Drexel University College of Medicine MD program · 2026-27 MD applicants (entering fall 2027)

Your Drexel medical school interview

Drexel interviews every admitted MD student, and for 2026-27 the interview is virtual and uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. Applicants report a series of short timed stations plus a relaxed group conversation led by a current medical student, and most describe the day as low stress.

Sources (5)

Drexel College of Medicine: MD Program Application Process - Drexel University College of Medicine · Student Doctor Network: 2026-2027 Drexel University College of Medicine (2026) · Admit.org: Is Drexel interview open or closed file? (2025) · Student Doctor Network: Drexel University College of Medicine Interview Feedback & Student Reports · Reddit: Drexel University College of Medicine - why so much hate? (2025)

About 12%of applicants are interviewed, in self-reported CycleTrack data (11.89%), from a pool Drexel puts at 16,000 applications a year. CycleTrack · Drexel College of Medicine

About 31%of interviewed CycleTrack users report being accepted (30.79%). CycleTrack

Congratulations again: in self-reported data only about 1 in 8 Drexel applicants reaches the interview. Drexel's own line is simple: an interview is a requirement for acceptance into the program. The percentages come from applicants who chose to share data on CycleTrack, so treat them as rough.

Sources (2)

CycleTrack: Drexel University MD Admissions Data (Philadelphia, PA) (2026) · Drexel College of Medicine: MD Program Application Process - Drexel University College of Medicine

FormatVirtual MMI; applicants report about 7 stations plus a student-led group interview Drexel College of Medicine · Admit.org · Student Doctor Network · Student Doctor Network Forums

WhereOnline. Drexel says you will not travel to campus for the 2026-27 interview Drexel College of Medicine

WhenInterviews September through April; decisions from October 15 until the class is filled Drexel College of Medicine

What they knowApplicants report both the MMI and the student group interview are closed-file (2025) Admit.org · Student Doctor Network · Student Doctor Network Forums

4 more: does it count, odds, rescheduling, after

Does it countYes. Drexel says an interview is a requirement for acceptance Drexel College of Medicine

OddsSelf-reported CycleTrack data: about 11.89% interviewed, about 30.79% of interviewees accepted CycleTrack

ReschedulingCancel or reschedule online at least 72 hours before your date Drexel College of Medicine

AfterDecisions by email and final, no appeal; undecided applicants move to the waitlist from mid-April Drexel College of Medicine

How you get an interview

Drexel takes AMCAS applications from June 1. The secondary costs $120 (waived with an AMCAS fee waiver), and the secondary, fee and supporting materials are due January 1. Drexel requires letters of recommendation and prefers a committee letter if your school offers one. MCAT scores from 2024 through December 2026 are accepted. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

AI helps with the first screen. From the 2026-27 cycle, Drexel uses artificial intelligence to assist human reviewers in initial screening. Its AMP AI tool summarizes free-text answers into a score on how you align with the school's values. The office says it does not use an AI detector and keeps a holistic review.
CASPer. An applicant reports admissions confirmed CASPer is no longer required this cycle (it was required in 2025-26).
Early Decision. If Drexel is your only choice, the Early Decision Program runs June 1 to August 1, with supporting materials due August 30 and decisions by October 1.
Timing. Self-reported CycleTrack data puts the median wait from secondary to invite at 105 days, so a quiet autumn is normal.

Sources: Drexel College of Medicine: MD Program Application Process - Drexel University College of Medicine · Drexel College of Medicine: State of the Science: AI in Medical Education - Drexel University College of Medicine · Student Doctor Network: 2026-2027 Drexel University College of Medicine (2026) · Student Doctor Network: 2025-2026 Drexel (2025) · CycleTrack: Drexel University MD Admissions Data (Philadelphia, PA) (2026)

What the interview day is like

Drexel's own pages confirm only that the interview is virtual and uses the MMI format. The rest comes from applicants.

The MMI. Applicants report about 7 stations run live with real people, a short thinking period, then a different admissions member at each station. A 2026 applicant says the scenarios are mostly ethical and interpersonal, with no role-playing. Reported prompts follow patterns like "think about a time..." and "what would you do in x situation."
The student group interview. One current student with a few applicants, closed-file. Applicants call it chill and conversational, mainly a check on whether you would fit in as a classmate.
Faculty Q&A. One 2025 report describes a 30-minute group Q&A where faculty answer your questions rather than ask you any.
The interview essay. Applicants report (2025) a typed essay in the AMP portal, open from 2 days before the interview to 24 hours after.
Links arrive late. Zoom or Kira links have come the Friday before, or the night before or morning of. Check email and AMP daily, and call admissions if nothing has arrived by the afternoon before.

Older reports (2022 and earlier) describe a one-on-one faculty interview. Applicants in 2026 say that is gone, so do not prepare only for a traditional Q&A.

Sources: Drexel College of Medicine: MD Program Application Process - Drexel University College of Medicine · Admit.org: Is Drexel interview open or closed file? (2025) · Student Doctor Network: 2026-2027 Drexel University College of Medicine (2026) · Student Doctor Network: 2026-2027 Drexel University College of Medicine (2026) · Reddit: Drexel University College of Medicine - why so much hate? (2025) · Student Doctor Network Forums: 2025-2026 Drexel (2025) · Student Doctor Network Forums: 2022-2023 Drexel (2022)

What they're looking for

Drexel's sources do not list interview criteria, but they say what the school values.

Fit with the school's values. The admissions AI tool scores how candidates align with Drexel's values, inside a holistic review that reads files in the context of personal stories.
A broad class. Drexel actively encourages applications from women, ethnic and racial minorities, first-generation college graduates, Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents, LGBT individuals, veterans, and people from rural, educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
How you work with others. The MMI centers on ethical and interpersonal scenarios. In the student group interview, one applicant notes the aim is collaboration, not finding the most eloquent speaker, and that it is not a direct competition.
A real reason for Drexel. "Why Drexel?" shows up in report after report. A 2025 applicant advises linking your own experiences to specific Drexel opportunities.

Sources: Drexel College of Medicine: State of the Science: AI in Medical Education - Drexel University College of Medicine · Drexel College of Medicine: MD Program Application Process - Drexel University College of Medicine · Student Doctor Network: 2026-2027 Drexel University College of Medicine (2026) · Reddit: Bombed my Drexel interview today (2024) · Admit.org: Is Drexel interview open or closed file? (2025) · Student Doctor Network: Drexel University College of Medicine Interview Feedback & Student Reports · Student Doctor Network: 2025-2026 Drexel (2025)

How to prepare

Practice MMI stations. Applicants say past Drexel questions and scenarios on the SDN interview feedback pages help. Time yourself, use the thinking period, and practice ethical and interpersonal cases out loud.
Have your standard answers ready. Applicants report "Why medicine?", "Why Drexel?", your greatest challenge in medical school, an accomplishment and a weakness. Outline them, but keep delivery natural.
Know your own story. The stations and student group are reported closed-file, so anything you want counted has to come from you.
Be easy to work with in the group. Listen, build on others' points and stay friendly with fellow applicants.
Bring questions. Have a few for the student and for any faculty Q&A.
Read up. An applicant (2020) suggests reviewing medical ethics and current healthcare events.
Test your setup early and log in a little ahead of time.

Sources: Student Doctor Network: 2026-2027 Drexel University College of Medicine (2026) · Admit.org: Is Drexel interview open or closed file? (2025) · Student Doctor Network: Drexel University College of Medicine Interview Feedback & Student Reports · Student Doctor Network: 2024-2025 Drexel (2025) · Student Doctor Network: 2026-2027 Drexel University College of Medicine (2026) · Reddit: Bombed my Drexel interview today (2024) · Reddit: First II today for Drexel :) (2020) · Student Doctor Network Forums: 2025-2026 Drexel (2025) · Student Doctor Network Forums: 2022-2023 Drexel (2022)

What happens after

Drexel sends all decisions by email, starting October 15, and they are final with no appeal. Applicants not yet admitted or denied are on a defer list; from mid-April they move to the waitlist.

Deferral needs action. Applicants report (2024) a deferral email pointing to a Deferred tab in the portal where you must consent to stay in consideration. Do it right away.
How long. CycleTrack's self-reported median from interview to acceptance is 65 days; a 2025 applicant reports 10 to 16 weeks around holidays. Late-winter interviewees report decisions as late as April through July.
Odds after interview. A 2025 applicant says post-interview rejections are extremely rare and cites MSAR figures of about 300 waitlisted and about 73 offered seats from the waitlist. Update letters or letters of intent are common while deferred.
Campus. You are admitted to the College of Medicine, not a campus; Philadelphia or Reading-Tower Health assignments come after March 30. Applicants report ranking a preference, with late-cycle admits sometimes assigned automatically.
Deadlines if admitted. Select Plan to Enroll by April 30 if Drexel is your top choice, and Commit to Enroll by the last Monday of June. Applicants report a $100 deposit within 21 days, refundable if requested before April 30.

Sources: Drexel College of Medicine: MD Program Application Process - Drexel University College of Medicine · Reddit: HEATED : r/premed (2024) · CycleTrack: Drexel University MD Admissions Data (Philadelphia, PA) (2026) · Student Doctor Network: 2024-2025 Drexel (2025) · Student Doctor Network: 2024-2025 Drexel (2025) · Student Doctor Network: 2024-2025 Drexel (2025)

What makes Drexel different

AI in admissions, openly. Drexel says it uses AI to help human reviewers screen applications and does not use an AI detector, calling such tools unreliable.
Two campuses. Philadelphia and Reading-Tower Health, with the option of year-long third-year assignments at regional campuses.
A curriculum with Frontiers weeks. The Foundations and Frontiers curriculum adds population health, health informatics, quality and patient safety, and healthcare systems to core clinical training.
Six learning societies that compete for the Dean's Cup.
A long history. Its legacy schools include Hahnemann Medical College, Woman's Medical College and the Medical College of Pennsylvania.

Sources: Drexel College of Medicine: MD Program Application Process - Drexel University College of Medicine · Drexel College of Medicine: State of the Science: AI in Medical Education - Drexel University College of Medicine · Drexel College of Medicine: Medical School Curriculum - Drexel University College of Medicine

Your interviewer

Anthony Bellarosa, MD Fictional interviewer

Get a briefing on your own interviewer

Know who's interviewing you? Their LinkedIn profile is the best source.

Use a computer if you can. Open their LinkedIn profile in a web browser, click More (or ⋯) under their name, then Save to PDF.
On a phone: the LinkedIn app can't save a profile. Open linkedin.com in your phone's browser instead, switch to the desktop site, and use More → Save to PDF.
Upload the PDF here, or paste what you know about them (a bio, a profile page).

See the sample briefing

Family physician and long-time Drexel MMI rater (since 2019) who usually rates the ethics and teamwork stations and says he listens for reasoning, not right answers

Dr. Bellarosa is an Associate Professor of Family, Community and Preventive Medicine at Drexel (2018 to present, about 8 years) who sees patients part-time in a North Philadelphia practice focused on chronic disease like diabetes and blood pressure. He has rated MMI stations since 2019 (about 7 cycles), helped rewrite the teamwork station scenarios in 2024, and works with the students who lead the group interviews. Because the MMI is closed-file and he rates one station, you will likely meet him for only about eight minutes on a scripted scenario. His own words tell you what matters: he wants to hear how you think through a problem, not a polished verdict. Prepare to reason out loud, weigh the people involved, and show how you would work with others.

Their path

BA in Philosophy, Villanova University, 2002
About two years as a paramedic in Delaware County before medical school
MD, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, 2007
Family medicine resident, then chief resident, St. Agatha Family Medicine Residency, Wilmington, DE, 2007-2010
Family physician, Schuylkill River Family Health Partners, Pottstown, PA, 2010-2018; ran group diabetes visits for patients on dialysis waitlists and their families
Drexel College of Medicine faculty, 2018-present; outpatient attending and preceptor (supervising teacher) for third-year family medicine clerkship students
MMI rater and admissions committee member since 2019; helped revise teamwork stations in 2024
Co-leads a faculty working group on AI documentation tools in teaching clinics, 2025-present
Volunteer physician at a monthly Kensington blood pressure and foot-check clinic since 2012

What it means for your conversation

He says outright that in eight minutes he is listening for how you reason, not for the right answer. Spend your thinking time mapping the stakeholders, the facts you don't know, and the options, then explain your choice and its tradeoffs.
He most often rates ethics and teamwork stations, and helped write the current teamwork scenarios. Expect his station to be one of those; practice interpersonal cases where you must handle a difficult teammate or conflict fairly.
His background in philosophy may mean he notices clear, honest reasoning more than buzzwords like 'autonomy' and 'beneficence' dropped without explanation. This is an inference; just make your logic easy to follow.
His daily work is chronic disease care in an underserved area, and he teaches students to take a social history (questions about a patient's living situation, work, money, support). If a scenario touches cost, access or a patient's circumstances, considering those realistically will likely land well, but don't force it.
The station is closed-file and scripted. He will not know your application, and he is unlikely to have time for small talk. Don't plan to bring up his profile.

Questions they may lean toward

An ethical dilemma where there is no clean answer, e.g. a patient choice that conflicts with medical advice or a colleague's lapse He rates ethics stations and says he grades reasoning, so he will likely probe whether you consider multiple sides and gather information before deciding.
A teamwork scenario: a group member not pulling weight, a disagreement on a project, or credit-sharing He helped revise Drexel's teamwork station scenarios in 2024 and rates those stations most cycles.
A 'tell me about a time...' follow-up on how you handled conflict or a mistake Applicants report this prompt style at Drexel; raters often push on what you actually did and learned.
Follow-up questions that change the facts of the scenario ('What if the patient refuses?') A rater listening for reasoning may test whether you can adjust rather than repeat a memorized answer. This is a likely, not confirmed, approach.

Honest common ground

If you have worked with patients from low-income or underserved communities, or in chronic disease settings, that is a real topic in the scenario context, but only if it is genuinely yours.
If you came to medicine after other work (like EMS) or studied a humanities field, that may naturally come up in 'tell me about a time' answers; don't fish for it.
Realistically, there is little room for personal connection in an eight-minute scripted station. Treat the station as the priority.

Questions to ask them

Most MMI stations leave no time for questions. If the student group leader or faculty Q&A allows it, ask: 'How do students at Drexel actually practice the social side of a patient history in the first year?' Shows real interest in Drexel's clinical skills teaching; it fits the school generally, so it works with whoever answers.
'What does the longitudinal community practicum look like week to week?' A specific Drexel feature tied to community care; good for the student or faculty Q&A.

Avoid

Don't mention or quote his LinkedIn profile, his espresso, Phillies tickets or Italian novels; he is rating a closed-file station and it would feel odd.
Don't rush to a verdict in the first sentence. He has said he is not looking for the right answer.
Don't recite ethics principles as jargon without applying them to the specific people in the scenario.
Don't fake an interest in family medicine or primary care to please him.
Don't dismiss the difficult teammate or patient in a scenario as simply wrong; show curiosity about their side.

A sample, to show what the briefing looks like: Anthony Bellarosa, MD and their employers are invented.

Based on: The sample interviewer's profile (fictional) · Drexel College of Medicine: MD Program Application Process - Drexel University College of Medicine · Student Doctor Network: 2026-2027 Drexel University College of Medicine (2026) · Admit.org: Is Drexel interview open or closed file? (2025) · Student Doctor Network: Drexel University College of Medicine Interview Feedback & Student Reports · Reddit: Drexel University College of Medicine - why so much hate? (2025)

All sources · 24 plus 7 applicant threads

Applicant threads are linked under each question.