David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA — Local services in Los Angeles

Here’s the truth: a lot of applicants come from places like UC Davis with the “perfect pre-med profile.” On paper, it’s all there — 3.9 GPA, shadowing, “research,” club titles. But when it’s time for serious evaluation — interviews, essays, and deeper scrutiny — the image cracks.

Why? Because at UC Davis, success often depends less on insight and more on politics: Get close to the right professors Say what advisors want to hear Stack clubs and volunteer hours for optics Follow the crowd — don’t make waves

At David Geffen, that doesn’t cut it.

Here, applicants are expected to show depth, resilience, emotional maturity, and independent thinking. This school isn’t impressed by candidates who simply learned how to check boxes and please faculty. That might work at undergrad — not here.

I’ve seen applicants from UC Davis completely unravel during MMI sessions or secondary essay responses because they spent their college years perfecting presentation, not preparation. Meanwhile, students from smaller, lesser-known schools who had real clinical experience, who faced adversity, and who learned how to lead rather than follow — they’re the ones who shine here.

Geffen reads between the lines. You don’t get in because your résumé looks good. You get in because your character shows through it....Unfornately, every year some UCD students falls into a so called lucky side. Justice do not always win, but politics and facade...

THANK YOU DR. DOUGLAS G. FARMER FOR YOUR MAGICAL HANDS

I am very grateful for my son being under the care of such an experienced and professional doctor. Thank you for performing his surgery and for improving his quality of life. Dear Dr Farmer, the care you showed towards him is truly remarkable. A million thanks to you and all your team. Thank you so much for your kindness and professionalism. I truly admire your work and appreciate you. On behalf of my family, relatives, friends and acquaintances, who were so concerned about my son, I would like to express my gratitude to all his doctors and nurses at UCLA for their care and professionalism. Sincerely, your patient Narek Chibukhchyan’s mother...

I got seemingly outdated technology in an “at home sleep study” to confirm what I already knew, I have sleep apnea. This was the “cheap one” that took a long time to get, because the insurance company denied the better one. They then inflated the bill to around $1500 and came after me for around $900. This is a prime example of the “Healthcare Industry” really being the Profit Care Industry. When I disputed the bill, they sent it to collections. I recommend you avoid these scammers and buy an Oura ring at Best Buy for around $350. I’d almost rather risk death than go back to this...