UCSF School of Medicine

What is UCSF Medical School? UCSF is a medical school in San Francisco. Students there train and study in the 7 hospitals it consists of. It was founded in 1864 and is the oldest medical school in California. According to U.S news and World Report, UCSF is ranked #2 for primary care and #6 for research. How difficult is it to get into UCSF? Being one of the most selective medical schools in the country, it has an acceptance rate of 3.5-4%. In 2019, a survey showed that 7,846 students applied, 468 received interviews, but in the end, only 297 students got in. There are so many factors that are exceedingly important when applying to UCSF and other medical schools. One of them is, of course, the MCAT score. The average MCAT score for students who have been accepted is 518. Something important to remember, is that when you score 511, that would put you in the 10th percentile. But scoring 524, would get you to the 90th percentile. Though these numbers are only a few gaps apart, it could make a huge difference. Another factor that plays a role in acceptance is GPA. The average GPA for accepted students is 3.85. Again, a 3.6 GPA would put you at the 10th percentile, and 3.99 would get you to a 90th percentile. Something that many students wonder about is majors. Do students wanting to go down the road to medical school have to obtain a biology or math/science major? Though it is very common, no, you don’t have to. Many medical schools also always look for diversity, so it is important to keep that in mind. 78% of accepted students majored in science or math discipline as an undergraduate. What are some of the admission requirements? Some admission requirements include:

• Bachelor's degree obtained 105 credits/units from a junior or community college
  

• 1+ year of biology or biochemistry with lab
  

• 1+ year of chemistry, including at least one semester of organic chemistry with lab
  

• One course in biochemistry
  

• One semester of physics

How much does it cost to attend? In most medical schools, tuition is very costly. Tuition will vary depending on which year you're in. UCSF estimates that the average cost for non-residents in their first year of the medical program is $86, 291. This includes supplies, services, and other fees. While for in-state students, the cost is $74, 046. Many students find themselves unable to afford medical school. But don’t fret because that’s what scholarships and financial aid are for. According to UCSF, 91% of UCSF medical students receive financial aid. But that doesn’t mean that 91% wouldn’t have debt at the end. The school estimates that on average, most students leave medical school with completion of the entire program (4 years) with debt of around $146, 482. That is still a ton of money. However, it should all be worth it because at the end, you’re the one who has gained new experience and potential, which could help you a lot in the long-run. Especially when you’re officially looking for a job after training (residency). In residency, which takes around 3-7 years, there are so many specialties to choose from. Some of the most common at UCSF include:

• Internal Medicine: 24%

• Emergency Medicine: 8%

• General Surgery: 7%

• Anesthesiology: 6%

• Neurology: 6%

• OB/Gyn: 6%

​Sources: https://www.kaptest.com/study/medical-school/ucsf/#:~:text=The%20UCSF%20School%20of%20Medicine%20is%20located%20in,the%20seven%20hospitals%20that%20make%20up%20UCSF%20Health. https://mededits.com/medical-school-admissions/how-to-get-into-ucsf-medical-school/#:~:text=UCSF%20School%20of%20Medicine%20is%20one%20of%20the,Ultimately%2C%20297%20students%20were%20accepted%2C%20and%20155%20enrolled.