2024-2025 UCLA (Geffen)

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futuredocgal said:
It’s a 16 month preclinical and discovery year is shortened by about 4 months. Curriculum will have summer sessions.
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thx! so is there no summer break? what does the break schedule look like now?
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futuredocgal said:
The school was great! The people were alright. I noticed that cliques already formed though so it was hard to meet new people after the first day since some groups were not as welcoming. One particular girl was wearing like 25k worth of jewelry and her posse were all carrying designer handbags which I was shocked by. Honestly the gross display of wealth and the attitude of the students turned me off the school and I will be going elsewhere.
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Long time lurker here and I don’t usually post, but I’ve noticed a lot of negativity from you throughout this cycle on this thread, and I felt like I should chime in with a different perspective lol

I’m not discounting your experience, but I personally had a fantastic time at Admit Weekend. I got the chance to hang out and have great conversations with majority of the students who attended. Genuinely, some of the nicest and warmest people I met. Sure, some small groups naturally formed. It’s a three-day event where nobody knows anyone at first, so it makes sense that people gravitated toward whoever they met early on. But it definitely wasn’t as cliquey or exclusive as you made it sound. In fact, I saw people mingling constantly at every event, offering each other rides, splitting Ubers, and really going out of their way to connect.

The vibe I got from both the students and the school was incredibly warm and welcoming. I walked away from the weekend genuinely excited, and many of the people I spoke to felt the same way. Some even said it made them seriously reconsider DGSOM over Ivy League schools.

I’m choosing to come here over a top five institution, and a huge part of that decision was the people I met and the positive energy I felt from the community and the city.

I’m sorry you had a different experience, and I truly wish you the best wherever you end up. But I just wanted to speak up so others reading this thread get a fuller picture.
 
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zoro8 said:
Long time lurker here and I don’t usually post, but I’ve noticed a lot of negativity from you throughout this cycle on this thread, and I felt like I should chime in with a different perspective lol

I’m not discounting your experience, but I personally had a fantastic time at Admit Weekend. I got the chance to hang out and have great conversations with majority of the students who attended. Genuinely, some of the nicest and warmest people I met. Sure, some small groups naturally formed. It’s a three-day event where nobody knows anyone at first, so it makes sense that people gravitated toward whoever they met early on. But it definitely wasn’t as cliquey or exclusive as you made it sound. In fact, I saw people mingling constantly at every event, offering each other rides, splitting Ubers, and really going out of their way to connect.

The vibe I got from both the students and the school was incredibly warm and welcoming. I walked away from the weekend genuinely excited, and many of the people I spoke to felt the same way. Some even said it made them seriously reconsider DGSOM over Ivy League schools.

I’m choosing to come here over a top five institution, and a huge part of that decision was the people I met and the positive energy I felt from the community and the city.

I’m sorry you had a different experience, and I truly wish you the best wherever you end up. But I just wanted to speak up so others reading this thread get a fuller picture.
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Totally can see and respect where you’re coming from. However, people can have different experiences based on the groups they were in throughout the weekend. It’s unfortunate that you interpreted a first gen student’s concerns about curriculum, scholarship, and school culture as negative.
 
futuredocgal said:
Totally can see and respect where you’re coming from. However, people can have different experiences based on the groups they were in throughout the weekend. It’s unfortunate that you interpreted a first gen student’s concerns about curriculum, scholarship, and school culture as negative.
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You also said that on your interview day zoom call someone said they regret going to the school, which I respectfully cannot imagine happening lol

Lots of us are first gens btw. This school also objectively has one of the highest percentages of low income students in the country (66% versus average of 20%.) if you want the source for this i will send it

We do not mean it in a harmful way but to come out of this weekend with a takeaway about jewelry (are you good at pinpointing what real vs fake jewelry looks like?) seems like you may have a “world is against me” mindset which I dont blame you for. I bet you have been through a lot. But yeah try and see things a bit more positively. Positivity will bring more positivity

But yeah I think the class was extremely welcoming and I think if you walk up to some of these “cliques” they will more times than not welcome you with open arms. I certainly would

Did you like your roommate at the hotel? My person was a lot different than me but we got along great
 
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ufache10 said:
You also said that on your interview day zoom call someone said they regret going to the school, which I respectfully cannot imagine happening lol

Lots of us are first gens btw

We do not mean it in a harmful way but to come out of this weekend with a takeaway about jewelry (are you good at pinpointing what real vs fake jewelry looks like?) seems like you may have a “world is against me” mindset which I dont blame you for. I bet you have been through a lot. But yeah try and see things a bit more positively. Positivity will bring more positivity

But yeah I think the class was extremely welcoming and I think if you walk up to some of these “cliques” they will more times than not welcome you with open arms. I certainly would

Did you like your roommate at the hotel? My person was a lot different than me but we got along great
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Everyone’s experience is equally valid. Can we please try to refrain from telling people how they should react or perceive their own experiences?
 
Basalganglia4life said:
Everyone’s experience is equally valid. Can we please try to refrain from telling people how they should react or perceive their own experiences?
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I will engage in dialogue and invite the person to rethink some of what they are experiencing. If I did not respect them and their opinion, I would not push back

I am not discounting their subjective experience or its validity by doing this
 
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ufache10 said:
I will engage in dialogue and invite the person to rethink some of what they are experiencing. If I did not respect them and their opinion, I would not push back

I am not discounting their subjective experience by doing this
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I missed the part where they asked for your opinion

Also, you’re not challenging. You’re telling them how to feel there’s a big difference. It’s important to remember just because someone had a different experience than you doesn’t invalidate your experience or make theirs incorrect
 
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Basalganglia4life said:
Everyone’s experience is equally valid. Can we please try to refrain from telling people how they should react or perceive their own experiences?
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i feel like this is all just proving futuredocgirls original point, no? how can a person claim that the student culture is welcoming while also 1) accusing other prospective students of basically lying about their experience during their zoom interview and 2) saying it seems like they have a “world is against me” mindset?
 
ufache10 said:
I will engage in dialogue and invite the person to rethink some of what they are experiencing. If I did not respect them and their opinion, I would not push back

I am not discounting their subjective experience or its validity by doing this
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saying someone should rethink what THEY experienced is some serious gaslighting lol. two people had two very different experiences and I think its important for current and future applicants to know both
 
purple3081 said:
i feel like this is all just proving futuredocgirls original point, no? how can a person claim that the student culture is welcoming while also 1) accusing other prospective students of basically lying about their experience during their zoom interview and 2) saying it seems like they have a “world is against me” mindset?
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A person who is a longtime lurker felt the need to speak up about this persons consistent negativity. I think it is safe to say it is higher than normal.

Do you want to comment on the value of jewelry too?

I could have framed it in a less abrasive way. That is something I am working on

Once again, I think having a someone openly discuss with the person is more of a sign of respect and welcoming than just ignoring them.
 
ribonucleoprotein said:
saying someone should rethink what THEY experienced is some serious gaslighting lol. two people had two very different experiences and I think its important for current and future applicants to know both
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Alright, I don’t think this it is getting anywhere.

Inviting them to rethink some of what they experienced is not a big deal. If they come away with the same take-aways, that is fine

Wish you all well and am confident you will have a fantastic experience if you go to DGSOM 🙂

Also, I am still on the fence so do not let my behavior be the “DGSOM culture” gauge . If anything, the wonderful people standing up for them proves the point about the culture at DGSOM!
 
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Hey had a pleasure meeting so many admitted students on Saturday! Hope you guys consider coming to DGSOM! It's lovely here genuinely, and I'm excited for you guys with the curriculum changes, I really think it'll make ya'll have a smoother experience than what me and my class have had! Any questions or concerns about DGSOM, feel free to PM me! Hopefully I can be a resource to help you make this really important decision on where to matriculate at.

best,
DNA
 
Was anyone able to get an impression of how the revised curriculum was perceived by incoming students? I'm in waitlist purgatory atm and wondering if there's a chance more spots will open up with the changes they've been making

At this point, I'd be extremely grateful to get in at any medical school 🙏
 
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edmejia said:
Was anyone able to get an impression of how the revised curriculum was perceived by incoming students? I'm in waitlist purgatory atm and wondering if there's a chance more spots will open up with the changes they've been making

At this point, I'd be extremely grateful to get in at any medical school 🙏
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I actually really liked the changes to the curriculum and it showed that the school values student feedback and is willing to make changes as needed. Extending the preclinical to around 16 months seems like it will help students solidify information and take step 1 before starting clinical rotations. I think most of the incoming students liked it, but it’s also person dependent.

I’m a bit sad about the dual degree program going away but my understanding is that it was just too much to handle on top of the discovery year and step 1/2 studying. This is what I was told during my interview day by third years who seemed really overwhelmed by being in the MBA program and studying for both step exams 6 weeks apart all while doing research. FYI these were the students who expressed wishing they chose a different school for these reasons (context for the person who basically accused me of lying in one of the comments above), so I’m glad these changes are being made. There is still an option to take a 5th year to complete a masters.
 
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futuredocgal said:
I actually really liked the changes to the curriculum and it showed that the school values student feedback and is willing to make changes as needed. Extending the preclinical to around 16 months seems like it will help students solidify information and take step 1 before starting clinical rotations. I think most of the incoming students liked it, but it’s also person dependent.

I’m a bit sad about the dual degree program going away but my understanding is that it was just too much to handle on top of the discovery year and step 1/2 studying. This is what I was told during my interview day by third years who seemed really overwhelmed by being in the MBA program and studying for both step exams 6 weeks apart all while doing research. FYI these were the students who expressed wishing they chose a different school for these reasons, so I’m glad these changes are being made. There is still an option to take a 5th year to complete a masters.
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Appreciate the update. Thank you!
 
is ucla really not taking any international students for the upcoming year?? Im kinda bummed, I really wanted to apply there and I am a Canadian citizen..
 
Moderator reminder:
All are welcome to share their impressions of this school on this message thread.
Telling each other what to think and feel is an odd way for you to be communicating with each other here.
The recent conversation about second look day has been reported by several of you
Continued gaslighting or harassment will roll out some warnings about treating each other with respect.
 
med400 said:
is ucla really not taking any international students for the upcoming year?? Im kinda bummed, I really wanted to apply there and I am a Canadian citizen..
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On their website it now says: "DGSOM will consider applications from U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients. Applicants who do not satisfy one of these requirements will not be considered." (here: Medical School Application | UCLA Medical School).
 
Do we know approximately how many people are on the "top of the waitlist"? I assume not all 150 people who get off the waitlist is on the top of the waitlist...🤔
 
GatsbysBatman said:
Any scholarships given yet? Do I assume no scholarships if I hear nothing?
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If anyone receives some really good scholarships/financial aid, can you please disclose it if you feel comfortable? This would also help future students lurking in this thread as well!!
 
workblurbs2025 said:
Do we know approximately how many people are on the "top of the waitlist"? I assume not all 150 people who get off the waitlist is on the top of the waitlist...🤔
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Someone said before (either here or last year) that the WL is split into 3 tiers, with most getting A's from "top" and some from the other tiers. So I would guess about 1/3 of the WL is "top"
 
nsciapp23 said:
Someone said before (either here or last year) that the WL is split into 3 tiers, with most getting A's from "top" and some from the other tiers. So I would guess about 1/3 of the WL is "top"
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I think it’s just two tiers. Top and then everyone else
 
workblurbs2025 said:
Do we know approximately how many people are on the "top of the waitlist"? I assume not all 150 people who get off the waitlist is on the top of the waitlist...🤔
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Year after year, they blow past the top of the waitlist and people who did not get that designation of their waitlist email still get acceptance offers. It'll just take a little longer to hear back from non top of the waitlist people cause top of the waitlist people get offers first. These folks may hold their offers for a couple days because they're waiting to hear back from other schools before making their decision, and it just sorta snowballs from there. For reference, latest offer I heard of someone getting was in July. Most will be early to late May.
 
This school offers full tuition scholarships? Is this scholarship based on merit or financial need?
 
Does anyone know how long you have to accept an acceptance offer if you get off the waitlist for ucla?
 
flamingseahorse said:
Does anyone know how long you have to accept an acceptance offer if you get off the waitlist for ucla?
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5 business days from my experience. Not sure if that has changed.

Edit: Also to add that it took 5 days from my acceptance off waitlist date for fin aid to give me a fin aid package.
 
garlic_hunter said:
Did they say anything about when they expect to meet and extend decisions? Anyone know how many scholarships we are looking at?
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No. All they have been saying is the committee hasn’t met yet. I think we won’t hear from them until end of April or beginning of May.
 
25app! said:
No. All they have been saying is the committee hasn’t met yet. I think we won’t hear from them until end of April or beginning of May.
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They won't extend scholarships until after the CYSM commitment deadline? That's immensely frustrating.
 
Ziriyab said:
If anyone receives some really good scholarships/financial aid, can you please disclose it if you feel comfortable? This would also help future students lurking in this thread as well!!
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Please do - this would be very helpful. According to finaid, all scholarships have been sent out.
 
Do they take letters of continued interest atp? is it even worth sending?
 
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