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Are you ready to gain admission to the Pritzker School of Medicine? Read on to learn more and get the competitive edge you need!
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine is a popular choice for medical school applicants. If you’re looking for tips on how to get into the Pritzker, look no further. This is your ultimate guide to getting in.
Before applying, you should always research your target schools. Here we'll outline what you need to know about Pritzker.
Since 1927, Pritzker has focused on developing its world-renowned research institutions and academic programs. Pritzker’s mission statement is as follows:
“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.”
The school takes its name from the Pritzker family, who have donated to the school.
Pritzker mainly operates on a pass/fail grading system, except for the required clinical clerkships (Ambulatory, Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Neurology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgery). They are graded and designated using an (Honors (H), High Pass (HP), Pass (P), or Failure (F) ) format.
According to Pritzker, their pass/fail and uncurved grading systems have resulted in a highly collaborative and supportive learning environment.
Pritzker offers multiple programs that allow MD students to incorporate their academic interests. Here are the MD program options at Pritzker.
*Important Note: Each combined degree program requires two separate admissions and financial aid applications.
Beyond the degrees mentioned above, Pritzker offers other MD/PhD programs.
The Pritzker School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is 1.42%. In the most recent application cycle, 6,407 students applied to Pritzker, resulting in 91 matriculants. The school’s acceptance rate makes it one of the nation’s most selective schools.
Please note that this is an approximate acceptance rate and refers to the percentage of matriculants and deferred students compared to verified applications. Medical schools often don’t release data pertaining to accepted applicants and verified applications.
To ensure you have enough time to complete your application, follow the Pritzker MD application timeline. You should begin preparing for medical school applications during college by taking prerequisite courses, volunteering, taking the MCAT, and building up your experience.
For expert MCAT prep in Chicago, book a free consultation with Inspira Advantage tutors. With over 15 years of experience, they know how to get you a guaranteed 515+ score.
Here are some Pritzker medical school deadlines you should know:
If accepted to multiple schools, you have until the end of April to decide which one to attend.
We’ll outline Pritzker’s MD program admission requirements. Remember, separate admission and financial aid applications are required for combined MD programs, meaning these degrees have additional requirements.
The first Pritzker School of Medicine requirement is to complete 90 credit hours from an accredited four-year U.S. or Canadian college or university. Although a bachelor’s degree isn’t required, it’s highly preferred.
Pritzker doesn’t technically have prerequisite courses, but requires high competency levels in relevant topics. Pritzker’s required competencies are:
You don't need to complete all recommended courses to gain admission to the Pritzker School of Medicine, but you do need to be competent in each subject.
The average MCAT score at Pritzker is 519. You should aim for a score higher than this to be a competitive candidate.
Pritzker doesn’t have a minimum GPA requirement. However, the average GPA is 3.89. Like your MCAT score, you should aim for a higher GPA than 3.89 to be a strong applicant.
During the Pritzker School of Medicine application process, all applicants who submit their primary application through AMCAS are automatically invited to complete a secondary application. This secondary application carries a non-refundable fee of $95, which may be waived for students who qualify for the AMCAS Fee Assistance Program.
Applicants must also submit letters of recommendation, including either a committee letter, a composite letter, or a letter from a premedical advisor. If these are unavailable, applicants may submit at least three individual letters, and it is strongly recommended that at least two come from science faculty.
As part of your secondary application, you must answer three different prompts (with an optional fourth):
“1. Students at the Pritzker School of Medicine complete the majority of their clinical training at UChicago Medicine (UCM). UCM is one of the top ten most racially inclusive hospitals in the United States with a primary service area of 12 South Side zip codes where poverty is over double the state level. Additionally, our students lead six free clinics in diverse neighborhoods throughout the city of Chicago.
Please share with us the personal and professional experiences that have best prepared you to work in this diverse clinical environment.”
2. All MD students participate in our longitudinal Scholarship & Discovery research program, which offers protected curricular time, mentoring, and funding for students to pursue their scholarly interests. Please describe your research interests and share how our research opportunities will help you advance your career goals.
3. 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.”
The fourth prompt is optional:
“4. Please feel free to use this space to convey any additional information that you might wish the Committee to know. For example, if you are not currently completing a degree, please share your planned or current activities for this application cycle. We suggest that you limit your text to about 300 words.”
These secondary essays are another opportunity to show why you’re an excellent fit for Pritzker and why you’d make a stellar physician.
Look no further if you’re looking for ways to improve your Pritzker application. Here’s how to get into Pritzker Medical School and improve your candidacy.
UChicago Pritzker doesn’t have a minimum GPA, MCAT, or prerequisite course requirements. However, this isn’t a sign that you don’t have to push yourself as hard academically.
Our number one tip isn’t to take these recommendations lightly. You should take every course, lab, extracurricular, and opportunity to show your commitment to attending Pritzker. Remember, this is a highly competitive school, so you should strategically position yourself as a stellar candidate.
You should do plenty of research on Pritzker’s history and what it has to offer. This is especially important for your interviews, as you’ll likely be asked why you want to attend Pritzker or what drew you to the MD program.
While research is not a technical requirement of admissions at Pritzker, it will play a significant role in your future studies. As such, it’s important that you can demonstrate an innate curiosity about medicine and problem-solving skills ahead of time so that the Pritzker admissions committee can see that you are a natural fit for the MD program.
Almost all (98%) of a recent incoming class reported research experience! Individual research projects can further demonstrate your passions and interests to supplement your secondary essays. Simply put, it’s hard evidence that your passions are what you mentioned in your essay, so don’t forget to include them.
If your primary and secondary applications are successful, you'll be invited to an interview. These three one-on-one interviews are part of its admissions process. They are typically held virtually via Zoom and include sessions with a faculty member, a current medical student, and an administrator from the admissions office. Each interview is designed to assess different aspects of an applicant's qualifications and fit for the program.
You can watch mock interviews, practice with a friend, or hire an interview coach to prepare for a Pritzker interview.
Tuition at Pritzker costs $61,812 for the first two years (three quarters each) and $81,816 for the last two years. However, your tuition doesn’t factor in other costs such as books, room and board, transportation, insurance, personal expenses, etc. Here’s a chart detailing Pritzker’s estimated cost of attendance:
Remember, these are tuition estimates for the Pritzker School of Medicine – depending on your lifestyle and needs, these costs may be greater or less.
Still wondering how to get into Pritzker medical school? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.
Pritzker tuition costs $61,812 for the first two years and $81,816 for the final two years of a four-year medical degree.
Yes, the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine is widely regarded as one of the top medical schools in the United States. Known for its rigorous academic environment, small class sizes, and commitment to research and service, Pritzker consistently ranks among the best for both primary care and research.
The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine is the best medical school in Chicago, renowned for its research programs and academic excellence.
Yes, the Pritzker School of Medicine offers several combined MD programs, including MD/MBA, MD/MA, MD/MPH, MD/MS, and MD/PhD degrees.
The standard MD program at Pritzker takes four years to complete. However, the several combined MD degrees offered at Pritzker take at least five years to complete, depending on your course load.
Pritzker’s pass/fail grading system makes it unique and fosters student collaboration. It’s also one of the few medical schools located physically on a university campus.
The average MCAT score at Pritzker is 519.
The average GPA of Pritzker matriculants is 3.89.
The Pritzker School of Medicine is an excellent option for any med student, especially if you’re interested in research. Pritzker is a competitive school, so your application should show your passion, leadership skills, and academic achievements.
If you’re ever stuck at any point in the application cycle, contact an admissions expert to help get you into your dream medical school. Good luck!
Dr. Jonathan Preminger was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
Reviewed by:
Neurologist, Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
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