The Premed Ecosystem at Penn

Regardless of what university you attend, being premed is often associated with feelings ofstress and anxiety. However, one thing I’ve found that Penn does right is the variety of resources that exist to support students on their path to medical school. Pre-health advising through Career Services is one of the first resources that comes to mind. Through advising,students can plan coursework, MCAT studying, and the medical school application timeline.

Additionally, there is a plethora of support provided during the academic year throughworkshops, advising appointments, and newsletters.Apart from advising, Penn’s proximity to the Perelman School of Medicine, the Hospital of theUniversity of Pennsylvania, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers students so many opportunities to get more experience in the healthcare field. Undergraduates can get involved in research, clinical volunteering, and mentorship at these institutions.

The Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) is home to researchprograms such as PURM. PURM allows students to work in Penn labs in any research area of their choice.

One of the most valuable resources is the premed community itself. Upperclassmen and peers are often relied on for advice about research position, classes, MCAT prep, and navigating Penn as a premed. These networks make the experience at Penn feel much less isolating.

Being premed is always a challenging path. However, the access to opportunities and experiences that Penn provides are priceless.

- A. Madhira