2024-2025 UCLA (Geffen)

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2024-2025 UCLA (Geffen) Secondary Essay Prompts (essays 800 characters Each)
UCLA has a FIRM deadline to submit your secondary within 14 days of receiving their email. The portal will be automatically locked after that and you can no longer submit it.

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?


2. Respond to the following and indicate how these areas of experience have impacted your progress toward your future career goals in relation to becoming an "Outstanding Physician, AND...".

A-Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity.
B-Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful.
C-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.



3. 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.


4. Did you experience or are you anticipating time between graduating from college and matriculating into medical school? Yes/No
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.


5. 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? Yes/No
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.

6. Are you re-applying to DGSOM?


Special Programs/Pathways, if applicable:

Global Heath Equity Pathway Application Questions
1
. Please describe why you are interested in the Global Health Equity Pathway and any experiences that have informed your decision to apply for this Pathway.
2. How do you think participation in the Pathway will contribute to your future career plans and career development?
3. What additional skills would you like to develop as part of the Pathway? What strengths do you currently have that may contribute to a global health or health equity project? (i.e., language, writing skills, advocacy work, monitoring and evaluation experience, data management/cleaning/analysis, website development, etc.)
4. What are the major challenges you might face as medical student working in global health or health equity? How might you overcome these challenges?

5. Optional question: Please let us know if you have a mentor or organization with whom you would be excited to work as part of the Pathway and why you would like to work with this individual and/or organization. Mentors and organizations may be affiliated with DGSOM/UCLA or may be pre-existing relationships you developed prior to medical school. Note that you are not expected to have a DGSOM mentor and/or partner organization identified prior to arrival at DGSOM.

Urban Health Equity Pathway Questions
1.
Please describe how your experience, community and family background impact your understanding of medically underserved/under-resourced communities.
2. 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?



Good luck to all applying!
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Reminder: PREview is REQUIRED for this program.
 
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Hi all, current student at DGSOM here. Please let me know if I can help in any way. Time is limited at this moment, so I won't be able to read Personal Statements or secondary essays -- happy to answer your other questions below or via chat.
 
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Hi all, current student at DGSOM here. Please let me know if I can help in any way. Time is limited at this moment, so I won't be able to read Personal Statements or secondary essays -- happy to answer your other questions below or via chat.
Hi thanks for offering your help! 1) Do you know how much weightage UCLA places on PREview score? I took mine last year to get it over w and got a 6/9 but wondering if I should retake for a better score this cycle. 2) What is the global health equity pathway like? If I'm interested, is this something I indicate on the secondary application?
 
Hi thanks for offering your help! 1) Do you know how much weightage UCLA places on PREview score? I took mine last year to get it over w and got a 6/9 but wondering if I should retake for a better score this cycle. 2) What is the global health equity pathway like? If I'm interested, is this something I indicate on the secondary application?
Average score is 4.5, I wouldn't retake that 6
 
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Just submitted my application today! Super excited but very stressed, UCLA is my top choice!
 
1) Do you know how much weightage UCLA places on PREview score? I took mine last year to get it over w and got a 6/9 but wondering if I should retake for a better score this cycle.
Don't know much about this. Defer to @wysdoc
2) What is the global health equity pathway like? If I'm interested, is this something I indicate on the secondary application?
Not personally involved in the global health pathway, but if that's an interest of yours, then definitely apply! You're eligible for $1000 of funding per year for global health-related activities if you are part of the pathway. Link for more info. Even if you don't commit to the global health pathway, there are still ways to be involved in global health whether through global health concentration, the MS1 selective, or a global health discovery year project.
 
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Don't know much about this. Defer to @wysdoc

Not personally involved in the global health pathway, but if that's an interest of yours, then definitely apply! You're eligible for $1000 of funding per year for global health-related activities if you are part of the pathway. Link for more info. Even if you don't commit to the global health pathway, there are still ways to be involved in global health whether through global health concentration, the MS1 selective, or a global health discovery year project.
That's super cool, thanks for your reply! I minored in public health in undergrad so I'm really interested in doing something public health related in med school if possible without adding another year or two for a MPH degree along with the MD. Going to look into this :)
 
without adding another year or two for a MPH degree along with the MD
Looking into our MS3 discovery year then! If you want, you can get a MPH degree during your 3rd year at DGSOM without adding additional time (you'll get a MD and MPH in 4 years). Other dual degrees available are MPP, MBA, MSCR, MLS, and MA in Education.

Edit: you don't apply to any of these right now during your AMCAS med school app cycle. You'll apply during MS2 year for matriculation into these programs at the start of MS3 year.
 
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I def also don't want that weird **** they teach where obesity is caused by race or whatever.
LMAO what. I mean obesity might in part be related to race but are they teaching that it is SOLEY caused by race? Where did you hear this :rofl:
 
When will UCLA start sending out secondary?
last year it took them a few weeks to screen - you can check last year's thread and find the specific date people started getting them! There's come out pretty slowly if I'm remembering correctly
 
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Everything has an 800 character limit
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?


2. Respond to the following and indicate how these areas of experience have impacted your progress toward your future career goals in relation to becoming an "Outstanding Physician, AND...".

A-Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity.
B-Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful.
C-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.


3. 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.


4. 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.


5. 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.

6. Are you re-applying to DGSOM?

Global Heath Equity Pathway Application Questions
1
. Please describe why you are interested in the Global Health Equity Pathway and any experiences that have informed your decision to apply for this Pathway.
2. How do you think participation in the Pathway will contribute to your future career plans and career development?
3. What additional skills would you like to develop as part of the Pathway? What strengths do you currently have that may contribute to a global health or health equity project? (i.e., language, writing skills, advocacy work, monitoring and evaluation experience, data management/cleaning/analysis, website development, etc.)
4. What are the major challenges you might face as medical student working in global health or health equity? How might you overcome these challenges?
5. Optional question: Please let us know if you have a mentor or organization with whom you would be excited to work as part of the Pathway and why you would like to work with this individual and/or organization. Mentors and organizations may be affiliated with DGSOM/UCLA or may be pre-existing relationships you developed prior to medical school. Note that you are not expected to have a DGSOM mentor and/or partner organization identified prior to arrival at DGSOM.

Urban Health Equity Pathway Questions
1.
Please describe how your experience, community and family background impact your understanding of medically underserved/under-resourced communities.
2. 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?

I excluded the yes/no questions with no follow-up essays. @wysdoc
 
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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? (800 characters)


2. Respond to the following and indicate how these areas of experience have impacted your progress toward your future career goals in relation to becoming an "Outstanding Physician, AND...".

A-Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity. (800 characters)
B-Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful. (800 characters)
C-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. (800 characters)


3. 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. (800 characters)


4. 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.


5. 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. (800 characters)

6. Are you re-applying to DGSOM?

Global Heath Equity Pathway Application Questions
1
. Please describe why you are interested in the Global Health Equity Pathway and any experiences that have informed your decision to apply for this Pathway.
2. How do you think participation in the Pathway will contribute to your future career plans and career development?
3. What additional skills would you like to develop as part of the Pathway? What strengths do you currently have that may contribute to a global health or health equity project? (i.e., language, writing skills, advocacy work, monitoring and evaluation experience, data management/cleaning/analysis, website development, etc.)
4. What are the major challenges you might face as medical student working in global health or health equity? How might you overcome these challenges?
5. Optional question: Please let us know if you have a mentor or organization with whom you would be excited to work as part of the Pathway and why you would like to work with this individual and/or organization. Mentors and organizations may be affiliated with DGSOM/UCLA or may be pre-existing relationships you developed prior to medical school. Note that you are not expected to have a DGSOM mentor and/or partner organization identified prior to arrival at DGSOM.

Urban Health Equity Pathway Questions
1.
Please describe how your experience, community and family background impact your understanding of medically underserved/under-resourced communities.
2. 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?

I excluded the yes/no questions with no follow-up essays. @wysdoc
How long is the essay for if you are re-applicant? 800 characters or just a Y/N answer?
 
Everything has an 800 character limit
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?


2. Respond to the following and indicate how these areas of experience have impacted your progress toward your future career goals in relation to becoming an "Outstanding Physician, AND...".

A-Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity.
B-Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful.
C-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.


3. 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.


4. 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.


5. 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.

6. Are you re-applying to DGSOM?

Global Heath Equity Pathway Application Questions
1
. Please describe why you are interested in the Global Health Equity Pathway and any experiences that have informed your decision to apply for this Pathway.
2. How do you think participation in the Pathway will contribute to your future career plans and career development?
3. What additional skills would you like to develop as part of the Pathway? What strengths do you currently have that may contribute to a global health or health equity project? (i.e., language, writing skills, advocacy work, monitoring and evaluation experience, data management/cleaning/analysis, website development, etc.)
4. What are the major challenges you might face as medical student working in global health or health equity? How might you overcome these challenges?
5. Optional question: Please let us know if you have a mentor or organization with whom you would be excited to work as part of the Pathway and why you would like to work with this individual and/or organization. Mentors and organizations may be affiliated with DGSOM/UCLA or may be pre-existing relationships you developed prior to medical school. Note that you are not expected to have a DGSOM mentor and/or partner organization identified prior to arrival at DGSOM.

Urban Health Equity Pathway Questions
1.
Please describe how your experience, community and family background impact your understanding of medically underserved/under-resourced communities.
2. 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?

I excluded the yes/no questions with no follow-up essays. @wysdoc
when did you receive a secondary?
 
UCLA has sent only a handful of secondaries. Starting next week, there may be 30-40 sent out every day for the following 1-2 weeks.
only 30-40 a day? that doesnt sound right. ulca gets like 14000 applications. I dont think they screen that hard
 
only 30-40 a day? that doesnt sound right. ulca gets like 14000 applications. I dont think they screen that hard
Sorry, that was misleading. I'm looking at cycletrack.org, which is crowdsourced (so it doesn't represent the entire applicant pool), and thus far only about 5 secondaries have been sent out, whereas last year's data shows that next week UCLA would start to send out 30-40 per day to those who reported their data on CycleTrack. In either event, it's still very early.
 
Got an email that my primary is received and under review for secondary invitation.
 
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Got an email that my primary is received and under review for secondary invitation.
I didn't get that email. I got the secondary instantly (yesterday). I'm going to take my time with my secondaries to make them glow and flow for a few days.

Maybe being a legendary assassin made them hesitate to send you a secondary?
 
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Me getting the primary received email and not the secondary.
IMG_0741.jpeg
 
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Received the actual secondary OOS, LM 77 7/11
Received that "we're reviewing primaries" email yesterday
 
+1 IS Secondary today.

Does anyone know how many people get secondaries? Ive seen online numbers like 40-55% but no actual sources LOL
 
2024-2025 UCLA (Geffen) Secondary Essay Prompts (essays 800 characters Each)

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?


2. Respond to the following and indicate how these areas of experience have impacted your progress toward your future career goals in relation to becoming an "Outstanding Physician, AND...".

A-Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity.
B-Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful.
C-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.



3. 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.


4. Did you experience or are you anticipating time between graduating from college and matriculating into medical school? Yes/No
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.


5. 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? Yes/No
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.

6. Are you re-applying to DGSOM?


Special Programs/Pathways, if applicable:

Global Heath Equity Pathway Application Questions
1
. Please describe why you are interested in the Global Health Equity Pathway and any experiences that have informed your decision to apply for this Pathway.
2. How do you think participation in the Pathway will contribute to your future career plans and career development?
3. What additional skills would you like to develop as part of the Pathway? What strengths do you currently have that may contribute to a global health or health equity project? (i.e., language, writing skills, advocacy work, monitoring and evaluation experience, data management/cleaning/analysis, website development, etc.)
4. What are the major challenges you might face as medical student working in global health or health equity? How might you overcome these challenges?

5. Optional question: Please let us know if you have a mentor or organization with whom you would be excited to work as part of the Pathway and why you would like to work with this individual and/or organization. Mentors and organizations may be affiliated with DGSOM/UCLA or may be pre-existing relationships you developed prior to medical school. Note that you are not expected to have a DGSOM mentor and/or partner organization identified prior to arrival at DGSOM.

Urban Health Equity Pathway Questions
1.
Please describe how your experience, community and family background impact your understanding of medically underserved/under-resourced communities.
2. 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?



Good luck to all applying!
Interview Feedback:
I think I know the answer to this but I want to ask since it's formatted this way. For question 2: am I writing three separate 800 character blurbs about A, B, and C? Or, am I supposed to write one 800 character blurb explaining each one?

If it's the latter, why did they try and disguise three questions in one lol
 
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+1 IS Secondary today.

Does anyone know how many people get secondaries? Ive seen online numbers like 40-55% but no actual sources LOL
UCI says roughly half their applicants get secondaries. I think that's where it came from.
 
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+1 INTL Secondary this morning!

Was hoping it would be later... have a lot to get done at work in July and they have a 15 day time limit lol
 
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