April 8, 2024
Written By
Worried you're not competitive enough for UC Davis?
You're not alone. Every year, thousands of qualified premeds stress over whether their stats, experiences, and story will measure up—and when you Google “UC Davis Medical School acceptance rate,” you’re hit with a scary number.
But this guide is here to cut through the noise. We’ll tell you exactly what it takes to get into UC Davis School of Medicine, what they’re looking for, and how to stand out in your secondaries, interview, and beyond.
But you don’t have to do this alone. At Premed Catalyst, we offer personalized mentorship and application advising from current med students who know what it takes to get in because they’ve done it themselves. In the 2024–2025 cycle, 100% of our students who submitted on time were accepted to med school.
If you’re serious about UC Davis, book a free strategy session today before spots fill up.
Let’s get straight to it: UC Davis School of Medicine is highly competitive. In the most recent admissions cycle, the school received over 7,000 applications for around 130 spots. That puts the UC Davis medical school acceptance rate at roughly 2%—which means fewer than 1 in 50 applicants get in.
But don’t let that number paralyze you. Medical school acceptance rates alone don't tell the whole story. It’s not just about how many apply. It’s about how many apply well. The truth is, most applicants are eliminated because they submit average, unfocused, or late applications. If you bring strong stats, a compelling personal story, a clear connection to the school’s mission, and apply early, you’re no longer playing the same odds.
Before you hit submit on your UC Davis School of Medicine application, make sure you meet their core eligibility criteria. Here’s what you must have to be considered:
While a bachelor’s degree is not technically required to apply, it’s strongly encouraged. Almost all successful applicants will have earned one.
UC Davis has a few important restrictions to keep in mind:
If you are an international student on a visa, you will be asked to complete a statement certifying you have the resources needed to attend college.
There are only four courses required for entry to the UC Davis School of Medicine:
While not mandatory, always remember that having more courses will boost your admissions case.
Let’s talk numbers. For the class of 2027, the average MCAT score was 511 and the average GPA was 3.6. That puts UC Davis right in the zone of competitive—but not unattainable—for strong applicants.
Take a breath—you don’t have to be perfect to get into UC Davis. In fact, many students who get accepted don’t have flawless MCAT scores or a 4.0 GPA. What they do have is a story that makes sense, a clear calling to medicine, and a demonstrated commitment to the kind of impact UC Davis values.
UC Davis School of Medicine is mission-driven. They care deeply about equity, access, and improving healthcare for underserved communities, especially in California’s Central Valley. If your stats are just okay, but you’ve spent years working in free clinics, mentoring youth from marginalized backgrounds, or advocating for health justice, that speaks volumes. They’re looking for future physicians who understand the real-world challenges their patients face not just good test takers.
But let’s be honest: you still need a strategy. That means knowing how to frame your experiences, owning your academic imperfections without making excuses, and showing growth.
UC Davis presents you with a modern curriculum aimed at turning you into a consummate medical professional. It’s based on 3 pillars—innovativeness, integration, and flexibility—and will leave you prepared for any medical specialty you choose to follow.
It’s separated into four distinct years:
For the academic year 2023-2024, the tuition fees at UC Davis Medical School are as follows:
With all the mentioned fees included, the total cost of attendance comes to $93,337. For out-of-state students, an additional fee of $12,245 will be levied, bringing the total up to $105,582.
Scholarships played a significant role in student support for the class of 2027. A substantial 67% of students benefited from financial aid, with the average annual scholarship totaling $7,050. The scholarship awards ranged widely, extending from $100 to as much as $14,000.
You’ve seen the acceptance rate. The competition is fierce. But every student who gets into UC Davis has something more than just strong stats—they have a story that fits.
This next section is your roadmap. We’ll walk you through the full application timeline, how to build a compelling narrative, craft secondary essays that resonate, and crush the interview with authenticity and purpose. You’ll learn how to align every piece of your application with UC Davis’s values so your file doesn’t just meet the criteria. It leaves an impression.
While the application timeline for the 2024-2025 academic year isn’t available yet, we can use the 2023-2024 timeline as a reference.
The UC Davis Medical School submission period runs from late May to early October. No further submissions will be received after the final deadline. No exceptions.
The process takes almost a year and involves four main steps:
UC Davis doesn’t go based off of a checklist. They’re looking for a clear, compelling reason to say yes. That means your application can’t just be a jumble of impressive experiences. It needs to tell a story.
The goal is to make sure every part of your application—your clinical hours, your community involvement, your research, even the tone of your essays—supports that identity. Not by repeating the same thing over and over but by showing growth, consistency, and intentionality.
After completing your AMCAS application, you’ll need to write several secondary essays specifically for UC Davis Medical School.
The secondary application at UC Davis must be accompanied by an essay. These essays are crucial. They allow you to demonstrate how your background aligns with UC Davis Med beyond what is conveyed in your general medical school personal statement, as well as the AMCAS Work and Activities section.
You will have to answer the following questions with the allotted word count:
The requirements for your secondary essay are straightforward, and they even allow you to address topics you may not have covered in enough detail in your first essay.
Consider that UC Davis has a special link to its community. Hence, committing to practice medicine in the California/Northern California area is crucial. Elaborate on your ties to the region, you may answer questions like: Were you born in California? Are you part of the greater community? Awareness of the challenges faced by people in this region will be well received.
Finally, you must highlight a minimum of three activities closely related to the field of medicine. This is your chance to underscore the dedication you've shown beyond your academic pursuits. Ideally, connect these activities with UC Davis.
Applicants can submit up to six letters of recommendation to enter UC Davis Medical School. There are no official guidelines for recommendation letters. But the institution will accept:
There’s a marked preference for packet and committee letters. Overall, applicants should choose letters they believe will best support their application.
The interview isn’t just a formality—it’s where your application steps off the page and into the room.
You need to be able to talk about your experiences, your values, and your “why medicine” story with clarity and conviction. But it’s not about sounding rehearsed. It’s about being rooted in your truth, even when the conversation takes a turn you didn’t expect.
Interviewers may dig deeper into a small comment, throw curveball questions, or challenge your ideas. That’s not a trap. It’s a test of how well you know yourself and how consistently you express that in your answers.
What UC Davis is really evaluating here is emotional intelligence: Can you reflect on your experiences with honesty? Do you speak with purpose but also humility? Are you genuinely committed to the school’s mission, or just saying what you think they want to hear?
Not every med school is built the same—and not every applicant is built for UC Davis. So before you pour your time and energy into crafting the perfect application, ask yourself the deeper question: Is this the kind of place where I’ll thrive?
UC Davis School of Medicine is deeply mission-driven. They prioritize applicants who are committed to serving underserved and rural communities, especially in Northern and Central California. If your passion lies in health equity, primary care, community-based medicine, or addressing systemic gaps in access—this school will feel like home.
UC Davis is just one piece of the puzzle. If you’re applying broadly across California, it’s essential to understand how other med schools compare in terms of competitiveness, mission fit, and admissions priorities.
Below, you’ll find links to detailed guides on acceptance rates and strategies for getting into major medical schools in California.
You’ve done the research. You’ve seen the stats. You know what UC Davis is looking for, and the basics of how to get into medical school. But deep down, you’re still asking yourself: Is what I’m doing actually good enough?
At Premed Catalyst, we give you more than advice—we give you direction. Our mentors are current med students who know how to shape your story, strengthen your application, and help you show up with clarity and confidence. In the 2024–2025 cycle, every one of our students who submitted on time got accepted. That's a 100% acceptance rate.
If you're serious about UC Davis, don’t leave it to chance. Book a free strategy session today.