How to Get into UCSF Medical School: The Ultimate Guide for 2024-2025

Pioneering research and always moving forward, the University of California San Francisco Medical School (UCSF Medical School) is a dream destination for many aspiring doctors. In this post, we'll explore everything you need to know to craft a compelling application.

We’ll share:

• An overview of UCSF Medical School’s curriculum for MD students
• Tuition fees 
• Required premed courses, GPA, and MCAT
• Current admission rates
• How to write your UCSF Medical School admission essay
• Letter of recommendation guidelines
• UC San Francisco Medical School eligibility restrictions
• Application timeline

Without further ado, let’s get started.

An Overview of UCSF Medical School’s Curriculum for MD Students

UC San Francisco's medical curriculum is called the "Bridge's curriculum," and, while it's meant to span four years, it's divided into three phases.

• Foundations 1: This phase focuses on foundational knowledge in basic and clinical sciences, developing the mindset of an inquiring physician, and contributing to patient health and health care delivery.
• Foundations 2: This phase involves immersion in team-based clinical settings, where students revisit core concepts in foundational science as they relate to patient care.
• Career Launch: In this individualized phase, students select clinical experiences and a scholarly project aligned with their career goals.

Additionally, the curriculum includes an Inquiry Curriculum for scientific discovery, a longitudinal clinical skills curriculum (Clinical Microsystems Clerkship), mentorship, and a flexible learning environment with opportunities for individualized clinical and scientific learning​.

UCSF Medical School Tuition Fees and Scholarships

For the academic year 2023-2024, the tuition fees at UCSF Medical School are as follows:

• Tuition - $47,580
• Health Insurance Fee - $7,360
• Loan Fees - $451
• Living Expenses - $32,595

With all the mentioned fees included, the total cost of attendance comes to $87,986. It’s fair to mention that out-of-state students must pay an additional fee of $12,245, totaling their tuition to $100,231.

Financial Aid

Scholarships played a significant role in student support for the class of 2027. A substantial 85% of students benefited from financial aid.

How Hard Is It To Get Into UCSF Medical School?

Getting admitted to the UC San Francisco Medical School isn’t an easy task. The university has a holistic approach to considering candidates, so their requirements are many.

UC San Francisco Medical School Eligibility Restrictions

UCSF Medical School has several eligibility restrictions for its admissions process, including:

• A Bachelor's degree obtained after a four-year undergraduate curriculum.
• A maximum of 105 quarter units from a community college.
• Completed four prerequisite courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and biochemistry (we’ll provide more details on this in our next section)
• A strong MCAT score (it’s best if you take the test in spring)
• Demonstrated technical abilities for medical practice and a holistic understanding of medicine

UC San Francisco can be one of the harder medical schools to get into. But their level of education is well worth the effort.

Are International Students Eligible to Apply to UC San Francisco Medical School?

While all applications will be considered, international students without residence in the US may have more difficulties in being accepted, as residents are prioritized.

Required Premed Courses at UC San Francisco Medical School

Applicants to UCFS must have completed four prerequisite courses:

• One year of biology with access to a lab
• One year of chemistry with a lab (including organic chemistry)
• One course in physics.
• One course in biochemistry or equivalent.

Remember that these are the baseline courses that are needed. A successful applicant will have completed many more courses. 

UCSF Medical School GPA, MCAT, GPA, and Admission Rate

The admissions process for the class of 2027 at UCSF Medical School was highly competitive. The school received a total of 8,776 applications, out of which 545 candidates were interviewed. Ultimately, only 282 applicants were admitted. For the class of 2027, UCSF Medical School’s acceptance rate was approximately 3.2%. 

In terms of academic performance, admitted students had an MCAT average of 516 and an average GPA of 3.88.

How to Write Your University of California San Francisco Medical School Essay

UCSF's secondary application is more concise than those of many top medical schools, consisting of just three essays under 1200 words in total. This brevity means that much of what UCSF seeks in candidates should be conveyed in other parts of the application, like the primary application's personal statement, activities list, MCAT scores, GPA, and recommendation letters. 

‍The secondary essay prompts for UC San Francisco Medical School require thoughtful, clear, and straightforward responses. For example:

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

While your medical school personal statement and AMCAS Work and Activities section might seem to cover similar ground as this prompt, it actually offers a unique opportunity. Use this space to highlight a passion or attribute not previously showcased in your application. Reflect on your personal statement and activities list to identify a key quality like leadership, collaboration, service, or cultural competency that you haven't yet emphasized. This is crucial for presenting yourself as a well-rounded applicant, despite the prompt's seemingly optional phrasing.

UCSF Medical School Letter of Recommendation Requirements and Guidelines

Applicants can submit up to five letters of recommendation to enter UCSF Medical School. Here are some guidelines you should follow:

• Committee letters are preferable
• Packet letters are allowed but not preferred 
• In the case of individual letters of recommendation, at least two should be from instructors

Applicants should choose letters they believe will best support their application. It's important to note that while these guidelines are strongly recommended, they are not strict requirements.​

University of California San Francisco Medical School Application Timeline 

To be admitted to the University of California San Francisco Medical School, you must submit your application in early May. Remember that this period starts the year before your first academic year, and ends on October 15 of the same year. Extensions to the deadline won't be contemplated. It's ideal to send your application as early as possible, as revision is a lengthy process.

The admissions timeline typically follows this schedule:

• AMCAS Application - Starting in May, you must complete the AMCAS application by October 15.
• Secondary Application - From mid-July to November, you may be invited to fill out the UCSF School of Medicine secondary application. This application has a $120 fee.
• Interview - If selected, you will be called for an interview from late September to early February.
• Post-Interview Decisions - UCSF will communicate its decisions to interviewed applicants between February and March.

Let’s Put You on the Path to UCSF Medical School

UC Davis School of Medicine seeks candidates who exhibit a combination of academic excellence and personal qualities such as compassion, leadership, and a commitment to service. And at Premed Catalyst, we know how to showcase this unique blend in your application.

Starting as early as your freshman year, our personalized mentorship helps you build a compelling narrative and robust foundation for your application. Take the first step towards your medical career by filling out our quick form in less than two minutes – join us and move closer to donning your white coat!