DOJ Finds GWU Medical School Discriminated

The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded that the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Services intentionally discriminated against white and Asian applicants. According to a DOJ news release, the school admitted Black and Hispanic students with lower standardized test scores during the 2024 and 2025 admissions cycles.

The DOJ stated the medical school used essay questions designed to reveal an applicant's race or ethnicity. This information was then used to decide which candidates received interviews. The department's analysis found Black applicants had a significantly higher chance of being selected for an interview than comparable Asian applicants. They also received disproportionately higher interview scores.

University Response and Legal Context

A university spokesperson, Katelyn Deckelbaum, responded by email. She said GWU is reviewing the DOJ's letter. "We are disappointed by the DOJ's conclusions, which we believe are incorrect," Deckelbaum wrote. She asserted the School of Medicine and Health Sciences admissions process fully complies with the law and that the university remains committed to non-discrimination and Title VI compliance.

This finding is part of a broader series of DOJ investigations into medical school admissions. The probe has now reached 26 institutions. The DOJ has previously announced findings of illegal racial discrimination at three University of California medical schools and at Yale University. Scrutiny of these practices began earlier this year when the Department of Education and the DOJ demanded admissions data from three top medical schools.

The Broader Investigation

In July, the DOJ announced it was adding five more colleges to its investigation list. A news release at that time said the investigations would advance what it called President Trump's mission to eliminate racial discrimination in medical school admissions nationwide. The case at George Washington University represents the latest public result of this ongoing enforcement effort.

The DOJ's findings focus specifically on the mechanics of the admissions process at GWU's medical school. The use of race-conscious essay questions and the resulting statistical disparities in interview selection and scoring form the core of the agency's allegations. The university maintains its practices are lawful.

This enforcement action continues to unfold as medical schools across the country reassess their admissions protocols in light of the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action and subsequent federal scrutiny. The outcome of GWU's review and any potential settlement or litigation will be closely watched by higher education legal experts.