Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 6/14/24
Planning to become a doctor? Want to study in sunny Los Angeles? Read on to learn how to get into UCLA medical school!
As one of the country’s top medical schools, the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) at UCLA is also among the most competitive. If you’re interested in becoming one of the lucky few to get accepted to DGSOM but aren’t sure where to start, here’s your guide!
There are several different programs available at UCLA. Requirements for each can vary:
All candidates must apply through the David Geffen School of Medicine. Once DGSOM accepts you, you’ll need to apply to the program you want, submit letters of recommendation, and undergo an interview process.
The UCLA Medical School acceptance rate is 1.34%. As you can see, it is extremely competitive to get into, so ensure you have a competitive application!
Now, let’s look at the acceptance rate for UCLA Medical School for the past few years.
The acceptance rate for UCLA Medical School has drastically decreased from previous years, making it more competitive than it already was.
UCLA Medical School is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 1.34%. This means that for every 10 people applying, only one person is accepted.
To help give you a better idea of what UCLA Medical School expects from its applicants, here are the average GPA and MCAT scores of admitted students. If you are looking for MCAT tutoring in Los Angeles with a guaranteed score of 520+, we're here to help.
The average GPA for admitted applicants to UCLA Medical School is 3.8. Although UCLA doesn’t have a minimum GPA requirement, make sure you aim for around 3.8 to 4.0 when applying.
The average MCAT score of admitted students at UCLA Medical School is 514, which is very competitive. To be considered a competitive applicant, aim for an MCAT score higher than 514.
To apply to UCLA Medical School, you must use the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Before filling out the $95 application, you must meet all UCLA medical school requirements. Here are the minimum qualifications and materials you’ll need for your AMCAS application:
Now that you know how to get into UCLA Medical School, note that failure to provide any of these materials will delay your application review or lead to rejection.
UCLA Medical School doesn’t require specific coursework prerequisites. Although the school has no course requirements, DGSOM recommends applicants demonstrate key competencies in college-level coursework and abilities.
Here are the recommended UCLA Medical School prerequisites.
Try to incorporate a number of these courses into your application because DGSOM seeks these qualities in students.
UCLA Medical School is looking for applicants who performed well in their undergraduate studies and have the personality and character essential to succeed in medicine. The school also closely looks at the following:
All of these are assessed to see if an applicant is mature, intellectual, and culturally aware.
If you’re interested in attending medical school at UCLA, here are some tips to help you get accepted.
One thing that will make you stand out from the other applicants is if you have solid, tangible working experience shown throughout your application. UCLA classifies working experience in four different ways:
Gaining clinical experience in the areas highlighted above will prove to the admissions committee that you possess the soft skills needed to be a successful doctor, alongside your technical skills and understanding of medicine.
Your application to medical school is one of the most important documents you’ll have to prepare in your medical career. That’s why former Associate Dean for Admissions, Dr. Theodore Hall, recommended starting your application at least two years before you intend to apply. He said:
“As you're planning for your career in medicine, you should be documenting your extracurricular activities and research projects, people to ask for letters of recommendation and any other evidence [that] you'd be a good candidate,”
Keeping track of everything as you go can make the application process much smoother!
Since UCLA doesn’t have specific course requirements, you need to demonstrate your fit through the competencies the admissions committee searches for. In terms of knowledge, ensure your transcript shows you’ve taken science, math, and humanities courses.
The admissions committee also seeks candidates with varied clinical and research experiences, effective communicators, and strong interpersonal skills.
Aditya, Senior Admissions Consultant at the Mayo Clinic, shared these top tips for putting together a standout med school application:
"Your story needs to be something that is unique to you, and the activities that you choose need to make sense for that story. The Art of applying to medical school is threading the needle through everything that you've done during your undergraduate career and coming up with a story that connects all the dots that you've come across while you're studying to become a doctor."
"If you're planning these dots in advance and you're planning these opportunities in advance, it'll be easier for you to thread the needle and make a cohesive story come time to apply for medical school. The more cohesive your story, the more impactful your story will be to admissions committees and the higher your likelihood of getting interviews and getting accepted into medical school."
"One thing that you can do while you're still a first or second-year undergraduate student is keep a journal that is simply dedicated to the medical school application process. In this journal, you can write down any reflections or thoughts you have as you're going about your undergraduate career that will help you along your medical school application timeline."
If you’re still wondering if David Geffen is the right school for you, check out this Medical School Comparison tool to help you make the right decision!
Once you’ve completed all aspects of the primary application, the DGSOM admissions committee will review it. Afterward, the school may send secondary applications (including essays) to candidates they want to see in the admissions process.
These secondary essay prompts allow the admissions committee to get to know you better. The goal is to understand your interests, experiences, achievements, and hardships that provide a clearer picture of who you are.
You may be invited to interview once the admissions committee reviews your secondary application. The one-on-one virtual interview is your final requirement for UCLA Medical School. UCLA interviews are held between August and January or until the class is full.
You’ll want to stress your abilities, why you want to attend DGSOM, and how you’ll contribute to the program. After a comprehensive review of your application, the admissions committee determines a final offer.
The recent tuition fee for in-state UCLA Medical School students is $51,480 per year. Out-of-state students pay an additional $12,245, totaling $63,725 per year.
At the end of your first year, UCLA recommends finding a residency in California to reduce tuition costs at UCLA Medical School.
UCLA Medical School's four-year tuition is approximately $90,859 for in-state students and around $103,104 for out-of-state students. This tuition cost is rather high, but don’t worry—UCLA Medical School has plenty of scholarships available to help cut the cost!
UCLA Medical School offers scholarships, grants, and loans to help assist students with high cost of attendance. Here are some of the scholarships and grants that the school offers.
These and over 100 additional scholarships, many based on financial need, are available. Applications are linked to the financial aid process, requiring completion of the DGSOM Financial Aid Application. Do your research and apply because money is waiting for you.
The David Geffen School of Medicine uses a rolling admission schedule. While application deadlines are mid-October, aim to submit earlier. You can see the admissions timeline below:
If you receive an offer of admission, you’ll have 15 days to respond.
Still, have questions about how to get into UCLA med school? We’ve got you covered.
Yes, UCLA has a medical school. It's called the David Geffen School of Medicine and is known as one of the top research and educational institutions in the world. It's been around for 70 years.
You’ll need to submit three to five letters of recommendation. Your letters should come from professors or professionals who know you well and can speak to your qualifications.
The UCLA med school application requirements don’t include any specific prerequisite courses. However, successful students have significant knowledge in the following areas:
You should also have good writing and communication skills and clinical and research experience.
Although no specified minimum MCAT score is required for DGSOM, aiming for a score around or above 514 is a good idea. This will give you a competitive advantage at many programs, including UCLA.
There are no GPA cutoffs at UCLA Medical School, but a GPA of 3.8 or higher can help you become a more competitive applicant.
Yes, UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine is considered one of the top medical schools in the United States. It offers many educational pathways, including MD-PhD programs with Caltech, PRIME-LA for healthcare leadership in underserved communities, and global health initiatives.
To improve your chances of getting into UCLA Medical School, focus on extracurriculars that demonstrate leadership, community service, and healthcare experience. Participate in clinical activities like shadowing physicians or volunteering at clinics, especially in underserved areas.
Research experience is important – according to the MSAR, 96% of a recent incoming class had research experience.
No, in-state students do not have an advantage in admissions to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Approximately half of the admitted students each year come from out of state, and the other half are from California.
While the process is competitive and time-sensitive, getting admitted into the David Geffen School of Medicine is possible. Now that you know how to get into UCLA Medical School, the most important thing to remember is to ensure you submit all materials before the deadline.
There are excellent resources available to assist you when applying. With this guide and tailored support from our expert med school admissions consultants, becoming a student at DGSOM is within your reach!
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