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The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is one of the most prestigious and sought-after medical schools in the United States. Founded in 1951, UCLA DGSOM has built a remarkable reputation in a relatively short time, combining outstanding research with a deep commitment to serving diverse communities across California and beyond. Located in Los Angeles, students train at one of the country's most dynamic academic medical centers while having access to a network of clinical sites that spans from Westwood to Harbor-UCLA, Olive View, and the West Los Angeles VA — giving them exposure to some of the most diverse patient populations in the country.
UCLA's "Outstanding Physician, AND..." philosophy shapes everything about how the school selects its students and designs its curriculum. UCLA is not just looking for excellent clinicians in training. They are looking for future physician-scientists, advocates, educators, leaders, and innovators who will make meaningful contributions beyond the exam room. Understanding what UCLA values — and what the data shows about who gets in — will help you build the strongest possible application.
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UCLA offers four pathways to the MD degree, each with a distinct mission and focus:
Traditional MD Program
With approximately 118 to 175 students per entering class, the traditional MD program at DGSOM uses the HEALS (Healer, Educator, Advocate, Leader, Scholar) curriculum, which offers early clinical exposure, case-based learning, and a required scholarly project. Students train across a wide range of clinical settings throughout Los Angeles.
UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
In partnership with the California Institute of Technology, this combined MD/PhD program trains physician-scientists with interests spanning engineering, basic science, social sciences, and health policy. Students complete the medical portion of their training at DGSOM and their PhD within a UCLA or Caltech graduate program. Approximately 8 students enroll per year.
Charles R. Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program
This program trains students to become leaders and advocates in medicine for underserved populations in the United States and abroad. Twenty-four students are selected for this community-based program, which emphasizes the humane dimensions of medicine, health equity, and diversity.
UCLA PRIME-LA
PRIME-LA is a five-year dual degree program focused on addressing healthcare disparities in disadvantaged and underserved populations across California. Participants complete the traditional MD curriculum alongside special coursework, research projects on healthcare access, and clerkships in underserved clinical settings, culminating in an advanced degree such as an MBA, MPH, MPP, or MS. Eighteen students enroll in PRIME-LA each year.
Admission to UCLA DGSOM is extremely competitive. For the most recent admissions cycle, UCLA received 12,474 applications, invited 7.58% of applicants to interview, and enrolled 175 students. The overall acceptance rate is 1.40%.
UCLA's stats have shifted significantly in recent years. The acceptance rate has dropped well below 2%, the average MCAT has risen to 522, and the average GPA is now 3.96. Applicants who used older published data to assess their competitiveness may be working with figures that significantly underestimate how selective UCLA has become.
The average GPA for UCLA DGSOM matriculants is 3.96. The median accepted applicant GPA is 3.88. UCLA does not publish a minimum GPA requirement, but the data shows that near-perfect academic performance is the norm among admitted students. Applicants with a GPA below 3.7 face a significant challenge at UCLA unless other aspects of the profile are truly exceptional.
The average MCAT for UCLA DGSOM matriculants is 522. The median MCAT for accepted applicants is 515, with a range from approximately 507 at the 25th percentile to 519 at the 75th percentile of accepted students. In our experience, applicants should have an MCAT of 514 or higher to be competitive for an interview invitation at UCLA. UCLA does not publish a minimum MCAT requirement.
Related Article: Learn More About MCAT Scores
Among students who matriculate at UCLA DGSOM, approximately 79% majored in a science discipline. That said, UCLA values intellectual diversity and does not require or prefer a science major. Applicants from humanities, social sciences, and other non-science backgrounds are welcome and valued.
UCLA has moved toward competency-based admissions rather than strict course prerequisites. The only hard requirement is that applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and have completed a minimum of three years of undergraduate coursework at a U.S. or Canadian institution. AP credit is accepted.
To meet UCLA's core competencies — which include intellectual engagement, enthusiasm for lifelong learning, and maturity — UCLA recommends the following coursework:
UCLA also looks for evidence of strong writing and communication skills, clinical experience, awareness of healthcare delivery, appreciation for human diversity, and meaningful research involvement.
UCLA recently launched its HEALS curriculum, which stands for Healer, Educator, Advocate, Leader, Scholar. HEALS is designed to develop the full range of physician competencies through early clinical exposure, case-based learning, and a required scholarly project. Students gain clinical experience beginning in the first year across a rich network of training sites that includes Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, the West Los Angeles VA, and the UCLA Health system more broadly.
UCLA's "Cultural North Star" — Do What's Right, Make Things Better, Be Kind — guides the culture of the school and its expectations for students and faculty alike. The school places real emphasis on health equity, community engagement, and training physicians who understand the social and structural determinants of health.
UCLA does not publish experience data the way some peer institutions do, but the school's mission and the profile of its students make clear what is valued.
Research
Research experience is a significant differentiator at UCLA. The school's research mission is central to its identity, and applicants with substantive, sustained research involvement — particularly those with publications, presentations, or other tangible contributions — are at an advantage. That said, UCLA's clinical mission and commitment to underserved communities means that research alone is not sufficient. The breadth of your profile matters here more than at a school like Stanford or Hopkins.
Clinical Experience
Meaningful clinical experience is essential. UCLA trains students across some of Los Angeles's most diverse and underserved clinical environments, and it expects applicants to demonstrate genuine engagement with patients and clinical settings. Paid clinical work, volunteering, scribing, and EMT experience all contribute to a competitive profile.
Community Service and Advocacy
UCLA places unusually strong emphasis on service, advocacy, and a commitment to communities beyond the clinical setting. The "Outstanding Physician, AND..." framework means UCLA wants evidence of what you intend to contribute to medicine and society beyond patient care. This can take the form of community organizing, health policy work, social justice advocacy, teaching, or sustained volunteer involvement with underserved populations.
Leadership
UCLA's PRIME-LA and Drew programs reflect the school's deep commitment to developing physician-leaders. Applicants across all programs should demonstrate meaningful leadership experience, whether in organizations, research teams, community initiatives, or other settings.
UCLA follows AMCAS guidelines for letters of recommendation. A committee letter from your undergraduate institution is preferred if one is available. UCLA values letters that speak specifically and enthusiastically about your contributions, character, and potential — not letters that simply confirm your grades or academic standing. At a school this focused on mission and community impact, letters from supervisors who can speak to your service, advocacy, or research contributions carry real weight.
Click here to read more about medical school letters of recommendation.
UCLA participates in the centralized AMCAS application and does not require a separate personal statement written specifically for the school. The personal statement you write for AMCAS will be sent to UCLA and all other AMCAS schools to which you apply.
For UCLA specifically, your personal statement should reflect the values that UCLA holds most dear: service, advocacy, intellectual curiosity, and a clear sense of the contributions you intend to make beyond patient care. A personal statement that reads as a generic motivation narrative will not stand out at DGSOM. You need to convey what kind of physician-leader you intend to become and what you have already done to begin that journey.
Click here to read more about writing a compelling medical school personal statement.
UCLA does not ask you to submit a CV or resume separately. Instead, UCLA receives your AMCAS work and activities section along with the rest of your primary application.
At UCLA, the most meaningful activities section is an important opportunity to demonstrate depth of impact, not just breadth of involvement. Use it to show what you created, changed, or contributed — and to convey the mission-driven thread that connects your most significant experiences.
Click here to read our complete guide to the AMCAS Work and Activities Section with examples.
Unlike most medical schools, UCLA screens applicants before sending secondary applications. Not every applicant who submits a primary will receive a secondary invitation. The secondary application must be submitted within 15 days of receiving the invitation. The secondary fee is $80.
The 2025–2026 UCLA secondary essay prompts are as follows. All essays have an 800-character limit (approximately 130–140 words each).
Prompt 1
At the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, students are provided with curriculum and experiences enabling them to become an "Outstanding Physician, AND...," dedicating themselves to important societal missions. What missions do you want to embrace? What have you done toward your missions?
Prompt 2A
Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity.
Prompt 2B
Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful.
Prompt 2C
Describe your most scholarly project (thesis, research, or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities) and provide the total number of hours, dates, and advisor.
Prompt 3 (conditional)
Did you experience or are you anticipating time between graduating from college and matriculating into medical school? If yes, describe the activities in which you participated or are planning to participate.
Prompt 4 (conditional)
Do you identify as being part of a group that has been marginalized in terms of access to education or healthcare? If yes, describe how this inequity has impacted you or your community.
Note: UCLA prompts may change from cycle to cycle. Always verify current prompts on the official DGSOM admissions website before writing your essays. The 15-day deadline is firm — begin your essays as soon as you receive the secondary invitation.
Click here for our full guide to UCLA secondary essays.
May 2026
AMCAS application opens and can be submitted from late May. Submit as early as possible. UCLA has rolling admissions and reviews applications as they arrive.
July–November 2026
UCLA reviews screened applications and sends secondary invitations to selected applicants. Complete your secondary within 15 days of receiving it.
August 2026–March 2027
Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis. UCLA stops interviewing once the class is filled, so earlier submission means a better chance of an earlier interview invitation.
October 2, 2026
AMCAS application deadline.
October 15, 2026
Offers of admission begin to be extended.
April 30, 2027
Students holding multiple acceptances must select one medical school to attend.
UCLA conducts traditional one-on-one interviews conducted virtually. The admissions committee screens applications and begins extending interview invitations on August 15. Because UCLA uses rolling admissions and will stop interviewing once the class is filled, submitting your completed application as early as possible is one of the most important things you can do to maximize your chances.
The PRIME-LA program uses MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) interviews rather than the traditional format. Special programs may have additional requirements and deadlines.
UCLA medical school tuition differs for California residents and out-of-state students.
UCLA offers several notable scholarship programs:
UCLA graduates match across a wide range of specialties. The most common residency matches include:
The average GPA for UCLA DGSOM matriculants is 3.96, with a median accepted applicant GPA of 3.88. UCLA does not publish a minimum GPA requirement. Applicants with a GPA below 3.7 face a significant challenge unless other aspects of the profile are truly exceptional.
The average MCAT for UCLA DGSOM matriculants is 522. The median MCAT for accepted applicants is 515, with the middle 50% ranging from approximately 507 to 519. In our experience, applicants should have a 514 or higher to be competitive for a UCLA interview invitation. UCLA does not publish a minimum MCAT requirement.
As a public University of California institution, UCLA does give preference to California residents. Approximately 59% of matriculants are California residents. That said, UCLA admits a significant number of out-of-state and international applicants, and out-of-state applicants with strong profiles are competitive.
Yes. Unlike many schools that send secondaries to all applicants, UCLA screens applications before sending secondary invitations. Not every applicant who submits a primary will receive a secondary. The secondary must be completed within 15 days of receiving the invitation.
UCLA's "Outstanding Physician, AND..." philosophy reflects the school's belief that the best physicians contribute to medicine and society beyond clinical care. UCLA wants students who will become outstanding physicians AND scientists, advocates, educators, leaders, or innovators. This framework shapes the secondary essays and the holistic review process. Applicants who cannot articulate a clear mission beyond clinical practice are at a disadvantage at UCLA.
HEALS (Healer, Educator, Advocate, Leader, Scholar) is UCLA's recently launched MD curriculum. It emphasizes early clinical exposure, case-based learning, and a required scholarly project. The curriculum is designed to develop the full range of physician competencies and reflects UCLA's commitment to training physicians who are equipped to lead and innovate across healthcare settings.
UCLA conducts traditional one-on-one interviews conducted virtually. Interview invitations begin on August 15. UCLA has rolling admissions and stops interviewing once the class is filled, so earlier applicants have an advantage. The PRIME-LA program uses the MMI format.
UCLA offers several full-scholarship programs including the David Geffen Medical Scholarships, the Our Leaders of Tomorrow Scholars Program (full tuition plus research stipend), and the LA Care Scholarship covering the full cost of education. 92% of DGSOM students receive some form of financial aid.
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is one of the most competitive medical schools in the country, with an acceptance rate of 1.4% and an average MCAT of 522. Getting in requires not just exceptional academics but a profile that demonstrates genuine commitment to the kind of mission-driven medicine UCLA values. If your GPA is 3.7 or above, your MCAT is 514 or higher, and you can articulate clearly what you intend to contribute to medicine and society beyond patient care, UCLA belongs on your list. Apply early, complete your secondary within the 15-day window, and be specific in your essays about the missions you want to pursue and why UCLA is the right place to pursue them.
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