Pritzker School of Medicine is one of the most prestigious and sought-after medical schools in Illinois. However, with a medical school acceptance rate of 1.46%, it is very hard to get into. With an innovative curriculum and advanced use of medical simulation, Pritzker School of Medicine is shaping the minds of tomorrow’s leaders in the field of medicine. This blog is your guide to achieving your dream of getting into Pritzker School of Medicine.
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Mission Statement
“At the University of Chicago, in an atmosphere of interdisciplinary scholarship and discovery, the Pritzker School of Medicine is dedicated to inspiring diverse students of exceptional promise to become leaders and innovators in science and medicine for the betterment of humanity.”
Available Programs
Academic Curriculum
The curriculum at the Pritzker School of Medicine offers a unique mix of knowledge of the basic and clinical sciences. Along with offering a steppingstone of the basic sciences to students, it aims to inculcate a component of modern research and innovation. Scholarship and discovery are central themes of the curriculum at the Pritzker School of Medicine. All students must complete a scholarly project with an assigned mentor before graduation. Students can choose from the five options:
Pritzker School of Medicine also has a Clinical Performance Center. The aim of this center is to provide hands-on training to students by offering a practical and supportive environment. The center’s use of medical simulation for students ensures that students are exposed to the best and latest in medicine and health care. Finally, students can also gain community service experience through the several free clinics, educational programs, as well as other community partnerships.
Check out a recap of admission stats, available programs, and interview format
Grading System
Pritzker School of Medicine has a pass/fail grading system for years 1, 2 and 4. Since year 3 entails a clerkship, students can attain the grades of Honors, High Pass, Pass, and Fail. Students are ranked only in the third year of medical school. The grading is not relative, and students’ performance is not compared to their peers. The grading system has deliberately kept uncurved to enhance a cooperative environment for students.
Application Timeline
The following is the general medical school application timeline of the Pritzker School of Medicine. In case a date falls on a weekend or a holiday, the deadline is extended to the next business day.
Admissions Statistics
Following are the admissions statistics for Pritzker School of Medicine:
- Total Number of Matriculants per Year: 90
- Success Rate (Overall): 1.46%
- Success Rate (In-state): 2.28%
- Success Rate (Out-of-state): 1.45%
- Success Rate (International): 0%
- Average Accepted GPA: 3.93
- Average Accepted MCAT Score: 517
Pritzker School of Medicine overall acceptance rate:
Eligibility
The Pritzker School of Medicine requires that prospective students must have completed 90 credit hours prior to matriculation from an accredited US or Canadian college or university. Even though a baccalaureate is not a pre-requisite, the Admissions Committee is partial to students who have it. Students who have completed a baccalaureate degree outside the US or Canada are expected to complete at least one year of fulltime coursework in a US or Canadian institution. Applicants must have also completed their MCAT exam up to three years before the date of application. The Admissions Committee does not consider the baccalaureate major of applicants in its decisions.
Are you getting ready for an interview at Pritzker School of Medicine? Check out our top tips:
Recommended Courses
Following are the required competencies and prerequisites for students applying to the Pritzker School of Medicine:
Tuition and Debt
Total medical school tuition cost for in state and out of state students: $87,034
Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 91%
Average debt of graduating students: $152,821
Funding Opportunities
Pritzker School of Medicine has an extensive financial aid program. The Financial Aid department offers various services including but not limited to debt management sessions to incoming students and loan repayment strategy sessions for graduating students. Students can apply for various merit and need-based medical school scholarships depending on the qualifying criteria. Another option available to students are the low-interest Pritzker Loans. The Financial Aid team also offers packages using a combination of scholarships and loans. Interestingly, 75 percent of all students receiving financial assistance at Pritzker School of Medicine are awarded a scholarship.
Pritzker Scholarships
Pritzker Scholarships are awards that are gifted to the Pritzker School of Medicine by the friends of the university including but not limited to graduates, parents or families of graduates, patients of the University of Chicago Medicine and former faculty members. All students admitted to the school are considered for the scholarships and do not need to fulfill any additional requirements to be deemed eligible.
Pritzker School of Medicine Loans
Funds for the Pritzker School of Medicine loans are also gifted by the friends of the university. However, they are awarded to students based on financial need and form part of a financial aid package. These are low interest loans with the interest rate ranging between 0 percent and 5 percent.
Federal Direct Loans
If a student is unable to cover the cost of the program at Pritzker School of Medicine despite the financial aid, they can apply a FAFSA. The two options available under federal direct loans are Med Direct Unsubsidized loan and a Direct GradPLUS loan. To qualify for the Med Direct Unsubsidized loan, students need to fulfill two requirements: the first is Entrance Loan Counseling and the second one is a Master Promissory Note.
Selection Factors
Students at the Pritzker School of Medicine are selected based on their skill, accomplishments, sense of purpose or inspiration. A proven track record of exceptional characteristics, an unwavering dedication to the medical profession and excellence in academics are some of the factors the Admissions Committee considers in deciding. Even though shadowing is not required, the Committee recommends that students gain clinical experience by working actively with patients and not being mere observers. The Admissions Committee evaluates these qualities and experiences based on the following selection factors: GPA, MCAT score, primary and secondary essays, recommendation letters, and extracurriculars in the AMCAS Work and Activities section.
Prospective students need to send their medical school recommendation letters to Pritzker School of Medicine through the AMCAS Letter Service. The two recommendation letters for science can be provided by an instructor, professor, or teaching assistant from a college level science course. The Admissions Committee also prefers that students also provide a research related recommendation letter. For students who have significant work experience, the Admissions Committee recommends getting recommendation letters from the faculty who has taught them along with a few letters from their employers. The Admissions Committee recommends that all prospective students include at least three recommendation letters with their application. Prospective students should focus on the contents of the recommendation letters they are sending instead of the total number of recommendation letters.
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Sample Pritzker School of Medicine Secondary Essays
Essay Question 1
Please write a short essay about why you are applying to the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. We suggest that you limit your essay to about 550 words.
I am drawn to Pritzker School of Medicine because of its reputation for fostering a diverse and collaborative learning environment. The school’s community service, research opportunities, and curriculum inspire confidence that I will not only receive a comprehensive medical education, but also teach me how to serve marginalized patients in navigating healthcare systems. I hope to build upon my experiences at X Hospital where I provide medical interpretation for Greek-speaking patients. (74 words)
Essay Question 2
Share with us a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. In your response, identify both the coping skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice. We suggest that you limit your essay to about 550 words.
Growing up in X country as the first-born male in my family, I was appointed by my grandfather to take over the family jewelry business and my future was seemingly pre-determined. However, everything changed when we immigrated to the United States. Here, I discovered my interest in medicine. I had to change my path and turn my efforts to studying. It was not easy to adopt a new language and culture. I took small steps to build my vocabulary and grammar skills, and made countless mistakes. Slowly, I became better at advocating for myself, and more confident when meeting new people. I wanted to train to become a physician. I was choosing a future path of my own without my family’s imposed expectations. When I informed my family of my career of choice, I was surprised to receive wholehearted support, even from my grandfather. I will not be my father’s successor in the family business, but I inherited something more important, courage and perseverance. After all, I feel my grandfather’s own success in starting the jewelry business highlights his diligence and determination. I am still inspired daily by my family to strive for my goals and choose my own life path. (200 words)
Interview Formats
Interviews for the Pritzker School of Medicine’s are held remotely via video interviews. Applicants selected for the interviews will have three one on one interviews with members of the Pritzker faculty, a student, and an administrator. They will also join information sessions organized by the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Acceptance and Waitlist Information
The earliest notice of acceptance is sent to accepted students by October 15th with the latest notice of acceptance sent by August 04th. The maximum time allowed to a prospective student to accept the offer depends on the acceptance date and will vary from one student to the other. Pritzker School of Medicine is accepting request for deferred entrance. The number of males to females in each session has been around the same for the last years. Various students not accepted into the program are put on an unranked waitlist. It should also be kept in mind that there is not a fixed number of positions on the waitlist and it differs from one year to the next.
Contact Information
Pritzker School of Medicine admissions website
Pritzker School of Medicine website
FAQs
1. Do all students receive a secondary application?
Secondary applications are sent to all students who apply to Pritzker School of Medicine through AMCAS. Students are sent a link to the secondary application two business days after submitting the primary application through AMCAS.
2. Can I make changes to my application after submitting it?
Prospective students can make changes to their secondary application by uploading PDFs to the website.
3. Does Pritzker School of Medicine have an Early Decision Program? Does applying to it improve my chances of acceptance?
Pritzker School of Medicine has an Early Decision Program. However, prospective students can only apply after obtaining approval from the Admissions Office. Applying to the program does not improve your chances of acceptance.
4. What are the preferred extracurricular activities from an admission viewpoint?
Extracurricular activities related to medicine and assisting others are ideal. These include but are not limited to shadowing, volunteering, or working in a clinic. Any other activities that help develop humane characteristics are also appreciated.
5. Is research an important component of curriculum at Pritzker School of Medicine?
Research projects are a requirement for students enrolled in both the MD and MD/PhD programs at Pritzker School of Medicine. Nonetheless, experience in formal research is not a requirement, but a recommendation.
6. Does Pritzker School of Medicine have a financial aid program?
Pritzker School of Medicine has an extensive financial aid program and most enrolled students are considered automatically for scholarships. Students can apply to renew their scholarships every academic year provided they maintain exceptional academic performance.
7. Does Pritzker School of Medicine accept out of state and international students?
Since Pritzker School of Medicine is a private institution, it accepts both out of state and international students. However, all prospective students are considered on the same criteria by the Admissions Committee.
8. Does Pritzker School of Medicine accept students who have a bachelor’s degree from another country?
Although Pritzker School of Medicine accepts students who have a bachelor’s degree from outside of the US and Canada, such students are expected to complete a year of science coursework at a US or Canadian college.
9. Does Pritzker School of Medicine accept transfer students?
No, Pritzker School of Medicine does not accept any transfer students.
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1 Comments
Feyi
what about the transcript of foreign coursework if i have a Canadian degree(credits were not transferred)?
Reply