California is a big state and it makes sense that there are ten medical schools in California. There are the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences. If you’re interested in applying to one of these California medical schools, be sure to take your time to see what each school’s requirements are before you begin.

• Loma Linda University School of Medicine
• Stanford University School of Medicine
• Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• University of California Davis School of Medicine
• University of California Irvine School of Medicine
• University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
• University of California San Diego School of Medicine
• University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
• University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
• Western University of Health Sciences

Academic Requirements

• Minimum MCAT score of 31 or above is recommended to apply.
• Minimum GPA of 3.78 or above is recommended to apply.
• CLEP, IP credit, pass/fail performances, and online classes are not acceptable for the science required courses.

Perquisites

• General Biology or Zoology with Lab: 8 semester hours
• General or Inorganic Chemistry with Lab: 8 semester hours
• Organic Chemistry with Lab: 8 semester hours
• General Physics with Lab: 8 semester hours
• English: As required for degree
• Religion or Ethics: As required by college attended

Highly recommended: Biochemistry and introductory statistics.

Admission Information (from 2011)

• The primary application service is AMCAS.
• Applications on AMCAS available June 1, 2011.
• Early decision applications submitted and completed with letters of recommendations, supplementary application and fee due August 1, 2011.
• Early decision applicants are notified of the Admissions Committee decision on October 1, 2011.
• Primary application due November 1, 2011.
• Committee recommendation or a packet of recommendations from your school’s pre-health professions advising office is required. If that’s not available, a minimum of three recommendations with at least one from a science professor who has taught you is required.
• Supplementary application deadline due November 15, 2011 with a fee of $75.
• Application reviews run from September through June.
• Notification of status change which include invitation to interview and offers of acceptance sent by postal mail by April 1, 2012. If nothing is received, contact the Office of Admissions.
• Orientation begins in August 2012.

Admission Statistics (from 2011)

There were 5,062 students that applied to Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Every student receive a supplemental application. On average about 770 students enroll into the School of Medicine. So the Loma Linda University School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is approximately 15.2%.

Contact Information

Office of Admissions
Phone: (900) 558-4467
Email: admissions.sm@llu.edu

Academic Requirements

• Taking the MCAT is required to apply.
• An undergraduate degree is required to apply.

Perquisites

• Biological Sciences: One full academic year
• Chemistry: Two full academic years, including Organic Chemistry
• Physics: One full academic year

Each sciences must be taken with Lab.
Recommended:

• Knowledge of a foreign language, specifically Spanish or an Asian language.
• Behavioral sciences, calculus, physical chemistry and biochemistry.

Admission Information (from 2011)

• The primary application service is AMCAS.
• Primary application on AMCAS is available May 5, 2011.
• Primary application due October 15, 2011.
• All application information including supplemental applications and three letters of recommendations due November 15, 2011.
• Invitations to interview are sent out starting November 2011 through February 2012.
• Offers of admissions are sent starting January 2012 through May 2012.
• Deadline for applicants to accept offer of admission is May 15, 2012. If you accept the offer, an enrollment deposit of $100 is required to reserve a place in the fall entering class.
• Orientation begins August 2012.

Admission Statistics (from 2008)

Over 6,567 (2,467 in-state, 4,100 out-of-state) students applied and 172 (55 in-state, 117 out-of-state) were accepted into Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford University School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is about 2.6%. The acceptance rate for in-state applicants are 2.3% and 2.9% for those who are applying from out-of-state.

Contact Information

Gabriel Garcia, Associate Dean for M.D. Admissions
Phone: (650) 723-6861
Email: mdadmissions@stanford.edu

Academic Requirements

• Minimum requirement MCAT score of 23 or above is required to apply.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 or above is required to apply.

Perquisites

• Biology/Zoology with Lab: 8 semester units
• Inorganic/General Chemistry with Lab: 8 semester units
• Organic Chemistry with Lab: 8 semester units (4 semester hours can be substituted with Biochemistry)
• Physics: 8 semester units
• College English: 2 courses
• Behavioral Science: 2 courses
• Math/Computer Science: 1 course

Admission Information (from 2011)

• The primary application service is AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service).
• Primary application deadline is March 15, 2012.
• Supplemental application are sent to those who pass the initial screening. The application fee is $100.
• Required to submit two letters of recommendation, one from a physician, D.O. or M.D. (D.O. preferred) and one letter from a Pre-Professional Advisory Committee or two letters from science professors who are familiar with you academic abilities.

Admission Statistics (from 2008)

3,243 students applied for Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Of that amount, 223 were accepted. The Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine’s acceptance rate is about 6.9%.

Contact Information

Donald A. Haight, Director of Admissions
Email: donald.haight@tu.edu

Steven Davis, Associate Director of Admissions
Email: steven.davis@tu.edu

Office of Admissions
Phone: (888) 652-7580

Academic Requirements

• A minimum MCAT score of 30 is recommended to apply.
• The minimum GPA of 3.64 is recommended to apply.
• AP/CLEP and online course credits are not accepted.

Perquisites

• English: 1 year
• Biological Sciences, lower division, with Lab: 1 year
• Biological Sciences, upper division*: 1/2 year
• General Chemistry with Lab: 1 year
• Organic Chemistry with Lab: 1 year
• Physics with Lab: 1 year
• Mathematics: 1 year

*Either Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or Genetics.
Highly recommended: Biochemistry.

Admission Information

• The primary application service is AMCAS.
• Primary application available on AMCAS on June 1st.
• Primary application due August 1st.
• Secondary application due October 1st with $80 fee. Must include three to six letters of recommendation and supplementary activities and essays including possible interest special Programs in Medical Education tracks and research pathways.
• Interviews are always held Fridays starting mid-August and ending in February.
• Notice of acceptance starting October 15th through July 15th of the following year.

Admission Statistics (from 2008)

5,113 (3,852 in-state, 1,261 out-of-state) students applied to the University of California Davis School of Medicine and 221 (204 in-state, 17 out-of-state) were accepted. The University of California Davis School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is about 4.3%. It’s about a 5.3% acceptance rate for in-state students and 1.3% for out-of-state students.

Contact Information

Ed Dagang, Director of Admissions
Phone: (916) 734-4123

Office of Admissions and Outreach
Phone: (916) 734-4800
Fax: (916) 734-4050
Email: medadmsinfo@ucdavis.edu

Academic Requirements

• Minimum requirement MCAT score of 32 or above is recommended to apply.
• Minimum GPA of 3.63 or above is recommended to apply.

Perquisites

• Biology with Lab: 1.5 years
• Chemistry with Lab*: 2 years
• Physics: 1 year
• Math**: 1 year
• English Writing/Composition: 0.5 year

*Must include Inorganic, Organic, and Biochemistry.
**Must include Calculus and Statistics.

Admission Information

• The primary application service is AMCAS.
• Primary application is available on AMCAS on June 1st.
• Primary application deadline is November 1st.
• Secondary applications are sent to only 1,700 approved candidates.
• Secondary application is due one month after receiving them and should be sent with a fee of $70.
• Requires three to six letters of recommendation.
• Interviews begin the end of September through April. Invitations to interviews are sent by email.
• Requires a criminal background check under the AAMC Background Check Service.

Admission Statistics (from 2010)

A total of 4,845 students applied to the University of California Irvine School of Medicine and 104 students matriculated. The University of California Irvine School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is about 2.1%.

Contact Information

Admissions
Phone: (949) 824-5388
Email: medadmit@uci.edu

Academic Requirements

• Minimum requirement MCAT score of 33 or above is recommended to apply.
• Minimum GPA of 3.77 or above is recommended to apply.

Perquisites

• English Composition: 1 year
• Physics with Lab: 1 year
• Chemistry with Lab*: 2 years
• Biology with Lab: 1 year
• Mathematics**: 1 year

*Must include Inorganic Chemistry, Quantitative Analystis, and Organic Chemistry.
**Must include Calculus and Statistics
Highly recommended courses: Spanish, Humanities, Computer skills.

Admission Information

• The primary application service is AMCAS.
• Primary application is available June 1st.
• Primary application deadline is November 1st.
• Supplemental applications are sent to approved applicants. There is also a $70 processing fee with application.
• Requires letters of recommendation.
• Entering class of 2010 received their first offers of acceptance on January 15, 2010.

Admission Statistics (from 2008)

5,854 (3,614 in-state, 2,240 out-of-state) students applied to UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and 216 (162 in-state, 54 out-of-state) applicants were accepted. The University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is about 3.7%.The acceptance rate for in-state applicants is about 4.5% and 2.4% for out-of-state students.

Contact Information

Department of Admissions
Lili Fobert
Phone: (310) 825-6081
Fax: (310) 206-5046
Email: somadmiss@mednet.ucla.edu

Academic Requirements

• Minimum requirement MCAT score of 33Q or above is recommended to apply.
• Minimum GPA of 3.75 or above is recommended to apply.

Perquisites

• Biology: 2 semesters
• General Chemistry: 2 semesters
• Organic Chemistry: 2 semesters
• Physics: 2 semesters
• Mathematics*: 2 semesters

*Only Calculus, Statistics, or Computer Science will be considered.
Note: UCSD does not require lab.

Admission Information

• The primary application service is AMCAS.
• Primary application is available on AMCAS June 1st and the application deadline is November 1st.
• Secondary applications are by invitation only by email.
• Secondary application deadline is one month after invitation with a fee of $80.
• Requires a minimum of two letters of recommendation.
• Interviews begin late September through the end of March.
• Offers of acceptance will be made and sent beginning October 15th.

Admission Statistics (from 2008)

5,566 (3,663 in-state, 1,903 out-of-state) students applied to the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and 318 (266 in-state, 52 out-of-state) were accepted. The University of California San Diego School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is about 5.7%. The acceptance rate for in-state students is about 7.3% and the acceptance rate for out-of-state students is about 2.7%.

Contact Information

Office of Admissions
Phone: (858) 534-3880
Email: somadmissions@ucsd.edu

Academic Requirements

• Minimum requirement MCAT score of 35 or above is recommended to apply.
• Minimum GPA of 3.2 or above is required to apply.

Perquisites

• General Chemistry with Lab: 12 quarter units
• Organic Chemistry: 8 quarter units
• Physics with Lab: 12 quarter units
• General Biology with Lab*: 12-15 quarter units

*Courses in vertebrate embryology, genetics, cell physiology, or comparative vertebrate anatomy, with laboratory, will satisfy the biology requirement for admission.

Admission Information

• The primary application service is AMCAS.
• Primary application is available to be submitted on AMCAS on June 1st.
• Application deadline is October 15th.
• Secondary application is by invitation only and requires a $60 fee ($80 for international students).
• Secondary application deadline is four weeks from invitation.
• Requires a minimum of three letters of recommendation, two must be from your instructors.
• Acceptance notices begin December 15th until May 1st.

Admission Statistics (from 2010)

6,413 students applied to the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. 511 students received invitations to be interviewed and 149 students enrolled. The enrollment rate for the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine is about 2.3%.

Contact Information

Office of Admissions
Phone: (415) 476-4044
Email: admissions@medsch.ucsf.edu

Academic Requirements

• Minimum requirement MCAT score of 32 or above is recommended to apply.
• Minimum GPA of 3.6 or above is recommended to apply.

Perquisites

• General Biology with Lab: 2 semesters
• General Chemistry with Lab: 2 semesters
• Organic Chemistry with Lab: 1 semester
• Physics with Lab: 2 semesters
• Molecular Biology*: 1 semester
• Humanities & Social Sciences**: 30 semester hours

*Requirements can be met by the following courses: Molecular Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology, Advanced Cell Biology.
**This includes Art History, Asian Studies, English Composition, Foreign Language, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theater, Economics, History, Politics, and Sociology.

Admission Information (from 2008)

• The primary application service is AMCAS.
• Primary application is available on AMCAS June 1st and the application deadline is November 1st.
• Official transcripts must be submitted within 14 days from application deadline to be considered.
• Requires two letters of recommendation from science faculties.
• Supplemental application deadline is December 1st with a $90 fee.
• Interviews are held mid-September through March and invitations of interview will be sent by email.
• If accepted, you must pay $100 deposit to reserve your seat and the amount will go towards your first tuition payment.

Admission Statistics

6,617 (3,540 in-state, 3,077 out-of-state) students applied to the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and 354 (236 in-state, 118 out-of-state) students were accepted. The University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is about 5.3%.

Contact Information

M.D. Program Admissions
Phone: (323) 442-2552
Fax: (323) 442-2433
Email: medadmit@usc.edu

Academic Requirements

• Minimum requirement MCAT score of 28 or above is recommended to apply.
• Minimum GPA of 3.5 or above is recommended to apply.

Perquisites

• Biological Sciences with Lab: 8 semester units
• Organic Chemistry with Lab: 8 semester units
• Inorganic Chemistry with Lab: 8 semester units
• Physics with Lab: 8 semester units
• College English: 6 semester units
• Behavioral Sciences: 6 semester units

Admission Information

• The primary application service is AACOMAS.
• Primary application is available May 1st and the deadline is February 1st.
• Secondary application deadline is two weeks after receiving email of instructions to fill out the secondary application.
• Two letters of recommendation is required. One letter from a physician and one letter from a science professor or from a university pre-med committee.
• Interviews are conducted from September to March. In-state applicants are notified two to three weeks in advance and four to six weeks for out-of-state applicants.
• Acceptance letters are mailed no more than two weeks following your interview.

Admission Statistics (from 2011)

3,937 students applied to the Western University of Health Sciences’ Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program and 556 were granted interviews. 220 students accepted and enrolled into the program. The Western University of Health Sciences’ Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program’s enrollment rate is about 5.6%.

Contact Information

Martha Huizar, Admissions Coordinator
Phone: (909) 469-5332
Email: mhuizar@westernu.edu

Ana Garcia, Admissions Counselor
Phone: (909) 469-5377
Email: garciaa@westernu.edu

Robin Johnson, Admissions Counselor
Phone: (909) 469-5333
Email: rjohnson@westernu.edu

Tia Bemis, Admissions Counselor
Phone (909) 469-5261
Email: tbemis@westernu.edu