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About David Geffen School of Medicine at Ucla Requirements
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (Medical School at University of California-Los Angeles) is located in Los Angeles, CA, founded in 1951. University of California-Los Angeles is Public, 4 or more years school and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs with total enrollment of 44,537.
The average tuition & fees of David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is $37,885 for California residents and $50,130 for others for academic year 2020-2021. The acceptance rate is 3.17% and total 184 first-year students enrolled into David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The average GPA of the enrolled students is 3.75 and the average MCAT score is 512.
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David Geffen School of Medicine Directory Information
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA was founded in 1951. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is located in 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095. University of California-Los Angeles is Public, 4 or more years school and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs with total enrollment of 44,537.
There are 856 students at medical school – 410 men and 446 women. Last year, 184 students have enrolled newly to David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Directory Information
Name David Geffen School of Medicine
Medical Schools at University of California-Los Angeles
ADDRESS 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095
School Web https://medschool.ucla.edu/
Founded 1951
LCME Accreditation
Status Full
Next Survey Year 2020-21
Initial year of Accreditation 1951
2021 David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Tuition & Fees
The 2020-2021 tuition & fees at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is $37,885 for California residents and $50,130 for others. This cost is different from the costs of other undergraduate and graduate programs. For major programs other than medical school at University of California-Los Angeles, the average undergraduate tuition & fees is $13,249 for California residents and $43,003 for others. The average graduate program tuition & fees is $13,029 for California residents and $28,131 for others.
The average living costs including room & board and other living expenses is $22,224 when a student lives on-campus (i.e. dormitory, school owned apartment) and $20,525 when a student lives off-campus. Next table summarizes the tuition & fees, and other college costs at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA 2021 Tuition & Fees
California Residents Out-of-State Students
Medical School Tuition $37,885 $50,130
General College Costs
Undergraduate Program (non-medical school) $13,249 $43,003
Graduate Program (non-medical school) $13,029 $28,131
On-Campus Room & Board $17,599
On-Campus Living Expense $4,625
Off-Campus Room & Board $15,241
Off-Campus Living Expense $5,284
Hey premeds! This page serves as a high-yield resource for the UCLA Medical School Admissions. The information from this page is a GOLDEN resource. We’ve compiled it from UCLA Medical School acceptance rate data, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA website, and most importantly, from UCLA med school students themselves! You will have facts such as UCLA Medical School admissions statistics And you’ll get an insider perspective about how to get into UCLA medical school, including the student life and curriculum.
Our Cracking Med School Admissions team often gets asked, “How hard is it to get into UCLA Medical School?” It’s definitely very hard. But there are many strategies and steps you can take to learn how to get into UCLA Medical School. Whether you’re comparing medical schools that you have been accepted to, preparing for an interview, or wanting to learn more about med school, keep reading!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Applications
Admissions Stats
Pre-Clinical
Clinical Rotations
Housing & Social
Financing
Resources
Get In
Why Choose UCLA School of Medicine?
The most common reasons we’ve heard from students:
Living in Los Angeles and Southern California
Access to a great public health school and public health opportunities
Excellent clinical opportunities in diverse communities
APPLICATIONS
How to get into UCLA Medical School – Write excellent secondary essays
One way to stand to the UCLA Medical School Admissions committee is to submit stellar secondary essays. The essays are relatively short, but diverse. Your responses should give a wide breadth and depth of your passions and personal qualities. The David Geffen School of Medicine secondary application is one of the most daunting. Why? Because it has at least 8 essay questions.
How to get into UCLA medical school
UC Los Angeles Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts (2019-2020):
Essay 1) Describe your involvement in the one most important non-academic activity in your life. (800 characters)
Essay 2) What has been the one most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated? (800 characters)
Essay 3) What has been the one most important volunteer work you have done and why was it meaningful? (800 characters)
Essay 4) Has there been or will there be a gap between achieving your last degree (baccalaureate or other degrees post baccalaureate) and the expected time of medical school matriculation? (300 characters)
Essay 5) What is the one most important honor you have received? Why do you view this as important? (300 characters)
Essay 6) What has been your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities)? Describe one and give number of hours, dates and advisor. (300 characters)
Essay 7) Describe a problem in your life. Include how you dealt with it and how it influenced your growth. (500 characters)
Essay 8) Where do you see yourself post-graduate education? What experiences have led you to this goal?
Essay 9) Please list any major paid work experience during or since college. (4000 characters)
UC Los Angeles Drew Medical School Secondary Essays:
Essay 1) Have you experienced any uneven performance in grades and academic achievement? If so, please explain. (800 characters)
Essay 2)If you are currently not a full time student, please list and describe your current activities. (800 characters)
Essay 3) Describe the role you play in your immediate family. (800 characters)
Essay 4)Describe your community and socioeconomic environment. (800 characters)
Essay 5) List the most significant community, public service, and leadership activities you have been involved in over the last six years. (800 characters)
Essay 6) Describe how your experience, your community, and family background impact your understanding of the underserved communities. (800 characters)
Essay 7) Other than healthcare access, what are some of the most important healthcare issues confronting underserved communities? How would you address them? (800 characters)
Essay 8)Please describe how your experiences and personal attributes contribute to the mission of Charles R Drew University. (800 characters)
Essay 9) Have you ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic or parking violation? (800 characters)
Essay 10) Please provide any additional information which will give the Admissions Committee greater insight into you as an applicant. (800 characters)
Essay 11) How did you hear about our program? (800 characters)
If you have questions about UCLA Medical School’s secondary application, email us at info@crackingmedadmissions.com or contact us.
NEED HELP WITH EDITING YOUR
UCLA SECONDARY ESSAYS?
Get the Cracking Med School Admissions team’s expertise through our secondary essay editing packages. If you have questions, email us at info@crackingmedadmissions.com or contact us.
SECONDARY ESSARY EDITING
UCLA MEDICAL SCHOOL
INTERVIEW FORMAT
How to Get Into UCLA Medical School – Ace Your Interview:
UCLA Medical School interviews are traditional one-on-one interviews.
Our Cracking Med School Admissions team strongly advises you to stress why you will thrive at UCLA and why you want to attend David Geffen School of Medicine over other medical schools.
Want to learn more about how to prepare for your UCLA medical school interview?
How to Prepare for Medical School Interviews
4 Common Medical School Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
The Cracking Med School Admissions team has helped several students get accepted to Harvard and ace their interviews! Make sure to contact us and get our help.
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If you are prepared, the interview gives you the perfect opportunity to standout and shine by sharing with people what you are passionate about.
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UC LOS ANGELES MEDICAL SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE RATE
Applied
13,101
Interviewed
945
Accepted
311
Admit Rate
2.4
UCLA MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS STATISTICS:
Geffen Medical School Average GPA: 3.83
Geffen Med School New MCAT: 517 (129 chemical & physical / 128 critical analysis / 130 biological & biochemical / 130 psychological, social)
HOW DID UCLA MED STUDENTS DO ON THEIR USMLE STEP EXAMS?
Average Geffen Medical School USMLE Step 1 Score: 230
Average Geffen Medical School USMLE Step 2 Score: 244
Source: U.S. News Graduate School Rankings 2021
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THE INSIDER’S VIEW ON UCLA MEDICAL SCHOOL’S PRE-CLINICAL YEARS
How to Get Into UCLA Medical School – Know the Curriculum:
Curriculum Overview:
As a David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine student, your first two years are spent as a pre-clinical student, mainly learning through lectures. Then, you take USMLE Step 1. Finally, you spend your last two years in clinical rotations.
Pre-Clinical Years:
The first two years are pre-clinical years, divided into various blocks, based on organ system. Aside from classroom learning, you also have a class on “doctoring & clinical skills.”
The first year consists of the following blocks:
Foundations of Medicine
Cardiovascular
Renal & Respiratory
Gastrointestinal
Endocrine
Reproductive
Musculoskeletal
Neuroscience
The second year consists of the blocks organized by organ system, similar to the first year. However, you go more in-depth with each organ system.
Grades:
Grades for pre-clinical years are pass/fail.
Grades for clinical years are Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail (basically like grades).
How to Get Into UCLA Medical School – Know Unique Highlights:
Unique highlights about pre-clinical years:
UCLA med students are collaborative and work together to learn the pre-clinical program.
Although the campus and the UCLA community is spread out, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of through UCLA (partnerships with both the undergraduate students and other graduate schools). For example, UCLA’s mobile clinic serves the poorer communities in Los Angeles; students from the undergraduate school, medical school, law school, and public health schools all get involved.
Watch more about UCLA’s walk-in and mobile clinic around downtown Los Angeles.
Taking Time Off:
Most MD candidates at UCLA graduate within 4 years. There is less flexibility in the curriculum to take time off, even in the 4th year, because of the large work-load of clinical requirements. Additionally, because you are placed in a cohort of students in your 3rd and 4th year, there is less flexibility to take 1-2 months off during your 3rd and 4th years.
Research Opportunities:
There are several opportunities for research at the David Geffen School of Medicine. However, med students take advantage of several other departments and institutes across UCLA. For a full list of UCLA research opportunities, check out this link here: https://medschool.ucla.edu/departments
Learn more about UCLA:
Why choose UCLA? Check it out!
WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT UCLA MEDICAL SCHOOL
UCLA has one of the larger medical school classes, but there is a great sense of community. Everyone is friendly, and easy to find a great group of close friends.
Several students do clinical research projects during their pre-clinical years. There are numerous professors to work with – both at UCLA and at the hospitals. Opportunities are endless! There is also a large group of students who are interested in public health and community-based research.
You are in the heart of Los Angeles and can live close to the beach if you choose. You can’t beat this quality of life!
The curriculum is very structured and thorough. I feel like I received a great medical education at UCLA.
UCLA has one of the larger medical school classes, but there is a great sense of community. Everyone is friendly, and easy to find a great group of close friends.
Several students do clinical research projects during their pre-clinical years. There are numerous professors to work with – both at UCLA and at the hospitals. Opportunities are endless! There is also a large group of students who are interested in public health and community-based research.
You are in the heart of Los Angeles and can live close to the beach if you choose. You can’t beat this quality of life!
The curriculum is very structured and thorough. I feel like I received a great medical education at UCLA.
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THE INSIDER’S VIEW ON UCLA MEDICAL SCHOOL’S CLINICAL YEARS
Clinical Years:
During the 3rd and 4th years of medical school, students are in clinical rotations. While there is ample time to pursue electives during your fourth year of medical school, there is less time (compared to other medical schools) for free time to pursue non-clinical related activities and travel.
The third year curriculum consists of:
Surgery (12 weeks)
Pediatrics (6 weeks)
OB/GYN (6 weeks)
Internal Medicine (8 weeks)
Psych/Neurology (8 weeks)
Ambulatory/Family Medicine (8 weeks)
The fourth year curriculum consists of 30 weeks minimum of electives.
To check out more details about the UCLA School of Medicine curriculum:
http://medschool.ucla.edu/current-curriculum
How to Get Into UCLA Medical School – Tailor Unique Opportunities to Your Interests:
Unique highlights about clinical years:
Students have the opportunity to work at several hospitals and through different types of hospital systems.
Advanced clinical electives are a requirement and are a large bulk of your 4th year (30 weeks); as a results, there are plenty to choose from.
Main Clinical Rotation Sites:
UCLA Olive View Hospital
Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Harbor UCLA
Kaiser Sunset
Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital
Ronald Regan Medical Center at UCLA
Santa Monica – UCLA Orthopedic Medical Center
St. Mary’s Medical Center
West Los Angeles Veteran’s Affairs
WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT CLINICAL ROTATIONS AT UCLA
I continued to do research and volunteer in the greater-Los Angeles community during my clinical rotations. It was a great complement to my training.
I always felt a sense of purpose at UCLA. Every day of medical school, I was surrounded by inspirational physicians and students who wanted to improve the patients’ lives and communities around them.
I loved rotating through different hospital systems. I saw various patient populations and allowed me to think about what type of clinical setting I want to practice in one day.
With the Longitudinal Preceptorship, I was able to work with one awesome attending over 2 years. She really fine-tuned my clinical presentations and physical exam skills.
I continued to do research and volunteer in the greater-Los Angeles community during my clinical rotations. It was a great complement to my training.
I always felt a sense of purpose at UCLA. Every day of medical school, I was surrounded by inspirational physicians and students who wanted to improve the patients’ lives and communities around them.
I loved rotating through different hospital systems. I saw various patient populations and allowed me to think about what type of clinical setting I want to practice in one day.
With the Longitudinal Preceptorship, I was able to work with one awesome attending over 2 years. She really fine-tuned my clinical presentations and physical exam skills.
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HOUSING
Where do students live?
Students can apply for graduate housing during medical school, however most students find off-campus housing.
Getting around:
You will need a car to get around, preferably all 4 years of medical school. And be prepared for traffic! Although, when you are doing your clinical rotations, you often commute during non-rush hours. So the commute times don’t have to be too bad :).
FINANCING
Financial Considerations:
You can apply for grants and financial aid with UCLA Med School’s financial aid office. The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is known to give out scholarships and grants to top students, based on merit.
UCLA Medical School Tuition & Fees: ~$41,000 in-state and ~$53,000 out-of-state
Average indebtedness of UCLA Med School graduates: ~$145,000
As one of the best-ranked and most prestigious medical schools in the United States, UCLA Medical School, also known as the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM at UCLA) is, unsurprisingly, also one of the most competitive. With an acceptance rate under 3 percent, getting admitted to UCLA Medical School has long been a challenge for even the brightest applicants. That became even more the case in 2019 when UCLA raised their GPA and MCAT cutoff scores and received a huge, scholarship-boosting gift from their namesake donor.
If you hope to be one of the lucky few to earn an MD from UCLA, read on to learn more about how to get into UCLA Medical School. In this guide, we’ll explain all the elements of the UCLA Medical School application, help you understand what UCLA is looking for in applicants, and give you expert advice on tackling the UCLA secondary application prompts.
A number of our students get into UCLA Medical School each year. Want to learn how?
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Part 2: UCLA Medical School programs
Since there are a number of different ways to get an MD through UCLA, let’s first go over what programs UCLA’s medical school offers.
First up is the standalone MD program, which takes four years to complete and admits approximately 118 students each year. More on this program in a bit.
UCLA also offers the Medical Science Training Program (MSTP), an MD-PhD joint program with CalTech, which typically takes students eight years to complete. MSTP graduates generally go on to work in socio-medical and biomedical fields. MSTP usually accepts 15 students per year.
Additionally, UCLA offers a five-year program called UCLA PRIME, which accepts around 18 students each year and is designed for those interested in leadership and advocacy roles pertaining to medical care for underserved communities. Students in UCLA PRIME earn an MD and a master’s degree in a complementary field, most commonly an MBA, MPH, or MPP.
Finally, the UCLA/Charles R. Drew Medical Education Program is a joint MD program which focuses on community engagement and physician leadership in diverse and disadvantaged populations. In this four-year program, students spend the first two years at UCLA and then finish up at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. The UCLA/Charles R. Drew program usually admits 24 students per year.
What’s the difference between the regular UCLA MD and the UCLA/Charles R. Drew MD programs?
While both programs offer an MD, there is a key difference between them. As an officially designated minority-serving institution and Historically Black Graduate Institution, Charles Drew University is “dedicated to social justice and health equity for underserved populations.” As such, the UCLA/Charles R. Drew joint program aims to graduate physicians who are dedicated to fulfilling this mission.
Applicants are chosen on the bases of both their academic merits and their commitments to service. Demonstrating a true commitment to working in disadvantaged communities is extremely important to being a good candidate for the UCLA/Charles R. Drew program, so keep that in mind when choosing which programs to apply to.
While all of UCLA’s MD programs are worth considering if their parameters are of interest to you, in the remainder of this post we’ll focus on how to get into the standalone MD program.
Part 3: UCLA Medical School admissions statistics
While UCLA has not published average GPA or MCAT scores for its most recent incoming class, given its low acceptance rate, it’s safe to say that most successful applicants will be academically impressive. Because UCLA requires a 3.4 GPA and 512 MCAT just to apply, we can assume that the average accepted student will have statistics well above these cutoffs.
With over 14,000 applications typically received for only 175 spots across all MD programs, the UCLA Medical School acceptance rate is incredibly low. In 2020, only 2.4% of applicants received an offer of admission.
Part 4: UCLA Medical School requirements
Since pre-med requirements can vary from school to school, let’s take a look at what UCLA Medical School expects from its applicants.
UCLA states that, on a broad level, the goals of your undergraduate education should be mastery of the following:
Reading and writing in English
Quantitative thinking (i.e. math and science)
“Insight in human behavior, thought, and aspiration” (i.e. the social sciences and humanities)
What does this mean more specifically? Here’s the specific coursework that UCLA recommends in order to demonstrate the “competencies” that are central to their curriculum:
Biology and physiology: cellular and molecular biology, genetics
Chemistry, biochemistry, and physical sciences: inorganic and organic chemistry, biochemistry of intermediary metabolism, and associated labs
Humanities courses such as literature and/or art, history, philosophy, religion, ethics, economics, social behavior, and psychology
Math and statistics courses such as biomathematics, computer science, and matrix algebra
UCLA also looks for:
Good writing and interpersonal skills
Clinical experience
Some experience or familiarity with research
Knowledge of the challenges of health care delivery (i.e. the political, ethical, legal, scientific, or public health sides of medicine)
Awareness of the importance of diversity
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Part 5: UCLA Medical School tuition and scholarships
For the 2020–2021 school year, UCLA Medical School tuition and fees run $43,726. When factoring in other expenses such as room and board, books, and transportation, UCLA advertises their first-year cost of attendance as $78,046 per year.
While this is undeniably expensive, UCLA does offer both need- and merit-based scholarships, including the David Geffen Medical Scholarships, which cover the entire cost of attendance for up to 20 percent of entering students each year. On top of this, there are over 100 other UCLA Philanthropic Scholarships available to medical students.
Part 6: UCLA Medical School application timeline
To apply to UCLA’s MD program, you will submit your application via AMCAS by October 15. UCLA suggests getting your materials in by September, and we suggest shooting for early in the summer.
(Suggested reading: The Ideal Medical School Application Timeline)
After this, you’ll receive your secondary application, which you should submit within the next 15 days or by October 30—whichever date falls earlier.
Those who make it past this round will be invited to interview at UCLA. Invitations for interviews are issued between July and December, with offers of admission typically going out beginning on October 15 and continuing until the incoming class is filled.
Part 7: UCLA secondary application essays (examples included)
To complete UCLA’s secondary application, you’ll need to answer a number of very short questions. Since UCLA’s secondary prompts range between 300 characters (a few sentences) and 800 characters (one to two paragraphs), brevity and clarity are crucial here.
Below are the 2020–2021 UCLA Medical School secondary essay prompts, advice on how to nail each question, and example responses written by our own students.
Since questions 1, 2, and 3 are all variations of the same thing—essays on your extracurriculars for medical school—we can apply a similar approach to all three.
Each essay should focus in-depth on one activity that has been important to you, which illustrates the passion you would bring to UCLA. You’ll want to make sure to relay what these activities have meant to you and how you’ve been affected by them. While these three essays don’t necessarily need to address medicine-related extracurriculars (though they certainly can), each should help argue that your dedication and perseverance would make you a fantastic addition to the UCLA Medical School community and a top-notch doctor.
Let’s take a look at some examples.
Question 1: Describe your involvement in the one most important non-academic activity in your life. (800 characters)
In this question, you’ll definitely want to adhere to the guidelines and write about a truly non-academic activity. This is a valuable opportunity to highlight who you are beyond your transcripts!
Example:
Playing the piano has been important to me ever since age six. As an unathletic kid, I wasn’t cut out for sports, the only extracurriculars offered by my school. Instead, I found a home in music, practicing eagerly each day and attending piano camp every summer. After ten years of study, my teacher told me that if I was serious about music, I should practice twice as much and attend conservatory after high school. I was torn—by then I’d developed an interest in science and was thinking of becoming a doctor. Though medicine ultimately won out, I was reluctant to give up music. That’s why I volunteered to become my church’s pianist, playing during services and weddings. Though I’m not playing music professionally, having a creative outlet keeps me happy and engaged with community.
Question 2: What has been the one most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated? (800 characters)
This question is pretty open-ended, so take the opportunity to think broadly. Essentially, this essay is a space to differentiate yourself from the competition. If you feel that none of your activities are “unique” enough to write about here, instead try approaching this prompt by brainstorming how you have contributed in unique or interesting ways, even in commonplace situations.
Example:
I began volunteering at Planned Parenthood as a University of Texas undergraduate, first performing data entry and later becoming a campus activist. In the latter role, I organized on-campus events to educate my peers and raise awareness surrounding women’s healthcare and reproductive rights. Though working for Planned Parenthood in liberal Austin was a mostly peaceful endeavor, it opened my eyes to the obstacles and threats faced by clinics in other parts of Texas, including my hometown of Waco. Wanting to do more, I decided to organize a silent auction benefit and reached out to dozens of local businesses and university departments to solicit items for auction. The event was such a success—we raised over $3,000—that I’ve continued to put it on each year as a UT grad living in Austin.
Question 3: What has been the one most important volunteer work you have done and why was it meaningful? (800 characters)
When discussing volunteer work, make sure to get specific and use anecdotes if possible. You’ll want to describe why that specific activity was meaningful to you and how it impacted you personally rather than rely on sentimental tropes such as “a passion for helping others.” A good answer to this question will demonstrate that what you’ve learned or how you’ve grown as the result of your volunteer work has made you a better potential doctor.
Example:
Though I’ve long wanted to be a doctor, art has always been another passion. I was fortunate to have these interests merge in 2017 when my painting professor encouraged me to volunteer at an art center for adults with developmental disabilities. Unsure of what to expect, on my first day I got into a conversation with a woman named Libby about paint colors and the moods they represented—we found ourselves high-fiving in agreement. Working at the art center, I’ve been able to connect with many students over art, which has not only deepened my belief in its importance but has also expanded my understanding of creativity itself. The students I work with each week inspire me and strengthen my resolve to be the best provider I can be in the future.
Question 4: Has there been or will there be a gap between achieving your last degree (baccalaureate or other degrees post baccalaureate) and the expected time of medical school matriculation? (300 characters to explain if yes)
Answering this prompt shouldn’t be too complicated. If you’ll be going straight from your undergraduate institution to medical school, go ahead and answer, “No.”
If you have taken time off, your response should specifically and straightforwardly describe what you’ve been up to in the intervening time as well as how long you’ve been out of school. You likely won’t have space for much else, but if you can squeeze it in, you could also address why you’ve taken time off and what you’ve gained from your experience.
Example:
Having graduated from Virginia Tech this past spring, I am currently in the middle of a gap year during which I am living in Blacksburg and working as a research assistant in an on-campus psychology lab under the supervision of my undergraduate thesis director.
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Question 5: What is the one most important honor you have received? Why do you view this as important? (300 characters)
In choosing what honor to describe here, consider what skills or qualities you would like to emphasize, and ask yourself if what you’re choosing really needs to be further highlighted. For instance, writing about an academic honor might boost your profile as a great student. But the honor is visible on your transcript already. So what’s the story behind it? Perhaps you graduated Phi Beta Kappa (PBK), but had a miserable sophomore year with a slew of personal and academic difficulties. You might talk about those difficulties to frame the PBK accomplishment. Other people choose to write about honors that won’t show up on their resumé at all—the time a preschool class you volunteered with voted you Queen of Springtime, or a glowing evaluation from your volunteer work supervisor that focused on your compassion rather than productivity. Whether or not you choose an honor that came with a certificate, remember that you still have to tell a story, even if it’s a short one.
Example:
I received the Teaching Assistant of the Year Award. I worked mostly with student athletes who didn’t always connect with science, but I managed to help them grasp and even enjoy the material. I’m proud to have helped them learn, and felt I could take some credit for a great basketball season!
Question 6: What has been your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities)? Describe one and give number of hours, dates and advisor. (300 characters)
This is another straightforward question. Simply provide one or two sentences describing your project, as well as the other information requested, and you’ll probably be right at 300 characters. You’ll want to choose a fairly substantial project and ideally one that had measurable results such as a completed thesis, a presentation, or a publication.
Example:
For my senior thesis as a linguistics major, I studied language acquisition in infants attending my college’s on-campus preschool. Under the direction of my advisor, Dr. Ellen Sato, I observed children twice a week between Sep. 2016 and Mar. 2017, totaling 112 hours, and completed a 65-page thesis.
Question 7: Describe a problem in your life. Include how you dealt with it and how it influenced your growth. (500 characters)
This is essentially an “adversity essay” prompt, which we’ve discussed how to respond to in our guide on medical school secondary essays. Since hopefully you’ve already written a version of this essay, all you’ll need to do to adapt it to work for this question is cut it down to fit within the character limit.
Example:
I grew up in rural Maine and am the first in my family to go to college. When I began attending Columbia, I was intimidated by my intellectual, cosmopolitan peers. I felt like an outsider who could never belong, and my grades and mental health quickly declined. After a difficult first semester, I moved home and worked for my electrician dad. After 3 years, I reapplied to Columbia and am now graduating with honors. I credit my successful second try to the discipline and humility I gained from work.
Question 8: Please list any major paid work experience during or since college. (4000 characrers per work experience)
This question should be pretty easy to answer, especially since you’ve already listed your work experience in the AMCAS Work and Activities section of your primary application. Here you will simply want to give a short description of each work experience (position, location, and duties) along with the dates and approximate hours worked. This response can be formatted either as a list or written out in sentences. Either way, it doesn’t need to take essay form or argue anything. Remember to limit your response to paid work only.
Example:
Clinical Scribe, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI (July 2018–present, 25 hours per week)
Primary duties: inputs patient data into electronic medical record system, monitors medical testing procedures such as urinalysis and X-rays, schedules patient appointments, and oversees communication with external labs.
Laboratory Assistant, Gene Expression Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (September 2016–May 2018, 15 hours per week)
Primary duties: maintained lab equipment material stock, prepared reagents, and maintained supplies of sterile glassware. Received permission to perform independent research in lab beginning in September 2017.
Café Worker, Michigan League, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (September 2014–May 2016, 12 hours per week)
Primary duties: made sandwiches and coffee drinks, prepped ingredients, stocked to-go supplies, and cleaned café space.
Question 9: Is there any hardship to which you would like the committee to give special attention in evaluating your application? (500 characters)
You get to define hardship. It might mean personal health struggles or socioeconomic barriers you’ve had to overcome, or something else from your family or academic life. Some students find that this prompt overlaps with an answer they’ve prewritten to another school’s “diversity essay,” which we’ve covered in the same medical school secondaries guide we referred to earlier. Just as in Question 7, you’ll likely need to edit your existing essay to fit within the character limit, but you should otherwise be good to go.
If you have space, you might also want to try inserting one or two sentences that tailor the essay to specific resources or dimensions of UCLA or Los Angeles.
Example:
I grew up working in my family’s Vietnamese restaurant after school. I turned to homework late, and my grades suffered. I did two years at junior college before transferring to UC Davis. Once I could focus on schoolwork, I saw my potential. Sometimes I’m frustrated I didn’t get access to the opportunities my peers had. But I also value where I come from. I want to make a career in a city like LA, where I can bring medical access to diverse communities across financial and language barriers.
Question 10: Where do you see yourself post-graduate education? What experiences have led you to this goal? (500 characters)
This is a common question that you’ll probably run into on other secondary applications. Essentially this question is asking you to describe your vision for your future.
A useful strategy for this prompt is to choose a specialty that interests you (even if you aren’t really sure what you want to do yet, as this won’t commit you to anything) and describe how the experiences you’ve already had have prepared you to enter that field. Try to also tie your response to UCLA and the reasons why UCLA will best prepare you for the future you are describing.
Example:
My goal is to become an OB/GYN. With a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies, bettering women’s healthcare has long been important to me. Other experiences that have led me down this path include shadowing an OB/GYN during my junior year, volunteering in a clinic at a women’s prison, and my current job as a services coordinator at a women’s shelter in San Francisco. A UCLA education will help me towards this goal, especially with resources like the Women’s Reproductive Health Research Program.
Question 11: Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as any other relevant information. (500 characters)
Let’s break down the intent of this unprecedented prompt: it provides space to explain how the COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively impacted you, allowing you to be seen holistically in the event that the pandemic disrupted your education, test taking, application preparation, or other relevant circumstances.
While it’s highly likely that the pandemic has impacted you in one or more of these ways, we don’t recommend using this essay to excuse relatively minor missteps or outcomes you wish had turned out differently, such as receiving a B in a virtual class when you believe you would have received an A in person.
Rather, an essay that responds to this prompt should discuss reasons why the pandemic has truly kept you from putting your best foot forward. For example, perhaps you were supposed to work in a lab during your gap year but the lab has been shut down since March. Or, to offer another example, maybe you’ve been prevented from taking the MCAT because testing centers near you were closed and then booked solid for months.
Whatever the circumstances are that you believe merit explanation, keep your response concise and factual, remembering that your goal is to explain why the scenario should not prevent you from being considered a strong applicant.
Part 8: UCLA Medical School interview
Students who make it past the secondary application round will be invited to interview. In the 2020–2021 application cycle, all interviews will be held virtually via a two-part process: the AAMC VITA and a one-on-one live interview.
While UCLA typically uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI Interview) format, interviews in this application cycle will consist of two 25-minute traditional interviews.
Since it’s difficult to know what questions you’ll be asked, you should first prepare by practicing thinking quickly on your feet. It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re familiar with the UCLA Medical School program, facilities, and mission statement and can speak fluently about why DGSOM is the right medical school for you.
Additionally, though this year’s interviews will be traditional, consider why UCLA usually uses the MMI. DGSOM’s Associate Dean for Admissions has stated that the MMI measures “whether applicants have the ability to monitor their own and others’ emotions to guide their thinking and action” and that they are “looking for those students with high emotional intelligence.” In other words, while you should prepare as much as you can, you definitely don’t want to seem like you’re delivering an obviously rehearsed response. Instead, do your best to speak naturally and in a personable manner.
(Suggested reading: How to Ace Your Medical School Interviews)
Final thoughts
As one of the best and most selective medical schools in the country, applying to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA may seem like a “reach” for even the most qualified students. Since the majority of your fellow applicants will also have outstanding GPAs and MCAT scores, your secondary essays must be top-notch in order to stand out from the crowd. Though UCLA’s admissions statistics are admittedly daunting, applying the advice in this guide will provide you with a road map to ace your application.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world’s foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
David Geffen School of Medicine GPA and MCAT Scores
The average GPA from enrolled students at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is 3.75 and the average MCAT score is 512. Its GPA is higher than average GPA of all medical schools as well as California medical schools. The MCAT score of David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is higher than average MCAT of all medical schools, but lower than California medical schools.
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Average GAP and MCAT scores
David Geffen School of Medicine California Medical Schools All Medical Schools
GPA 3.75 3.736 3.746
MCAT Scores 512 513.3 510.7
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Acceptance Rate and Admission Statistics
For academic year 2020-2021, total 11,417 students have applied to David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and 362 students have accepted to get into the school. Among the admitted students, 184 students have enrolled into the school. The acceptance rate is 3.17% and the yield, also known as enrollment rate, is 50.83% at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Admission Stats – Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled
Number of Students / Percentage
Applicants 11,417
Admitted 362
Enrolled (First-year Students) 184
Acceptance Rate 3.17%
Yield (Enrollment Rate) 50.83%
Totla Enrollment 856
Men 410
Women 446
Address: 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
The University of California Board of Regents established the UCLA School of Medicine in 1946; the school opened its doors in 1951 and graduated its first class in 1955. In 2002, the school was renamed the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in recognition of an historic gift by philanthropist David Geffen. Mr. Geffen’s continued generosity ensures that the school can compete with the finest medical institutions in the world for outstanding faculty and provides resources for exceptional medical students.
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