MD Program Application Process

Thank you for your interest in applying to the UCSF School of Medicine!

Applying to the UCSF School of Medicine is a six-step process. Use the tabs below to guide you through your application journey.

• Step 1: Am I Eligible?
  Understand Admissions Prerequisites and Requirements
• Step 2: AMCAS Application
  Complete the AMCAS Application by October 15
• Step 3: Secondary Application (Mid-July to November)
  Invited applicants complete the UCSF School of Medicine secondary application
• Step 4: Interview (Late September to early February)
  Invited applicants participate in an Interview
• Step 5: Post-Interview Decisions (February to April)
  UCSF sends post-interview decisions between February and March
• Step 6: Congratulations!
  Congratulations on completing the application process! Learn important information for new medical students.

Step One: Am I Eligible to Apply?

Transfer Students

UCSF School of Medicine does not accept transfer students at any level.

Coursework Requirements

Premedical students should pursue a four-year undergraduate curriculum and obtain a baccalaureate degree before entering medical school. A maximum of 105 quarter units can be transferred from a community college.

Applicants must complete all course requirements for admissions to the UCSF School of Medicine by June of the year of entry.

• One academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) of college-level Biology with laboratory. This may include Biochemistry.
• One academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters) of college-level Chemistry, including at least one semester of Organic Chemistry with laboratory. This may include Biochemistry.
• semester or 1 quarter of college-level Biochemistry
• semester or 2 quarters of Physics

Advanced Placement (AP) credit will be accepted for the Chemistry and Physics prerequisites if the credit is verified on your college transcript.

We will accept coursework taken from accredited institutions, including accredited community colleges. Online coursework and courses taken pass/no pass will also be accepted.

MCAT Policy

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), required of all applicants, is administered multiple times per year. We encourage applicants to take the MCAT in the spring rather than the summer. This approach allows you to take the test again if you feel that your initial test scores do not reflect your ability. For applicants who decide to take the MCAT more than once, the committee looks at the most recent scores. The MCAT must be taken within three years of the date you plan to enter medical school and, at the latest, by September of the preceding year. We will accept scores from 2022, 2023, and 2024 for applications submitted by October 15, 2024.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Anti-Oppression

The School of Medicine welcomes all applicants without discrimination. The School of Medicine has a long-standing commitment to increasing the number of physicians from disadvantaged and historically underrepresented populations. As a result, over the last 35 years, UCSF has had one of the highest enrollment and graduation rates of underrepresented medical students in the U.S. UCSF’s commitment to diversifying the physician workforce also includes LGBT populations, socio-economically disadvantaged populations, and individuals with disabilities.

All applications will be considered but preference is given to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and applicants with DACA.

Other Requirements

Admissions Policies

A complete list of admissions policies is available on the Admissions Policies webpage