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US Medicine · 2027 Entry

UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) Medical School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Tucson, AZ, United StatesEstablished 1967Interviews (2027 entry) September 2026–February 2027Decisions (2027 entry) Rolling; final decisions by March 30, 2027

Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

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Overview

About UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD)

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson is the flagship UArizona medical school. It was founded in 1967 and sits on the main UArizona campus. It is one of the oldest and most established medical schools in the Southwest. It is known for its focus on border health, Native American health, desert medicine, and primary care.

Tucson’s closeness to the US-Mexico border and to large Indigenous reservation lands gives students distinctive clinical exposure and research opportunities in underserved and cross-border health.

What makes UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) different

UArizona Tucson is the only US medical school within driving distance of a major US-Mexico border crossing. That gives students unmatched clinical exposure to cross-border health, immigrant health, and bilingual clinical settings. The school also has a distinguished record in Native American health research, and runs the Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) network serving rural and underserved communities statewide.

UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. Years 1–2 blend basic science with early clinical skills and community medicine experiences. Year 3 core clerkships at Banner – University Medicine Tucson, Tucson VA, and affiliated community and border health sites. Year 4 includes electives, acting internships, and research projects. Options include joint MD-PhD and MD-MPH tracks.

UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) research strengths

UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) is strong in these research areas:

  • Border and immigration health
  • Native American health disparities
  • Cancer biology
  • Infectious disease
  • Primary care research

How the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) interview runs

Format: Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)

UArizona Tucson runs an MMI of roughly 8 stations, each 6 to 8 minutes. Stations assess ethical reasoning, communication, teamwork, and motivation for medicine, framed by border health, desert medicine, and underserved Arizona communities. Interview day also includes program information sessions, student Q&A, and a tour of the Tucson clinical campus and Banner – University Medicine Tucson.

UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) intake

Approximately 120 students per year.

UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) at a glance

Founded in 1967. Based in Tucson, AZ.

Programmes offered:

  • Border Health
  • Primary Care
  • Native American Health
  • Oncology
  • Family Medicine
Entry requirements

What you need to apply to UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. Applications submitted via AMCAS. Arizona residents given preference. Competitive applicants demonstrate clinical experience in community or underserved settings, research, and community engagement, particularly in rural or border health contexts. Secondary application required.
MCAT median
512 (range 507–517)
GPA median
3.79 overall / 3.74 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
3.0%
Class size
120
In-state preference
Strong — primarily in-state
In-state matriculants
75%
CASPer
Not required
AAMC PREview
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Border health, Native American health, rural medicine interest, clinical experience in underserved settings.
Notes
Estimates from public AAMC FACTS and school data; verify current cycle.
Specialities offered
Border Health, Primary Care, Native American Health, Oncology, Family Medicine

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

Working towards the MCAT score UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) expects? Build a week-by-week plan from your test date — free for the first two weeks.

Interview

How UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) interviews applicants

Format
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
Interview window (2027 entry)
September 2026–February 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)
Rolling; final decisions by March 30, 2027
Post-interview chances
Approximately 25–35% post-interview acceptance rate (estimated).
Tutor insight
UArizona Tucson interviewers value deep regional engagement — applicants who can speak specifically to border health, Indigenous health disparities, or rural Arizona medicine stand out. The MMI is community-health-themed, so prepare scenarios involving social determinants of health, cross-cultural communication, and resource-limited settings. Distinguish your interest in the Tucson flagship campus versus the Phoenix campus — mixed-up answers are a red flag. MD-MPH combined tracks are popular; if public health aligns with your interests, mention it.
Practice

Practise for your UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD)

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

HardMMIQ1

Patient Advocacy: Surrogate Decision-Making and Advance Directives

An 82-year-old patient with advanced dementia is admitted in respiratory failure. She has no living will or other written statement of her treatment wishes. Her adult son, who holds healthcare power of attorney, insists on full resuscitation and mechanical ventilation.

The attending physician believes aggressive intervention is not in line with the patient's best interests given her cognitive status and prognosis. How does the team navigate this conflict, and what is the ethical framework for surrogate decision-making?

Likely follow-up · What is the difference between 'substituted judgement' and 'best interests' standards in surrogate decision-making?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
HardPanel · MMIQ2

AAMC Core Competency: Resilience and Adaptability Under Failure

You were waitlisted at every medical school you applied to in your first cycle and received no acceptances. In your gap year you completed additional clinical hours, addressed a weakness in biochemistry, and reapplied. You are now being interviewed. An interviewer asks: 'Tell me about what happened in your first cycle and what you did about it.'

How do you respond?

Likely follow-up · How did you identify the specific weaknesses in your first application, and who helped you diagnose them?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Get support

Apply to UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) with confidence

We've helped students into UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) and other US medicine schools — get tailored support for each stage of the application.

Sources

Where UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD)'s figures come from

Compiled from University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson's published admissions material and checked for internal consistency. Not independently re-checked against the official course page for 2027 entry — confirm the figures with the school before you rely on them.

FAQ

UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) — frequently asked questions

UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) matriculants have a median MCAT of 512. The middle range of matriculants is 507–517. 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.

Apply to UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD) with confidence

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