Temple University's Pre-Med Health Scholar Program allows students the chance to excel in the competitive, changing field of health care. The program is designed for high-achieving students who have distinguished themselves with impressive high school academic records and a demonstrated interest in the field of medicine.
First, apply to Temple University via the Common Application. The undergraduate application to Temple University and the Application for the Health Scholars Program are two separate applications. Applicants for Health Scholars must also be candidates for Early Action. Complete the Common Application by November 1.
The Pre-Med Health Scholars application is currently closed but will reopen after October 15th for students entering Temple undergraduate programs in Fall 2025. The application will include questions about your experiences in medicine, community service, and your commitment to the medical field.
The Pre-Med Health Scholar program allows for provisional acceptance to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University on a standard (4+4) track. Accepted scholars have the option to request consideration for an accelerated (3+4) track during their first semester at Temple University. To be considered for admission to LKSOM, Health Scholars must meet the following minimum requirements by January of their Junior year of college:
We have no preference for in or out-of-state applicants. Past scholars have come to us from all over the United States.
Health Scholars must be US citizens or a permanent resident in order to apply. We are happy, however, to work with international students in regards to our standard pre-med track.
The Pre-Med Health Scholar Program is a very small population of students compared to our traditional pre-med track. Students who are not accepted as health scholars are still welcome to come to Temple University and work closely with us by following a pre-med track. These students will not be eligible to apply as accelerated or early-assurance candidates as these are specific to the Pre-Med Health Scholar Program. Otherwise, we work with thousands of pre-med students who are still successfully entering medical school.
Letters of recommendation are not required with the initial application to the program. Candidates selected to interview for the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program will be asked to provide a letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation should be from a person of choice, who would best support your application to the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program.
Transcripts, resumes, certificates, publications, etc are not required for the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program. Letters of recommendation are not required with the initial application to the program. Candidates selected to interview for the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program will be asked to provide a letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation should be from a person of choice, who would best support your application to the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program.
No. Letters of recommendation are not required with the initial application to the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program. Candidates selected to interview for the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program will be asked to provide a letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation should be from a person of choice, who would best support your application to the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program.
We require that students have demonstrated experience shadowing or volunteering in a health-related setting. This is an important way to show that each student understands that medicine is the right field for them. We do not require a specific number of hours, but instead look at the quality of the experiences that each student brings.
It is each student's responsibility to track what documents are still needed for their completed health scholar application. Applicants will be able to track their application status by logging into their Online Health Scholars Application. Should PPHA need to contact the applicant, all correspondence will be through the student's e-mail address provided on the health scholar application
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply to Temple University by the Early Action deadline (November 1) in order to be considered for the Health Scholars Program. We encourage students to submit their undergraduate application first so that there is time for admissions to process their application. Students must be accepted to the university and to the Temple Honors Program before being invited to interview for the Health Scholar program. (If students apply to the undergraduate admissions process on or around the Health Scholar deadline, they run the risk of our office being unable to fully review and consider them for an interview and acceptance to the Health Scholar program.) For this reason, it is in an applicants' best interest to apply to Temple University as soon as they are able. There is, however, no reason to delay submitting a Health Scholar application if you have not yet heard back regarding your undergraduate application.
Because Temple University Undergraduate Admissions is "test-optional", SAT/ACT scores are not required for the Pre-Med Health Scholar Program application.
We encourage students to submit their undergraduate application first so that there is time for admissions to process their application. Students must be accepted to the university and to the Temple Honors Program before being invited to interview for the Health Scholar program. (If students apply to the undergraduate admissions process on or around the Health Scholar deadline, they run the risk of our office being unable to fully review and consider them for an interview and acceptance to the Health Scholar program.) For this reason, it is in an applicants' best interest to apply to Temple University as soon as they are able. There is, however, no reason to delay submitting a Health Scholar application if you have not yet heard back regarding your undergraduate application.
No. All accepted Pre-Med Health Scholars are, by default, put on a 4+4 academic plan with the option to show their interest in an accelerated track during their first semester. We give scholars their first semester so that they can consider whether accelerating to medical school is the best option for them. Some of college's best experiences are most easily accomplished in four years over three (studying abroad, additional research, earning a minor). Health scholars must show interest in the 3+4 option by the end of their first semester. If they should change their mind, students are always welcome to switch back to a 4+4 track.
The Pre-Med Health Scholar Program provides provisional, not guaranteed, acceptance to LKSOM. Accepted health scholars must still maintain their academic profile, achieve the required score on the MCAT exam, and submit a special application to the medical school and complete an interview with the medical school during their Junior year of college.
Our health scholar students are specially presented to Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in a cohort all of their own. Pre-med health scholars are also under specific linkage guidelines that, if met, provide provisional acceptance to LKSOM. This small group of students will also take part in a special first year seminar to provide additional details and support towards their future application.
We only have one interview day for all of our health scholar students. This day is specially planned with personnel from both our main and health science campuses. This day can therefore not be made up by individual students at a different time. If you are unable to attend the interview, you will no longer be considered for the Pre-Med Health Scholar Program.
We will not accept late applications for the Pre-Med Health Scholars Program. This program, however, is a very small proportion of our overall pre-med population and we would be happy to work with you as a traditional pre-med student.
All incoming students are automatically considered for the honors program when they submit their undergraduate application. Students must be accepted to honors in order to be considered for the Pre-Med Health Scholar Program. More information about honors can be found on their website: http://honors.temple.edu/
There is no specific seat number. We are more concerned with the strength of each student's application to the program as well as their performance on interview day.
Pre-med is not a major at Temple University but a track that you will be following. Our pre-med students have a wide range of academic majors from across multiple disciplines. There is no place on the undergraduate application to list your interest in the Pre-Med Health Scholar Program—you are showing us this interest by submitting the separate health scholar application. If a student is interested in the accelerated 3+4 option, a major in the College of Science and Technology (CST) will be required. Common choices for this are either Biology or Chemistry. We have had several students in past years, however, who have completed the 4+4 option with majors outside of CST like Psychology or Sociology. Choose a major that best fits your interests and strengths.
Accepted Health Scholars who follow a 4+4 track may select a major of their choice and complete the Pre Med requirements along with requirements for that major. Health Scholars who decide to follow a 3+4 route will need to select either Biology or Chemistry as a major.
While there is no scholarship specifically tied to the health scholar program, all of our recent students due to their strong academic and standardized test scores have qualified for a variety of aid. The admissions office can provide more information on the types of aid available to incoming students: http://admissions.temple.edu/
All information about the health scholar program can be found on this webpage. Our interview day will also provide special information sessions with the honors department, Temple's main campus, and the medical school. We also encourage students to take in part in Temple's Fall Open Houses and Experience Temple Days. More information about these opportunities can be found on the admissions webpage: http://admissions.temple.edu/
If you have any additional questions not found here, feel free to reach out to us directly.