?
Please explain and limit your response to 1,000 characters.

9. We are all navigating through challenging times at home and abroad, and physicians and physician-scientists must contend with many instances of uncertainty. Please describe a time when you faced a situation that was ambiguous, confusing, or uncertain, and how you navigated making a decision without complete information. (3000 characters)

10. Do you identify as a first-generation college graduate and/or having a low-income background?
We recognize that the definition of “low income” can vary based on geographic location, zip code, and size of your household, but there are some factors typically associated with being low-income, such as qualifying for free/reduced lunch in middle/high school, receiving Pell grants or work-study aid during college, qualifying for Medicaid/Social Security benefits, or attending a high school with low per capita funding, Title 1 designation and/or a low percentage of seniors receiving a high school diploma. (Y/N)

11. Have you or your family experienced economic hardships, regardless of current income status? (Y/N) (1000 characters if yes)

12. Have you ever been employed at the University of Pennsylvania Health System or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and worked with a University of Pennsylvania faculty mentor(s)? If yes, please indicate name, department, phone number of faculty member(s), and start/end dates (Y/N) (list only, no essay)

13. Please share your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine. (note 1,000-character limit)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Additional MSTP prompts: (very specific! including how to type and format it)

1. Please use keywords or phrases, separated by commas, to identify your research interests more specifically. Do not use tabs or add lines by hitting the enter key. There is a limit of 500 characters.

2. List you research experience chronologically, starting with the most recent, and including your anticipated experience for the remainder of this academic year. For each experience, please provide clear information about the time commitment. (For instance, if you worked continuously in one lab for a year, putting in full time hours during the summer, and part time hours during the school year, you might state: “full time (about 50 hours a week) from mid May until the end of August, continuing part time (about 10 hours a week) from September to April”. Note that if you worked two summers in the same lab, but did *not* work in that lab at all during the school year, these should be listed as two separate research experiences.)

For each experience, indicate whether your mentor will provide a letter of recommendation. If you do not select a letter from an individual with whom you had an extensive research experience, please provide an explanation in the comments section.

3. If you are out of undergrad and are currently doing research, please list your primary institution for the coming year below. (This will also be included in the summary above, but is helpful to us to have as a separate data field)

4. How many months of FT research effort do you expect to have had by August of next year when you would join our program? We are asked to report this data to NIH for matriculants.
Calculation Instructions: For many individuals, this value will reflect months of summer research experience or full-time research experience following college. Part-time research, for example during the school year, should be converted to full time – e.g., 15 hrs/week for 8 months = 3 months. (Here’s how the calculation works. When converting part time to full time, we use a standard 40 hour work week. So, we take 15 and divide by 40 = .375 (aka ~37.5% of full time). 8 months times .375 gives you 3 months). If you worked full time in a lab for 6 months and you averaged a lot more than 40 hours a week, it still only counts as 6 months full time – don’t adjust for that. We only use the 40 hour standard when converting part time experiences. Labs associated with a course, such as an organic chemistry course lab, should NOT be included.

5. If you have publications as the result of your research, please provide the full citations here. It would be helpful to distinguish them using the following categories: Published/peer reviewed, published/not peer reviewed, submitted and under revision. Please note that manuscripts “in prep” should not be included. You may add other descriptors or information if helpful. If you do not have any publications at this time, please indicate that (eg by typing “no publications yet”).

2023-2024

1. If you were offered an option to continue courses with a standard grading system or switch to Pass/Fail, and you elected Pass/Fail, please describe the reason(s) for your decision here (500 characters).

2. The Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) is deeply committed to recruiting a class inclusive of diverse perspectives and experiences; this enriches the instruction we provide, enhances team-based learning, and ensures our students’ preparation to address the health needs of a pluralistic society. How would your life experiences contribute to the student body and how would you contribute to an inclusive atmosphere at PSOM? Please explain and limit your response to 1,000 characters.

3. We are all navigating through challenging times, and physicians and physician-scientists must contend with many instances of uncertainty. Describe a time when you faced a situation that was ambiguous, confusing, or uncertain, and how you navigated making a decision without complete information (3000 characters).

4. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters:

2020-2021

Were there changes to your academic work and/or personal circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic that you would like to share with the committee? Y/N
If Y, Please describe these changes during this time in 500 characters or less

If you were offered an option to continue courses with a standard grading system or switch to Pass/Fail, and you chose Pass/Fail, please describe the reason(s) for your decision here. (500 Char)

Have you taken any online courses for credit? (not due to the COVID-19 pandemic) (lets you list the courses)

Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? (allows you to list them)

Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation? If so explain in 500 characters or less

Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application? If so, explain in 1,000 characters or less

Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions, not addressed elsewhere (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.) Please explain and limit your response to 1,000 characters.

Have you or your family experienced economic hardships? Y/N then 1,000 characters again

Have you been employed at the University of Pennsylvania Health System or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and worked with a Penn faculty mentor? If yes, please indicate name, department, phone number of faculty, and start/end dates

Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters.

2019-2020

1. Please use keywords or phrases, separated by commas, to identify your research interests more specifically. Do not use tabs or add lines by hitting the enter key. There is a limit of 500 characters.
2. List your research experiences chronologically, starting with the most recent. For each experience, please provide clear information about the time commitment. (For instance, if you worked continuously in one lab for a year, putting in full time hours during the summer, and part time hours during the school year, you might state: “full time (about 50 hours a week) from mid May until the end of August, continuing part time (about 10 hours a week) from September to April”. Note that if you worked two summers in the same lab, but did *not* work in that lab at all during the school year, these should be listed as two separate research experiences.)

For each experience, indicate whether your mentor will provide a letter of recommendation. Please note that letters are a significant aspect of your application. We encourage you to solicit at least 3 letters which will specifically address your research ability and potential. Included in these should be letters from mentors who have guided you through your most significant research experiences. If you do not solicit a letter from an individual with whom you have had an extensive research experience, please provide an explanation in the comments section.

3. If you have publications as a result of your research, please provide the full citations here. If you do not have any publications at this time, please indicate that in the box (eg by typing “no publications yet”). Please note there is an 8,000 character limit.
4. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters:

2018-2019 

1. Have you taken any online courses for credit?

2. Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization?

3. Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation? If you answer yes, a 1,000 char prompt to elaborate appears.

4. Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application?

5. Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions, not addressed elsewhere (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.) (1000 characters if you answer yes)

6. Have you or your family experienced economic hardships? (1000 characters if yes)

7. Have you been employed at the University of Pennsylvania Health System or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and worked with a Penn faculty mentor? If yes, please indicate name, department, phone number of faculty, and start/end dates

8. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters.

9. Sexual and Gender Identity (optional)

Do you identify as (please check all that apply):

Heterosexual/Straight

Gay

Lesbian

Bisexual

Asexual

Queer

Other

Do you identify as (please check all that apply):

Cisgender

Transgender

Gender non-conforming

Gender non-binary

Other

Please let us know if you have a preferred name and/or preferred Gender Pronouns.

MSTP:

Additional pages to check your preferred research group at the time of application (History and Sociology of Medicine, Anthropology, and Business/Economics have further requirements). Also a 500 character box to list keywords related to your research interests.

2017 – 2018

1. Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? Yes/No… “Add Award”
2. Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation? Yes/No… If yes, 500 characters given.
3. Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application? Yes/No… If yes, 1000 characters given.
4. Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions, not addressed elsewhere (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.) Yes/No… If yes, 1000 characters given.
5. Have you or your family experienced economic hardships? Yes/No… if yes, 1000 characters given.
6. Have you been employed at the University of Pennsylvania Health System or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and worked with a Penn faculty mentor? If yes, please indicate name, department, phone number of faculty, and start/end dates.
7. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters.

2016 – 2017

1. Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? If so, please describe; each line allows 100 characters. (Please do not list awards from high school or earlier.)

2. Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation? (500 characters to describe plans, if yes)

3. Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application? (1000 characters to describe, if yes)

4. Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions, not addressed elsewhere (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.) (1000 characters if yes)

5. Have you or your family experienced economic hardships? (1000 characters, if yes)

6. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters.

2015-2016

Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? If so, please describe; each line allows 100 characters. (Please do not list awards from high school or earlier.) (3 lines)

Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation?

Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application? What country? (1,000 char)

Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging aspects of your personal background or circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions, not addressed elsewhere (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.). (1,000 char)

If you are traveling outside of the U.S. during the application year, will you need special scheduling if invited for an interview? If so, please describe and indicate dates that you are in the U.S. (255 char)

Have you or your family experienced economic hardships? (1,000 char)

Have you been employed at the University of Pennsylvania Health System or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and worked with a Penn faculty mentor? If yes, please indicate name, department, phone number of faculty, and start/end dates.

Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine. (1,000 char)

2014 – 2015

Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? If so, please describe; each line allows 100 characters. (Please do not list awards from high school or earlier.) (3 lines)

Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation? (250 characters)

Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application?

Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.)

Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine. (1000 characters)