UCLA Geffen
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles, CA · Public · MD
- Average MCAT: 516
- Average GPA: 3.81
- Class size: 175
- Tuition: $66,960 (per year, nonresident)
- Out-of-state applicants: Welcome
Deadlines
- AMCAS deadline: Oct. 1, 2026
- Secondary deadline: 2 weeks from the date and time of invitation
Essays
Essay 1 (800 characters)
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?
Essay 2A (800 characters)
Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity.
Essay 2B (800 characters)
Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful.
Essay 2C (800 characters)
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.
Essay 3 (800 characters)
Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as other relevant information.
Optional 1 (800 characters)
(Optional) Did you transfer from a community college to 4-year college?
Optional 2 (800 characters)
(Optional) Are you a first-generation college graduate? (First generation to college is defined as having parents, guardians, or extended family who have a high school education or less.)
Optional 3 (800 characters)
(Optional) Did you experience or are you anticipating time between graduating from college and matriculating into medical school? If you answered “Yes” to question 4, describe the activities in which you participated or are planning to participate. Examples include additional schooling, employment, or caring for a loved one.
Optional 4 (800 characters)
(Optional) Do you identify as being part of a group that has been marginalized (examples include, but are not limited to, LGBTQIA, disabilities, federally recognized tribe) in terms of access to education or healthcare? If you answered “Yes” to question 5, describe how this inequity has impacted you or your community and how educational disparity, health disparity and/or marginalization has impacted you and your community.
Reapplicant (800 characters)
(Optional) Are you re-applying to DGSOM? If you answered “Yes,” describe what has changed since you last applied to DGSOM. Please be specific.
Reapplicant (800 characters)
Are you re-applying to DGSOM? If you answered “Yes,” describe what has changed since you last applied to DGSOM. Please be specific.
Reapplicant (800 characters)
Are you re-applying to DGSOM? If you answered “Yes,” describe what has changed since you last applied to DGSOM. Please be specific.
UHEP 1 (800 characters)
Please describe how your experience, community and family background impact your understanding of medically underserved/under-resourced communities.
UHEP 2 (800 characters)
Other than healthcare access, what are some of the most important health care issues confronting medically underserved/under-resourced and vulnerable communities? How would you address them?
Editor's notes
- Decide your track before you submit AMCAS. PRIME-LA and MSTP use different AMCAS program types, and dual consideration has to be chosen before the secondary goes in. After that, UCLA won't change your apply type.
- The secondary is due two weeks after the invitation, and every section is capped at 800 characters. Draft the Outstanding Physician AND answer and your three activity pieces in the summer, before the invitation arrives. Two weeks isn't long for nine short answers done well.
- Schedule PREview early if you're on the Traditional track. Scores are due Nov. 13, 2026, and the school recommends taking it before your interview. A missing PREview score leaves the file incomplete.
- State residency doesn't count in review, but it counts in cost. Nonresidents pay $12,245 more each year, and the school's own advice is to establish California residency after year one.
Sources
- DGSOM Admissions, How to apply (2026-27 timeline, MCAT, letters, PREview, fee)
- DGSOM Admissions, Preparing to apply (FAQ, eligibility, competencies)
- DGSOM Admissions, Review process and interview FAQ
- DGSOM Admissions, After applying
- DGSOM Financial Aid, How much is medical school? (2026-27 budgets)
- DGSOM Financial Aid, Medical school scholarships and grants
- DGSOM, Degrees and programs
- DGSOM, Urban Health Equity Pathway
- DGSOM, Match Day (Class of 2026 and 2025 match lists)
- DGSOM News, For Class of 2030, first days of medical school bring excitement and connection
- DGSOM, Medical school admissions (overview and events)
- DGSOM Events, DGSOM Insight Series: 2026 Fall Info Session
- DGSOM, Mission and vision
