The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine interview format

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU, in Los Angeles) runs a virtual interview with CDU faculty. The school's admissions process page says applicants are invited "to participate in virtual interview sessions with CDU faculty" and that "we are conducting all interviews virtually." The AAMC's MSAR report for the 2027 class lists "virtual multiple mini-interviews with faculty" in September 2026 and says the process "will consist of two virtual interviews."

The school's student selection policy (CDU Policy 320.3a, revised June 2023) gives the most detail: "one 20-minute interview with a trained member of the Admissions Committee" plus "four stations that are 10-minute, multiple mini-interview (MMI) stations," scored on a Likert scale. The policy says these may be virtual or in person. Because the AAMC wording ("two virtual interviews") and the 2023 policy differ, treat the policy as the school's written design and your invitation as the final word on this year's day.

Item	What CDU and the AAMC say
Interview types	One 20-minute interview with a trained Admissions Committee member, plus four 10-minute MMI stations (school policy, 2023)
AAMC MSAR wording	Virtual multiple mini-interviews with faculty; "two virtual interviews"
Virtual or in person	All virtual this cycle (school page and FAQ); the 2023 policy allows either
What interviewers assess	"Thought process and ability to think on their feet" (policy)
Scoring	Interviewers score on a Likert scale as you move between stations (policy)
Interview window	August through December 2026 (process page); September through December (FAQ)

What CDU doesn't publish on its current pages: station content, sample scenarios, or whether the secondary application includes a situational test (we found no mention of Casper or PREview). The two interview descriptions above are both official, so prepare for both a short conversation and timed stations.

CDU's 2026-27 timeline

AMCAS: opens May 1, 2026, with a primary deadline of November 15, 2026. CDU strongly recommends submitting by November 1.
MCAT: the deadline for a test is September 12, 2026, the earliest accepted date for 2027 matriculation is July 2023, and only applicants with a 500 or higher advance.
Supplemental application: not sent to everyone, due 21 days after the request letter, with no fee.
Invitations and interviews: invitations July through December 2026, interviews August (or September) through December 2026.
Offers: after February 15, 2027, until the 60 seats are filled. "Plan to Enroll" is required by February 19, 2027 and "Commit to Enroll" by May 15, 2027. The program starts June 14, 2027.
Letters: three to five, committee or individual.

What CDU looks for

CDU's MD program page says it prioritizes "community service, leadership, and social justice," with "a specific focus on addressing healthcare disparities in underserved populations," and wants graduates who have "the leadership and advocacy skills necessary to become an agent of change, especially in communities like our own in South Los Angeles." It describes itself as one of only four historically Black MD programs in the U.S., and the College of Medicine page quotes the dean: students "learn both medicine and social justice strategies that are required for physician leadership dedicated to health equity."

The selection policy states the school wants "applicants from a variety of backgrounds who have unique experiences and interests," and describes holistic review as mission-aligned. Each cohort is 60 students. Be ready to explain what ties you to underserved communities, in your own words, with a specific example.

How to prepare for CDU's interview

Prepare for both formats. Practice a 20-minute conversation about your story and, separately, four back-to-back 10-minute timed stations.
Practice thinking on your feet. The policy says interviewers evaluate thought process. Say how you are reasoning, not only the conclusion.
Know the mission. Social justice, health equity and South Los Angeles are in the school's own words. Have one honest story about a time you saw a health or access gap up close.
Prepare for a Likert-scored rotation. Each station is scored separately, so a weak station does not decide the day. Reset between stations.
Be specific about advocacy. "Agent of change" needs an example: what you did, what happened, what you would do differently.
Confirm the format. Read the invitation carefully for the number and length of interviews.

CDU practice questions (written by us, not CDU)

CDU doesn't publish its interview or station content. These are ours, shaped around the mission and the skills the school names. Practice the stations with a 10-minute timer and the conversation questions aloud.

Why Charles R. Drew University, and what does serving South Los Angeles mean to you?
Tell me about a time you saw a person or a community not get the care they needed. What did you do?
Station: a patient refuses a recommended vaccine and is respectful but firm. How do you talk with them?
Station: your clinic can offer extended hours on weekends but not evenings. A patient group says evenings are the only time they can come. How do you decide what to do?
Describe a time you advocated for someone else. What was the outcome?
What does social justice look like inside an exam room?
Station: you notice a peer is late to every shift and others are covering for them. What do you do?
Tell me about a time you led without formal authority.
How do you approach a problem when you do not have all of the information?
What is one thing in your application you would like to talk about more, and why?

For a wider set, see our interview practice questions with answers and our practice MMI questions.

A drill for the CDU interview

Pick four prompts: one on why CDU, one advocacy story, one ethics station and one timed station you have never seen.
Answer each in two minutes on camera, in the setup you'll use on interview day.
Watch it with the sound off. Are you looking at the lens and nodding when you listen?
Have a partner give two follow-ups per answer: "Where did you make a decision?" and "What would you do differently?"
Rewrite each story as three bullets and repeat it two days later, without reading.

If you don't have a practice partner, Confetto's AI mock interviews ask follow-up questions based on what you actually said and give rubric-based feedback afterward. The question bank has over 500 questions, and you can start with a 7-day free trial.

CDU interview FAQ

Is the CDU interview an MMI?

The school's 2023 selection policy describes one 20-minute interview plus four 10-minute MMI stations, and the AAMC lists virtual multiple mini-interviews. Check your invitation for the exact structure.

Is it virtual?

Yes. CDU says all interviews are virtual this cycle.

What is the MCAT cutoff?

CDU says only applicants with a 500 or higher advance to the next stage.

Is there a secondary fee?

No. The CDU FAQ says there is no fee for the supplemental application.

How many seats are there?

Each cohort is 60 students.

Applying to other schools too? See our guides to the UCLA Geffen, Keck USC, UC Riverside and Loma Linda interviews, or our medical school interview prep page.

Sources: Admissions process, Admission FAQs, Student selection policy (320.3a), CDU MD program, College of Medicine, AAMC MSAR interview procedures (2027).

Confetto isn't affiliated with Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine. Everything here about the school comes from its public admissions pages and the AAMC MSAR report, checked in October 2026. Formats can change between cycles, so go by your invitation email.