Admission Process
Ethan Madore
UCLA offers two binding early decision programs. The standard Early Decision (ED) program is for applicants who consider UCLA Law their clear first choice and are prepared to commit immediately upon admission. Admitted ED students typically have GPAs on par with the school's previous admission cycle median and LSATs just below it. ED applicants are not eligible for merit scholarships, though they may be considered for need-based aid—but must commit before financial aid eligibility is known. Notably, those denied under ED are not reconsidered in the regular decision pool that cycle. For applicants who value flexibility or wish to compare offers, Regular Decision is the better option.
The Distinguished Scholars Program is also binding but includes a full-tuition merit scholarship for a small number of exceptionally qualified candidates. Applicants must submit the application and a binding agreement form by mid-November. Applicants not offered the Distinguished Scholars Award will still be considered for admission and for scholarship assistance on a non-binding basis. This program is ideal for high-achieving applicants who are ready to commit and do not require time to weigh competing offers.
UCLA offers two specialized opportunities: The Achievement Fellowship, a non-binding full-tuition scholarship for students who have overcome significant hardships, requires a one-page hardship essay submitted by mid-December. The David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law & Policy requires two short-answer questions and is best suited for applicants whose public interest commitment is reflected throughout their application.
Application requirements
Essay prompts
What's actually different about UCLA's application
Ethan Madore
- Instead of a looser ‘perspective statement,’ UCLA gives you a place to enter a ‘Challenges Addendum.’ If your perspective statement already deals with indisputable ‘challenges,’ such as facing economic disadvantage, significant personal setbacks, or discrimination, submit it. If it’s a more general “this is where my worldview comes from” essay that doesn’t deal explicitly with adversity, it’s better to skip it.
- UCLA has an iconic “Programmatic Contribution” essay, which you can either answer in a text box on the application or attach as a fuller essay reponse. We recommend writing this — it takes the place of a Why X essay. You need to identify a specific program at UCLA you’d contribute to and make a case for why you’d be a good fit.