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US Medicine · 2027 Entry

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) Medical School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Lexington, KY, United StatesEstablished 1956Interviews (2027 entry) October 2026–February 2027Decisions (2027 entry) March 30, 2027 (AAMC standard)
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Full guide

How to get into University of Kentucky 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 University of Kentucky 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 University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD)

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine was founded in 1956. It is a public medical school inside UK HealthCare, the only academic medical center in Kentucky, and it sits in Lexington at the edge of Appalachian Kentucky. Its mission is to address the profound health gaps of Appalachian and rural Kentucky.

These communities suffer among the highest rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and opioid overdose in the nation. A high proportion of UK Med graduates stay in Kentucky to practise.

What makes University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) different

UK College of Medicine has a distinctive mission: improving health outcomes in Appalachian Kentucky, one of the most medically underserved regions in the US. It is closely affiliated with UK HealthCare, Kentucky's only academic medical center, and with the Markey Cancer Center, an NCI-designated cancer center.

Beyond the Lexington campus, UK COM runs full four-year regional campuses in Bowling Green and Northern Kentucky. It also runs the Morehead-based Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP) for students committed to rural Kentucky medicine.

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. Years 1–2 are campus-based with integrated basic and clinical science; early patient contact introduced in Year 1 through the longitudinal Patient, Physician, and Society course. Year 3–4 clinical rotations at UK HealthCare (University of Kentucky Hospital, Markey Cancer Center, Kentucky Children's Hospital, and VA Medical Center Lexington).

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) research strengths

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) is strong in these research areas:

  • Cancer disparities in Appalachia
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Opioid addiction and treatment
  • Rural health
  • Neuroscience

How the University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) interview runs

Format: Traditional one-on-one and panel interviews with faculty and students at the Lexington campus

UK College of Medicine interview days are held in Lexington and typically include two to three one-on-one or small panel interviews with faculty, clinicians, and current students, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. Interviewers have reviewed the full application beforehand and often focus on Appalachian and rural health awareness, personal motivation, and clinical exposure.

The day includes a financial aid session, a tour of UK HealthCare facilities, and informal student interactions. UK's focus on Appalachian health disparities means interviewers frequently probe commitment to serving medically underserved populations in eastern Kentucky.

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) intake

Approximately 207 students per year across four campuses (Lexington ~130, Bowling Green 30, Northern Kentucky 35, Morehead/RPLP ~12).

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) at a glance

Founded in 1956. Based in Lexington, KY.

Programmes offered:

  • Oncology
  • Appalachian and Rural Health
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Primary Care
Entry requirements

What you need to apply to University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Applications via AMCAS. Strong preference for Kentucky residents. Non-Kentucky applicants are considered but acceptance is uncommon. Standard pre-med science prerequisites expected. The Rural Physician Leadership Program requires additional application and commitment to rural Kentucky practice.
MCAT median
508 (range 507–518)
GPA median
3.83 overall / 3.69 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
3.8%
Class size
208
In-state preference
Strong — primarily in-state
In-state matriculants
88%
CASPer
Not required
AAMC PREview
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Kentucky residency; Appalachian and rural health commitment; clinical and community service experience.
Notes
Estimates from public AAMC FACTS / AACOMAS / ADEA AADSAS / class-profile; verify current cycle.
Specialities offered
Oncology, Appalachian and Rural Health, Cardiovascular Medicine, Internal Medicine, Primary Care

MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures are taken from University of Kentucky 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 University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) interviews applicants

Format
Traditional one-on-one and panel interviews with faculty and students at the Lexington campus
Interview window (2027 entry)
October 2026–February 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)
March 30, 2027 (AAMC standard)
Post-interview chances
Estimated post-interview acceptance rate approximately 25–35%; the pool is filtered for Kentucky residency and mission alignment before interview.
Tutor insight
UK College of Medicine is an exceptional place to train if you are committed to Appalachian or rural Kentucky health. The Markey Cancer Center and UK HealthCare give you genuine academic medicine breadth, and the school's Appalachian mission gives that training a clear purpose. In interviews, show specific knowledge of Kentucky's health gaps: cancer rates in eastern Kentucky counties, opioid crisis statistics, and the primary care shortage in rural Appalachia. If you are applying from outside Kentucky, you need a genuine connection or a compelling reason. Admissions here is heavily state-prioritised.
Practice

Practise for your University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD)

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

MediumPanelQ1

US Healthcare Ethics: ACA Marketplace and Essential Health Benefits

The Affordable Care Act requires all marketplace plans to cover ten categories of Essential Health Benefits, including maternity care, mental health, and preventive services. Before the ACA, many individual market plans excluded these categories, leaving patients exposed to catastrophic costs. A patient complains that their premiums are too high because they are 'paying for things they don't need.'

How do you explain the ethical logic behind essential health benefits pooling?

Likely follow-up · What is the risk pool, and how does the 'individual mandate' relate to keeping it stable?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
MediumPanelQ2

Holistic Review: Non-Traditional Applicant Career Pivot

You spent seven years working as a software engineer at a health technology company before deciding to pursue medicine. You are now 34 and completing your pre-medical requirements. An interviewer asks: 'Why did it take you this long to decide, and what makes you confident this is the right path now rather than just a midlife restlessness?'

Likely follow-up · What specific experiences during your technology career crystallised your desire to practise medicine rather than continue improving healthcare through technology?

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

Where University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD)'s figures come from

University of Kentucky 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.

University of Kentucky 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

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) — frequently asked questions

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD) matriculants have a median MCAT of 508. The middle range of matriculants is 507–518. 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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