The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) PRIME+ BS/MD opportunity is an educational program partnership between UC Merced, UCSF Fresno, and UCSF. This critical new program will educate and support the SJV's future physicians as they advance health equity and community health in the SJV.
SJV PRIME+ is a workforce development model for newly incoming, first-time freshmen to become a doctor for the San Joaquin Valley of California. An SJV PRIME+ scholar will first earn a Bachelor of Science from UC Merced, then complete medical training at UCSF Fresno, and ultimately receive a medical degree (MD) from the UCSF School of Medicine.
This is an eight-year program in which you will:
- Earn a four-year baccalaureate degree in one of the four majors and options listed below at UC Merced
- Complete the first 1.5 years of UCSF Bridges Curriculum pre-clinical medical training at the UCSF School of Medicine Regional Pre-Clerkship Campus planned for UC Merced
- Complete the remaining 2.5 years of UCSF Bridges Curriculum clinical training at the UCSF School of Medicine Regional Clinical Campus at UCSF Fresno and receive an MD degree from UCSF School of Medicine
When enrolled in the SJV PRIME+ BS/MD program, you will earn a BS in one of four qualifying major options:
Chemistry
(Track: Biological Chemistry)
Public Health
(Track: Pre-Med)
Applying to SJV PRIME+
Welcome to the SJV PRIME+ application process! This program prepares future physicians to serve the San Joaquin Valley through specialized training, mentorship, and support. Review the sections below for eligibility criteria, application requirements, and important deadlines.
Upcoming Events and Assistance
We host several on-campus events throughout the year, and we invite you to join us to learn what makes our campus so special. We also host online events and travel throughout the state to host admission receptions.
Special SJV PRIME+ BS/MD Application Workshops
NAVIGATING THE SJV PRIME+ BS/MD APPLICATION PROCESS
When: Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm PDT
Where: Online
The SJV PRIME+ BS/MD Program is a highly selective eight-year program that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science from UC Merced and a medical degree from UCSF School of Medicine while preparing to serve communities in the San Joaquin Valley. This webinar is designed for high school seniors interested in applying to the program. Through a step-by-step application workshop, participants will learn how to complete each stage of the application process, including the Supplemental Application and recommendation requirements. The session will clarify the differences between the UC application Personal Insight Questions and the SJV PRIME+ Supplemental Application, provide tips for developing strong responses, and review important deadlines and submission procedures. Students will leave with a clear understanding of the application process and the tools needed to submit a competitive application.
This webinar is highly recommended for any current high school senior applying to the SJV PRIME+ BS/MD Program. The session will distinguish between the required UC application PIQs and the additional SJVP+ Supplemental Application, provide tips for drafting responses, and discuss the next steps for obtaining the upload access links. Students will learn about deadline dates—Nov 20 and the first Friday in December —and the technical platform for the Supplemental Application. We will provide further instructions on the Letters of Recommendation format.
*San Joaquin Valley is comprised of San Joaquin County, Stanislaus County, Merced County, Madera County, Mariposa County, Fresno County, Kern County, Kings County, Tulare County
