The Justice Department says UCSF School of Medicine advanced Black and Hispanic applicants to final interviews at higher rates than White and Asian candidates, even when the latter had stronger MCAT scores and GPAs. DOJ analysis found UCSF was 4.6 times likelier to admit Hispanic applicants and 12.6 times likelier to admit Black applicants than comparable White applicants for the 2023–2025 classes. The investigation is part of broader DOJ scrutiny after the 2023 Supreme Court decisions on race-conscious admissions; UCSF has been asked to enter talks by Oct. 2 to resolve compliance issues.
DOJ Says UCSF Medical School Favored Black and Hispanic Applicants Over White and Asian Candidates
The Justice Department on Tuesday announced allegations that the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine discriminates against White and Asian applicants. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The Justice Department announced Tuesday that federal investigators concluded the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine favored Black and Hispanic applicants over White and Asian candidates in its admissions process for the 2023–2025 entering classes.
What the DOJ Found
According to the DOJ report, asking applicants to identify their race during the first two stages of the application process correlated with higher advancement rates for Black and Hispanic candidates to the third and final interview round. Federal lawyers say this happened even when some White and Asian applicants had stronger MCAT scores and higher undergraduate GPAs.
The DOJ's statistical analysis found that, during the 2023–2025 admissions cycles, UCSF was 4.6 times more likely to admit Hispanic applicants and 12.6 times more likely to admit Black applicants than comparable White applicants with similar MCAT scores, GPAs and socioeconomic characteristics.
Statements and Context
'Unfortunately, at UCSF Medical School, MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs have taken a backseat to race,' said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division. 'Aspiring doctors should be admitted based on their qualifications. The Supreme Court has spoken clearly -- federally funded medical schools may not admit students based on misguided and illegal notions of diversity.'
The DOJ's action is part of broader federal scrutiny following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 rulings that narrowed the permissible use of race in college admissions. The department has opened similar investigations at several prominent medical and law schools, including UC San Diego School of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine and UC Berkeley School of Law.
Timeline and Next Steps
On March 30 the Justice Department informed UCSF it had opened an investigation and requested admissions records and related documents. The DOJ has asked UCSF to contact the department by Oct. 2 to begin talks on a voluntary resolution agreement intended to bring the school's admissions practices into compliance with the Supreme Court ruling.
UPI has asked UCSF Medical School for comment.
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