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September 6, 2023

University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2023-2024]

(UCSF) is the leading university dedicated to advancing health worldwide through preeminent biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.

The feeling that applicants often get from a UCSF interview is that the school is looking for interesting people, not just smart ones. Sure, your MCATs and GPA need to be high, but these elements alone are not enough to get you accepted. Just one look at the number of UCSF School of Medicine student-run organizations (at last glance it was 29) and special interest groups (also 29) makes one wonder whether everyone at UCSF has started their own club. It seems that the adcom is looking for (and finding) future leaders. Treat your secondary essay as a chance to show them what you are capable of. Write about a time when you took the initiative to solve a problem, modify a protocol, or organize people to support a cause. Show that you can hold your own in a medical school class filled with strong leaders.

UCSF wants applicants who can learn in a wide variety of experiences and situations, so think about a time when you learned in an unusual way or from an unexpected source. If you are interested in a specific area of research or study, be sure to show your knowledge of this field in your secondary. You can also demonstrate evidence of your leadership , but be careful not to overstate your role. If you are lucky enough to get an interview, there is a good chance it will be with someone who is a world expert in your area of interest.

The UCSF Bridges Curriculum emphasizes an “assessment FOR learning” philosophy, which gives students ongoing feedback and advice meant to help guide their next steps. This means that students are evaluated not simply with a grade or score but also with constructive feedback that encourages them to improve and learn as a direct result of the assessment process. Given the program’s unique assessment style, you can expect a UCSF interview to teach you something. Remember, the adcom is looking for candidates who can handle feedback and criticism, so they will notice if you get defensive or resist guidance. They might even push you into admitting that you don’t know an answer on a topic you feel comfortable with. Maintain your composure and show an eagerness to learn from your interviewer. To do well on your UCSF interview, it is crucial to practice your interview skills. Contact a consultant at Accepted to find out more about our mock-interview services and guidance.

Ready to get to work on your UCSF School of Medicine secondary essays? Read on. 

UCSF School of Medicine secondary essay tips

• UCSF School of Medicine application deadlines
• UCSF School of Medicine class profile

If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below. (500 words)

This is your chance to show the adcom that you are someone who will make a significant impact on the medical field. There is no single way to do this, and in fact, they are hoping to find a variety of people and interests. Show them your leadership, problem-solving, creative, or communicating abilities, and while you’re doing so, make sure to express a healthy degree of humility and compassion. Emphasize instances when you led or inspired others to join you and how that made the impact of your work greater than if you had tackled it alone. Yes, the school wants leaders, but it also wants people who know how to work with others and are dedicated to serving their community.

If you are a 2023 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words)

In this essay, focus on an experience that highlights your active role in something meaningful to you. A passive description of shadowing or studying will not be enough. Describe a time when you made a difference and your actions led you to understand the world and yourself in a new way. Strategically bring the adcom’s attention to your ability to learn in unexpected situations, and explain how your time after college has made you a better person and a stronger future physician.

Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? Please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (350 words)

This question is optional, so if you do not identify with the topic, it’s okay to not submit a response here. Reasons to answer this might include coming from a community with less access to academic opportunities, working through high school or college to support yourself (less time to pursue extracurriculars), parents/family members with limited education who were unable to guide you in applying to college and succeeding once you were there, and societal barriers to your education, including racial or other types of discrimination. 

To describe how being part of a marginalized group affected you , briefly discuss the challenges you faced, then focus on how you worked to overcome them . Be sure to highlight your accomplishments and show a positive mind-set. You want this essay to make the adcom hopeful that you will make an impact.

To describe how this affected your community , briefly discuss barriers to healthcare that your family members and/or community had to contend with. Then highlight how this has motivated you to reduce such barriers and ensure healthcare access. Make sure that your essay shows that even though your experience was difficult, it has inspired and equipped you to advocate for change.

UCSF School of Medicine timeline

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with USCF directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

UCSF School of Medicine Class Profile

Here is a look at the USCF School of Medicine class that entered in 2022 (data taken from the USCF School of Medicine website ):

AMCAS applications: 9,090

Students enrolled: 167

Underrepresented in medicine: 54%

California residents: 71%

Median GPA: 3.87

Median MCAT score: 90th percentile

Check out the Med School Selectivity Index for more stats.

You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are in life. Now that you’re ready for your next achievement, make sure you know how to present yourself to maximum advantage in your UCSF School of Medicine application. In a hotly competitive season, you’ll want a member of Team Accepted in your corner, guiding you with expertise tailored specifically for you. Get your medical school admissions questions answered by an Accepted admissions consultant with a free consultation .

For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental schools, veterinarian schools, and physician assistant programs at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia. Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Fitting In & Standing Out: The Paradox at the Heart of Admissions
• Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay
• Make the Most of Your Experiences for ERAS

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How to Get Into UCSF Medical School

• Cracking Med School Admissions Team

Hi premeds!  This page serves as a high-yield resource for UCSF Medical School to help you learn how to get into UCSF Medical School. The information from this page is a GOLDEN resource. We’ve compiled it from UCSF acceptance rate data, UCSF medical school admissions statistics, , the UCSF med school website, and most importantly , from UCSF med students themselves! You will have facts such as admissions statistics, and you’ll get an insider perspective about the curriculum and student life.

Whether you’re comparing medical schools that you have been accepted to, preparing for an interview, or wanting to learn more about UCSF med school, this keep reading!

If you have questions about UCSF Medical School, contact us down below. 

WHY CHOOSE UCSF MEDICAL SCHOOL?

The most common reasons we’ve heard from students:

• Located in San Francisco
• Great in both primary care and specialized medicine
• Student culture with great quality-of-life and work life balance
• Several opportunities for paid research and public health initiatives
• Supports medical innovation and healthcare business
• Collaboration with Silicon Valley and UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health

Table of Contents

Applications.

UCSF Medical School secondary application essays are optional. However, we always recommend our students writing something for Essay #1. This is a good amount of space for you to write about one of your extra-curricular activities, extenuating circumstances, or highlight your strengths / leadership potential.

UCSF Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts (2020-2021):

Essay 1)  Applicants are interviewed by invitation only. Please note that we do not conduct regional interviews. Interviews are scheduled from September to February (days vary). Please let us know if you will be out of the country during the interview season. (300 words)

Essay 2)  If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below. (500 words)

Essay 3)  If you are 2019 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words)

If you have questions about UCSF Medical School’s secondary application, email us at [email protected] or contact us .

NEED HELP WITH EDITING YOUR UCSF SECONDARY ESSAYS?

Get the Cracking Med School Admissions team’s expertise through our  secondary essay editing packages.  If you have questions, email us at [email protected] or contact us .

UCSF Medical School Interview Format

UCSF Medical School interviews are one-on-one traditional format. There is usually 1 interview with a current UCSF student (usually a 3rd or 4th year) and 1 interview with a UCSF faculty member. 

Contact us if you want to schedule a mock interview for UCSF School of Medicine. Or click the button below.

To ace your traditional interview, you need to know how to answer common medical school interview questions. It’s important to practice, practice, practice.

Cracking Med Resources for Interviews:

• How to answer “Tell me about yourself” Medical School Interview Question
• How to answer “Why this Medical School?”
• 43 Questions To Ask Your Medical School Interviewers
• Download our Cracking Med School Admissions interview guide below

Contact us if you want to schedule a mock interview with our Cracking Med School Admissions team! Take a look at our interview packages .

download your interview guide

If you are prepared, the interview gives you the perfect opportunity to standout and shine by sharing with people what you are passionate about.

• First Name *
• Last Name *
• Year Applying to Med School *
• Best Email *
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

UCSF Medical School Acceptance Rate

Ucsf medical school admissions statistics:.

• UCSF Medical School Average GPA: 3.84
• UCSF Med School Average MCAT: 518 (130 chemical & physical / 129 critical analysis / 130 biological & biochemical / 131 psychological, social)

How did UCSF Medical School Students Do on Their USMLE Step Exams?

• Average University of California San Francisco Medical School USMLE Step 1 Score: 239
• Average University of California San Francisco Medical School USMLE Step 2 Score: 244

Source: U.S. News Graduate School Rankings 2021

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

Each year, the Cracking Med School Admissions team helps students get accepted to top medical schools. We can help you get accepted! Contact us today.

The Insider’s View on UCSF Medical School's Pre-clinical years

How to Get Into University of California San Francisco Medical School – Know the Curriculum

University of California San Francisco Medical School Curriculum Overview:

As a UCSF medical school student, your first two years are spent as a pre-clinical student, mainly learning through lectures. Then, you take USMLE Step 1 and spend the next two years in clinical rotations.

UCSF Medical School Pre-Clinical Curriculum:

The pre-clinical curriculum is split through systems-based blocks. A lot of learning occurs through small group discussion sessions. There are several additional electives you can take during your first two years. UCSF has “Pathways” in the following topics: clinical and translational research; global health; health and society; health professions education; and molecular medicine.

During the first two pre-clinical years, grades are Pass/Fail.

For the most part, most core clerkships are graded: Honors; Pass; and Fail.

How to Get Into UCSF Medical School – Know the Opportunities Available:

Unique highlights about pre-clinical years:

• Systems-based learning with small group discussions
• Learn how to read and use science-based articles using evidenced-based medicine
• Classes on teaching communication skills, including “How to deal with upset patients” and “How to communicate well with nurses.”
• Several electives spanning all of healthcare, including global health and health policy

Taking Time Off:

Many students take time off between 3rd and 4th year. Many students pursue additional degrees, including a Master’s of Global Health and a Master’s of Public Health. For more information about UCSF Medical School’s official joint degree programs, read here:  http://meded.ucsf.edu/mse/programs

Special Joint Programs at UCSF Medical School:

• MD/MS with UC Berkeley: Students can enter a special 5-year program in which you can get a Master’s degree, selecting thesis topics on other aspects of health and human disease (including historical, social, ethical, epidemiological, or policy)
• PRIME-US (Program in Medical Education – Underserved) : Another 5-year program that accepts 15 students annually. Students work directly with urban underserved populations, including in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Fresno. For more information about UCSF’s PRIME-US program:  http://www.medschool.ucsf.edu/prime/
• MD/MPH:  UCSF medical school students can take a year off between their 3rd and 4th years of medical school and get an MPH at UC Berkeley.

What students are saying about UCSF Med

The insider’s view on ucsf medical school's clinical years.

UCSF Medical School Clinical Rotations:

At the end of your second year, you start your clinical rotations. UCSF has a longitudinal rotation where you spend one day every other week in a family medicine clinic. This way, you can understand what having a “panel of patients” feels like and you can follow-up on patients’ care. During your last year, there is a lot of flexibility to pursue your individual interests. You can use this time to pursue advanced clinical training or scholarly research. You can take courses such as “Designing & Conducting Research,” “Career Exploration,” and “Community Engagement.”

Core Rotations:

• Internal Medicine (8 weeks)
• Surgery (8 weeks)
• OB/GYN (6 weeks)
• Pediatrics (6 weeks)
• Neurology (4 weeks)
• Psychiatry (4 weeks)
• Family & Community Medicine (longitudinal)

Main Clinical Rotation Sites:

• UCSF Fresno
• San Francisco General Hospital
• San Francisco VA Hospital
• Kaiser Oakland

Unique highlights about clinical years:

• Students can choose to do longitudinal clinical work at primarily one hospital their 3rd year or rotate through several clinical sites.
• Many opportunities to work with the under-served.
• Longitudinal clerkship
• Ample time to explore electives and career development during your last year

What students are saying about clinical rotations at UCSF Medicine

Where do students live?

There are no dorms or student housing. Students live around San Francisco. Most live in the Western part of San Francisco next to UCSF. However, a good portion of students move to the “Mission” neighborhood where it is still easy and feasible to commute.

Getting around:

There’s great public transportation in New York City. For almost all your clinical rotations, you walk a few blocks.

Financial Considerations:

You can apply for grants and financial aid with UCSF’s financial aid office. Most out-of-state students can become a California resident by their second year of medical school and can qualify for in-state tuition.

• UCSF Medical School Tuition: ~ $35,000 in-state and ~$47,000 out-of-state
• Average indebtedness of graduates: ~$140,000

Cracking Med School Admissions Resources

Here are useful Cracking Med School Admissions resources:

• How To Write A Personal Statement For Medical School
• Download Cracking Med School Admission’s FREE AMCAS Activities Workbook
• Premed Timeline: Planning For Medical School Applications

Read our other popular school blogs here:

• How to Get Into Harvard Medical School
• Stanford Medical School Admissions Information
• How to Get Into Johns Hopkins Medical School

Ask Us a Question. We help Students just like you Get Into UCSF!

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How to Answer “Why Our School?” - Cheat Sheet for All California Medical Schools

If you’re working ahead (which you should be), you’re probably already pre-writing secondary essays, including the challenging “Why our medical school?” question.

We’re here to help with that. Savvy Pre-Med will be publishing a multiple-part series to provide you with a “cheat sheet” for answering “Why our medical school?” in your secondaries and interviews.

Our goal is to provide a list of five noteworthy aspects of each medical school program (including links) to help you expedite the process of researching, writing, and formulating interview answers.

Today we’re covering all the California medical schools, but we’ll be publishing articles with other categories that are important to our readers, so stay tuned!

#1 - UCSF School of Medicine

What are the five most distinct opportunities/aspects of this program to highlight in your secondary essays and interviews?

Bridges Curriculum

“The UCSF School of Medicine Bridges Curriculum educates MD graduates to excel in the competencies needed by 21st-century physicians. Our students work collaboratively with interprofessional teams to provide compassionate patient care while broadening their knowledge, advancing science, and seeking new ways to improve health care delivery in their communities and nationwide.”

Medical Student Wellbeing Program (MSWB)

“The staff for this program is specially trained in working with medical students. This service is free to all medical students and will always be confidential. We want you to feel safe here at UCSF and we are here to assist you with a broad range of difficulties that may arise during your medical education.”

Multicultural Resource Center

“Rooted in social justice and cross-cultural frameworks, the Multicultural Resource Center aims to nurture our diverse community. We are committed to shaping physical and intellectual environments that honor the experiences of all members of our UCSF family. Through programmatic efforts in community building, education, student support, and social justice we aspire to achieve transformational change.”

Student Success Center

“The Student Success website is meant to help you navigate the wide range of resources and services at UCSF that will help you succeed during your time here – and beyond.”

UCSF Homeless Clinic

“For nearly 30 years, the Shelter Clinic has delivered urgent health care and referral services to people staying at the Multi-Service Center - South homeless shelter. In addition to our original biweekly General Clinic, we have increased the scope of our  services to include Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Pharmacy, and Dental clinics, as well as Women’s Support, Women’s Health, and Men’s Support groups. In addition to our service mission, we are dedicated to educating a new generation of healthcare providers about the medical needs of homeless people.”

#2 - Stanford Medicine

Community Engagement | School of Medicine

“The School of Medicine’s community and global health programs reduce health disparities through long-term partnerships that strengthen community capacity in underserved populations locally and around the world.”

Leadership | School of Medicine

“Stanford Medicine's leadership works to transform patient care, fuel innovation and empower future leaders.”

Diversity at Stanford Medicine

“Our goal is to draw from people with a variety of backgrounds and life experiences to reach a new level of innovation in instruction, research, and patient care. Varied perspectives encourage new strategies that ensure diversity is reflected in our programs, culture, and leadership.”

“At Stanford Medicine, our strength in interdisciplinary scholarship, our dedicated faculty and a culture of innovation set the training ground for the next generation of biomedical leaders and pioneers.”

SUMMA Premedical Conference | Stanford University Minority Medical Alliance

“The goal of the Stanford University Minority Medical Alliance (SUMMA) is to increase diversity in the health professions in order to better care for underserved communities. Our annual pre-medical conference is one of the oldest on the west coast and draws hundreds of students from throughout the Bay Area.”

#3 - UCLA (Geffen) School of Medicine

HEALS Curriculum

UCLA uses a curriculum consisting of five themes that are frequently integrated throughout all four years of schooling. The themes are Structural Racism & Health Equity, Discovery, Point of Care Ultrasound, Interprofessional Education, and Ethics & Humanities. The curriculum is designed to accommodate the continuous scientific and medical advancement that we are accustomed to today.

Well-Being Workshops & Events

The School of Medicine holds frequent events and workshops addressing important themes in medical education and careers such as the transition into medical school, preventing burnout, maintaining self-care, and the school-life balance.

Campus Life

The scenery, dining, social life, and diversity of not just UCLA but the city as a whole are consistently lauded by students and community members. There is no shortage of leisure activities for students to take advantage of whenever they need a break from their studies.

Global Health Equity Pathway

Students can elect to join this Pathway in their first year of medical school, in which they will receive mentoring for global health projects, leadership development, and networking, among other areas. The college also provides some application-based funding for research and travel expenses.

Big Sib Lil Sib Program

First year students can be “matched” with a second year student, and into their family, on the basis of shared interests, hobbies, and backgrounds. The goal of the program is to strengthen the bond between classes and foster small support systems.

#4 - UC San Diego School of Medicine

Independent Study Project

All medical students participate in an independent study project on a specific topic in which they can develop closer relationships with their mentor. The end goals of the ISP are to foster creative investigation, develop and strengthen learning habits, and promote scholarly investigation.

Simulation Training Center

The SIM center provides an option for students to learn and practice medical procedures and teamwork skills. The rooms are equipped with cameras for playback, analysis, and further teaching. 

Student-Run Free Clinic

The SRFC Project accomplishes two goals: providing both low-cost healthcare to underserved community members and a learning environment to students in a variety of health tracks. Medical students that participate in this clinic also take courses relating to its philosophy.

Academic Communities

The School of Medicine has six Academic Communities that incoming students are assigned to and remain with throughout their medical education. These Communities help students in different years connect with each other and with faculty members.

Advising and Mentoring

UCSD values a multi-layered support system for its medical students that extends beyond academics. Students choose their own Faculty Advisor in their third year and also have support from older students in their earlier years, such as Senior Mentors and Big Sibs.

#5 - Keck School of Medicine, USC

HEAL Curriculum

The HEAL Program is an integrating feature across all four years of the KSOM curriculum. HEAL content and skills are delivered in required pre-clinical and clinical coursework, electives, creative writing workshops, and events that feature speakers whose expertise encompasses domains within the humanities, ethics, economics, art, and law. This longitudinal course of study builds skills in critical reflection, ethical decision-making, analysis of healthcare policy, and systems-based approaches to patient safety. It progresses from the personal to the professional, beginning with students’ examination of their own values and personal ethics, and moves toward the critical examination of the physician’s role in society.

Foundations of Physician Resilience Curriculum

KSOM offers a required curricular thread containing 30 hours of content in Years 1-3 entitled Foundations of Physician Resilience. This content is integrated into the curriculum so it is not a burden on students to attend.

Dean’s Research Scholars Program

The Dean’s Research Scholars (DRS) Program is a competitive fifth-year fellowship for medical students who wish to spend an additional year conducting full-time biomedical research in a discipline and area of their choice. Under the leadership of Dr. David Hinton, Director for the USC-Caltech MD-PhD Program and Professor of Pathology, Neurological Surgery and Ophthalmology, the DRS year is designed to provide medical students access to rigorous research experiences in both basic and clinical biomedical sciences. Students can pursue this option between years II and III or between years III and IV.

Keck & Saban Summer Research Fellowships

The Keck & Saban Summer Research Fellowship programs are available to students in the summer between years I and II. These opportunities allow year I medical students to conduct six weeks of full-time research with a faculty mentor. Students can learn about research opportunities and meet prospective mentors in their field of interest at Medical Student Research Brown Bag meetings and mixers occurring throughout year I.

Residency and Clinical Fellowships

From Anesthesiology to Trauma Care, clinical faculty of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California direct a broad range of accredited residency and fellowship training programs at the LAC+USC Medical Center and other nearby institutions. Many applicants to Keck School resident training programs are attracted by the opportunity to train at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center—one of the country’s largest teaching hospitals. Resident training also greatly benefits from training at USC-affiliated state-of-the-art private hospitals such as Keck Hospital of USC and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The majority of Keck School training programs admits new MD graduates through the national matching program and centralized application service administered by the American Association of Medical Colleges. Specific information regarding residency programs and clinical fellowship opportunities can be found within their respective department web pages.

#6 - UC Irvine School of Medicine  

Physician Scientist Training Program (PSTP)

The UCI-SOM Physician Scientist Training Program is a 2-year structured pilot program providing physician scientists with intensive mentorship and opportunities to apply for their first independent, federally funded awards (K08, K23) or other equivalent external career development awards. This program is supported by the Provost’s and Executive Vice Chancellor’s Research Growth Fund initiative , and is administered by the SOM Research Development Unit (RDU) with oversight by the SOM Associate Dean of Research Development and the Vice Deans of Clinical and Basic Research.

UCI Center for Clinical Research

The UCI Center for Clinical Research is a centralized clinical research operation driven to improve the health and wellness of people in Orange County and the world by providing lifesaving clinical trials designed to strengthen and accelerate the pathway of discovery from the medical laboratory to you.”

Institutes and Centers

The designation of “School Center” was established by the UCI Office of Research as a means of offering the flexibility for faculty, predominately within a particular school, to create research units that suit their needs and areas of expertise. The School of Medicine, with a faculty of wide-ranging and diverse expertise, encourages its faculty to form partnerships within the SOM for the purpose of pursuing a research initiative that can be strengthened by the establishment of a School Center.

Enhancing Rigor and Reproducibility

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need for rigorously designed published preclinical studies, to ensure that research findings can be faithfully replicated. In response to this need, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has established a formal initiative aimed at improving research reproducibility and are implementing significant changes to their policies, grant applications and peer-review process, which took effect Jan. 25, 2016. UC Irvine is committed to upholding the highest standards of conducting biomedical research.

Research Development Unit

The Research Development Unit (RDU), an entity within the UCI School of Medicine Office of Research, designs and implements services and other resources to help investigators succeed in obtaining and maintaining extramural funding.

#7 - UC Davis School of Medicine

Research Fellowship and Selective

This is an opportunity for UC Davis School of Medicine students to enhance their medical training through direct participation in basic science, clinical investigation, or health care delivery research. The Research Fellowship Program was developed to provide funding for students interested in gaining academic experience.

Academic Coaching Program

The UC Davis School of Medicine Academic Coaching Program was developed in response to a request from students to have enhanced support throughout their growth as physicians in training.  Initially a limited pilot with five coaches, the coaching program was recognized by the institution as a valuable service to students and has now expanded to a group of 15 coaches who will support students throughout their time at UC Davis School of Medicine.

Student-run Clinics

UC Davis medical students and physicians make significant contributions to the health of underserved populations in the Sacramento area through their volunteer efforts at several community clinics. These clinics train students in delivering primary care services while simultaneously improving access to care in underserved communities.

UC Davis Global Health

UC Davis is uniquely positioned to provide integrated solutions, education, and expertise on issues surrounding global health through a collaborative effort involving Human Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Management, Public Welfare, and International Development.  Ours is a truly interdisciplinary approach, known as One Health , used to assess and improve the health of people, animals, and the environment.

Community Health Scholars Program

The mission of the CHS programs is to train medical student leaders to identify, understand, and serve the unique health needs of California's rural, urban, and valley communities.

#8 - UC Riverside School of Medicine

History of the UCR School of Medicine

The UCR/UCLA Program in Biomedical Sciences was established in 1974 with a dual goal of recruiting outstanding students to UC Riverside and increasing the number of medical students entering clinical training at UCLA. Students in the program completed their undergraduate work and the first two years of their medical education at UC Riverside, then transferred to UCLA for their third and fourth years, earning their M.D. from the David Geffen School of Medicine. Between its inception and the opening of the UCR School of Medicine in 2013, approximately 850 students went through the program, which was renamed the UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program in Biomedical Sciences in 1997.

Thomas Haider Early Assurance Program

The Early Assurance Program (EAP) is a unique portal into the UC Riverside School of Medicine's Thomas Haider Program. It provides qualified, "mission-fit" UC Riverside undergraduate students or recent graduates with a guaranteed seat in a future UCR School of Medicine class. Admitted EAP students enter the School of Medicine one year after selection.

Designated Emphasis Programs

Designated Emphasis Programs (DE) are four-year programs that allow medical students to explore specialized areas. DE programs are made up of selectives as well as other non-course requirements.

M.D./Ph.D. Combined Degree

The combined M.D./Ph.D. degree is offered to students admitted to the UCR School of Medicine and to exceptional students from other four-year LCME-accredited medical schools. UCR Biomedical sciences students may apply for admission concurrently with their applications to the medical school or any time after acceptance to the medical school. For these students the MCAT is accepted in lieu of the GRE.

Research in the Division of Biomedical Sciences

The faculty and students of the UCR School of Medicine's Division of Biomedical Sciences are working to build a broad understanding of human disease, therapeutics and design of predictive experimental model systems through an innovative and rigorous program that integrates medical curriculum with mentored research and critical analysis of research-based modeling of human pathophysiology while working to bridge the gulfs between basic science and clinical medicine.

#9 - Loma Linda University School of Medicine

The mission of the Loma Linda School of Medicine is to educate future physicians through a Christian lens. It emphasizes growth across all areas of the student, going beyond the intellectual. The school also further educates its students in the Word of God, and helps to facilitate their sharing of it.

L.I.F.E. Communities

First-year students are assigned to a L.I.F.E. community of ten students that will stay part of this group for all four years of education. Each group is led by a faculty member with whom the students can meet regularly for mentoring. The acronym stands for Learning, Integration, Formation, and Experience, and its purpose is to facilitate relationships between students and to provide educational, spiritual, and emotional mentoring.

Medical Simulation Center

The MSC is a virtual hospital that contains multiple training areas to simulate actual care settings. “Manikins” used are human-sized simulators containing organ systems that react accordingly to interventions. Interactions can be recorded or viewed live for later review and discussion.

Healthy Neighborhood Projects

These projects are run by current medical students to address the needs of the community. There are a number of programs currently in place, and are coordinated with local schools and organizations.

Standardized Patient Program

The SP Program uses adults trained to act as a particular patient in order to allow a student to work through their case. It allows students to gain exposure to patient interactions, clinical skills, and problem solving in a low-stakes environment. They may also portray difficult situations to provide students with practice for such scenarios.

#10 - Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

Judaic Values

Touro University California, in keeping with its founding mission and principles, prides itself on its Judaic foundation and the values that this represents. Those values involve a commitment to social justice, intellectual pursuit, and service to humanity.

Project Roomkey

In California, Project Roomkey began as a way to find temporary, non-communal housing for the unhoused so that health officials can more easily corral the traditionally transient population into locations where they could shelter in place and limit their potential to spread COVID. Partnerships were formed and utilized to create an opportunity in the crisis for healthcare officials to do needed outreach to these communities of individuals, which are often very hard to connect with in ordinary circumstances.

IPE Simulation Center

The Touro Simulation Center is focused on teamwork and communication. Within a scenario, Students will be given responsibilities that fall within the disciplines they study. The context and intended experience for each discipline should be clearly thought through.

The Global Health Program

The Touro University Program in Global Health will ground the teaching of global health in the complex realities of local communities and health service institutions through an integrated curriculum of case-based courses, research apprenticeships, elective rotations, summer internships, and clinical and public health practicum.

College of Osteopathic Medicine Research Department

The main axes of research at TUCOM are nucleated around state of the art core laboratories:

• Stable isotopes: nutrition and metabolic research in humans
• NMR and drug design

#11 - Western University of Health Sciences

Humanism, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Statement

At WesternU, we believe in caring for people–and that includes our students. We are committed to putting Humanism in every aspect of the WesternU experience so that our students learn to heal with compassion.

Clubs | University Student Affairs

WesternU is home to over 130 student-led clubs and organizations, with over 100 of those groups operating out of the Pomona campus. Below you will find a listing of all student led clubs and organizations on the Pomona campus.

About LEAD | Learning Enhancement & Academic Development (LEAD)

To provide supportive education and well-being services to the WesternU community to foster and promote the university’s humanistic values and tradition.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

All Western University of Health Sciences full-time students have direct access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for Students through OptumHealth. Under this Employee Assistance Program for Students, you and any member of your immediate household are eligible for up to six (6) free counseling sessions for each “incident” or situation.

Conference Weeks

Students partake in a unique process of longitudinal professional development whereby students can select topics of interest to personalize their growth as a student doctor; all of which makes for a highly dynamic and very strong student experience for all COMP students.

#12 - Kaiser Permanente Bernard J Tyson School of Medicine

Learning Environment Reporting

The Office of Student Affairs invites your feedback on the KPSOM learning environment. Here you may report concerns about any mistreatment, bias, or other unacceptable conduct that is experienced or witnessed, or share your compliments and commendations recognizing the supportive contributions of students, faculty, and staff.

Anatomy Beyond Cadavers

Central to the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine’s Anatomy Beyond Cadavers, our Anatomy Resource Center (ARC) provides students with new and exciting ways to learn about the human body. In the ARC, you'll engage in case-based, small-group learning that allows you to master all of the anatomical sciences: surface, regional, and cross-sectional anatomy as well as embryology, histology, and diagnostic imaging.

Community Engagement and Service-Learning

At the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, we value the contributions our faculty members make beyond the classroom, including in their professional lives, the healthcare system, and the community. Serving the communities where we work is an essential way for the school to fulfill its commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity by ensuring that everyone has access to exceptional care and the opportunity to lead a healthy life.

Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in Medical School

We believe diversity brings us together. It inspires us to respect the experiences and perspectives of others. Diversity encompasses much more than culture, race, and religion.

Student Well-Being

Support for student health and well-being is woven throughout the fabric of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. It starts with our commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity and permeates the intentional culture created by our faculty and staff. All of these efforts are designed to create a space where our students can learn, grow, succeed, and lead.

#13 - California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine

The College of Osteopathic Medicine partners with several local health care professionals and health care organizations to place students in clinical clerkships during their medical school education. In years three and four, COM students gain hands-on experience through their clinical clerkships based at the sites on this map which are regional hospitals, clinics, and health care facilities with qualified local health care providers in the community.

OMM Lab – College of Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) is a hands-on treatment DOs use to diagnose illness and injury and encourage the body’s natural tendency toward self-healing. Using Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), an osteopathic physician will move muscles and joints using techniques that may incorporate stretching, gentle pressure, and light resistance. OMT can ease pain, promote healing, and increase overall mobility without the use of medications.

As part of their education, CHSU-COM student doctors receive special training in the musculoskeletal system — the body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones. These hands-on OMT skills may be utilized in all specialties of medicine. Residencies with the designation of “Osteopathic Recognition” incorporate OPP/OMT into the residency programs. (ie. Family Medicine with Osteopathic Recognition, Emergency Medicine with Osteopathic Recognition, etc).

Teaching Kitchen

At the CHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM), we believe we can help improve the health of our community by educating our medical students and others in the Central Valley on healthy eating and nutrition. It is so important that we incorporated it into our COM curriculum where our medical students will learn the basics of nutrition and culinary medicine through team-based learning applications, case studies, and hands-on cooking classes in our Teaching Kitchen in our CHSU-COM building.

Student Health and Wellness

CHSU-COM has coordinated with Dr. Audrey Punnett (Clinical Psychologist) to provide psychological counseling to CHSU-COM students beginning on February 22, 2021. Eight clinical hour (45 minute) appointments are available on Mondays beginning at 12 noon and continuing on the hour thereafter. Dr. Punnett’s office is located in Fresno, CA. Please call 559-225-8963 to make an appointment.

This service is provided at no cost to students and is intended for short-term care (up to 6 consecutive sessions). Students requiring longer term treatment will be referred by Dr. Punnett to another provider. Emergency consultations may be scheduled at Dr. Punnett’s discretion.

Use of this service is confidential and the bills to CHSU-COM will de-identify the clients. There is a 24-hour cancellation policy and CHSU-COM will be billed for appointments canceled with less than 24 hour’s notice.”

Curriculum  

Nutrition, clinical relevance, ethics, health policy, evidence-based medicine, and application of foundational knowledge, skills, and attitudes are added to achieve better retention and retrieval. The curriculum includes systems-based courses, longitudinal courses, and inter-professional education courses. To help serve the needs of the Central Valley, Medical Spanish courses help CHSU-COM students learn the language and also gain a better understanding of some of the cultural aspects that can play a role in a Spanish speaking patient’s health.

The teaching format utilizes Team-Based Learning (TBL), simulation, and other active learning modalities. Assessments are multimodal and include written, laboratory practical examinations, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCES), and other innovative methodologies.

For the last two years of the curriculum, CHSU has partnership agreements to assure all the core third and fourth year rotations along with selective clinical education clerkships are completed in the California Central Valley, with a focus on clinical experiences serving diverse populations and provide opportunities for education in community health centers, hospitals and ambulatory settings.

#14 - California University of Science and Medicine  

Early Decision Program

Through the Early Decision Program (EDP), students have an opportunity to secure acceptance to California University of Science and Medicine by October 1. Through EDP, CUSM seeks to enroll candidates who have keen observational skills, are logical, possess comprehensive analytical abilities, compassion, integrity, and good interpersonal skills. In order to assess the personal qualities of applicants, CUSM utilizes a holistic review system in the admission review process.

Living In the Inland Empire

CUSM is nestled in between the stately mountains and active cities of the Inland Empire, with Palm Springs, Los Angeles and beautiful Southern California beaches less than an hour away. Whether it’s culture, music, performing arts, sports, world class restaurants and more, the area is positively overflowing with activities for everyone.

Learning Communities

Upon matriculation, students will be assigned to small‐group learning communities or “colleges” headed by College Mentors. Each college will have two College Mentors during Years 1 and 2 – typically one with clinical experience (MD) and the other with research experience (Ph.D.). In addition, in Year 2 a clerkship director will be assigned to each college to foster a smooth transition into Years 3 and 4, where the clerkship directors will become College Mentors.

CARE Program

California University of Science and Medicine “CUSM” strives to impact the community with a mission to improve health disparities and the overall quality of health care in underserved communities. Underserved communities face significant challenges accessing health care services, and we want your help mentoring our future physicians on solutions addressing these challenges.

VIDA Program

The VIDA program at CUSM is dedicated to training future physicians to provide holistically excellent care to the Hispanic patient population. The VIDA program is the school’s largest and most successful program to date. There are currently over 180 first- and second-year students enrolled and an additional 40 student-leaders who all work together to play an essential role in the execution and development of CUSM’s student-led, faculty-supported VIDA program.

#15 - California Northstate University College of Medicine  

Student Government

The College of Medicine consists of several levels of student leadership in order to provide the most comprehensive and integrated representation of the student body. Each class has its own representative body, and there are several other councils and committees representing all students in different avenues.

Self-Directed Student Scholarly Project

This project is completed by all second-year medical students. They work in groups to identify a research question and conduct a project under a faculty advisor, and such projects may culminate in publication. The project helps to further skills pertaining to teamwork and collaboration, scientific inquiry, investigation, and analysis.

Wellness Elective Courses

The College of Medicine emphasizes lifelong maintenance of personal wellness for its students. It offers three elective courses that teach evidence-based wellness methods and techniques for its students to use during their education and beyond. 

Service Learning Opportunities

Community involvement is emphasized so that students gain exposure to real-world issues and social problems. The goal is for students to build relationships with community members and start to understand the underlying causes of these issues. Many opportunities are available for medical students to engage in.

Phase A Curriculum

First- and second-year medical students follow the Phase A curriculum. This curriculum consists of a combination of: foundational science courses rooted in clinical presentations; teaching of medically-relevant skills ranging from communication to procedures; and multidisciplinary seminars followed by smaller-group discussion. The aforementioned Self-Directed Student Scholarly Project is also part of the Phase A curriculum and is conducted by second-year students.

#16 - UCLA (Drew) School of Medicine

Mission and Values

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is a private non-profit student centered University that is committed to cultivating diverse health professional leaders who are dedicated to social justice and health equity for underserved populations through outstanding education, research, clinical service, and community engagement.

Medical Student Research Thesis Program

A distinguishing component of the Charles R. Drew University/UCLA Medical Education Program is the required medical research thesis. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) is among the few universities in the nation that require research training in the medical education curriculum. The Medical Student Research Thesis Program (MSRTP) assists students in the third and fourth years of the College of Medicine in developing and completing an independent research project. While the overall theme is healthcare disparities, students have wide latitude to choose research projects that include biobehavioral/psychosocial, health services research, and public policy with application to underserved communities. Fourth-year students present their findings at the annual medical student research colloquium held each spring.

Charles R. Drew/UCLA PRIME-LA

The Charles R. Drew/UCLA PRIME-LA program leads to the regular MD with special emphasis on leadership and advocacy to address healthcare disparities in medically underserved populations in California (and the US). The Program in Medical Education (PRIME) is a dual degree program leading to the MD and a master’s degree in an area that complements the mission of the program.

Pipeline Programs

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science provides unique academic programs to expand the educational capacity of underrepresented youth to ensure their long-term success, health, and well-being. CDU currently offers Pre-K to 12th grade student’s pathway to careers in medicine, science, research and health through our various pipeline programs.

Student Financial Aid Services

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship staff is committed to helping you find ways to close the gap between the cost of attending CDU and your ability to fund your education. We will work to construct a personalized financial aid package that combines any availability of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study.

Upcoming Online Classes

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How to Get into UCSF School of Medicine: The Definitive Guide

by internationalmedicalaid

About UCSF School of Medicine

The UCSF (University of California, San Francisco) college of Medicine is located on the Parnassus Heights campus in San Francisco, California, and it is also one of the most major receivers of research funding from the National Institutes of Health.  

The University has research relationships with various partners throughout the U.S., including Pfizer, and it is also affiliated with various medical institutions worldwide, including San Francisco VA Medical Center and Aga Kahn Health Services in Tanzania.  

Erected in the late 1800s, it is one of the oldest schools of medicine in the western part of the U.S., and it is also esteemed as one of the best colleges of medicine nationwide, thus making it one of the hardest medical schools to get into. 

In fact, the rate of acceptance for UCSF is only about 2%, and the requirements for entry alone make it nearly impossible for applicants to stand out among other applicants.  

However, more than 100 students are accepted to UCSF each year, and the following information on UCSF medical school requirements, as well as helpful tips on the best way to complete a UCSF medical school application, can help ensure that you are one of them. 

UCSF’s MD Programs

There are essentially three ways for students to earn their medical degree (MD) from the University of California, San Francisco’s school of medicine.  

Students can either apply for the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), which upon successful completion of the program, they will earn a  MD/PhD , or they can earn their MD through the standard 4-year program. 

There is also a 5-year graduate program that requires students to complete their pre-clerkship course at UC Berkeley while also fulfilling the requirements for their MD.  

During this time, students will also be working towards their Master’s in Health and Medical Sciences at Berkeley’s School of Public Health before completing their final 2 1/2 years at UCSF to obtain their M.D.  

UCSF also has top-ranked professional schools for nursing, dentistry, and pharmacy, as well as a physical therapy program. 

UCSF’s Rate of Acceptance

The UCSF acceptance rate is one of the lowest of all medical colleges in the country. 

In fact, the MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program alone only accepts 12 students each year, and the MS/MD UC Berkeley/UCSF Joint Medical Program only permits 16 students per year, and they must clearly display a natural ability for public health, as well as a strong enthusiasm for research. 

Meanwhile, out of over thousands of applicants who apply to UCSF Medical School each year, only maybe a few hundred applicants will actually advance to the interview process, after which time, only about slightly more than one hundred applicants will be accepted.  

The Requirements for UCSF Medical School

What is a good gpa .

UCSF Medical School requirements are subject to change from year to year, but as of current, the minimal undergraduate GPA required is 2.94 and 2.8 GPA for sciences. 

However,  for the year 2019 , the overall average undergraduate GPA and GPA for sciences was 3.8.

What is a Good MCAT Score?

A good MCAT score for medical school is 510 out of 528 for all sections, which places you in the 80th percentile of MCAT scores,  according to the Association of American Colleges

However, for the year 2019, UCSF’s entering students had an average MCAT score percentile ranking of 94.  

UCSF Secondary Essays

As with all medical schools, UCSF also requires a secondary application for admission,  also called secondary essays and secondary application prompts; however, with two essays totaling an under 1,000-word limit, which makes it harder to stand out, the UCSF secondary application is considered the most difficult.  

Therefore, it requires dedicated work on the applicant’s behalf to earn a spot in the nation’s leading medical program, which the following tips can help you do. 

Tips for Successfully Completing the UCSF Secondary Application

• After receiving your medical school application, usually within 10 weeks following, the UCSF will send out a secondary application. These applications are sent out on a first come, first serve basis, so it is advisable to submit your primary application as soon the system opens to ensure you are one of the first to receive your secondary application.  
• Your primary application will contain most of the information the UCSF Admissions Committee is looking for; therefore, simply view the secondary application as a chance to include a useful passion you didn’t get to identify in your primary application.  
• Before you begin, go over your list of activities, as well as your personal statements, and then consider other qualities you have that will help complete the application. And, since you only have less than 1,000 words to complete the essays, it is best to be straightforward, get right to the point, and then persuasively present your argument with conviction.  
• Some qualities medical schools look for in their applicants  include leadership skills, cultural competency, and collaboration.   Therefore, refer to these traits when strengthening your application. 
• Top medical schools, such as UCSF, also expect you to demonstrate an interest in patient care, as well as also have  an understanding of how healthcare fits into society , including how it intersects with inequality and can have a multiplier effect.  
• You should also avoid reusing the same material already included in your primary application. Instead, view the secondary application as another opportunity for you to highlight how your unique desires and aspirations will best be suited for UCSF School of Medicine, as well as to present a new logic as to why you will make the best doctor over the other many applicants. 

Completing the Secondary Application Question 1

Start your essay with a thesis statement that presents the overall declaration of the issues you regard as a future physician. In other words, the thesis should provide evidence in support of your passion. 

This evidence or your commitment or passion will be demonstrated through the activities you write about.  

Presenting Your Evidence 

When highlighting your past activities in support of your claim, construct the information as an argument that shows how each of your steps consecutively led you to where you are today, rather than simply listing a history of your activities.  

Use at least 3 to 5 activities to support your claim.  

This section should be used to explain why USCF is your medical school of choice, specifically as it relates to your thesis.

Before you begin, research UCSF, as well as the surrounding areas, to learn what opportunities are available that relate to your past activities. You can then demonstrate how your passion for these activities will allow you to contribute to UCSF. 

Conclude this section by reminding the admissions committee about your passion and how you’ll carry it forward into your medical studies, as well as when you become a physician.  

Completing the Secondary Application Question 2 

In this section, UCSF will want to know how you’ve been spending your time since graduation, leading up to applying for medical school. In other words, they’ll want to know what actions you’ve taken since graduation to better prepare yourself for a career as a physician. 

Therefore, begin by explaining what you care about in the medical field and then include all the steps you’ve taken post-graduation to help prepare you for medical school to support your argument. 

Again, avoid simply providing a list of your endeavors and instead structure your experiences in a way that tells a story or constructs an argument about what you have been doing and why, which will help make it more compelling. 

Forming Your Thesis

Some details to discuss in your thesis include what goals you had after graduation, such as learning more about a specific field of medicine or gaining more hands-on experience in the field, and so on. However, be sure to only list the goals that directly relate to your reason for applying to medical school. 

Providing Evidence

To support your claims, include specific evidence or clear examples of the jobs you’ve held that demonstrate the steps you took to reach your goals.

To show your level of commitment include the number of days you worked per week, as well as the number of hours you dedicated to your work each day. You should also describe the day to day activities you performed at work, as well as your roles and what you accomplished in those roles.

Again, structure your argument in a way that tells a story of how you worked towards your goals to help stimulate interest. Overall, your thesis should clearly show the admissions committee the process that led you to believe that medical school was the choice for you, as well as the method by which you chose medicine. 

Conclude part 2 of your essay by reiterating the impact that your post-graduation experiences have had on you and how you will carry what you have learned to medical school and into the world.  

Preparing for the UCSF School of Medicine Interview 

If the admissions committee deems that your application displays above-average potential, regarding your future as a UCSF trained physician, you will then be invited to the USCF campus to interview with select faculty members. 

UCFS’s interview process typically consists of two 40-minute sessions and, in many cases, it is also a blind interview, meaning the faculty members will have no prior knowledge of the details of your application, including your career objectives, personal activities related to your passion for the medical field, or your personal background, etc., which will provide you with a fresh start during the final stage of the admissions process. 

Therefore, use the interview process to highlight points of your journey that got you to where you are now, and whatever you do, don’t memorize the details of your application, as your conversation can come off fake or practiced, which can put off the admissions board. 

How Our Healthcare Internship and Admissions Consulting Can Help Increase Your Chance of Getting Into UCSF School of Medicine

Top-notch medical schools, such as UCSF, value applicants that display a strong commitment to the medical field, which our health internship can help you do. 

As a participant in our healthcare internship , you will develop a background in some of the most impressive skills and topics in healthcare education that are sure to help you stand out over thousands of other UCSF applicants.

Furthermore, select members of our staff, as well as a few past students themselves, have advanced through various stages of UCFS’s admissions process; therefore, we are also well equipped to provide the  expert consulting  you need to increase your chance of getting into UCSF.  

Hence, whether you need more understanding concerning the UCSF acceptance rate, UCSF medical school requirements, or you just want to ace your UCSF secondary application for UCSF School of Medicine, we are here to help, so feel free to contact a member of our team once you are ready to embark on your career in medicine with the University of California, San Fransisco. 

International Medical Aid provides  global internship opportunities  for students and clinicians who are looking to broaden their horizons and experience healthcare on an international level. These program participants have the unique opportunity to shadow healthcare providers as they treat individuals who live in remote and underserved areas and who don’t have easy access to medical attention. International Medical Aid also provides  medical school admissions consulting  to individuals applying to medical school and PA school programs. We review primary and secondary applications, offer guidance for personal statements and essays, and conduct mock interviews to prepare you for the admissions committees that will interview you before accepting you into their programs. IMA is here to provide the tools you need to help further your career and expand your opportunities in healthcare.

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How to get into ucsf medical school: a guide for applicants.

Reviewed by:

Luke Hartstein

Former Admissions Committee Member, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Reviewed: 10/10/23

Inspira Advantage makes getting into UCSF easier. Read on to learn more about the UCSF’s acceptance rate, requirements, secondary application essays, and more!

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine is one of the country’s best medical schools. In recent rankings, U.S. News reported the school as #5 in both primary care and research.. With such high rankings, it is no surprise that many students have UCSF on their school lists. 

Applying to medical school can seem daunting, especially to a school with such high rankings and standards, but we’re here to put you at ease. Our team at Inspira Advantage understands what top medical schools like UCSF look for in applicants, evidenced by messages we receive such as this one: 

Are you ready to join the UCSF? This guide will provide all the information you need to learn how to get into UCSF Medical School.  

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

Programs Offered at UCSF School of Medicine

UCSF medical school offers nine MD tracks for college graduates, including: 

1) Traditional MD : Follows the Bridges curriculum, allowing students to learn foundational science concepts blended with clinical experience across four years. 

2) MD/Masters in Advanced Studies (MD/MAS) : This program is meant for students interested in an intensive clinical research experience. 

3) MD with Distinction: The Distinction in Yearlong Research is available for students pursuing research/scholarship projects spanning 12 months, allowing them to take a leave of absence from enrollment. 

4) Medical Scientists Training Program (MSTP): The MD/PhD program prepares students for fulfilling careers as physician-scientists.  

5) UC Berkeley - UCSF Joint Medical Program (MD, MS): A five-year graduate program allowing students to spend pre-clerkship years at UC Berkeley while completing a master’s degree before finishing their medical education at UCSF. 

6) MD/Masters of Public Health (MPH) Program: Students can choose to earn an MPH before or after the last two years of the MD program. 

7) Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved (PRIME-US) : A five-year track designed for students passionate about working with underserved urban populations. 

8) UCSF San Joaquin Valley Program in Medical Education (SJV PRIME): Similar to the PRIME-US program, SJV PRIME is meant for students committed to providing high-quality care to communities in California’s San Joaquin Valley. 

9) MD-PhD in History of Health Sciences: Students complete two or three years of the medical school curriculum before joining the History of Health Sciences PhD program.

10) Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS): While this degree is actually offered under the UCSF School of Dentistry , not the School of Medicine, it's a great program for anyone interested in dental medicine.

No matter what your educational goals or career aspirations are, UCSF offers something for everyone. 

UCSF Medical School Acceptance Rate & Admission Stats

Class profiles can tell you more about the students that medical schools admit. UCSF’s recent class profile data on first-year students shows that:

• The class’ median GPA is 3.88; 
• The median MCAT score is the 93rd percentile (516); 
• 59% of students are women; 
• 78% of students are California residents. 

Although there’s no data listed about the UCSF average MCAT score or GPA, identifying if your stats are close to these medians will help you determine your competitiveness. 

UCSF Medical School Acceptance Rate 

Data from 2023 shows that the UCSF medical school acceptance rate is around 2.8%. The class profile show: 

• 8,774 students applied;
• 545 applicants interviewed; and, 
• 157 students enrolled.

UCSF’s low acceptance rate makes it one of the country’s most selective medical schools.

UCSF Med School Out-of-State Acceptance Rate

Recent class profile data showed that 78% of the enrolling class are California residents, meaning the other 22% comprise out-of-state students. While there isn’t an explicit UCSF acceptance rate for out-of-state students, we can assume it’s lower than the overall 2.8% based on these stats. 

Is UCSF Medical School Hard to Get Into? 

UCSF is among the country’s 20 hardest medical schools to get into , although some other schools in the UC system have slightly lower acceptance rates. While getting into UCSF is difficult, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. 

Suggested reading: The Top Med Schools in California

If you get through the secondary application screening and are invited to interview, you have a much higher chance of getting in. UCSF is highly selective, but remember that acceptance rates only measure the volume of applications, not their quality. Instead of lingering on statistics, your energy is better directed toward perfecting your application!

UCSF Medical School Requirements

Meeting admissions requirements is crucial to producing a complete and competitive application. These are the main UCSF medical school requirements for a complete application: 

• Course requirements
• Exceed the cutoff GPA requirement
• MCAT scores
• Letter of recommendation
• Work experience/activities

UCSF Med School Course Requirements

One of the key UCSF medical school prerequisites applicants must have is a four-year undergraduate degree before applying. Students from all disciplines are welcome to apply, but they must complete these UCSF med school prerequisites : 

• One year of biology with lab (may include biochemistry); 
• One year of chemistry with lab (including at least one semester of organic chemistry, and may also include biochemistry);
• At least one course in biochemistry; and, 
• One semester of physics. 

These are the minimum UCSF medical school course requirements, but UCSF states that “most successful applicants will have taken at least one upper level biology course (e.g., biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, immunology, etc.) as well as a full year of organic chemistry.” 

Suggested reading: California’s Top Pre-Med Colleges

The admissions committee also seeks students with a well-rounded transcript, including excellence in humanities and foreign language courses. 

GPA Requirements for UCSF Med School

Many medical schools consider academic excellence as an essential selection factor, which means that your GPA will be of great interest to admissions teams. Many excellent resources are available that explain med school GPA requirements so you don’t have to go through the process alone.  

For UCSF, they evaluate your GPA in the context of factors such as: 

• Course difficulty; 
• Number of units attempted; and, 
• The applicant’s background. 

In 2023, UCSF med school’s average GPA was approximately 3.88. The school has stated that applicants with a GPA lower than 3.2 “generally are not considered favorably for admission.” If you have a lower GPA this does not automatically mean you will not be accepted to med school. There are some great resources available to you to help you apply to med school with a lower GPA .  

What GPA is Required for UCSF? 

A 3.2 GPA isn’t necessarily a cutoff; UCSF states that nontraditional applicants shouldn’t be discouraged or take courses exclusively to boost their GPA. We do, however, recommend applying with a GPA higher than 3.2, ideally close to the median of 3.88 or higher is ideal. 

MCAT Scores

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required to apply to UCSF Medical School. The exam’s purpose is to assess your problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and overall knowledge of biological, behavioral, and social sciences. 

Prospective students are allowed to take the MCAT multiple times. UCSF medical school will, however, look at the most recent scores. The MCAT must be taken within three years from the date you plan to apply to medical school. 

What MCAT Score Do I Need for UCSF? 

UCSF doesn’t have an MCAT score cutoff. Although class profile data doesn’t share the UCSF medical school average MCAT score, but the median score is 516. We recommend applying with an MCAT score that meets or exceeds 516 for your best shot at acceptance. 

Letters of Recommendation 

Letters of recommendation are sent to UCSF in the secondary application. Applicants are required to submit three to five recommendations, two of which must come from previous instructors. UCSF accepts only one set of letters no matter how many programs an applicant applies to. These letters are submitted through AMCAS . 

Your letters of recommendation should discuss you, your contributions, and your passions. Any achievements in the science field are of particular interest to the admissions committee and should be included in the letters. 

Sending writers a short synopsis about yourself and your achievements can direct them to what you want to be included in your recommendations. Character references and recommendations from family and friends are generally not considered valid, so focus on getting letters of recommendation from previous instructors, mentors, and coworkers.

Work Experiences/Activities 

Although there aren’t necessarily explicit UCSF medical school prerequisites related to work and activities, clinical and/or research experience can be vital to your application. They can be a defining factor of your application because the admissions committee will see that you’ve applied your knowledge in real situations and have tested your motivation to attend med school. 

Demonstrating interest in patient care reiterates UCSF’s mission statement and appeals to admissions teams. Excellent activities and work experience for medical school include: 

• Shadowing a physician ; 
• Volunteer work (medical or non-medical);
• Clinical experiences (paid or unpaid);
• Research experience; and, 
• Experiences focused on patient exposure. 

Volunteering for med school is a great way to bolster your application. Medical school students participate in research projects throughout the MD program, so previous experience can help move your application forward. Check local colleges and universities for research opportunities near you. 

UCSF Medical School Secondary Application Essays & Tips to Write Them

Compared to other top medical schools like Harvard and Perelman , the UCSF medical school secondary application is short. There are three essay questions, and each must be no more than 500 words. Your responses must be concise but include as much detail as possible. 

This may seem tricky, but preparing for the essays ahead of time will give you an advantage when it comes time to complete them. The admissions committee reviews secondary applications on a first-come basis, so completing your essays as quickly as possible–without losing the integrity of your writing–is highly recommended.

These are the most recent UCSF medical school secondary application questions and tips on how to formulate your answers. 

1. “ If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below.” (500 words)

Don’t let the wording fool you: you must answer this prompt. Even though you have discussed activities earlier in your AMCAS application and personal statement, this is another chance for you to further expand upon them. 

If possible, discuss an experience you haven’t touched on already. If you’re struggling to find a new experience to discuss, it’s ok to reuse an experience from your primary application if you focus on a different aspect of that experience. 

For example, if you discussed the success of a research project in your primary application, you could discuss the challenges in your secondary, what you learned from the experience, and how you overcame the obstacles you faced. Always keep content original, straightforward, and tailored to what UCSF desires in applicants.

2. “If you are a 2023 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree.” (350 words)

If you took a gap year, time off between completing your undergraduate degree and applying to medical school, this question aims to determine how you spent your time. You’ll need to prove to the admissions committee that you used this time wisely to strengthen your application. 

Showing your continuous pursuits reveals your passion for and dedication to medicine. What’s important here is that you only include relevant experiences. Focus on what you pursued to make yourself a stronger applicant. Research, shadowing, clinical experience, and volunteer work all count as time well spent. 

3. “Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? Please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community.” (350 words)

Feel free to skip this one if you don’t come from a marginalized or underprivileged background. If you do, write solely about your experiences connected to these backgrounds/identities. Unlike a standard diversity essay, you can’t pick any identity here to expand on. 

The best way to answer the UCSF School of Medicine secondary application questions is to be straightforward and convincing. Highlight your qualities and tie the answer back to your passion for medicine and why you’re an excellent candidate.

UCSF Medical School Interview Process

If you are selected to interview , it means the admissions committee at UCSF sees great potential in you. The UCSF medical school interview typically encompasses two 40-minute interviews. Interview lengths can vary. 

Interviews at UCSF medical school are closed-file, meaning the interviewer comes into the interview knowing only your name. They’ll ask standard questions, and you’ll answer by highlighting the key aspects of your application. 

Don’t regurgitate what you mentioned in your primary and secondary applications . Instead, speak naturally and ensure you’re not over-rehearsed. Ensure you discuss your achievements, work experiences, why you want to study medicine, and why you want to attend UCSF medical school. 

UCSF School of Medicine Admissions Deadline and Timeline

Applicants must apply through the American Medical College Association Services (AMCAS) . Once AMCAS verifies the application, they will send it to the UCSF School of Medicine, and the admissions committee will conduct a preliminary review. 

After initial screening, the admissions committee will send selected candidates a supplemental application. Applicants have approximately three to ten weeks to complete the secondary application, but it’s best to finish them as soon as possible. Chosen candidates are invited for UCSF School of Medicine interviews.  

There is a general timeline prospective students should follow when applying, even though programs can have different deadlines. Please be aware that the following deadlines are subject to change by the admissions committee at any given time:

UCSF has rolling admissions, so it’s always best to submit your applications as soon as possible (without sacrificing quality)!

UCSF Medical School Tuition and Scholarships

Medical school isn’t cheap, but UCSF medical school offers scholarships and financial aid to its students to help cover the costs. But how much does UCSF medical school cost? Here’s a breakdown of the current tuition fees and expenses for UCSF School of Medicine:

Source : UCSF School of Medicine

Tuition at UCSF can be more affordable with careful planning. Select programs offer half to full tuition coverage based on a student’s academic standing. Apart from student loans, there are scholarships available to all entering and continuing MD students.

UCSF also offers financial aid for entering students apart from FAFSA. The UCSF Finaid/Cost of Living Supplement (COLS) is an opportunity for incoming students to receive basic, full, or COLS funding. College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid is also available for students who require full funding. 

Financial aid through UCSF is not the only option for help with the cost of going to medical school. As our infographic (above) shows, there are some great options available to help students. 

UCSF Application FAQs 

Do you still have questions about getting into UCSF medical school? Read on to get all your burning questions answered! 

1. What’s the Average GPA of Incoming UCSF Students? 

UCSF doesn’t release GPA averages, but the median GPA of incoming students is 3.88. 

2. What Does UCSF Look for in Applicants? 

UCSF looks for students who demonstrate “intellectual and personal characteristics that the admissions committee regards as desirable.” All application components help the admissions committee select students. 

3. What Is UCSF School of Medicine’s Acceptance Rate? 

UCSF School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is 2.8%.

4. Does UCSF Require MCAT Scores? 

Yes, UCSF requires MCAT scores from all applicants. The admissions committee evaluates your most recent score. 

5. Does UCSF Have a GPA Requirement? 

While not a formal cutoff, applicants with a GPA below 3.2 are generally not looked upon favorably in the admissions process. 

Get Into UCSF Medical School and Study in the Golden State

UCSF medical school is, indeed, a competitive school, but going into the application process prepared gives you an advantage over other candidates. By going beyond the expectations and requirements set, you’re one step ahead of the competition.

Preparing the ultimate UCSF School of Medicine application takes time and dedication. With the tips above, you can confidently answer how to get into UCSF Medical School. Now that you’ve read through our guide, you know what it takes to get into UCSF medical school! 

Best of luck.

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