April 8, 2024
Written By
Michael Minh Le
Subscribe to the Premed Catalyst Newsletter
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.
In the most recent admissions cycle, the school received over 7,796 applications for around 139 spots.
That puts the UC Davis medical school acceptance rate at roughly 1.78%.
And no, that’s not a typo. Like the other UC Medical Schools, Davis is brutally selective. But here’s the kicker: nearly all of those 139 students were from California. About 96% of the class were in-state residents, which means out-of-state applicants are fighting for just a handful of seats.
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.
UC Davis School of Medicine participates in the AMCAS application system and does not operate on a purely rolling admissions basis. While early application is encouraged, admissions decisions, including waitlist and acceptance offers, are made through the spring and summer months.
Below is an overview of the application timeline you need to follow to stay competitive:
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.
The UC Davis AdCom wants to know how well you fit in with its mission, its unique emphasis on serving communities in Northern and Central California, and how you've shaped your journey toward medicine.
Below are the actual 2025–2026 UC Davis secondary prompts, followed by how to address each one.
1. “Discuss any elements of your application that you feel might be concerning to the Admissions Committee (This could include explanation of metric trends, institutional actions, legal violations, etc.) Please enter N/A if no concerns to report.” (500 characters)
If there’s anything that might raise eyebrows, like a dip in your GPA or a gap year, then bring it up head-on with context, but keep it brief. Focus on what you learned or how you bounced back. If there’s nothing, a confident “N/A” is fine. It signals clarity and self-awareness.
2. “Do you have a connection to Northern or Central California?” (500 characters)
UC Davis cares about local impact. If you grew up there, volunteered, shadowed, or even spent memorable summers, then mention it. Concrete ties carry weight. If your connection is indirect, tie it back to your passion for serving that region’s communities.
3. “Please list the activities you would like to be considered in your application to UC Davis...” (500 characters per activity, list only three)Choose your top three experiences. They should ideally have one clinical, one research or leadership, and one community-focused. Keep it simple: what you did, the real hours logged, and what it taught you about becoming a physician.
UC Davis School of Medicine requires applicants to submit three to six letters of recommendation.
At least one of these must come from a physician or clinician. Think of someone who has observed you in a clinical environment and can speak directly to your potential as a future doctor.
If you’re applying to the M.D./Ph.D. program, you’re also required to submit a letter from a research mentor who can vouch for your scientific ability and dedication to research.
While UC Davis does not specifically require or prefer a committee letter, you should prioritize individual letters from people who know you well and can highlight different dimensions of your readiness for medical school, including academic, clinical, and personal. Do not exceed six letters; anything more won’t be reviewed, and anything less than three won’t meet the minimum.
At UC Davis School of Medicine the interview is a Multiple Mini Interview rather than a single sit‑down discussion. You’ll go through a series of short, timed stations that each test qualities essential to being a physician. Each station lasts about eight minutes, and there are typically six to ten of them.
The interview structure is a closed‑file format, which means your interviewers won’t know anything about your application. On top of that, the AdCom does not revisit your file during the stations.
Expect to rotate through different scenarios. One station may ask how to handle a patient confidentiality issue. Another may involve a role‑play around teamwork or stress management. Some will test ethical reasoning. Others may probe personal motivations or explore your background and resilience.
The entire interview usually lasts over 50 minutes for many applicants.
Before the interview day, the school may invite you to participate in the Applicant Host Program. That means staying cost‑free with a current medical student. That is, if you sign up early. Slots fill fast.
You may also schedule a student‑run clinic tour during your visit, usually held on a Saturday (or Sunday for one specific clinic), though that applies only to in‑person visits.
Medical schools aren’t one-size-fits-all. Different students thrive in different environments, and choosing the right fit can make all the difference in your journey. So, is UC Davis really the right school for you?
UC Davis School of Medicine is a good fit if…
UC Davis School of Medicine may not be a good fit if…
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.
California University of Science and Medicine
California Northstate University
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.
