Drexel COM Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Interviews at Drexel University College of Medicine are conducted virtually for the 2025–2026 cycle, typically in a traditional format with two interviewers meeting each applicant drexel.edu blackstonetutors.com. The school’s mission emphasizes innovation in medical education, research, and compassionate patient care within an inclusive, collaborative environment focused on serving community needs drexel.edu. Drexel’s MD program is one of the nation’s largest, enrolling around 300 students per year across its Philadelphia and West Reading campuses towerhealth.org, and it features a modern curriculum incorporating emerging competencies like population health, health informatics, and healthcare quality alongside traditional clinical training drexel.edu. The College’s admissions process reflects these values: Drexel seeks a diverse, service-oriented student body and uses holistic review (including required CASPer assessments) to identify applicants who demonstrate leadership, integrity, community engagement, and other qualities beyond academics drexel.edu blackstonetutors.com. Consistent with this approach, interview questions at Drexel often explore both personal motivations and experiences and awareness of broader healthcare issues studentdoctor.net. Altogether, understanding the interview logistics, Drexel’s institutional focus, program highlights, relevant healthcare issues, valued applicant qualities, and the admissions timeline will help candidates approach their interviews with knowledge and confidence.

Drexel conducts traditional medical school interviews (as opposed to MMI), meaning the questions are largely conversational and focused on the applicant’s experiences and motivations blackstonetutors.com. In the 2025–2026 cycle these interviews are held virtually, with candidates speaking online with their interviewers rather than coming to campus drexel.edu. Typically, an applicant will meet with two interviewers; often one is a faculty member (who may review the applicant’s file beforehand) and the other is a current student conducting a “closed-file” interview without prior knowledge of the applicant’s academic record forums.studentdoctor.net. Most interviews last about 20–30 minutes and maintain a friendly, conversational tone, giving the school a chance to know the candidate beyond their written application studentdoctor.net. While Drexel’s overall admissions rate is very low (~6–7% acceptance) blackstonetutors.com, those who reach the interview stage have a much higher chance of admission, since the incoming class of ~300 will be selected from a much smaller pool of interviewed applicants.

Drexel University College of Medicine’s mission centers on excellence and innovation in training physicians, advancing research, and providing compassionate care, all within a diverse, collaborative “culture of belonging” drexel.edu. This mission builds on the institution’s unique legacy of inclusion – as the successor to the first women’s medical college and a school dedicated to underserved populations – and underscores a firm commitment to meeting the health needs of its communities drexel.edu. The College’s values are encapsulated in guiding principles that emphasize quality education, research that benefits humanity, patient-centered care, an inclusive environment, personal growth, and community engagement:

• Dedication to providing the highest quality biomedical education drexel.edu
• Promotion of basic and translational research for the benefit of humanity drexel.edu
• Devotion to patients through quality, compassionate care drexel.edu
• Acknowledgment that a culture of belonging among faculty, staff, students and trainees enables the mission drexel.edu
• Growth and success of all who teach, learn and work here drexel.edu
• Commitment to our local and global communities drexel.edu

Drexel’s MD program matriculates a large class each year (approximately 300 new medical students), which is split between its main campus in Philadelphia and a four-year regional campus in West Reading, Pennsylvania towerhealth.org. The West Reading campus, developed in partnership with Tower Health, welcomed its inaugural class in 2021 and now hosts about 40 students per cohort, providing a smaller community setting while following the same curriculum and standards as the Philadelphia campus towerhealth.org.

Drexel’s curriculum, known as Foundations and Frontiers, is designed to produce 21st-century physicians and includes not only the traditional biomedical sciences but also training in emerging areas like population health, health informatics, patient safety, and healthcare systems management drexel.edu. Students hone their skills in state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced simulation centers and learning technology (for example, Drexel-developed iPad applications that support the curriculum) drexel.edu. The College of Medicine additionally benefits from a rich historical legacy: it was formed from the merger of Hahnemann Medical College (founded 1848) and the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (founded 1850), the first medical school for women in the world drexel.edu. This heritage of inclusivity and innovation continues to influence Drexel’s culture and educational approach.

These distinctive program features can also provide inspiration for questions to ask during the interview. For example:

• Could you tell me more about the new West Reading campus and how the student experience there compares to the Philadelphia campus?
• How does the Foundations and Frontiers curriculum integrate topics like health informatics and patient safety into the medical training?
• What opportunities do students have to get involved in serving the community or addressing healthcare disparities in Philadelphia?

At the state and local level, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia face significant healthcare challenges that Drexel physicians-in-training should be aware of. For example, underserved communities in the region struggle with limited resources and unequal access to quality care, creating disparities that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic drexel.edu. In recent years, the closure of several local hospitals has led to “health care deserts” with longer ambulance travel times and overcrowded remaining facilities pahouse.com. Given Drexel’s commitment to community-oriented medicine, such regional issues provide important context and may come up in discussions about healthcare needs and policies.

Nationally, broad healthcare policy debates – from the cost and coverage of care to public health crises and health equity – form a backdrop for medical education and often find their way into interview questions. Drexel interviewers have, for instance, asked about the biggest challenges facing the medical field beyond well-known issues like HMOs or malpractice studentdoctor.net. Some questions probe applicants’ opinions on how medicine should adapt; for example, past candidates were asked “What do you think is a problem in the field of medicine in general?” and “Do you think business and finance should be taught in medical school?” studentdoctor.net. Demonstrating an informed perspective on both local and national healthcare issues can show alignment with Drexel’s values and an understanding of the context in which physicians operate.

Drexel evaluates applicants holistically, placing strong weight on personal qualities and experiences beyond academics. The admissions committee explicitly values leadership roles, commitment to community service, hands-on clinical exposure, and even accomplishments in areas like research, employment or athletics drexel.edu. Reflecting its mission of diversity and inclusion, the school welcomes applicants from a wide range of backgrounds – including underrepresented minorities, first-generation college graduates, veterans, those from rural or disadvantaged environments, and people who have pursued other careers before medicine drexel.edu. Attributes such as integrity, maturity, resilience, and motivation are carefully considered in the selection process drexel.edu, as Drexel aims to enroll empathetic and well-rounded future physicians. Notably, all applicants are required to take the CASPer situational judgment test blackstonetutors.com, underscoring the importance Drexel places on interpersonal and professional competencies in addition to academic metrics.

Drexel’s admissions philosophy is closely aligned with official competency frameworks for medical education drexel.edu. The College of Medicine has transitioned from strict prerequisite course requirements to a competency-based model consistent with AAMC and HHMI guidelines drexel.edu. Under this model, applicants are expected to demonstrate proficiency in key scientific and analytical areas – for instance, mastery of biology, general and organic chemistry (through biochemistry), physics, laboratory skills, and statistical reasoning drexel.edu. Equally important are competencies gained through experience: Drexel looks for meaningful exposure to behavioral and social sciences, significant community or volunteer service, and substantial clinical experience working with patients drexel.edu. Emphasizing these competencies in both the application and the interview allows the school to identify students who are well-rounded and prepared to excel in Drexel’s curriculum.

Many of Drexel’s interview questions are traditional in nature, aimed at getting to know the applicant personally and understanding their motivation for medicine and fit for the school. Interviewees commonly report being asked “Why did you choose medicine?” or “Why Drexel?” as well as to discuss experiences highlighted in their application (such as research projects, clinical volunteering, leadership roles, or even challenges and failures) blackstonetutors.com. The tone is generally conversational, and applicants often have the chance to elaborate on their background, values, and goals. At the same time, Drexel interviewers frequently include questions about the healthcare field and ethics, gauging an applicant’s awareness of issues beyond their own experiences studentdoctor.net. Examples have ranged from “What do you think is a problem in the field of medicine in general?” to “Do you think business and finance should be taught in medical school?” studentdoctor.net, indicating that candidates should be ready to discuss both their personal journey and the broader challenges in healthcare.

Drexel’s admissions process follows a typical medical school timeline with rolling decisions. For the 2025–2026 cycle, the AMCAS primary application opens in late May and can be submitted between June 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026 drexel.edu. The Drexel secondary application (and all supporting materials such as MCAT scores, recommendation letters, and CASPer results) is due by January 1, 2026 as well drexel.edu. Interview invitations are extended on an ongoing basis, and interviews will be held from September 2025 through April 2026 drexel.edu. Offers of admission are made on a rolling basis starting October 15, 2025, and continue until the class is filled drexel.edu. Admitted students must then adhere to the “Plan to Enroll”/“Commit to Enroll” guidelines, indicating their final decision by the spring (with Drexel requiring a commitment by late June 2026) drexel.edu.

In conclusion, preparing for a Drexel College of Medicine interview means becoming well-versed in the program’s format, values, and expectations and reflecting on how your own experiences align with them. By understanding Drexel’s mission and curriculum, being aware of the traits and competencies the school prioritizes, and staying knowledgeable about relevant medical issues in Philadelphia and beyond, you can approach the interview with confidence. Combining this awareness with honest self-reflection will enable you to engage thoughtfully during the interview and show how you would be a great fit for Drexel’s community.