David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (MD) Medical School - 2027 Entry Requirements & Interview Format
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is a leading public medical school located on the UCLA campus in Westwood, Los Angeles. Affiliated with UCLA Health — one of the top-ranked hospital systems in California — the school offers diverse clinical training across a population encompassing every demographic and disease profile. UCLA particularly excels in health equity research, surgical innovation, and biomedical technology.
Entry Requirements
What you need to apply to David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (MD).
Admission overview
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. California residents receive moderate preference as a public UC school. Research experience, community service, and clinical exposure expected. Secondary application required.
MCAT median
519 (range 514–524)
GPA median
3.85 overall / 3.83 science (BCPM)
Acceptance rate
3.0%
Class size
175
In-state preference
Moderate — some OOS consideration
In-state matriculants
65%
CASPer
Not required
Holistic review emphasis
Diversity, community service, health equity, and research in a public university context.
Notes
MCAT/GPA approximate from DGSOM class profile. In-state preference reflects UC public mandate.
Specialities offered
Surgery, Oncology, Neuroscience, Health Equity, Biomedical Technology
Interview Format
How David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (MD) interviews applicants.
Format
MMI (multiple stations, in-person or Zoom depending on cycle)
Interview window
October–February
Decision date
March 30
What makes David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (MD) different
UCLA's PRIME track (Programs in Medical Education) offers focused tracks in rural/underserved medicine, global health, and urban underserved communities — a distinctive feature for socially motivated applicants. The school's size and Los Angeles location provide exposure to one of the most diverse urban patient populations in the country.
Tutor insight
UCLA's MMI often includes health equity and community medicine scenarios reflecting the school's public mission — prepare examples that demonstrate genuine engagement with underserved populations or advocacy work. As a public school, California residency provides a real advantage; out-of-state applicants should have MCAT/GPA at or above the national T20 range to be competitive. The PRIME track is highly sought-after; if social medicine aligns with your career goals, tailoring your application to demonstrate specific commitment to underserved communities will meaningfully boost your candidacy.
PrometheusQuestion Bank
595 medicine questions inside
Interview questions matched to David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (MD)
Two questions our tutors flagged as a strong fit for David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (MD)’s interview style. Try answering them out loud, then open Prometheus for the model answers and follow-up tips.
Medium·Panel · MMIQ1
Service Orientation: Longitudinal Community Health Work
You spent three years as a weekly volunteer at a free clinic serving uninsured and underinsured patients in an urban neighbourhood. Over time you noticed that the same patients returned repeatedly for the same chronic conditions — hypertension, diabetes, asthma — that never seemed to improve. What did you observe about the structural barriers these patients faced, and how did that experience influence your vision of what a physician's role should be?
Likely follow-up · How do social determinants of health — housing, food security, employment — interact with chronic disease management in underserved populations?
3 expert tips in Prometheus
Medium·MMIQ2
Patient Advocacy: Language Access in the Emergency Department
You are a first-year resident in a busy urban emergency department. A Spanish-speaking patient arrives with chest pain. The department has a telephone interpreter service, but it adds 5 to 10 minutes to every interaction, and the attending physician suggests you use the patient's bilingual teenage son to interpret instead. The son is clearly uncomfortable and is editing what his mother is saying. What do you do, and what are the ethical and legal dimensions of using family members as medical interpreters?
Likely follow-up · What federal law governs language access in healthcare facilities that receive federal funding?
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David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (MD) - Frequently asked questions
Bachelor's degree and MCAT required. California residents receive moderate preference as a public UC school. Research experience, community service, and clinical exposure expected. Secondary application required.
MMI (multiple stations, in-person or Zoom depending on cycle)
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (MD) typically interviews in October–February.
Decisions are released March 30.
UCLA's PRIME track (Programs in Medical Education) offers focused tracks in rural/underserved medicine, global health, and urban underserved communities — a distinctive feature for socially motivated applicants. The school's size and Los Angeles location provide exposure to one of the most diverse urban patient populations in the country.
