Department of Justice Investigates UCLA Medical School Admissions
The Department of Justice has determined that UCLA’s medical school has engaged in illegal racial discrimination regarding its admissions practices, indicating that it favored black and Hispanic candidates, which contravenes federal law.
This conclusion comes after a year-long federal probe, part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to scrutinize diversity-focused admissions policies at universities across the United States. The investigation was instigated by a lawsuit from the medical advocacy group Do No Harm against the David Geffen School of Medicine.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, “UCLA’s admissions process prioritizes racial statistics over merit and excellence, allowing racial politics to detract from its mission of training outstanding physicians. Racial discrimination in admissions is illegal and un-American, and the Department will not tolerate it.”
The investigation found that UCLA’s medical school intentionally chose minority applicants under the assumption that care would improve for minority patients if treated by minority doctors. However, this approach led to a significant disparity in GPAs and MCAT scores, which were notably lower for minority students compared to their white and Asian peers.
Class Action Lawsuit Against UCLA School of Medicine
A spokesperson for UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine defended its admissions process, emphasizing that it is merit-based and involves a thorough review of each candidate. “We are confident in our practices and our mission to promote access to quality education for all eligible students,” they said, adding that they are currently reviewing the Justice Department’s report and remain committed to equal opportunities for all applicants under federal and state laws.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the executive director of admissions at David Geffen provided guidance to the admissions committee on how to achieve diversity goals. This guidance noted the belief that workforce diversity is crucial for better health outcomes for black and Hispanic patients—raising concerns that denying admissions may have dire consequences for these groups.
The admissions process at the school is described as “holistic,” incorporating factors like citizenship, cultural background, and even race, in line with recommendations from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Concerns Over Admissions Tests
Prospective students at UCLA also participated in the PREview exam, which includes a question about their affiliation with a marginalized group. The Justice Department’s report pointed out that this question pushes black and Hispanic applicants to disclose their race, influencing the selection process.
Disparities in test scores were apparent. For the 2023 cohort, median MCAT scores indicated black and Hispanic test-takers were in the 68th percentile, whereas those who kept their race private scored in the 96th percentile. Similar trends were observed in GPA results as well.
The average score for Hispanic applicants in the 2024 cohort was noted to be in the 66th percentile, and black students scored in the 72nd percentile. In contrast, applicants who opted not to specify their race achieved scores in the 92nd percentile.
Bill Esseri, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, remarked, “Federal law and Supreme Court precedent are unequivocal: racial discrimination has no place in our educational institutions.” He described UCLA’s conduct as “abhorrent,” counter to both constitutional values and foundational principles.
This investigation’s results follow previous probes by the Trump administration into medical school admissions at Stanford University, Ohio State University, and the University of California, San Diego, initiated earlier this year.
