SKMC Office of Admissions

Selection Factors

Each year, the Committee on Admissions selects a class about 270 students from an applicant pool of approximately 11,000

Our selection is made after careful consideration of many factors:

  • College attended
  • Academic record
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
  • Performance in non-academic areas
  • Out-of classroom experiences
  • Community work
  • Medical activities
  • Assessment of motivation, leadership potential, maturity, intellect, humanitarian concerns, compassion, ability to communicate, dedication, integrity and commitment (assessment is made by the Committee on Admissions the interview process)

Profile of Matriculated Students

The members of the 2022 entering class matriculated from 107 different undergraduate schools, and are from 37 states and eight other countries. A profile of the matriculated students includes the following:

  • Average BCPM GPA: 3.73
  • Average total MCAT score: 514
  • Average age 23, ranging from 20 - 37
  • 55% women; 45% men
  • 16.8% from groups underrepresented in medicine
  • 28% non-white ethnic groups

Interview

The Committee on Admissions would like to interview every applicant; however, the volume of applications keeps us from doing so. Each year, we invite approximately 800 applicants to schedule an interview. The interview helps us determine which applicants will most likely benefit from our program, and is a requirement for acceptance. 

The interview serves several purposes:

  • Information from the application can be verified and clarified
  • The applicant can explain unique aspects of the application
  • The applicant can become better acquainted with the medical school
  • Personal qualities can be assessed 
Almost every applicant selected for interview has demonstrated a commitment to community service through volunteer work. 

Diversity

Sidney Kimmel Medical College is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons, without regard to race, color, national and ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation or veteran's status. The diversity in our student body is one of the many things which has continued to make Thomas Jefferson University a special place.

Factors that May Cause Inadmissibility

Under most circumstances, admission will not be offered to an applicant with a felony conviction. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted a new Medical Practice Act in 1985 (Act 112 of 1985) which specifies the qualifications for a license to practice medicine from the Pennsylvania Board of Medical Education and Licensure. The Board will not issue a license to an applicant who has been convicted of a felony under the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 223, No. 64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, or of an offense under the laws of another jurisdiction which, if committed in this Commonwealth, would be a felony under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

A student who has previously attended another medical school and failed academically or been dismissed for unsatisfactory conduct will not be considered for admission.