University of Colorado School of Medicine Admissions Guide (2027)

Quick facts

• Entry cycle: 2026–27 application cycle, Class of 2031; AMCAS is due October 15, 2026 and the secondary November 30. Timeline
• MCAT: 507 is required to receive a secondary; accepted Fall 2027 dates are January 2024 through October 2026. Requirements
• Assessment: CASPer through Acuity Insights is required for every applicant. Requirements
• Interview: entirely virtual, with an observed group component and individual interview focused on intra- and interpersonal competencies. Interview process
• Location: the primary School of Medicine and Admissions Office are at CU Anschutz in Aurora, not Denver. Requirements
• Campus choices: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Rural and Aerospace options are selected through the shared secondary; all applicants are also considered for Aurora. Requirements

Admission requirements

Applicants normally need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university before matriculation. The published exception is a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate who did not first complete a bachelor's degree. Requirements

Colorado uses competency-based academic preparation rather than a fixed course checklist. Applicants should show depth in biology; chemistry and biochemistry; mathematics, statistics and physics; and social sciences and communication. They must speak, read and write English fluently. Competencies may come from traditional or interdisciplinary study and relevant educational, employment, service or life experiences. Requirements

AP, CLEP and online courses can be treated comparably when the accredited U.S. degree-granting institution records the credit. International coursework may fulfill preparation when verified by a credential evaluator. Students with basic-science AP or CLEP credit are encouraged to take upper-level work in those areas. Requirements

For July 2027 matriculation, the MCAT window is January 2024 through October 2026. The committee uses the highest total score from one test date, and a 507 or higher is required to receive the secondary. Colorado does not publish a separate minimum GPA on the current page. Requirements

A complete secondary file requires AMCAS, the Colorado secondary, a valid MCAT, Acuity Insights assessment including required CASPer, three to five letters or a committee letter, and the fee or waiver. Letters may come from faculty, clinical or research experience or current employment. Requirements

The Fort Collins page says the main-campus program welcomes domestic and international applicants, while international applicants cannot enter Fort Collins because of visa rules. The general requirements page does not publish the complete international-applicant conditions; candidates should confirm eligibility directly before applying. Fort Collins campus

Important dates

The official timeline identifies the 2026–27 application cycle for the Class of 2031. AMCAS opens for earliest filing in May 2026, and the Colorado secondary begins in early July. Interview season runs from September 2026 through March 2027. Timeline

The AMCAS deadline is October 15, 2026. Rolling admission offers begin October 15, and the secondary deadline is November 30, 2026. Interview invitations are distributed roughly from August through February. Timeline Requirements

Interviewed applicants can expect a decision in approximately four to six weeks. Decisions are acceptance, rejection or alternate list; the alternate list is later divided into upper, middle and lower groups. Interview process Requirements

The current timeline has not yet replaced its accepted-student section for Fall 2027: Plan to Enroll, Commit to Enroll, orientation, White Coat and class-start dates still belong to the 2025–26 cycle/Class of 2030. Those 2026 dates are not carried into this packet. Timeline

How selection works

Applicants scoring 507 or higher on the MCAT receive a secondary. Completed files are reviewed holistically by the Screening Subcommittee using an established rubric. Colorado defines holistic review as consideration of coursework, academic and extracurricular experiences, talents, background, attributes and unique experiences across the full packet. Approximately 690 applicants are invited to interview. Requirements

Interview selection balances experiences, attributes and academic metrics. The structured interview process evaluates intra- and interpersonal competencies. After interview, the Post-Interview Review Subcommittee reviews all application materials and interview evaluations, deliberates and votes on a recommended status. Requirements

The full Admission Committee votes to ratify or modify the post-interview recommendations and has final authority over acceptance, rejection and alternate-list decisions. Offers begin on a rolling basis after October 15. The dean of admission manages the alternate list under committee authority, and applicants are later assigned upper, middle or lower placement. Requirements

The school confirms use of established screening and interview rubrics but does not publish the questions, rating anchors, numerical weights, PIRC vote threshold, full-committee threshold or how CASPer, academics and interview performance combine quantitatively.

Interview details

Confirmed

All School of Medicine interviews are virtual. The day uses a mixed format that includes observation of a group and an individual interview, with up to 30 applicants interviewed on a given day. Interview evaluations focus on intra- and interpersonal competencies needed for medicine. Interview process

After the day, the Post-Interview Review Subcommittee considers all application materials and interview evaluations and votes on a recommendation. The full Admission Committee has final decision authority. Applicants should expect a decision in about four to six weeks. Requirements Interview process

Not published

The current pages do not define the group exercise, group size, individual-interview count or duration, interviewer roles or file access, virtual platform, question categories, rating dimensions or anchors, numerical interview weight or committee vote thresholds. Invitation materials and the current sample schedules control day-specific logistics.

Who this program may suit

The canonical University of Colorado School of Medicine admissions program is based at CU Anschutz in Aurora. The frozen backlog's Denver city should be corrected because the official School and Admissions Office addresses are in Aurora. Requirements

Through the secondary, applicants may express interest in one of the Fort Collins, Colorado Springs or Rural training options and may pair Aerospace Engineering Sciences with another choice. All applicants are also considered for the main Aurora campus. These are branch or training choices inside one application and should not create duplicate School Pages. Requirements

Fort Collins is a four-year regional campus at Colorado State University admitting 14 students per year. Applicants interested in a smaller campus, community immersion and One Health can explain that fit, while recognizing that the central School of Medicine admissions process governs selection. Fort Collins campus

Practice and next step

Practise for both confirmed components. For the observed group format, rehearse a two-minute contribution that clarifies the group's task, adds one useful idea and invites another person into the discussion. For the individual interview, record a structured example showing teamwork, self-awareness, empathy or resilience and the lesson that changed later behavior.

Review whether the group contribution advances the work without dominating and whether the individual answer provides concrete evidence. Choose one weakness, record a second attempt and compare the two responses, then practise a new example so your preparation covers both interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the University of Colorado School of Medicine?

The primary School and Admissions Office are at CU Anschutz in Aurora, Colorado. The frozen Denver label is not the official admissions location. Requirements

What MCAT score is required?

A 507 or higher is required to receive a secondary. For July 2027 matriculation, accepted test dates are January 2024 through October 2026. Requirements

Is CASPer required?

Yes. Colorado requires all applicants to complete CASPer through Acuity Insights. Requirements

What is the interview format?

All interviews are virtual and include an observed group component plus an individual interview. Exact timings and interviewer details are not published. Interview process

Are Fort Collins and Colorado Springs separate applications?

No. Applicants express interest through the shared secondary, and all are also considered for Aurora. Requirements

Sources

Verified August 11, 2026. Current official sources used:

• Admission requirements — degree, competencies, MCAT, letters, secondary, CASPer, holistic review, committees, campus choices, wait list and Aurora address.
• 2026–27 admissions timeline — Class of 2031 application, interview and offer dates plus stale accepted-student subsection.
• Interview process — all-virtual mixed group and individual format, capacity, competency focus and decision timing.
• Fort Collins Regional Medical Campus — branch identity, shared application, cohort and international restriction.
• MD admissions — School identity and Aurora contact address.