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US Medicine · 2027 Entry

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) Medical School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Los Angeles, CA, United StatesEstablished 1966Interviews (2027 entry) October 2026–February 2027Decisions (2027 entry) Rolling; final decisions by March 30, 2027
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Full guide

How to get into Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) medicine

Step-by-step: entry requirements, MCAT prep, personal statement, interview format and the key deadlines.

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Interview guide

Prepare for the Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) interview

Format breakdown, school-specific sample questions, FAQs and prep tips from tutors who interviewed here.

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Overview

About Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD)

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is a private Minority-Serving Institution in Los Angeles. It is California's only federally designated Historically Black Graduate Institution (HBGI), which is not the same as a U.S. Department of Education-listed HBCU. The school is dedicated to training health professionals for underserved communities.

The College of Medicine offers an MD program with a singular focus on health equity and structural racism in medicine. Clinical service is in South LA's Watts and Willowbrook neighborhoods. Those are some of the most medically underserved communities in the US. CDU has historically trained a high proportion of under-represented minority physicians relative to its class size.

What makes Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) different

CDU's medical education program is one of only four historically Black medical colleges in the United States (alongside Howard, Meharry, and Morehouse). It has the highest percentage of Black and Latino graduates of any medical school in California.

The school is embedded in the Watts/Willowbrook community and operates in close partnership with MLK Community Hospital and LAC+USC Medical Center, providing students with deep safety-net clinical training.

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD with an explicit social justice and health equity curriculum integrated throughout. Years 1–2 blend biomedical science with community health, structural racism, and social determinants content. Year 3–4 clinical rotations at MLK Community Hospital, LAC+USC Medical Center, and South LA community health centers.

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) research strengths

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) is strong in these research areas:

  • Health equity
  • Racial disparities in health outcomes
  • Maternal and infant mortality
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Community health

How the Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) interview runs

Format: Traditional interview and/or MMI components (varies by cycle)

CDU uses a combination of traditional interview and structured MMI-style components. Applicants typically meet with faculty in conversational sessions and may also encounter structured scenario stations.

The interview strongly emphasizes the school's mission to train physicians for the medically underserved communities of South Los Angeles — questions probe commitment to health equity, understanding of structural racism in medicine, and experience with under-represented populations. The interview day includes an overview of CDU's Watts-Willowbrook community mission.

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) intake

Approximately 40–60 students per year.

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) at a glance

Founded in 1966. Based in Los Angeles, CA.

Programmes offered:

  • Health Equity
  • Primary Care
  • Community Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Maternal and Child Health
Entry requirements

What you need to apply to Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Applications submitted via AMCAS. CDU strongly values under-represented minority applicants, first-generation medical students, and applicants with deep community ties to South LA or similar underserved communities. Clinical experience in safety-net or community settings is strongly valued. Secondary application required.
MCAT median
508 (range 502–514)
GPA median
3.57 overall / 3.52 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
4.0%
Class size
50
In-state preference
None
CASPer
Not required
AAMC PREview
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Health equity commitment, under-represented minority identity, South LA community ties, safety-net clinical experience.
Notes
Estimates from public AAMC FACTS and school data; verify current cycle. CDU's mission-based selection means academic metrics are secondary to demonstrated commitment to health equity.
Specialities offered
Health Equity, Primary Care, Community Medicine, Internal Medicine, Maternal and Child Health

MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures are taken from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine's published admissions data. Class profiles are republished each year — confirm which entering class these numbers describe before you rely on them.

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Interview

How Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) interviews applicants

Format
Traditional interview and/or MMI components (varies by cycle)
Interview window (2027 entry)
October 2026–February 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)
Rolling; final decisions by March 30, 2027
Post-interview chances
Approximately 30–50% post-interview acceptance rate (estimated; heavily mission-weighted).
Tutor insight
CDU interviewers look for applicants who are genuinely committed to health equity and structural change in medicine — not those for whom CDU is a backup or a diversity credential. Demonstrate deep familiarity with the Watts and South LA health landscape, the history of the 1965 Watts Uprising and its legacy for community health, and current health disparities in LA County. Under-represented minority applicants, first-generation students, and applicants from South LA or similar communities will be most competitive. Be prepared to discuss race, structural racism, and medical inequity directly and thoughtfully.
Practice

Practise for your Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD)

Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

MediumPanel · MMIQ1

Work Experience: A Longitudinal Caregiving Relationship

Some of the most formative experiences are not in a hospital at all — caring for an ill family member, working as a home health aide, hospice volunteering, or supporting someone over a long period. Tell me about a sustained caregiving relationship in your life and what it taught you that will make you a better physician.

Likely follow-up · What did long-term caregiving teach you that a short clinical rotation could not?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
MediumMMIQ2

AAMC Core Competency: Resilience and Adaptability

The AAMC identifies Resilience and Adaptability as a core competency for entering medical students. Describe a time when a plan you worked hard on fell apart unexpectedly. How did you respond in the moment, and what did that experience teach you about managing setbacks in a high-stakes environment like medicine?

Likely follow-up · How do you distinguish healthy perseverance from persisting in a direction that is no longer productive?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Open Prometheus for Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD)Browse 1,106 free questions →
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Sources

Where Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD)'s figures come from

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine's official course page was opened and reconciled with this record on 15 August 2026. Figures the school does not publish on that page remain unconfirmed.

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) — official course page →Entry requirements, interview format and deadlines published by the school itself. The primary source for everything on this page.
FAQ

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) — frequently asked questions

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) matriculants have a median MCAT of 508. The middle range of matriculants is 502–514. US schools publish medians rather than cut-offs, and committees review holistically — the MCAT is weighed alongside GPA, clinical and research experience, letters of recommendation and secondary essays.

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We've helped students turn their MCAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) and other US medicine schools.

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