The Rumor Mill
A number of you have been asking us--either on the phone, via email, in person, or on this blog--about when we will release our admission and deny decisions. We've written about it a few times here, but it's worth reiterating because it's so important to us and to you. So here goes: UCLA Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools will release its freshman admission decisions for fall 2007--online and via traditional mail--at the very end of the last week of March 2007. UCLA UARS will release its transfer admission decisions for fall 2007--online and via traditional mail--at the end of the fourth week of April 2007. The only official UCLA admission or deny decision you will receive will come directly from UCLA Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools in the mail and on our website.
There's really no way we could release the decisions earlier than the dates I listed--believe me, I would know. I'm coordinating all of the printed material for our notification via traditional mail, and nary a letter, packet, postcard, or scrap of paper has been dropped in the mail with any UCLA admission or deny decision on it. I realize, as do my colleagues, that this is a really exciting time for all of you, and, for many of you, it's anxiety provoking. If you have any other questions about UCLA admissions or campus life, please feel free to comment on this blog. I'm certain that many of you have the same questions for us, so go public with your queries.
Hi, I was wondering if it was still possible to send UCLA updates about our ec, etc, or should we wait until we get a decision first? (Should I save my "updates" for my appeal in case I get rejected?) Thanks in advance!
Posted by: Sky Mangin | March 16, 2007 at 09:36 PM
At this point, we aren't able to look at any more additions to your application, in terms of extracurriculars. If you are admitted, please look at the Provisional Admission Contract for the kinds of updates that we would want during the spring term.
Posted by: Marisela | March 19, 2007 at 08:08 AM
You said admissions will be posted online at the very end of the last week of March 2007, but does this mean the end of the school week as in Friday March 30th or that saturday the 31st?
Posted by: Paul Servino | March 19, 2007 at 02:38 PM
Hey Justine,
I just wanted to know if there is any information available about off campus apartments. I saw the basic site, but there weren't any actual floor plans or anything to base a decision on. If there isn't a way to check that out online, what would be the best way to check it out in person?
Posted by: Rob Sunderland | March 19, 2007 at 10:42 PM
Rob,
As far as I know, tours of University Apartments are not offered--there's just the regular on-campus housing tour. If you need more information, you can plow through www.housing.ucla.edu/ask. The best thing to do would be to get in touch with Housing directly. As an admissions officer at such a large university, sometimes my knowledge of such things is limited. Good luck!
Posted by: Marisela | March 20, 2007 at 07:52 AM
Paul --
We are not posting the exact date and time we will release decisions. Just keep checking the site!
Posted by: Marisela | March 20, 2007 at 07:53 AM
Thanks Justine,
I just wanted to ask if you had any advice for places or perhaps events to check out on campus? I already sat in on a few classes with friends of mine who currently attend. I found that to be an amazing experience, and it was great to get a feel for the environment and to meet some professors. So I was just wondering if there were other things to check out to get a feel for campus?
Posted by: Rob Sunderland | March 21, 2007 at 05:43 PM
Hi Justine,
I've been looking around the UCLA website for a student login to check on the status of my application, but I can't find one. How exactly do I find out online if I have been admitted/rejected from UCLA?
Posted by: Catherine Yaw | March 21, 2007 at 07:27 PM
Rob: Look at http://www.happenings.ucla.edu or http://www.uclalive.org/ for events on campus. I also love going to the Fowler Museum and the Hammer Museum. Both have special programs often.
Posted by: Marisela | March 22, 2007 at 08:34 AM
Catherine,
The decision site is not up yet because we have not released our decisions. It will be up at some point next week. Here's the URL: http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/decision
Posted by: Marisela | March 22, 2007 at 08:37 AM
Justine:
I have a couple of questions re: admissions.
I've read a lot about the new holistic admissions process, and it seems like a great idea, insofar as that it would allow students with less-than-perfect GPAs and test scores to have a "fighting chance" ad admission. Is this true, or even realistic to believe? It is my hope that with this process, students who have demonstrated great dedication in areas outside of school, as well as who have strong personal statements and essays (but not perfect statistics), will be seriously considered for admissions.
Also, there are many summer programs available through UCLA that involve taking classes for college credit--does doing a program like this reflect well upon your interest in UCLA during the review of your application?
Posted by: Sara Zimmerman | March 24, 2007 at 09:36 AM
I was wondering -- if I applied with a Bioengineering major and get rejected, does that mean that i'm automatically rejected from UCLA, or will the admission officers place me in a different major?
Posted by: Jonard | March 25, 2007 at 01:49 AM
I applied to UCLA with a major in bioengineering. Does the major I selected effect my chances of getting in? (because I applied to the engineering school). So if I don't get the major I want, do I get rejected? -- or do the admission officers place me in a major they feel is a better match for me?
Posted by: joe | March 25, 2007 at 01:54 AM
Sara,
With the holistic review process, we look at applicants' academic and personal achievement in the context of the opportunities available to them, but academic achievement is still very important in our review. Involvement in extracurricular activities and summer programs can only benefit you and your application, and can help you stand out from other applicants (and that's important because we have so many applicants!). We consider whether your involvement is sustained: Did you participate in an activity for a semester or did you participate in it for three or four years or more? Where you take a course or participate in a program is not as important as whether or not you're passionate about what you're studying.
Posted by: Marisela | March 26, 2007 at 08:03 AM
Applicants to the professional schools at UCLA, including the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, are reviewed by major. And UCLA only reviews applicants for their first choice major. Our policy is that applicants who are not accepted to their major will not receive an offer of admission. There are other paths to admission, such as transferring from a California community college or from another UC. We give those transfer applicants priority.
Posted by: Marisela | March 26, 2007 at 08:08 AM
regarding your comment about "And UCLA only reviews applicants for their first choice major. Our policy is that applicants who are not accepted to their major will not receive an offer of admission. There are other paths to admission, such as transferring from a California community college or from another UC."
A lot of people i know got an engineering letter where we were told Bioengineering was quite impacted and thus we were recommended to different majors. Some were switched into Chemical Engineering and Some were switched into electrical engineering. Does that still correlate with your idea that only the first major is considered?
Posted by: Andrew | March 27, 2007 at 12:04 AM
Hi Justine,
I understand that UCLA uses only the highest test scores in admissions decisions, but was still wondering: were the application readers provided with all SAT and/or ACT scores earned by an applicant? For example if I took the SAT once and the ACT once, and my SAT score was higher, is the application reader supplied with both scores while highlighting the SAT score as higher? Or was the reader supplied with only the SAT score? I have a similar question about SAT subject tests.
Jana
Posted by: Jana | March 27, 2007 at 06:36 AM
It's our policy that applicants are reviewed only for their first choice major, but of course there are exceptions, as you pointed out above. I hope that makes sense.
Posted by: Marisela | March 27, 2007 at 07:47 AM
My son got a letter with the UCLA letterhead that states "it gives me great pleasure to inform you that the Faculty of HSSEAS has recommended your admission." It is signed by Stephen E. Jacobsen. He was invited to RSVP and attend an open house, which he said he did. The letter stated more info about his acceptance will be contained in a formal letter. When he tried to get his 9 digit number, the UCLA website would not let him. He called the main office at 310-825-2826 and the student who answered said he may not actually have been accepted. The letter he is waiting for would have the 9 digit number to tell him if he is accepted. Why would they invite him to attend an open house if he may not be accepted? The letter is confusing, and much different then the others. He has received letters of acceptance from all the other universities he applied to and he can RSVP to their Open Houses events fine. Now it looks like the letters have not gone out. Is this a hoax? The letter looks official. Thanks. Laci
Posted by: Laci Conner | March 27, 2007 at 08:28 PM
Hi Justine,
Just wondering again, why was the engineering open house letter only sent out to certain people. I know many others who applied for the engineering school but did not get this letter or the e-mail that was sent out. Could you tell me why that is and what these two letters are for(does it have anything to do with acceptances)?
Posted by: Andrew | March 27, 2007 at 08:56 PM
The letter is not a hoax, but it's not a formal offer of admission either. The School of Engineering can recommend students for admission, but the final notification comes from us--the offer of admission will come from Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools, and the admit letters will have students nine digit ID numbers in them. Good luck!
Posted by: Marisela | March 28, 2007 at 02:18 PM
I first heard that admissions decisions would be available after 5 p.m. Thurs., but now hear the server is down and decisions may not be available until next week. Any word as to the trust of this latest rumor?
Posted by: Anna | March 28, 2007 at 04:21 PM
OK - I'm really confused about why UCLA asks students to write in an alternate major if they won't be considered for that major should their first choice be impacted. It seem pointless to put a second choice major if you're not even going to be considered for admission to it. Please elucidate.
P.S. - My question refers to putting a first choice as Life Sciences and a second choice as International Development Studies. Thanks.
Posted by: anonymous | March 28, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Hi Justine,
I have heard the same rumor as Anna, is it true that it wll come out tonight at 5:00? If not, when you say the "end" of march, does that mean the 31st? Please do reply as soon as possible.
Posted by: christine | March 29, 2007 at 12:09 PM
When the decisions are posted, will we get an email telling us how to navigate the decisions website with login information?
Posted by: Janelle | March 29, 2007 at 01:03 PM