Penn Nursing Interview for Career Changers: MPN Video and Virtual
The priority deadline for fall 2027 entry to Penn's Master of Professional Nursing is November 2, 2026. Here is how its two interview steps work and how offers are decided.
Penn's program for people who already hold a bachelor's degree is the Master of Professional Nursing (MPN). Its application includes a recorded video interview, with prompts shown once you start, and applicants are invited to a virtual interview with Penn Nursing representatives. The fall 2027 priority deadline is November 2, 2026, with decisions in late January.
Key facts (Fall 2027 entry)
- Next deadline
- Priority November 2, 2026 (decisions late January). Final February 1, 2027 (decisions late March).
- Office hours
- MPN and MPN/MSN application office hours on October 28, noon to 3 pm Eastern.
- Step 1: video interview
- Recorded as part of the application. The question prompts appear once you start the application.
- Step 2: virtual interview
- Applicants are invited to interview with Penn Nursing representatives.
- Written parts
- A personal statement (the question is shown once you start) and two letters of recommendation, ideally academic.
- GPA and fee
- A bachelor's with a 3.0 GPA or higher is preferred. The fee is $80.
- Program
- 4 consecutive semesters, full time and in person, from August to December of the next year.
What happens in the interviews
Penn lists two interview steps for the MPN. You record a video interview, and applicants are invited to a virtual interview.
The video interview
- Part of the application. It is listed with the other MPN application requirements.
- Prompts inside. The question prompts become available once you start the application.
- Completed before submission. All application requirements must be uploaded or completed before the application is submitted.
The virtual interview
- With Penn Nursing. Applicants are invited to interview with representatives from Penn Nursing.
- Holistic review. Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of the application.
Prepare for both formats. A recorded answer has no follow-up questions. A live one does. Practice short answers alone, then practice being questioned.
How offers are decided
Penn decides on the whole application, and demonstrated interest in the program is one of the things it considers. Decisions follow each deadline.
- Priority round. Apply by November 2, 2026 to hear in late January.
- Final round. Apply by February 1, 2027 to hear in late March.
- Dates can change. Penn notes that dates are subject to change without notice.
How you get an interview
Start with a complete application. Penn says every requirement must be uploaded or completed before you submit.
- Holistic review. Academic record, demonstrated interest in the program, research experience, work history, exposure to health care, letters and more.
- One application. Only one active application at a time. Choose either the MPN or the MPN/MSN option.
- Letters. Two. Penn recommends academic sources who can speak to your chances in a rigorous program.
- Who can apply. People with a bachelor's degree, or who will finish one before the program starts. Not people with an associate degree only, or who already finished an RN program.
- Your GPA. Courses taken before your degree was conferred count. Prerequisites taken after your degree do not count in the cumulative GPA.
Dates and other details
The fall 2027 cohort starts classes on August 19, 2027. Prerequisites are due well before then.
Prerequisites
- Courses. General chemistry with lab, microbiology with lab, anatomy and physiology with lab (8 credits), nutrition, statistics and lifespan human development.
- Deadline. All done by June 15 of your enrollment year, with a C or higher. They can be taken online.
- Watch the details. Organic chemistry does not count as general chemistry, and comparative anatomy does not count. Courses within the last five years are highly recommended.
The program
- Full time only. No part-time or online option. Classes run morning, afternoon and evening.
- Early clinicals. Rotations are 8 or 12 hours and start at 6:30 to 7:00 am, with some weekend shifts in some semesters.
- Then the NCLEX. Graduates can sit the NCLEX-RN. The MPN/MSN option adds a specialty such as nurse practitioner or nurse midwife.
- No GRE. The GRE is no longer required for any Penn Nursing program.
How to prepare
Penn's MPN centers on health equity, team-based care and health systems change. Have real examples ready for each.
- Why the MPN. Know why you want a master's entry route rather than another path into nursing.
- Equity in practice. Think of a time you saw someone get worse care or service, and what you did or would do.
- Practice both formats. Record yourself answering cold prompts, then do a mock live interview with follow-up questions.
- Show interest. Penn counts demonstrated interest. The October 28 office hours are one way to learn more and ask questions.
Use the priority round. Applying by November 2 gets you a decision in late January instead of late March.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a Video interview, then virtual interview station, written for applicants to University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
Why become a nurse through a direct-entry master's program rather than a BSN?
Show you understand what the master's route offers and how it builds on the degree you already have.
A patient with a history of substance use disorder reports severe pain, but the care team dismisses it as drug-seeking and won't reassess. As a nursing student on the team, how do you advocate for the patient without overstepping your role?
Bring an objective pain assessment to your nurse and keep the focus on the patient, not on blame.
How do nurses and physicians work together on a patient's care, and where do their roles differ?
Give a concrete example of the nurse noticing something and the team acting on it.
While shadowing a nurse, you watch them scan a medication and the computer shows a severe interaction warning. The nurse overrides it, saying the system always overreacts, and gets ready to give the drug. As a student, what do you do?
Speak up politely before the drug is given, and ask the nurse to double-check.
Nursing often means rotating 12-hour shifts, including holidays, weekends and family milestones. How do you plan to manage expectations with your loved ones while protecting your own well-being?
Show a real plan you have already talked through with the people it affects.
What will your classmates in a nursing cohort learn from you?
Pick one strength from your past work or life and show how it would help a team of students.
Frequently asked questions
Does Penn have an accelerated BSN?
Penn's How to Apply page lists no accelerated BSN. People who already hold a bachelor's degree apply to the Master of Professional Nursing (MPN), a four-semester, full-time, in-person program.
Does Penn Nursing interview MPN applicants?
Yes. The application includes a video interview, and applicants are invited to a virtual interview with Penn Nursing representatives.
When is the Penn MPN deadline for fall 2027?
The priority deadline is November 2, 2026, with decisions in late January. The final deadline is February 1, 2027, with decisions in late March.
What GPA does Penn want for the MPN?
Penn prefers a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Prerequisites need a C or higher.
Can I do Penn's MPN part time or online?
No. The MPN cannot be completed part time and has no online option. Classes run across the day, and clinicals start at 6:30 to 7:00 am, sometimes on weekends.
Sources
Official pages only, read on the date shown. Schools change their process every year, so check the school's own page before you apply.
- Penn Nursing: Master of Professional Nursing · read October 26, 2026
- Penn Nursing: How To Apply · read October 26, 2026
- Penn Nursing: Admissions · read October 26, 2026