UCSF MD Admissions (Fall 2027)

Quick facts

• School: University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California (MD application process).
• Program: Doctor of Medicine (MD).
• Cycle: The official page labels the 2026–2027 cycle and gives Fall 2027-entry MCAT and AMCAS dates.
• Application: AMCAS primary, UCSF secondary, letters, MCAT, and a Statement of Authenticity.
• Interview: Virtual for the 2026–2027 cycle; whenever possible, two interviews averaging about 40 minutes.
• Verification: first-party UCSF sources checked 2026-08-08.

Admission requirements

UCSF requires a baccalaureate degree before entry and completion of its course requirements by June of the year of entry. The published requirements include one academic year of biology with laboratory (which may include biochemistry), one academic year of chemistry including at least one semester of organic chemistry with laboratory (which may include biochemistry), one semester or quarter of biochemistry, and one semester or two quarters of physics. Accredited community-college, online, and pass/no-pass coursework is accepted under the published policy (requirements and MCAT policy).

The MCAT is required. For applications submitted by October 15, 2026, UCSF accepts scores released from January 1, 2024 through September 13, 2026. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA applicants. Invited applicants submit an $85 secondary, completed forms, a Statement of Access to Letters, a Statement of Authenticity, and three to five AMCAS letters, including at least two instructors; a committee letter or packet is preferred.

Important dates

• October 15, 2026: AMCAS application deadline; UCSF says extensions are not granted.
• Mid-July to November: secondary invitations and submission window on the current process page.
• September 13, 2026: latest accepted MCAT score-release date for applications submitted by October 15, 2026.
• Late September 2026–early February 2027: virtual interview season.
• February–March 2027: post-interview decisions are sent; the page describes the broader decision window as February to April. Recheck the live UCSF portal before relying on any date or on the exact timing of an individual interview (current process).

How selection works

UCSF describes a six-step process: AMCAS review, invitation to submit a secondary, secondary review, interview, post-interview decisions, and matriculation. The admissions committee may notify an applicant that a secondary will not be invited, invite the applicant to interview, or end consideration after review. The school says interviewers do not see the applicant’s past performance or activities during the interview, so the interview should be prepared as a focused conversation rather than a resume recitation (selection workflow).

Interview details

Confirmed

• For the 2026–2027 cycle, UCSF says all interviews are virtual and applicants receive Zoom details shortly before the interview.
• Whenever possible, applicants have two interviews with either two faculty members or one faculty member and one medical student. The average interview lasts about 40 minutes, but the school says timing varies.
• Interviews are conducted without prior review of the applicant’s past performance or activities (UCSF interview process).

Not published

The current page does not publish a station count, scoring rubric, current question list, or a promise that every applicant receives exactly two interviews. Do not infer an MMI or a fixed question set.

Who this program may suit

UCSF’s published process may suit applicants who can connect scientific preparation with service, communication, and a clear reason for practicing medicine in a diverse public-health environment. The program also expects applicants to manage a detailed AMCAS-to-secondary workflow and a virtual interview with limited information available beforehand. These are preparation considerations, not a prediction of admission (UCSF admissions process).

Practice and next step

Original Videoath practice: Use the linked general fairness-and-access prompt to practise a concise, evidence-based response for a virtual conversation. It is general Videoath practice, not a UCSF question. Record a timed answer, review whether you name the affected people and explain the trade-off, choose one weakness, adjust the answer, record it again, and compare the two attempts before choosing the next practice target.

Frequently asked questions

What coursework does UCSF require?

Biology with laboratory, chemistry including organic chemistry with laboratory, biochemistry, and physics are listed requirements; complete them by June of the entry year.

What MCAT dates are accepted for Fall 2027?

For applications submitted by October 15, 2026, UCSF accepts scores released from January 1, 2024 through September 13, 2026.

Are UCSF interviews virtual?

Yes for the 2026–2027 cycle. The page says interviews are virtual and whenever possible include two interviews averaging about 40 minutes.

How many letters are required?

Three to five AMCAS letters, including at least two instructors; a committee letter or packet is preferred.

Does UCSF accept international applicants?

The current page says applications are considered from U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA applicants. Do not expand that eligibility statement without a current official source.

Sources

• UCSF MD Program Application Process — eligibility, prerequisites, MCAT, AMCAS, secondary, letters, interviews, and decisions; checked 2026-08-08.
• Method: current first-party UCSF admissions material only; unpublished interview details remain explicitly unknown.