Skip to main content
NextGen MedPrep logoNextGenMedPrep
US Medicine · 2027 Entry

UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) Medical School2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format

Location Sacramento, CA, United StatesEstablished 1966Interviews October–FebruaryDecisions March 30 (AAMC standard)
Book a mock interview

Photo: Coolcaesar (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Start here
Full guide

How to get into UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) medicine

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

Open the guide →
Interview guide

Prepare for the UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) interview

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

Read the guide →
Overview

About UC Davis School of Medicine (MD)

UC Davis School of Medicine, founded in 1966, is a public research medical school located at the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento, California. The school has a strong mission centered on primary care, rural medicine, and serving the diverse agricultural communities of the Central Valley and Northern California. UC Davis offers distinctive pipeline programs for underrepresented students and is consistently ranked highly for primary care training.

What makes it different

UC Davis operates the PRIME-LC (Latino community) and PRIME-Rural programs, providing dedicated training tracks for physicians committed to underserved and rural communities. The school's Sacramento location places students at a major Level I trauma center serving a large and diverse Central Valley population. A joint MD/MPH degree is available.

Course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. Years 1–2: integrated basic science and early clinical exposure via the TEACH curriculum. Year 3–4: clinical rotations at UC Davis Medical Center and affiliated rural and community sites. A longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC) track offers immersive primary care experience in underserved California communities.

Research strengths

UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) has notable research strength in Cancer biology, Rural health, Neurodegenerative disease, Agricultural medicine, Health disparities.

Interview

UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) interviews via MMI (8–10 stations, conducted in person at the Sacramento campus). UC Davis conducts an 8–10 station MMI at its Sacramento medical campus, with each station running approximately 6–8 minutes. Stations probe ethical reasoning, communication, teamwork, and motivation for primary care and rural medicine — themes central to the UC Davis mission. Applicants should expect at least one station focused on health disparities or underserved community care, reflecting the school's rural and agricultural-community focus. The day also includes a brief campus tour and a group information session.

Intake

Approximately 133 students per year.

At a glance

Founded in 1966, based in Sacramento, CA. Programmes offered: Primary Care, Rural Medicine, Health Equity, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics.

Entry requirements

What you need to apply to UC Davis School of Medicine (MD)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. California residents receive preference as a UC public school. Demonstrated commitment to primary care, rural, or underserved medicine is valued. Research and community service expected. Applications submitted via AMCAS; secondary application required.
MCAT median
509 (range 505–519)
GPA median
3.73 overall / 3.50 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
3.6%
Class size
133
In-state preference
Moderate — some OOS consideration
In-state matriculants
97%
CASPer
Not required
AAMC PREview
Required
Holistic review emphasis
Primary care commitment, rural and underserved community service, diversity, and UC public mission.
Notes
Estimates from public AAMC FACTS / AACOMAS / ADEA AADSAS / class-profile; verify current cycle.
Specialities offered
Primary Care, Rural Medicine, Health Equity, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics
Interview

How UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) interviews applicants

Format
MMI (8–10 stations, conducted in person at the Sacramento campus)
Interview window
October–February
Decision date
March 30 (AAMC standard)
Tutor insight
UC Davis MMI stations often feature scenarios rooted in rural access, agricultural worker health, and health inequity — prepare concrete examples showing why you are committed to primary care or community medicine, not just academic medicine. As a UC public school, California residents have a meaningful advantage; out-of-state applicants should make a compelling case for commitment to underserved populations. The PRIME programs are highly selective, so if you apply to one, articulate a clear and evidence-based commitment — not just interest — in the relevant community.
Practice

Practise for your UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to UC Davis School of Medicine (MD)

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

MediumMMIQ1

US Healthcare Ethics: Informed Consent and Health Literacy

Studies show that nearly half of American adults read at or below an eighth-grade level, yet most informed consent documents are written at a twelfth-grade reading level or above. A patient signs a surgical consent form after a brief explanation, but when you follow up, it is clear she did not understand what she consented to. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning. What are the ethical and practical issues here, and what do you do?

Likely follow-up · What are the three elements of legally and ethically valid informed consent, and which is most likely failing in this scenario?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
MediumPanel · MMIQ2

AAMC Core Competency: Service Orientation in Underserved Communities

The AAMC lists Service Orientation as a core competency, describing it as a desire to help others that extends beyond self-interest. You have spent two summers volunteering at a free clinic in a rural community where nearly 30% of residents are uninsured. A classmate argues that pre-medical volunteering is largely performative — a box to tick for applications — and does not reflect genuine service commitment. How do you respond to this critique, and how have your own experiences shaped your understanding of what service orientation actually means for a physician?

Likely follow-up · How do you distinguish genuine service orientation from voluntourism or resume-padding in your own reflection and in evaluating others?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Open Prometheus for UC Davis School of Medicine (MD)Browse 1,106 free questions →
Get support

Apply to UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) with confidence

We've helped students into UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) and other US medicine schools — get tailored support for each stage of the application.

MCAT Strategy

Build an MCAT prep plan that hits the median score profile for UC Davis School of Medicine (MD).

Learn more

Interview preparation

Practise the Multiple Mini Interviews format with students who interviewed at UC Davis School of Medicine (MD).

Learn more

Personal statement help

Get your personal statement reviewed by successful applicants.

Learn more
FAQ

UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) — frequently asked questions

Apply to UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) with confidence

We've helped students turn their MCAT, personal statement and interview prep into offers from UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) and other US medicine schools.

Book a UC Davis School of Medicine (MD) mock

Other MMI medical schools

Stanford University School of Medicine (MD)University of Michigan Medical School (MD)NYU Grossman School of Medicine (MD — tuition-free)Duke University School of Medicine (MD)UC San Diego School of Medicine (MD)UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (MD)
See all us medical schools