CUSM MD Admissions & Interview Guide (2027)

Quick facts

• Entry cycle: Fall 2027 entry; the current official 2026–27 timeline is the controlling date source. CUSM application process
• Application service: AMCAS, followed by a secondary for selected applicants. CUSM application process
• Primary deadline: December 1, 2026. CUSM 2026–27 timeline
• Secondary deadline: December 30, 2026. CUSM 2026–27 timeline
• Academic levels: Preferred total and BCPM GPA of 3.0 or higher; minimum MCAT 502. CUSM requirements
• Assessments: CASPer for secondary invitees, then a virtual Kira Timed Video Assessment and Timed Written Assessment for interview candidates. CUSM application process
• Location: Colton, California. CUSM MD program

Admission requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized accredited institution or a non-U.S. equivalent. Applicants educated outside the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation through an approved NACES member. CUSM requirements

CUSM does not require a fixed set of prerequisite courses. It recommends preparation across biology, chemistry and physics, mathematics, behavioral and social sciences, communication, and laboratory or field experimentation. The school prefers both a total GPA and a BCPM GPA of 3.0 or higher. These are published preferences, not guarantees of a secondary, interview, or offer. CUSM requirements

The minimum MCAT is 502. For the 2027 entering class, CUSM accepts MCAT exams taken from January 2024 through September 2026. The current requirements page reports a 510 average for the most recent entering class; that is descriptive and not a cutoff. CUSM requirements

Applicants submit three letters through AMCAS, or a committee letter in place of the three individual letters. The current requirements page allows U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA applicants to apply and states that international students are not accepted. Admitted applicants must also meet technical standards and complete required background, health, and orientation steps. CUSM requirements

Important dates

CUSM's clearly labelled 2026–2027 Application Timeline is the current date source for fall 2027 entry. AMCAS submission begins May 28, 2026. CUSM accepts applications and emails secondaries from August through December 2026, and interview invitations run from September 2026 through April 2027. CUSM application process

The AMCAS primary deadline is December 1, 2026, and the CUSM secondary deadline is December 30, 2026. Offers are rolling. The AAMC Plan to Enroll option opens February 19, 2027, Commit to Enroll opens April 30, 2027, and CUSM's Commit to Enroll deadline is June 21, 2027. CUSM 2026–27 timeline

Year 1 Orientation is scheduled for July 12–16, 2027, and Clinical Skills Orientation for July 19–23, 2027. The White Coat Ceremony date is listed as to be announced. CUSM 2026–27 timeline

The opening paragraph on the same application page still shows Fall 2026 and December 2025 dates. Those older dates do not govern this fall 2027 page; applicants should use the labelled 2026–27 table and their own CUSM communications.

How selection works

Applicants first submit AMCAS. CUSM reviews primary applications and invites selected applicants to complete a secondary with essays and a fee; the school recognizes the AMCAS Fee Assistance Program for the secondary fee. Secondary invitees must complete CASPer using the testing instructions CUSM provides. CUSM application process CUSM FAQ

CUSM then reviews completed secondary files to select candidates for its virtual interview process. The current 2026–27 timeline names a Kira Timed Video Assessment and Timed Written Assessment. The broader process also includes a virtual question-and-answer session and a Virtual Engagement Day with admissions leaders, faculty, and students. CUSM application process

After the assessment process, the Admissions Committee reviews the complete application, secondary, and interview evaluations and may accept, waitlist, or reject the applicant. Decisions and offers are rolling, and the school says some final decisions may arrive as late as May. CUSM application process CUSM decision notices

The current official pages do not publish numerical weights for GPA, MCAT, experiences, letters, essays, CASPer, the Kira assessments, or other interview activities, nor a final score-combination formula.

Interview details

Confirmed

For the 2026–27 application cycle, CUSM lists a virtual Kira Timed Video Assessment and Timed Written Assessment. The application-process page describes the pre-recorded video portion as timed responses that take about 30–60 minutes in total and can be completed at a time selected by the applicant. CUSM application process

CUSM also describes a virtual question-and-answer session with faculty and Student Ambassadors and a separate Virtual Engagement Day group session with the Admissions Team, deans or faculty, and Student Ambassadors. Applicants should follow their invitation for the exact order and participation requirements. CUSM application process

Not published

The current official web sources do not publish the number of video or written prompts, time allowed per prompt, preparation time, exact question categories, whether evaluators see the application file, scoring rubric, assessment weight, or final score-combination formula. The current timeline does not label the Kira assessment an MMI, so this page does not assign that format to fall 2027.

Who this program may suit

CUSM may suit eligible applicants interested in an MD program based in Colton whose stated curriculum integrates basic science, clinical medicine, population health, and clinical skills. CUSM MD program

Key practical fit constraints are the bachelor's-degree and residency-status rules, the published GPA preferences and MCAT minimum, CASPer for secondary invitees, and the virtual Kira timed video-and-written assessment. Applicants should also be comfortable with a process that can run through April interviews and May final decisions. These are eligibility, timing, and format considerations, not predictions of an interview or offer.

Practice and next step

Start with the featured clinic-access scenario. Record one concise spoken response that identifies the missing clinical and access information, compares the needs of both patients, proposes a consistent decision process, and communicates the outcome respectfully. This practises structured judgment and clear delivery for a timed video setting without assuming an unpublished Kira prompt type or time limit.

Review the recording for one observable weakness: perhaps you made an unsupported assumption about missed appointments, did not compare urgency, or buried your decision rule. Record the same response again with one deliberate adjustment and compare the two attempts. Continue through the structured-interview path to practise ethical reasoning, teamwork, feedback, and motivation. Use the CUSM invitation before simulating exact fall 2027 video or written timing.

Frequently asked questions

What are CUSM's fall 2027 deadlines?

The AMCAS primary deadline is December 1, 2026, and the CUSM secondary deadline is December 30, 2026. Interview invitations run from September 2026 through April 2027, and CUSM's Commit to Enroll deadline is June 21, 2027. CUSM 2026–27 timeline

What GPA and MCAT levels does CUSM publish?

CUSM prefers total and BCPM GPAs of at least 3.0 and requires a minimum MCAT of 502. For the 2027 entering class, accepted MCAT dates run from January 2024 through September 2026. These levels do not guarantee advancement. CUSM requirements

Does CUSM require prerequisite courses?

CUSM does not publish a fixed prerequisite-course list. It recommends knowledge across biological and physical sciences, mathematics, behavioral and social sciences, communication, and experimental work. CUSM requirements

Does CUSM require CASPer?

Yes. The current process requires CASPer for applicants invited to submit a secondary, with testing details supplied in the invitation. CUSM application process

What is the CUSM interview format?

CUSM's current 2026–27 timeline lists a virtual Kira Timed Video Assessment and Timed Written Assessment. The video assessment takes about 30–60 minutes in total. The school also describes a virtual Q&A and Virtual Engagement Day. Exact prompt counts, per-prompt timing, preparation time, categories, file access, rubric, weight, and final formula are not published. CUSM application process

Can applicants update their file after submission?

The current FAQ says CUSM does not accept application updates after submission. Applicants should make the AMCAS and secondary complete before submitting them. CUSM FAQ

Sources

Verified August 11, 2026. Current official sources used:

• CUSM: application process and 2026–27 timeline — AMCAS and secondary stages, CASPer, Kira video and written assessments, virtual activities, committee review, deadlines, interview window, enrolment dates, and orientation dates.
• CUSM: requirements for admission — degree, recommended knowledge, GPA preferences, MCAT minimum and date range, letters, residency eligibility, and technical requirements.
• CUSM: admissions FAQ — secondary fee waiver and post-submission update policy.
• CUSM: notification of decisions — rolling decisions and waitlist timing.
• CUSM: MD program — location and curriculum description.