UCLA 2011-2012 (class of 2015) Forum

[No13baby]

Didn't see one of these yet, so I'm starting one. UCLA is a bit of a stretch for me...hopefully they won't ding me for having grown up in the Bay Area.

Who else is planning to apply here? Their app goes up September 1. ED deadline is November 15, 2011 (applicants must have taken the LSAT in October 2011 at the latest); RD deadline is February 1, 2012.

[Revolver066]

One of my top choices, for sure. As a splitter though, it may be tough. Why must California schools love high GPA? Why????

[JDndMSW]

One of my top choices, for sure. As a splitter though, it may be tough. Why must California schools love high GPA? Why????

+1! Still haven't decided yet if I want to ED... does anyone know the benefits it gives you there? Also maybe who is a good ED candidate for there?

[No13baby]

Still haven't decided yet if I want to ED... does anyone know the benefits it gives you there? Also maybe who is a good ED candidate for there?

From this interview with their Dean of Admissions: http://www.admissionsdean.com/researchi ... t-schwartz
Most of it's pretty standard (apply ED if UCLA is your first choice, etc.) but I think it's kind of neat that he invites you to call in and see how competitive of an applicant you are. I haven't heard about other schools doing that.

AD From an applicant’s perspective, is there a benefit to applying through the binding early decision process?
R.S. Well, I think there are two different answers to that question. One relates to the nature of early decisions generally, and the other relates to the size of our regular applicant pool versus the size of our ED applicant pool.
With regard to early decision, there are a number of things to consider. If UCLA Law School is someone’s first choice--definitively, hands down their first choice--then there is no reason in my mind why they should not apply to us through the binding early decision program. Now, I worry that the statistics I just gave might cause somebody in that situation not to apply through the early decision process, but that should not be the case. We regularly counsel individual applicants about their chances of admission through the early decision process. If an applicant knows that UCLA Law is their first choice, and they apply through early decision and are denied admission, they should know that the admissions committee was confident that they also would not have been admitted through the regular admissions process. You won’t suffer some sort of penalty by applying early, that’s for sure. Does that make sense?

AD Yes, it does. So how would you counsel a student? Could an applicant simply call you ahead of time and sort of give you a “sneak peak” and see what you have to say?
R.S. Absolutely, they can talk to me about their qualifications and I will give them a sense of their chances. But regardless of what I say, if they apply earlier and they are not admitted, then they would not have been admitted through the regular process either. I think that’s important to clear up, because if you just look at the ED admissions statistics, you might be afraid to apply.
The other thing for people to consider when applying early is that if you apply early and you are waitlisted, the fact that you applied early will be a (positive) factor that we’ll consider when we comb through the waitlist during the spring and summer.
Now, there are disadvantages to applying early to any school that has a binding early admissions program. The main disadvantages are that the applicant forfeits the ability to hear from other law schools and -- most importantly -- receive scholarship offers from other schools. If you’re applying through a binding early decision program, you really need to be convinced that the school to which you apply is your #1 choice, no matter what.

[JD=Doctor]

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[Errzii]

Still haven't decided yet if I want to ED... does anyone know the benefits it gives you there? Also maybe who is a good ED candidate for there?

From this interview with their Dean of Admissions: http://www.admissionsdean.com/researchi ... t-schwartz
Most of it's pretty standard (apply ED if UCLA is your first choice, etc.) but I think it's kind of neat that he invites you to call in and see how competitive of an applicant you are. I haven't heard about other schools doing that.

AD From an applicant’s perspective, is there a benefit to applying through the binding early decision process?
R.S. Well, I think there are two different answers to that question. One relates to the nature of early decisions generally, and the other relates to the size of our regular applicant pool versus the size of our ED applicant pool.
With regard to early decision, there are a number of things to consider. If UCLA Law School is someone’s first choice--definitively, hands down their first choice--then there is no reason in my mind why they should not apply to us through the binding early decision program. Now, I worry that the statistics I just gave might cause somebody in that situation not to apply through the early decision process, but that should not be the case. We regularly counsel individual applicants about their chances of admission through the early decision process. If an applicant knows that UCLA Law is their first choice, and they apply through early decision and are denied admission, they should know that the admissions committee was confident that they also would not have been admitted through the regular admissions process. You won’t suffer some sort of penalty by applying early, that’s for sure. Does that make sense?

AD Yes, it does. So how would you counsel a student? Could an applicant simply call you ahead of time and sort of give you a “sneak peak” and see what you have to say?
R.S. Absolutely, they can talk to me about their qualifications and I will give them a sense of their chances. But regardless of what I say, if they apply earlier and they are not admitted, then they would not have been admitted through the regular process either. I think that’s important to clear up, because if you just look at the ED admissions statistics, you might be afraid to apply.
The other thing for people to consider when applying early is that if you apply early and you are waitlisted, the fact that you applied early will be a (positive) factor that we’ll consider when we comb through the waitlist during the spring and summer.
Now, there are disadvantages to applying early to any school that has a binding early admissions program. The main disadvantages are that the applicant forfeits the ability to hear from other law schools and -- most importantly -- receive scholarship offers from other schools. If you’re applying through a binding early decision program, you really need to be convinced that the school to which you apply is your #1 choice, no matter what.

Very nice find, thanks. I was going to ED to UCLA this cycle regardless but this definitely helps to reinforce my decision. Good luck to all hopeful future bruins

[Cavgirl]

I'm in. Good luck, everyone!

[LaCumparsita]

Is the Programmatic Contribution section truly optional?

[No13baby]

Is the Programmatic Contribution section truly optional?

I think it's optional in the sense that if you're applying to one of their special programs, you have to write one; if you're not, you don't.

[No13baby]

Also: I requested a fee waiver yesterday and received it today. Yay!

[qbt1990]

That's cool you can call the dean and get a sense of your chances. Would anyone actually do that? I feel like I'd chicken out, haha.

[D1989]

I requested a merit waiver about three weeks back and was denied, but then received on via e-mail today! So it looks like I'm applying after all...

[90LawSchool]

App submission opened today.

[Tiago Splitter]

App submission opened today.

Thanks for this. Went to submit and it appears the LSAC website has lost it's mind. The UCLA app shows 93% completed, but when I go back and make sure everything looks good it stays at 93% completed. Other schools have similar problems. Any magic fixes or just wait?

[No13baby]

App submission opened today.

Thanks for this. Went to submit and it appears the LSAC website has lost it's mind. The UCLA app shows 93% completed, but when I go back and make sure everything looks good it stays at 93% completed. Other schools have similar problems. Any magic fixes or just wait?

Haha. Mine says "school application updated - review your answers." The application wasn't updated, but when I tried to confirm my info I got an error message and was then redirected to the LLM applicant login page. I think the website is haunted.

[90LawSchool]

I am having similar problems now too! I think it is a bug in the site.

[freestallion]

I am having similar problems now too! I think it is a bug in the site.

(I'm not applying to UCLA, but...) all my applications in LSAC seem to have bugs in them. I think wait a day or two until they become un-buggy. I hope LSAC fixes them before Sept 15 rolls around!

[Tiago Splitter]

Bugs are gone, app has been transmitted. Good luck all!

[chem]

For the future

App submitted: 9/15
Complete: 9/19
Decision:

[No13baby]

Tiago and chem, did you apply ED or RD?

[Tiago Splitter]

RD here.

[chem]

RD

[83947368]

.

[wokeemilo]

got a fee waiver, but really don't feel like cutting down my ps to 2-pages 12-pt font lol. this may be the deal breaker...

[RonnyDworkin]

got a fee waiver, but really don't feel like cutting down my ps to 2-pages 12-pt font lol. this may be the deal breaker...

Hahah I'm of the same feeling. Man even their application questions are more tailored and detailed.