More than 300 students, alumni and faculty protested the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA's decision to raise admissions requirements during a town hall meeting Dec. 4, arguing such action will negatively affect the school's diversity, the Daily Bruin reports.
Three things to know:
1. A policy proposal released by the Los Angeles-based medical school indicates it raised the math and science GPA and MCAT cutoff scores for applicants to 3.4 and 512, respectively, the report states. The requirements will take effect for the entering class of 2019.
2. Those opposed to the policy change argue that such requirements would systematically prevent applications of lower socioeconomic status from passing the primary screening process and discourage prospective students from even applying, the report states.
"I think test scores and GPA are very much tied to things that a lot of students do not have a lot of control over, like their background. And I think if you just take people with the highest test scores you'll get a very homogeneous class," a second-year medical student told the Daily Bruin. The student added that he had no issue with the increased standards as long as the school gave each applicant a fair chance.
3. Clarence Braddock, MD, vice dean for education and chief medical education officer at the UCLA medical school, told the Daily Bruin via email the school receives more than 14,000 applications for each year's 175-member class. He said the admissions office recognizes that students from disadvantaged backgrounds may have encountered barriers to their education, which could negatively affect their grades and standardized test scores.
To access the full report, click here.