Medical Schools in Delaware: How to Get In (2024)
/Uncover your chances of acceptance into medical schools in Delaware, featuring average GPA and MCAT statistics, profiles of each institution, and strategic tips for a successful application.
Learn everything you need to know about getting into medical schools in delaware
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: List of medical schools in Delaware: 2024 rankings & admissions statistics
Part 3: Delaware medical school profiles
Part 4: Delaware medical school admissions strategies
Appendix A: Delaware medical schools by degree type
Appendix B: Delaware medical schools by institution type
Appendix C: Delaware medical schools by region
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Part 1: Introduction
Delaware holds a unique place in American history as the “First State,” ratifying the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. Its rich historical tapestry began with Swedish settlers in 1638, who established Fort Christina, the precursor to the state capital of Wilmington.
Delaware is also known for its cultural landmarks and natural beauty such as Old Swedes Church(one of the oldest churches still in operation in the United States), Cape Henlopen State Park, and the always vibrant Rehoboth Beach.
Despite its long and varied history, when it comes to medical schools in Delaware, the training of its physicians happens largely outside its borders. However, this doesn’t mean there are no options for students dreaming of medically serving the people of this great state.
For aspiring physicians looking to matriculate into a medical school in Delaware, they’ll have two options—the Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research (DIMER) facilitates candidates from Delaware through the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University for MD and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine for the DO.
In this guide, we’ll explore what it takes to gain entry into these programs and ultimately support the communities of Delaware. Whether you are considering a traditional MD path or the DO route, we’ll discuss admissions statistics, cost of attendance, and strategies for entry to ensure a Delaware white coat is in your future.
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Part 2: List of medical schools in Delaware: 2024 rankings & admissions statistics
There are two programs acting as medical schools in Delaware—the renowned Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM).
If you’re a Delaware resident, you can apply to either of these programs, which serve as the medical schools for the state of Delaware. The Delaware Institute of Medical Education and Research (DIMER) was created in 1969 to foster the relationships with these institutions.
Since DIMER is not a medical school itself and you’ll have to apply to either Sidney Kimmel or PCOM directly as a DIMER applicant, we’ve collected and listed some stats for Sidney Kimmel and PCOM in the table below to give you an idea of what you’re up against as a Delaware resident.
While researching the statistics in the table below, we noticed a few interesting things regarding medical schools in Delaware.
Both options for medical schools in Delaware are private institutions based in Philadelphia.
While the two schools have roughly the same class size each year, PCOM reserves only 10 seats for Delaware residents while Sidney Kimmel maintains 20.
While applicants from Delaware have the option of pursuing either an MD or DO via this route, the average GPA and MCAT scores of acceptees at the two schools differ greatly, with Sidney Kimmel averaging a substantially higher MCAT score than PCOM.
(Note: We strongly advise you to sign up for MSAR for the most up-to-date and comprehensive data on individual MD programs and to sign up for Choose DO for DO program data.)
| Delaware Medical Schools | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University | Tier 3 (Primary Care) |
$67,588 OOS |
20 (DIMER) |
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| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) | UR (Primary Care) (2024) |
$65,048 OOS |
10 (DIMER) |
*Public medical schools in Delaware | UR: Unranked | IS: In-state | OOS: Out-of-state | N/A: Not available
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Part 3: Delaware medical school profiles
Since Delaware doesn’t have a dedicated medical school of its own, the DIMER has fostered relationships with two medical schools in Philadelphia to offer a path to medicine for Delaware residents.
Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
Sidney Kimmel Medical College is a highly regarded MD program with a high bar to entry, noting that each year they receive around 10,000 applications and only grant about 600 interviews—a rate of about 6%. Sidney Kimmel also happens to be one of the oldest institutions for medicine in the United States.
Its unique curriculum is divided into three main phases—foundational, core clinical, and Phase 3, in which students will explore and define their specialty while completing rotations. It’s particularly well known for the “Threads” approach to teaching medicine, which weaves both classroom and hands-on clinical experiences throughout the learning process. These Threads modules include topics such as Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Health Systems Science, and Professionalism & Ethics, ensuring Sidney Kimmel students graduate with a well-rounded and comprehensive medical education.
Sidney Kimmel also offers a number of other MD-granting programs that may be of interest to Delaware residents.
Physician Shortage Area Program (PSAP) If assisting underserved populations in rural areas around Delaware is a dream of yours, the PSAP program at Sidney Kimmel accepts students from the University of Delaware and trains them for the purpose of assisting rural communities.
MD/MPH This program is not specifically for Delaware residents, but it may be of some interest if you’re keen to pursue a career that includes making public health policy.
MD/PhD For those of you who wish to make research a part of your career as a physician-scientist, Sidney Kimmel’s MD/PhD program will have you investigating a research project through the Jefferson College of Life Sciences (JCLS) while you complete your MD at Sidney Kimmel.
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
The other option for Delaware residents seeking a career in medicine is the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), where they can earn a DO degree.
With a history stretching back more than 100 years, PCOM is known for fostering a diverse student body and actively recruits non-traditional and underrepresented students in medicine. It currently operates three locations—the main campus in Philadelphia and two in Georgia.
PCOM's curriculum begins with students engaging in foundational studies for the first two years with lots of hands-on training through the use of patient simulators and patient actors. As a DO student you will receive training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), and in years three and four you'll participate in clinical rounds and clerkships under the direction of experienced physicians as you gradually take on more responsibility.
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Part 4: Delaware medical school admissions strategies
Strategy 1: Harmonize your application with the values of Delaware medical schools
When applying to medical schools in Delaware, it is crucial to align your application with the values and missions of the institutions you are targeting. Delaware has its own unique medical education landscape with two schools outside the state providing the education. Therefore, you'll need to focus on the values of those schools along with the DIMER program.
For example, Sidney Kimmel’s mission statement focuses on educating physicians who are leaders in research and who will take that knowledge out into the community, while PCOM emphasizes a commitment to community health, particularly in “diverse communities.”
Your application should reflect a desire to serve these communities through your personal statements and secondary essays. Consider questions such as, “What connections do you have to Delaware?” and, “What experiences have shaped your desire to become a physician and serve the people of Delaware?”
This could include volunteer work, internships, or shadowing opportunities that demonstrate your commitment to community service. If you're interested in conducting research, make sure you mention that by connecting it to prior experiences. Think through your extracurricular experiences to recall times you worked with local organizations and engaged in other activities that may strengthen your application.
By aligning your application with the missions of medical schools in Delaware and demonstrating a clear commitment to community health, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for admission.
Strategy 2: Manage your time efficiently for secondary essays.
Your secondary essays are one of the most important parts of your entire med school application. They're specific to each school and should speak directly to your desire to attend that school.
However, crafting clear and coherent essays that grab adcoms' attention takes time. And with the majority of med schools requiring multiple secondary essays, you'll need a strategy to manage your time efficiently so that you can submit your best work.
For medical schools in Delaware, only Sidney Kimmel has a secondary application. PCOM states there are no supplemental application requirements for 2025 admission. This might seem like good news, but to maximize your chances of entry into medical school, you'll need to apply to at least 20 schools, so the number of essays you need to write can add up fast.
Consider your own working style and how you'd like to approach this task. You may want to work on longer essays first or knock out shorter ones. Some schools have five required essays, others have 10, and all of them could be of varying lengths.
To get you started with your planning, we've listed the number of secondary essays for Sidney Kimmel in the table below.
| Delaware Medical Schools | |
|---|---|
| Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University (DIMER program) |
Looking for medical school secondary essay examples? We have a sample essay in response to every prompt required by every medical school in the US and Canada. You can subscribe below.
Gain instant access to med school secondary essay examples for every single prompt required by every medical school in the United States and Canada. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing in the future for new subscribers.
Strategy 3: Arm yourself for success in interviews at medical schools in Delaware
The last stage of your journey to a medical school in Delaware is the most consequential. When it comes time for your interview, it’s essential to be fully prepared.
Many applicants who receive interview invitations don't take it seriously enough, thinking they will just answer a few questions naturally and wait for an acceptance letter. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. Med school interviews are as much about presentation as they are the content of your answers, and if you don't really know what kinds of questions you will be asked, you put yourself at a great disadvantage.
Therefore, make sure you fully understand the interview format for each school. When it comes to medical schools in Delaware, Sidney Kimmel conducts interviews in person and uses a traditional format in which you'll meet with a faculty member. PCOM also follows the traditional format, offering both in person and virtual options.
This is in contrast to the multiple mini-interview (MMI) style, which you may encounter if you're applying to schools outside Delaware. The important thing is to think through answers to common questions such as, “Why do you want to be a doctor?” or, “Why Sidney Kimmel?” Make sure your answers focus on specificity, as merely answering a generic version of the idea that you want to help people or that Sidney Kimmel is known for research won't leave the impression that you're truly committed with adcoms.
Suggested reading: (How to Ace Medical School Interviews (Questions Included))
Invited to a med school interview? Congrats! There's no need to land in waitlist purgatory or the rejection pile. Learn how to craft memorable, acceptance-worthy responses using the resource below.
Gain instant access to the most common traditional and MMI interview questions, plus sample responses for each, to help you craft responses that lead to acceptances. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing in the future for new subscribers.
Final thoughts
Gaining admission to medical schools through Delaware's educational framework requires careful planning and dedication. By tailoring your application to showcase your qualifications and align with the values of the DIMER program through Sidney Kimmel and PCOM, you can enhance your chances of acceptance and position yourself to meet the healthcare needs of Delaware's diverse communities.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
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Appendix A: Delaware medical schools by degree type
Allopathic medical schools in Delaware (MD)
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia, PA)
Osteopathic medical schools in Delaware (DO)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)
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Appendix B: Delaware medical schools by institution type
Public medical schools in Delaware
There are no public medical schools in Delaware.
Private medical schools in Delaware
Sidney Kimmel Medical College (Philadelphia, PA)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)
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Appendix C: Delaware medical schools by region
Medical schools in Philadelphia, PA that serve Delaware
Sidney Kimmel Medical College (Philadelphia, PA)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)
