CUSM Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Preparing for an interview at the California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) means understanding both the practical aspects of the process and the school’s core identity. This guide synthesizes key information about CUSM’s interview format and what to expect, the mission and values that shape its program, and notable features of the MD curriculum and student outcomes. It also explores relevant healthcare policy issues in CUSM’s local region and nationally, outlines the non-academic qualities CUSM prioritizes in applicants, and reviews the competency frameworks that underpin its medical training. Additionally, it highlights common themes from past interview questions and lays out important timelines and deadlines for the 2025–2026 application cycle. Together, these insights will help you align your interview preparation with CUSM’s expectations and emphasize your fit with the school’s mission.

In recent cycles CUSM has adopted a virtual interview process, utilizing an asynchronous video platform (the Kira Talent system) to conduct interviews forums.studentdoctor.net cusm.edu. Instead of a traditional face-to-face interview, applicants record timed responses to a series of pre-set questions online, which typically takes about 30–60 minutes to complete cusm.edu. After the video response portion, CUSM offers a supplemental “engagement day” or live virtual Q&A session with faculty and students – not as an evaluation, but as an informational session about the school’s curriculum, financial aid, and student life forums.studentdoctor.net cusm.edu. This two-part approach (recorded interview plus Q&A) reflects the school’s adaptation to remote interviewing while still giving applicants a chance to connect with the CUSM community.

Prior to the switch to the Kira system, CUSM’s interviews were conducted in a more traditional format, usually as one-on-one, open-file conversations with a faculty interviewer premedcatalyst.com studentdoctor.net. Interviewers had access to the applicant’s full file and would often delve into specifics of the candidate’s experiences and personal statement studentdoctor.net premedcatalyst.com. These conversations were generally described as low-stress and friendly, with most candidates feeling they performed well studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. The open-file setting meant that anything in one’s application was fair game for discussion – for example, one student noted the interviewer “basically went through my entire app” during the session studentdoctor.net. Now that the process is standardized via recorded questions, the open vs. closed file distinction is less relevant, but applicants should still be prepared to address common topics (motivations, ethical scenarios, etc.) in a structured format.

Notably, CUSM’s interview process has been rated positively by past applicants. School feedback surveys indicate the interviews tend to be moderate in stress and highly welcoming studentdoctor.net. Most interviews, when they were live, lasted roughly 20–30 minutes each studentdoctor.net. During the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, many interviews have been conducted virtually studentdoctor.net, and CUSM has continued with the virtual approach in the form of the Kira assessment. From an admissions standpoint, earning an interview at CUSM is significant: the school is quite selective, with roughly 6,300 applications for about 129 seats (≈2% overall acceptance rate) in a recent year premedcatalyst.com. While exact post-interview acceptance rates are not published, an interview invite means you’ve moved to a much smaller pool of candidates. In other words, once you reach the interview stage, your chances of admission are substantially higher than the single-digit overall rate – making thorough preparation for the interview crucial.

CUSM’s mission is centered on advancing the art and science of medicine through innovative education, research, and compassionate healthcare, all within an inclusive environment that champions critical thinking, creativity, integrity, and professionalism cusm.edu. This mission reflects a strong focus on community and service. The school was founded to help address the healthcare needs of California’s Inland Empire region, which faces physician shortages and health disparities cusm.edu. CUSM is committed to training physicians who will work to improve healthcare equity in this underserved area and beyond cusm.edu. As an applicant, understanding this mission is important – interview questions may probe how your own goals and experiences align with serving disadvantaged communities or advancing compassionate care.

Equally important are CUSM’s core values, which are encapsulated in the acronym “CALMED”: Community-Focused, Accountability, Leadership, Motivation, Excellence, and Diversity. These values permeate the program’s culture and expectations cusm.edu cusm.edu. For example, “Community-Focused” and “Diversity” signal the emphasis on caring for diverse populations and reducing health disparities, while “Leadership” and “Accountability” highlight the school’s desire for students who will take initiative and responsibility in their roles as future physicians cusm.edu cusm.edu. “Motivation” and “Excellence” speak to the drive and high standards expected of students and faculty alike cusm.edu cusm.edu. In an interview setting, you might encounter questions about how you embody these values or scenarios that test attributes like integrity, teamwork, or advocacy. Showing awareness of CUSM’s mission and values – and having examples from your own background that resonate with them – can demonstrate a strong fit with the school’s ethos.

The CUSM MD program is a relatively new and innovative medical curriculum designed to produce skilled, compassionate physicians with a commitment to community health. The medical school welcomed its first class in 2018 and has since graduated four classes of physicians, achieving an impressive average residency match rate of about 99% cusm.edu. Class sizes are around 100–130 students, and the student body is drawn overwhelmingly from California – for instance, 97.7% of the recent matriculants were state residents premedcatalyst.com. This in-state majority aligns with the school’s focus on addressing California’s healthcare needs (especially in the Inland Empire region).

CUSM’s curriculum is integrated and student-centered, emphasizing early clinical exposure and community engagement alongside basic sciences. From the first days of medical school, students engage in case-based learning that links scientific concepts to clinical scenarios cusm.edu cusm.edu. The pre-clerkship phase is organized by organ systems and incorporates team-based learning, weekly clinical skills sessions, and clinical case presentations that foster critical thinking and application of knowledge cusm.edu cusm.edu. Notably, CUSM requires students to participate in a community health project (the CHANGE program) and offers a longitudinal Academic Research Study: first-year students design a research project and carry it out in second year cusm.edu. There’s even a Medical Spanish course built into the pre-clerkship curriculum to enhance communication skills and cultural competence cusm.edu. Together, these elements highlight the program’s commitment to producing physicians who are well-rounded in science, attuned to research and public health, and prepared to serve diverse patient populations.

During the clinical years, CUSM continues its innovative approach. The school’s primary teaching hospital is Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), a major county hospital (Level 1 trauma center) located just across the street from campus cusm.edu. Third- and fourth-year students complete core rotations at ARMC and other affiliated sites across the region, which means they gain experience treating a wide range of patients – from urban underserved communities to more suburban populations cusm.edu cusm.edu. CUSM uses a “Dual-Pass” clerkship model, where students rotate twice through the core specialties: the first pass is formative, allowing students to acclimate to each clinical field, and the second pass (later in the year) is summative, where students return to the same rotations to demonstrate advanced competence cusm.edu cusm.edu. This dual-pass system is somewhat unique and is intended to reinforce learning and improve students’ confidence in core clinical skills. By the time they reach the Transition to Residency phase in fourth year, students have had robust preparation including sub-internships and a dedicated residency prep bootcamp cusm.edu.

Knowing these program features not only helps you appreciate what CUSM offers, but it can also inform the questions you choose to ask your interviewers. Showing interest in specific aspects of the curriculum or school can signal that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely enthusiastic about CUSM.

• How does CUSM’s unique Dual-Pass clerkship model impact student learning, and what feedback have students given about doing each core rotation twice cusm.edu cusm.edu?
• Can you tell me more about the CHANGE program (community health projects) and how students engage with the local community through these projects cusm.edu? What are some examples of past projects?
• I’m interested in research – how do CUSM students take part in research or scholarly work during the program, and are there resources for projects or a dedicated research summer program for students bemoacademicconsulting.com?
• Given that Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is the primary teaching hospital, what kind of clinical exposure can students expect there (types of patients, volume, specialized services) and how does it shape the learning experience cusm.edu?
• CUSM emphasizes caring for underserved communities. How does the curriculum prepare students to work with diverse patient populations – for example, through the Medical Spanish course or other cultural competency training cusm.edu?

• Healthcare access and physician workforce in the Inland Empire: CUSM was founded in response to a dire need for doctors in its region. The Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside Counties) has historically had a low ratio of physicians to population and worse health outcomes in areas like diabetes and heart disease compared to state averages cusm.edu. This physician shortage – an estimated shortfall of thousands of doctors in coming years – makes topics like incentivizing medical practice in underserved areas and improving access to care very relevant californiahealthline.org.
• Diversity and inclusion in medical education: California and CUSM place a high value on training physicians from diverse backgrounds to serve diverse communities. CUSM’s own diversity statement highlights removing barriers for underrepresented and marginalized groups in medicine cusm.edu cusm.edu. Broader policy discussions (nationally and statewide) about diversity in admissions, pipeline programs for minority students, and cultural competence training connect to CUSM’s mission of educating culturally humble physicians.
• Healthcare affordability and preventive care: CUSM’s mission of compassionate, accessible care for all ties into the national conversation on healthcare reform and preventive medicine cusm.edu. Issues such as how to provide affordable care to uninsured or underinsured populations, the impact of the Affordable Care Act (and any changes to it), and strategies for addressing public health challenges (like chronic disease management in communities) are the kind of big-picture policy topics that resonate with the school’s focus on community health.
• Graduate medical education and retention of physicians locally: One reason underserved regions lack doctors is that medical graduates often leave to train or practice elsewhere. Strategies to retain new physicians – for instance, funding more residency positions in the Inland Empire and other shortage areas – are a hot topic californiahealthline.org californiahealthline.org. California has considered legislation (e.g., AB 1176) to increase primary care residency slots in places like the Inland Empire as a way to combat the shortage californiahealthline.org. In a CUSM interview, you might not be asked specifically about a bill, but showing awareness of the general idea (the link between residency training opportunities and where physicians end up practicing) could be useful if discussing solutions to physician shortages.

Like many medical schools, CUSM uses a holistic admissions process – strong academics are important, but they are not sufficient on their own. The school explicitly states that it looks at each applicant’s experiences, passions, and commitment to medicine in addition to grades and MCAT scores cusm.edu. It’s therefore crucial to understand what non-academic qualities CUSM values in its candidates. Based on CUSM’s mission, program features, and data on accepted students, a few key areas stand out.

• Community service and volunteering: A commitment to service, especially with underserved or diverse communities, is highly regarded. CUSM’s focus on healthcare equity means they seek students who have demonstrated altruism and cultural humility. Many accepted students have substantial volunteer experience that aligns with CUSM’s core values of community and diversity bemoacademicconsulting.com.
• Clinical exposure: Hands-on experience in healthcare (such as patient care roles, medical assistant jobs, EMT work, or shadowing physicians) is very important. CUSM does not set a specific number of hours required, but it “highly recommends” applicants gain clinical exposure bemoacademicconsulting.com. In fact, the majority of CUSM matriculants have both shadowing and clinical work in their backgrounds bemoacademicconsulting.com. Such experiences show that you’ve tested your motivation for medicine and developed interpersonal skills in a medical setting – qualities that can come up in interview discussions.
• Leadership and initiative: Holding leadership roles or taking initiative in projects is another valued component. Whether it’s leading a student organization, starting a community project, or serving as a team captain, leadership experiences signal to CUSM that you can embody their value of “Leadership” and will be an active contributor to the school community. bemoacademicconsulting.com. In interviews, you might be asked about times you’ve demonstrated leadership or worked in teams (a common theme), so having examples ready from your activities is useful (for instance, managing a crisis during a volunteer project or mentoring others in a lab setting).
• Research and scholarly curiosity: While CUSM is not primarily a research-intensive institution, it does integrate research into its curriculum (all students complete a research project by second year) cusm.edu. Therefore, showing some engagement with research or other scholarly inquiry can be a plus. Many successful applicants have undergraduate research experience or other evidence of curiosity and problem-solving skills. CUSM even offers a summer research program for its medical students, reflecting that they encourage a mindset of inquiry bemoacademicconsulting.com. In your interview, you might discuss any research you’ve done – focusing on what you learned and how it shaped your perspective on medicine, rather than just the technical details.

Overall, CUSM is looking for well-rounded individuals who not only excel academically but also align with its mission and values. Demonstrating empathy, ethical integrity, teamwork, and dedication to underserved communities in your application and interviews will show that you fit the CUSM profile of a future physician leader.

The CUSM School of Medicine has defined a set of competencies and learning outcomes for its graduates that align with national standards for medical education (similar to AAMC Core Competencies and ACGME competencies) but also reflect the school’s unique mission. Being aware of these can help you understand what attributes and skills CUSM emphasizes in training (and by extension, may look for during interviews). Below are some of the key competency domains CUSM expects its students to develop:

• Medical Knowledge: Graduates must demonstrate a strong depth and breadth of knowledge in biomedical and clinical sciences cusm.edu. This means CUSM values solid academic preparation and the ability to learn and integrate complex information – something that might be indirectly gauged through discussions of your academic background or how you handle challenging coursework.
• Clinical Reasoning and Application: CUSM expects students to apply their knowledge effectively to health care practice and to develop keen critical thinking skills for problem-solving cusm.edu. In the curriculum, this is seen through case-based learning and early clinical exposure. In an interview, you might be tested on your reasoning through hypothetical scenarios or asked about how you solved problems in your experiences, which ties into this competency.
• Professionalism and Ethics: The school places a high priority on professional, ethical, and moral qualities in its physicians cusm.edu. Honesty, integrity, and ethical decision-making are crucial competencies. You should be prepared for questions or scenarios that explore your ethical reasoning or times when you faced moral dilemmas (a common interview theme in many schools). CUSM’s emphasis on integrity means they want students who will uphold strong ethical standards in all situations.
• Communication and Teamwork: CUSM trains students to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and to work collaboratively in inter-professional teams cusm.edu. Being able to communicate with patients and colleagues, and demonstrating empathy and humanism, are core expected competencies. Interview questions about teamwork (e.g., “Tell me about a time you worked on a team”) or about handling communication challenges with others can arise to assess this area. The curriculum’s focus on small-group learning and the inclusion of a Medical Spanish course also reflect this competency in action.
• Lifelong Learning and Self-Improvement: Medical education at CUSM fosters self-evaluation and a habit of lifelong learning cusm.edu. Students are expected to be reflective, identify their own areas for growth, and continually seek to improve. You might receive a question like “How do you handle feedback or failure?” which probes this competency. Showing that you can adapt, learn from setbacks, and stay curious will resonate with CUSM’s training philosophy.
• Community Engagement and Social Accountability: Distinctive to CUSM is an explicit competency around community and system improvement – effectively, being committed to improving the health of the community and addressing systemic issues cusm.edu cusm.edu. The school wants physicians who care about social justice and can work towards reducing health inequities. This could manifest in interview discussions about your volunteer work, your perspective on healthcare disparities, or how you plan to serve the community as a physician. CUSM’s curriculum (with community projects and population health content) reinforces this, and so does their selection of students who have a track record of service.

It can be insightful to look at the common themes that have emerged in past CUSM interviews. Remember, you won’t get the exact same questions – and if the interview is now a recorded format, questions may be more standardized – but knowing the topics that frequently come up can guide your preparation. Interview feedback from previous years (e.g., reports on Student Doctor Network) suggest that CUSM tends to cover a mix of personal, ethical, and school-specific topics. Notably, some candidates in the past encountered questions similar to many other medical schools, while others mentioned scenario-based questions (possibly MMI-style ethics prompts) that were under a non-disclosure agreement studentdoctor.net studentdoctor.net. Below are some recurring themes from past interview questions at CUSM:

• Academic Challenges: Many students have been asked to discuss difficult academic experiences, such as “What was the hardest course you took in college and how did you do in it?” studentdoctor.net. This type of question aims to see how you handle challenges and persevere. It’s good to be ready with an example of an academic hurdle or a tough class and, more importantly, what you learned from it or how you improved.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Questions about working with others are common. For example, an interviewer might ask you to rate or describe your ability to work in a team, or to give an example of a team experience studentdoctor.net. CUSM values teamwork (as reflected in its curriculum and values), so expect to talk about how you function in group settings, resolve conflicts, or lead/cooperate in a team. Think of a specific instance (from research, jobs, volunteer work, etc.) where you contributed to a team and what that taught you about collaboration.
• Ethical Scenarios: Ethical and situational questions have been noted by past interviewees – sometimes presented in a hypothetical context (similar to MMI prompts) studentdoctor.net. For instance, you could be asked how you would handle a particular ethical dilemma or to discuss a time you faced an ethical conflict. While you can’t predict the exact scenario, being familiar with common medical ethics principles (autonomy, beneficence, etc.) and having a structured approach to ethical problems (identify the conflict, stakeholders, options, and reasoning) will help. Stay calm and think aloud logically if you get an ethics question.
• Diversity and Service to Underserved: Given CUSM’s mission, interviewers often probe your experiences with diversity or underserved communities. You might be asked something like, “What is your experience working with underserved populations?” or how you’ve contributed to diversity in your community studentdoctor.net. Be prepared with examples of any volunteering, mentoring, or work you’ve done with people from backgrounds different from your own, and what you took away from those experiences. They want to see cultural competency and a genuine commitment to helping the disadvantaged.
• Motivation for Medicine and Fit with CUSM: Expect direct questions on why you want to be a doctor and why you are interested in CUSM in particular. “Why CUSM (CalMed)?” is a question that has come up in past interviews studentdoctor.net, as have questions like “What do you think makes a good medical school and how do you think CUSM incorporates these values?” studentdoctor.net. Interviewers want to know that you’ve reflected on your decision to pursue medicine and that you understand CUSM’s philosophy. A strong answer will tie your personal motivations to CUSM’s offerings – for instance, you might mention that you’re drawn to their community-health focus or their small-group learning approach (if true for you).
• Personal Background and Traits: CUSM interviewers have also delved into personal life or background questions to understand who you are. Students reported questions about their upbringing (e.g., “Tell me more about your upbringing”) studentdoctor.net, personal philosophies (“What is your personal philosophy of life?”), or proudest achievements and significant challenges. These are opportunities to highlight formative experiences that shaped your character, values, and resilience. When faced with such open-ended questions, it’s helpful to connect your story back to how it will make you a better medical student or doctor – for instance, how overcoming a personal hardship taught you empathy or perseverance.

Overall, CUSM’s interview questions tend to be holistic – covering academic ability, interpersonal skills, ethical reasoning, commitment to service, and “fit” with the school. The themes above suggest that you should be ready to discuss various facets of your experiences and viewpoints. Importantly, because CUSM’s current interview format may involve recorded responses, practice expressing your thoughts concisely within a time limit. Whether discussing a teamwork example or tackling an ethical scenario, having a clear and organized response will ensure you convey your message effectively.

The medical school application process for CUSM follows a typical cadence, with some specific dates to note. Staying on top of these deadlines is vital, especially since CUSM uses rolling admissions (meaning earlier applicants can have an advantage as interview spots and acceptances fill up). Below is a timeline for the 2025–2026 application cycle (for the CUSM class entering in 2026), based on the previous cycle’s schedule and any officially posted dates:

• AMCAS application opens – May 2025: The AMCAS primary application usually opens in early May (in the 2024 cycle it opened May 1) premedcatalyst.com. You can begin working on your primary application at that time and submit it to CUSM once ready (submission typically starts late May to early June). It’s wise to submit as early in the cycle as possible, since CUSM is rolling admissions.
• Primary application deadline – around Nov 30, 2025: CUSM’s hard deadline for the AMCAS primary application tends to be November 30 of the application year (for example, it was Nov 30, 2024 for the prior cycle) cusm.edu. This means your AMCAS application must be submitted by that date to be considered. However, waiting that long is not recommended due to rolling admissions – earlier is better.
• Secondary application invitation and deadline – Summer through Dec 2025: After receiving your verified AMCAS application, CUSM will screen for applicants to invite to complete a secondary (supplemental) application cusm.edu. Secondary invitations typically start going out by mid-July and continue into the fall premedcatalyst.com. CUSM’s secondary includes additional essays (often geared toward mission fit) and requires the CASPer online situational judgment test cusm.edu. Once invited, you must submit the secondary by the deadline, which was December 30 in the 2024 cycle cusm.edu. It’s again advantageous to submit the secondary promptly (ideally within 1-2 weeks of receiving it, if possible).
• Interview invitations – roughly Sep 2025 to Mar 2026: CUSM extends interview invites on a rolling basis over several months. In the previous cycle, interview invitations were emailed between September and April cusm.edu. For 2025–2026, expect most interviews invites to come out in the fall and winter, as early as late August or September 2025 and potentially as late as March 2026 for the final batches. Invitations are sent via email, so monitor your inbox (and spam folder) closely during this period.
• Interviews (virtual) – Fall 2025 into Spring 2026: Those invited to interview will complete CUSM’s virtual interview process, which, as described above, consists of a timed Kira video assessment (and a subsequent Q&A session). According to the 2024–2025 cycle timeline, interviews were conducted from September through March cusm.edu. You will typically be given a window of time to complete your one-way video interview after receiving the invitation. It’s important to plan accordingly so you can record your responses in a quiet environment. CUSM may also host certain “engagement” or info session days for interviewees around this time.
• Admissions decisions – Rolling notifications up to April 2026: CUSM issues acceptance offers (and wait-list notifications) on a rolling basis after interviews. Some early interviewees (especially any applying under the Early Decision Program) may hear as soon as October, whereas others interviewed later might not hear until late winter or early spring. All final admissions decisions for the cycle are typically made by around April 30, 2026 premedcatalyst.com, which coincides with the national deadline for holding multiple acceptances. If you are wait-listed, movement can occur through spring and even early summer. Keep in mind CUSM explicitly states that due to holistic review, some applicants may not receive a final decision until May cusm.edu – so patience is key.
• Commit to Enroll – Summer 2026: Accepted students will need to decide on their school choice by using the AMCAS Choose Your Medical School tool. By April 30, 2026, CUSM (like all MD programs) asks accepted students to narrow down to one school (the “Plan to Enroll” stage). CUSM’s own deadline for the “Commit to Enroll” (indicating a final decision to attend CUSM and withdrawal from all other schools) was June 23, 2025 in the last cycle cusm.edu, so expect a similar late June 2026 date for this cycle. Admitted students will receive specific instructions, but essentially by mid-June you should be fully committed if you intend to join CUSM’s incoming class. Shortly after, in July 2026, orientation and classes will begin for the new first-year students.

One additional option to note is the Early Decision Program (EDP). CUSM participates in EDP, which allows you to apply to CUSM and receive an admissions decision by October 1, 2025, provided you apply only to CUSM initially cusm.edu cusm.edu. The EDP deadline is much earlier – the AMCAS primary must be submitted by August 1, 2025 for EDP consideration cusm.edu, and secondaries and all materials are due by late August. EDP is binding in the sense that you cannot apply to other schools until CUSM releases you or October 1 passes. This route is ideal only if CUSM is your first choice and your credentials significantly exceed their averages, as it’s competitive. If not accepted in EDP, your application moves into the regular pool automatically cusm.edu. For most applicants, the standard timeline above applies.

In summary, successful preparation for a CUSM interview involves a combination of self-reflection, research, and awareness of the school’s context. By understanding CUSM’s interview format (now a timed virtual assessment), you can practice delivering clear responses under those conditions. By internalizing the school’s mission to serve the Inland Empire and valuing diversity and community health, you can better articulate how your own experiences and goals align with CUSM’s ethos. Knowledge of the MD program’s structure and unique offerings will enable you to ask informed questions and show genuine interest. Staying attuned to relevant healthcare issues – from local physician shortages to national conversations on healthcare equity – will prepare you for broader discussions that might arise. Finally, keeping track of the application timeline ensures you meet every deadline and approach the interview with confidence and timeliness. With this comprehensive understanding, you’ll be well-equipped to put your best foot forward and demonstrate to CUSM that you are not only a capable future physician, but one who is a true fit for their community-focused mission.