Interview
If you have received an invitation for an interview at UCSF, congratulations!
We hope you will choose to visit the campus and learn more about the medical
school. The interview process gives us an excellent opportunity to get
to know you better, while it offers you a chance to interview us, ask
questions, sit-in on a class or two, and meet current students, staff
and faculty.
- If you have been been invited to interview at UCSF, your invitation
will include instructions for scheduling your interview. Should you
have any questions, please call the Admissions Office at 415-476-4044,
Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
- Click
on this link for a printable version of this page. You'll find that
it has all the information you need to plan your visit to UCSF.
We have offered a number of suggestions below. You may also visit 511.org
for transportation information for the entire Bay Area, including all
public transit systems and links to ground transportation to and from
San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose airports. You can enter UCSF as your
destination on the 511
Trip Planner for a customized transit routing.
If you are arriving by air
The Bay Area has three commercial airports: San Francisco International,
Oakland International and Mineta San Jose International. Flying into Oakland
is sometimes less expensive than the other airports. There are convenient
transportation options from San Francisco International and Oakland International.
Many visitors find that one of the private door-to-door van services
is the most convenient transportation option for the price (approximately
$14-$79). Vans leave about every 10-15 minutes from each of the airports
and drop you off at your exact destination. Note that some van services
require advance reservations. Public transportation takes longer, but
costs only $5-$15.
Contact information for van services, car rentals and other transportation
options are available on each airport's Web site. Airport public transit
information, including point-to-point routing is available at 511.org.
If you are driving
Street parking is very limited near campus. You can park near 25th Avenue
and Judah (watch out for street cleaning days/times) and take the N-Judah
streetcar to campus ($1.50 - exact change only). Public parking is available
on campus and currently costs $22 per day. Please note that UCSF School
of Medicine does not validate parking.
If you are taking public transportation
You can use our suggestions below or try the 511
Trip Planner
- From the East Bay, take BART
(SF/Airport or SF/Daly City trains) to the Civic Center station. Go
up one level and take the N-Judah Muni Metro outbound ($1.50 - exact
change only) to the UC Medical Center stop at 2nd Avenue.
- From Palo Alto/Stanford areas, take the Caltrain
($5.75 or $11.50 day pass) to the last stop, 4th and King streets in
San Francisco. Take the N-Judah Muni Metro outbound ($1.50 - exact change
only) to the UC Medical Center stop at 2nd Avenue.
- From SFO, follow signs to the BART
station (International Terminal, Garage G/BART AirTrain Station).
Take a Dublin/Pleasanton bound BART train to the Civic Center station.
Go up one level and take the N-Judah Muni Metro outbound ($1.50 - exact
change only) to the UC Medical Center stop at 2nd Avenue.
- From Oakland International Airport, take the AirBART
shuttle ($3.00) to the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART Station. You
must purchase an AirBART ticket at a machine INSIDE the airport terminal.
At the BART station, purchase a BART ticket ($3.35 - cash/coins/ATM/Credit
Card) and take SF Airport, Millbrae, Daly City or Colma bound train
to the Civic Center station. Go up one level and take the N-Judah Muni
Metro outbound ($1.50 - exact change only) to the UC Medical Center
stop at 2nd Avenue.
- Important: You
must have proof of payment on the MUNI Metro, so be sure to ask for
a transfer from the driver. Transit authorities fine passengers who
do not have proof of payment. After exiting the N-Judah at 2nd Avenue,
enter the parking garage across the street and take an elevator up to
I-level. Walk down the hallway and take the stairs or elevator up one
flight to Parnassus Avenue. At Parnassus, make a right and look for
530 Parnassus, Kalmanovitz Library. Note: the Medical School Admissions
Office is across the street from the library at 521 Parnassus, Clinical
Sciences Building, Room C-200.
Whenever possible, current medical students may host applicants for one
night during their stay at UCSF. If you would like to stay with a medical
student host, please review the Student Host list (available October 2008).
Applicants who would like information about other accommodations near
the campus can visit the Campus
Housing website for guest houses and hotels that welcome UCSF visitors.
Check-in Check-in at 8:00 am for your orientation
meeting in the UCSF Kalmanovitz Library at 530 Parnassus Avenue, Lange
Room 522 (unless you are notified otherwise). A continental breakfast
will be available when you arrive.
We will give you specific information about your interview times and
locations, a class schedule and other pertinent information about your
interview day.
Interviews (Between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm - times vary)
Whenever possible, interviewees are granted two interviews. The average
interview lasts 40 minutes but varies according to individual interviewers
and applicants. Interviews are conducted without prior review of your
file. This means that the interviewers are blind to any information about
your past performance or activities. At least one interviewer will be
a member of our faculty, and the other may or may not be a medical student.
Since medical school commitments preclude student interviews for all applicants,
other opportunities are provided for you to meet and talk with medical
students.
Lunch
We will provide a lunch voucher and direct you to the Courtyard Caffe to
buy your lunch. If schedules allow, a third or fourth-year medical student
will join you to talk about the clinical years.
Financial Aid Information Sessions
Student Financial Services will present information to all applicants
and invite questions about financial aid.
Campus Tour
All interviewees will meet after lunch for a campus tour conducted by
one of our current medical students. This is an excellent opportunity
to gain information about UCSF, student life on and off campus, and the
community.
Classes
You will receive a course schedule when you check in. If you interview
during finals or holidays and are unable to visit classes, we encourage
you to come back another time. Feel free to check calendars
and course schedules ahead of time.
Free Time to Explore
You are welcome to explore any areas of special interest on your own with
the map included in your materials. We encourage you to visit the Student
Lounge in the Medical Sciences Building, Room S-245, where you will find
medical students happy to chat with you.
If your visit allows you to spend extra time in San Francisco, we encourage
you to explore some of San Francisco's wonderful sights and neighborhoods.
In particular, Golden Gate Park is a beautiful oasis only a few blocks
from UCSF. To learn more about this and other attractions, events, restaurants
and more, visit the San Francisco
Visitor Center website.
To learn more about student associations and groups at UCSF, please visit
the following Web sites:
How
many applicants interview at UCSF?
We interview about 500 applicants each year.
What
time does the interview day begin and where do I check-in?
Your confirmation email will include your check-in time and location.
How
many interviews will I have?
If possible, you will have two one-on-one interviews with members of the
admissions committee. You may have one interview with a faculty member
and one with a student member; otherwise, both of your interviewers will
be faculty. All members of the Admissions Committee serve as voting members,
including students. Some interviews will be conducted at sites other than
the main campus (e.g., San Francisco General Hospital, VA Hospital, Mt.
Zion Hospital, Mission Bay, Laurel Heights). A free shuttle will take
you to these locations.
What
can I expect during the interviews?
The interviews are one-on-one and "blind," which means that
the interviewers have no previous knowledge of you besides your name.
The average interview lasts 40 minutes. Interviewers are asked to keep
the interview as relaxed as possible in order to get to know you beyond
your paper record.
How
long does the interview day last?
You should expect to be at UCSF most of the day, typically 8:00 am-5:00
pm. In addition to your interviews, you will have an orientation, lunch,
a tour with students, a financial aid session, and the opportunity to
attend classes if in session. If you are arriving on an overnight or early
morning flight, make sure you arrive early enough (no later than 6:00
am) in order to allow travel time from the airport to UCSF. Check-in time
for your orientation is at 8:00 am. If you are flying out on the same
day, please do not book a departing flight earlier than 8:00 pm.
How
many applicants interview on a given day?
The number of applicants per day varies. You will have a chance to meet
the other applicants during the course of your interview day.
Does
UCSF provide breakfast and lunch?
A continental breakfast will be available when you arrive. In addition,
we provide vouchers for lunch and try to have one of our 3rd or 4th year
students join you in the nearby Courtyard Caffe to talk with you about
the clinical years.
Can
I sit in on classes?
Attending classes depends on a variety of factors: your interview schedule,
the classes available on a given day, and holiday/exam times. You will
receive a current schedule for 1st and 2nd year courses when you check-in.
The calendars are on-line if you
would like a preview.
What
do I need to bring on my interview day?
Please bring a copy of the interview confirmation email. Do not bring
supplementary material to your interviews.
What
can I do with my luggage during my interview day?
You are welcome to leave your luggage in the Admissions Office
(C-200) until 5 pm.
Do
you have a student housing program for applicants?
Yes. The program is available to interviewees living more than 100 miles
from UCSF. More information will be available in October 2008.
What
is the best way to travel to UCSF from the airport?
Many people find that door-to-door van service is the most convenient
for the price. Detailed information is provided above in “Travel
Information”
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