How to Apply
We seek applicants who have excelled and have consistently demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment in their endeavors.Our program is composed of people who take on challenges. For some applicants, challenge comes from their own life, and consists of supporting themselves, their family, or their community. Other applicants have found new endeavors to challenge themselves. In your personal statement, please let us know about these experiences that have shaped you.
The University of Pennsylvania is committed to the principles of inclusion and diversity. We provide a welcoming and affirming environment for our LGBTQI patients and trainees. Our program and our department will be most effective when our own diversity reflects that of the patients we serve. We invite applications from people who have traditionally been under-represented in medicine, and especially from Black applicants, for whom this under-representation is pronounced.
We value diverse experiences and interests, including basic, clinical, or translational research, global health/healthcare disparities, medical education, patient safety and quality improvement. Every application is evaluated as a whole, including grades, activities, and letters of recommendation.
Application Requirements
Standard ERAS application requirements:- Personal statement and CV
- Medical school performance evaluation (Dean's letter) & Medical School Transcript
- Photograph
- USMLE Step I score (a passing score on the first attempt required)
- Three letters of recommendation (a fourth letter from Internal Medicine or Department Chair will also be considered)
Foreign medical graduates:
- Valid ECFMG certificate
- Must successfully pass the ECFMG Clinical Skills Assessment test (CSA)
- Recent U.S. clinical experience (at least 3 months experience within the past 2 years)
- We will support either J1 or H1B visas
Submitting your application
Applications are accepted via the AAMC ERAS system.
Program ACGME ID is 1804121102
We have 14 adult neurology residency positions. All 14 positions include the offer of a guaranteed preliminary medicine internship within the University of Pennsylvania Health system. We offer 10 "categorical" positions, and 4 "advanced" positions:
- Four-year Categorical program:
- Internship in the Department of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP).
- Following your internship you would complete three years of neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
- There is no separate interview process or application for the preliminary internship at HUP.
- Three-year Advanced program:
- You have the option of selecting a guaranteed preliminary medicine year in the Department of Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH)
- There is no separate application or interview process for the PAH position.
- You may also choose to complete your prelim year outside of the University of Pennsylvania Health system. The HUP internship is not available for those who match to an Advanced position. We do not accept transitional internships.
- Following your internship you would complete three years of neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Internship in the Department of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP).
- Following your internship you would complete three years of neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
- There is no separate interview process or application for the preliminary internship at HUP.
- You have the option of selecting a guaranteed preliminary medicine year in the Department of Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH)
- There is no separate application or interview process for the PAH position.
- You may also choose to complete your prelim year outside of the University of Pennsylvania Health system. The HUP internship is not available for those who match to an Advanced position. We do not accept transitional internships.
- Following your internship you would complete three years of neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
Interview selection
All applications are reviewed by the Program Director. Interviews are offered starting in November. Interviews will be scheduled during November, December, and January. See the Planning Your Interview Visit page for more information.
Ranking Penn
We encourage all applicants to apply for both programs. How to rank:
- To rank our CATEGORICAL program (10 positions):
- Rank 1628180C0
- To rank our ADVANCED program (4 positions):
- Rank 1628180A0 for the advanced neurology program.
- You will then need to create a supplemental rank list of preliminary programs. Instructions here:
- Once you have ranked the advanced program, it is then possible to search for the PAH program. Rank 1639140P1 for the linked PAH intern year.
- Note that there is a different code (ending in P0) that is not available for the advanced program. Please do not try to use this code.
- If you prefer a different program for your PGY1 year, then rank your preliminary year program of choice first in your supplemental list along with our advanced neurology program (1628180A0).
- There is no risk of not matching into the PAH preliminary program even if you do not rank it first. These four positions are reserved for Penn neurology until an applicant matches into our advanced program and an intern year, either at PAH or a different preliminary program that the applicant has ranked higher. Only after all four advanced positions are filled are any unfilled PAH preliminary intern positions made available to be filled by a non-neurology preliminary applicant. Therefore, we recommend ranking the PAH program (1639140P1) somewhere in your list as it guarantees you a preliminary medicine internship, just like a categorical program.
- Rank 1628180C0
- Rank 1628180A0 for the advanced neurology program.
- You will then need to create a supplemental rank list of preliminary programs. Instructions here:
- Once you have ranked the advanced program, it is then possible to search for the PAH program. Rank 1639140P1 for the linked PAH intern year.
- Note that there is a different code (ending in P0) that is not available for the advanced program. Please do not try to use this code.
- If you prefer a different program for your PGY1 year, then rank your preliminary year program of choice first in your supplemental list along with our advanced neurology program (1628180A0).
- There is no risk of not matching into the PAH preliminary program even if you do not rank it first. These four positions are reserved for Penn neurology until an applicant matches into our advanced program and an intern year, either at PAH or a different preliminary program that the applicant has ranked higher. Only after all four advanced positions are filled are any unfilled PAH preliminary intern positions made available to be filled by a non-neurology preliminary applicant. Therefore, we recommend ranking the PAH program (1639140P1) somewhere in your list as it guarantees you a preliminary medicine internship, just like a categorical program.
