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US Medicine · 2027 Entry

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

Location San Francisco, CA, United StatesEstablished 1864Interviews (2027 entry) October 2026–February 2027Decisions (2027 entry) March 30, 2027
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Full guide

How to get into UCSF School 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 UCSF School 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 UCSF School of Medicine (MD)

The University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine is consistently ranked among the top US medical schools for research. It is also unique: a major research university focused entirely on health sciences. UCSF's location in San Francisco provides unparalleled access to a diverse, medically complex patient population and to the Bay Area biotech ecosystem.

The school has particular strengths in HIV/AIDS research, cancer biology, neuroscience, and health policy.

What makes UCSF School of Medicine (MD) different

UCSF is the only major US research university solely dedicated to health sciences — every department, from basic science to clinical research, is health-focused. The school has an exceptional record in HIV research, biomedical innovation, and diversity in medical education. San Francisco's ethnically diverse patient population provides unusually broad clinical training.

UCSF School of Medicine (MD) course & teaching

Integrated curriculum. 4-year Bridges curriculum integrates basic science, clinical skills, and research from Year 1. Longitudinal clinical placements begin early. Year 3–4: clinical clerkships across UCSF Medical Center, Zuckerberg San Francisco General, and affiliated community hospitals.

UCSF School of Medicine (MD) research strengths

UCSF School of Medicine (MD) is strong in these research areas:

  • HIV and infectious disease
  • Brain science
  • Cancer biology
  • Health equity
  • Precision medicine

How the UCSF School of Medicine (MD) interview runs

Format: Traditional interviews (typically two one-on-one sessions with faculty and/or a student)

UCSF School of Medicine (MD) intake

Approximately 150 students per year.

UCSF School of Medicine (MD) at a glance

Founded in 1864. Based in San Francisco, CA.

Programmes offered:

  • HIV/AIDS Research
  • Neuroscience
  • Cancer Biology
  • Health Policy
  • Global Health
Entry requirements

What you need to apply to UCSF School of Medicine (MD)

Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. California residents receive moderate preference (public university). Strong research background, community service, and clinical experience expected. AMCAS application; secondary required.
MCAT median
517 (range 512–522)
GPA median
3.88 overall / 3.85 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
3.5%
Class size
174
In-state preference
Moderate — some OOS consideration
In-state matriculants
77%
CASPer
Not required
AAMC PREview
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Research, diversity, commitment to underserved populations, and health equity.
Notes
MCAT/GPA approximate from UCSF class profile. In-state preference reflects UC public mission.
Specialities offered
HIV/AIDS Research, Neuroscience, Cancer Biology, Health Policy, Global Health

MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures are taken from University of California, San Francisco School 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 UCSF School of Medicine (MD) interviews applicants

Format
Traditional interviews (typically two one-on-one sessions with faculty and/or a student)
Interview window (2027 entry)
October 2026–February 2027
Decision date (2027 entry)
March 30, 2027
Tutor insight
UCSF values diversity, commitment to underserved communities, and health equity alongside research achievement — make sure these themes run throughout your application, not just in one essay. In the MMI, demonstrate systems-level thinking about healthcare challenges; UCSF interviewers are attuned to candidates who think beyond individual patient care to population health. As a public UC school, in-state California applicants have a meaningful advantage — out-of-state applicants need a particularly strong application to compete.
Practice

Practise for your UCSF School of Medicine (MD) interview

PrometheusQuestion Bank621 medicine questions inside

Interview questions matched to UCSF School of Medicine (MD)

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

MediumMMI · PanelQ1

Screening for social determinants in clinic

Health systems increasingly screen patients for social determinants of health, food insecurity, housing instability, transportation, and so on. A patient screens positive for food insecurity but seems embarrassed and says, 'I came here for my blood pressure, not to be judged.' How do you respond, and is routine SDOH screening a good idea?

Likely follow-up · What is the ethical risk of screening for needs you may not be able to meet?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
HardPanelQ2

Research and Critical Thinking: AI in Diagnostic Medicine

Artificial intelligence tools are being deployed in radiology, pathology, and primary care for diagnostic decision support. Some studies show that AI matches or exceeds human performance on specific tasks such as skin cancer detection and diabetic retinopathy screening. A colleague suggests that widespread AI adoption will reduce the need for physicians over the next 20 years.

How do you evaluate this claim, and what are the opportunities and risks of AI integration into clinical medicine?

Likely follow-up · What types of clinical tasks are AI tools currently well-suited for, and which are beyond their near-term capabilities?

3 expert tips in Prometheus
Open Prometheus for UCSF School of Medicine (MD)Browse 1,106 free questions →
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MCAT Strategy

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Interview preparation

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Personal statement help

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Sources

Where UCSF School of Medicine (MD)'s figures come from

Compiled from University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine'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.

UCSF School 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.UCSF School of Medicine (MD) — published admissions data →The class profile and admissions statistics this record's MCAT, GPA, acceptance-rate and class-size figures were taken from.
FAQ

UCSF School of Medicine (MD) — frequently asked questions

UCSF School of Medicine (MD) matriculants have a median MCAT of 517. The middle range of matriculants is 512–522. 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 UCSF School of Medicine (MD) with confidence

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

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