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US Medicine · 2027 Entry

Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine

2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine is a US MD program in Los Angeles, CA that takes 2027-entry applications through AMCAS. Its published class profile lists a median MCAT of 508 (range 502–514), a median GPA of 3.57, a 4.0% acceptance rate and a class of 50. The school holds a traditional interview: October 2026–February 2027.

Location
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Established
1966
Interviews (2027 entry)
October 2026–February 2027
Decisions (2027 entry)
Rolling; final decisions by March 30, 2027
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Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) — The Watts Towers in Los Angeles

Photo: Levi Clancy · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Photo: BDS2006 ( talk ) · CC BY 3.0 · Photo: Los Angeles · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Matthew Field · CC BY 2.5

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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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The program

What the Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine MD program is like

Integrated, 4 years, clinical rotations in South Los Angeles, Long Beach, greater Los Angeles and Sacramento.

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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: Virtual interview sessions with CDU faculty

CDU conducts all MD interviews virtually, in interview sessions with CDU faculty; its admissions pages do not describe an MMI or scenario stations. Expect the conversation to center on the school's mission to train physicians for the medically underserved communities of South Los Angeles — 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.

Where Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) is

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine was founded in 1966 and is based in Los Angeles, CA.

Programmes offered:

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

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

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

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine Medicine — 2027 entry at a glance
MCAT / GPA (medians)508 · 3.57 (MCAT range 502–514)
Acceptance rate4.0%
Class size50
In-state preferenceNo stated in-state preference
Interview formatTraditional interview
IntakeApproximately 40–60 students per year
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine Medicine admissions profile — 2027 entry
Admission overviewBachelor'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 median508 (range 502–514)
GPA median3.57 overall / 3.52 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate4.0%
Class size50
In-state preferenceNone
CASPerNot required
AAMC PREviewNot required
Holistic review emphasisHealth equity commitment, under-represented minority identity, South LA community ties, safety-net clinical experience.
NotesEstimates 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. Interview format checked 2026-10-07 against https://www.cdrewu.edu/academics/program/cdumd/admissions-process/.
Specialities offeredHealth 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

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine Medicine interview — 2027 entry
FormatVirtual interview sessions with CDU faculty
Interview window (2027 entry)October 2026–February 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)Rolling; final decisions by March 30, 2027
Post-interview chancesApproximately 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

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

Two questions from our US bank that match Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD)’s panel format. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.

MediumMMI · PanelQ1

Reviving a Flagging Student Health Fair

You have been leading a campus student-run health fair for two years. Going into your third year, you notice that team members are dropping out, your own enthusiasm is diminished, and attendance has stagnated. You still believe in the mission. How do you diagnose what is happening, and what do you do to restore the program's energy and your own?

Likely follow-up · How does this experience prepare you for managing burnout in a clinical team as an attending physician?

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HardMMI · PanelQ2

Genetic Testing, Privacy and Insurability

A 28-year-old patient whose mother died of BRCA1-associated breast cancer asks you to order genetic testing. She wants to know her mutation status but is worried that a positive result will affect her ability to obtain life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance in the future. She is currently covered by employer-sponsored health insurance.

What do you counsel her about testing, and how do you address her insurance concerns accurately?

Likely follow-up · What does GINA (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act) protect, and what does it explicitly not protect?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Open Prometheus for Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD)Free medicine interview question bank for Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine (MD) applicants →
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Sources

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

Checked against Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine's own website on 15 August 2026: our record for the school was reconciled with what it publishes there. For most US schools that is class size and interview format only, so MCAT, GPA and acceptance-rate figures 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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