Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
MD Program

MS-2 Critical Dates

Core 1 Exams - Fall 2026

(Subject to Change)

Please note that all exams are scheduled to take place 8am-1pm unless otherwise noted.

Exam Date
Cardiology Midterm 9/9/2026
Cardiology Exam 9/24/2026
Day Off 9/25/2026
Dermatology Exam 10/2/2026 (1pm)
Renal Midterm Take-home: 10/16/2026 @ 12pm - 10/19/2026 @ 8am
Renal Exam 10/29/2026
Day Off 10/30/2026
Health System Science Final Exam 11/17/2026
Pulmonary Exam 11/25/2026
Doctoring 1 Capstones 12/1/2026
Infectious Disease Exam 12/11/2026
ICM - Differential Diagnosis Final Exam 12/11/2026 
Core 1 OSCE 11/23, 11/30, 12/1, 12/2 (Afternoon and onward)

Other Significant Dates

Event Date
First Day of Class 8/24/2026
Palliative Medicine Experience You will receive an email from the CARE-7 team the first week of August with directions on how to sign up for this experience.
Labor Day 9/7/2026
Intro to Core 2 Class Meetings - Scheduling, Logistics & Student Panel TBD
Rosh Hashanah (begins at sundown) 9/11/2026 - 9/13/2026
Yom Kippur (begins at sundown) 9/20/2026 - 9/21/2026
Thanksgiving Break 11/26/2026 - 11/27/2026
Pre-Clerkship Week (Mandatory Attendance) 12/14/2026 - 12/17/2026
Student Clinician Ceremony** 12/17/2026
Holiday Break 12/18/2026 - 1/3/2027
First Day of Core 2 1/4/2027

**The required Student Clinician Ceremony will take place in the afternoon on 12/17/2026 and will end at approximately 6pm. Travel plans should be made accordingly.