Our Pre-Medical Primary Care Program is designed for students committed to becoming compassionate, community-focused primary care physicians. Through a curriculum rooted in academic excellence and real-world clinical preparation, the program offers qualified graduates of Juniata College a seamless pathway to automatic matriculation at the Penn State College of Medicine. We are dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive cohort of future physicians who bring wide-ranging perspectives, experiences, and strengths to the field of primary care.

Application Process:

Students may select the Penn State Pre-Medical Primary Care Program among the specialty program options on either the Juniata College Application or the Common Application. If you would like to be considered for the program and did not select it at the time of application, please contact the Admissions Office.

The additional admission requirements for this program and their status will display on the Specialty Program checklist in your Status Portal:

  • Additional requirements include a minimum of two letters of support from high school teachers, with at least one from a science teacher; a resume; essay responses (300-500 words each) to the three prompts; and if relevant, college/university transcripts.
  • Selected candidates will be invited to an interview day at the beginning of February with the Juniata College Health Professions Committee

Important Dates:

  • January 15: Submit your application along with additional materials as detailed above.
  • February: Selected candidates will be invited to an interview day at the beginning of February with the Juniata College Health Professions Committee.
Acceptance Criteria  

  • Students must rank in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class or demonstrate an upward high school trajectory with a rigorous science background.
  • Students must have completed (a) three years of natural sciences including biology, chemistry, and physics and (b) mathematics through trigonometry (calculus is recommended).
  • Students must be legal residents of Pennsylvania. Admission to the program will be weighted in favor of students residing in rural and/or medically underserved areas of Pennsylvania.
  • Students' experiences in humanitarian service activities will be considered in determining admission to the program.
  • Students seeking admission to the program must complete the Pre-Medical Primary Care Program application form and submit the additional application materials.

Continued Participation Criteria  

  • While a student may major in any of several areas, the student must accumulate a minimum GPA of 3.5 in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics courses (BCPM GPA) and an overall GPA of at least 3.5 by the end of their junior year of college.
  • Pursuit of a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is required.
  • Completion of the following courses or the Institution’s equivalent is required:
    • General Biology with lab (1 year/2 semesters)
    • General/Inorganic Chemistry with lab (1 year/2 semesters)
    • Organic Chemistry with lab (1 year/2 semesters)
    • Physics with lab (1 year/2 semesters)
    • Biochemistry with or without lab (1 semester)
    • Statistics course (1 semester)
  • Strongly recommended courses are:
    • Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab or equivalent (1 year/2 semesters)
    • Microbiology (1 semester)
    • Behavioral and social science courses (anthropology, economics, ethics, history, sociology, psychology, philosophy)
    • Humanities courses (art, drama, literature, languages, music)
  • Students must complete two summer primary care internships or one intensive internship during a semester by the end of their senior year coordinated by the COM’s Department of Family and Community Medicine and/or the HPAC. Participants must receive a positive evaluation by supervising physicians.
  • Students must also participate in the Primary Care Scholars Program either the summer following the second or third year at the Institution.
  • Students must continue to exhibit "primary care potential" through volunteer work in human services, course selection, and/or show motivation to work in rural areas or underserved communities as a primary care physician.
  • Students are expected to remain good citizens of the college community and maintain decorum consistent with behavior befitting the medical profession. Students must agree to (a) release to the COM the record of any disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Institution; and (b) report to the COM any conviction of a criminal violation during the provisional acceptance period. Such information will be evaluated in a manner consistent with other applicants for admission to the COM.

Yearly Criteria for Participation  

During the first, second, and third years, students must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the HPAC continued interest in primary care by volunteering in human services, selecting humanistic courses, and participating in a variety of extracurricular activities that involve interaction with other people.
 
Specific criteria by year are as follows:
 
First Year:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3
Second Year:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4
  • Internship in primary care coordinated and approved, in collaboration with the COM, by the HPAC, with review and positive evaluation by the supervising physician(s)
  • Meet with the COM Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid during the spring of the second year to review progress in the program
  • Participate in the Primary Care Scholars Program either the summer following the second or third year at the Institution
Junior Year:
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • A second internship in primary care coordinated and approved, in collaboration with the COM, by the HPAC, with review and positive evaluation by the supervising physician(s)
  • Summative review and positive recommendation by the HPAC!
  • Required completion of the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) examination. Students granted a provisional acceptance to the COM through the Pre-Medical Primary Care Program must take the examination during the early Spring of their junior year of college. It is recommended that students take the examination in April of their junior year, but no later than mid-May following their junior year. During registration for the examination, the student must indicate the release of scores to COM. Examination results must be reported to the Office of Admissions and the HPAC of the Institution as soon as available. Students are required to obtain a composite score of at least 511. Students not meeting this requirement will be permitted to retake the exam once. It is recommended that students retake the examination in July following their junior year, but no later than mid-September of their senior year. Students not meeting this requirement after these attempts will be dismissed from the program.
Senior Year:
  • Submit an AMCAS application as a “Special Program” applicant.
  • Register with AAMC and prior to completing any other portion of the application, send the AAMC ID to the Director of Medical Student Admissions at COM.
  • Once the applicant has been entered into the AAMC portal as a Special Program applicant, the applicant may then complete the AMCAS application as an Early Assurance candidate. All AMCAS service fees will be waived automatically.
  • Students are not allowed to apply to other schools and maintain EAP status unless the first MCAT score is below the acceptable range as defined.
  • Maintain a high level of academic achievement, including graduation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • Meet with COM’s Associated Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid during the fall of the fourth year to review progress in the program