What do you write on a waitlist for UCLA?

For the UCLA waitlist, write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) that showcases significant new achievements (grades, awards, projects) and explains why UCLA remains your top choice, linking your specific goals to unique UCLA programs, professors, or campus opportunities, demonstrating how you'll contribute and grow as a student there. Focus on adding new information, reinforcing your strengths, and showing resilience and specific fit, rather than just repeating your application.

What do you do if you are waitlisted for UCLA?

The first thing to do if you are waitlisted is to go to your student portal for UCLA and accept your spot on the waitlist. This is a minor matter of paperwork, but must be done if you want your application to remain under consideration. As you can see in the stats above, many students don't do this every year.

What to write on a waitlist letter?

Structuring the waitlist letter

• Introduction. Your child should briefly thank the admissions committee for reconsidering their application and reiterate their commitment to the school. ...
• Mention new accomplishments not included in the original application. ...
• Your child's interest in the college.

How long should the UCLA waitlist letter be?

For all students submitting an appeal or waitlist letter, there is a character limit of 7,000 characters that all letters must be within. That's approximately 2 pages or 1,000 words.

Is UCLA waitlist a soft rejection?

Being on the waitlist is a measure of academic competitiveness, but it does not guarantee admission. For first-year waitlist applicants, consideration for admission occurs if space becomes available after May 1.

UCLA Waitlist Letter Guide 2025

How likely is it to get accepted after being waitlisted?

Waitlist confirmation probability varies by system (trains, universities), calculated by algorithms using historical data, current demand, and cancellations, often shown as a percentage (e.g., <50% red, >65% green) or specific statuses like GNWL (higher chance) vs. RLWL (lower chance). Higher waitlist numbers, off-peak travel, and specific quotas (like GNWL) generally improve odds, while fewer available seats or high demand decrease them.
 

Is UCLA the hardest UC to get into?

Yes, UCLA is consistently among the hardest, if not the single hardest, UC to get into, often competing with UC Berkeley for the lowest acceptance rates, though recent data shows UCLA as slightly more competitive with its plummeting rate and status as the nation's most applied-to university, requiring exceptional academic strength, especially for popular majors like Nursing or Film. 

Is the UCLA waitlist first come first serve?

UC Waitlists are not ranked and it is not first in, first admitted. There is no way to determine your chances from being admitted off the waitlist.

What day do UCLA waitlist decisions come out?

UCLA notifies waitlisted students of any admission offers as early as May but can continue as late as July or August. The UCLA waitlist decision date is not fixed and depends entirely on when spots open up in the admitted class.

How can I increase my chances of getting off the waitlist?

Keep Up Your Grades

Generally, students need to maintain senior year grades, study hard for AP exams and finals, and above all, maintain a great attitude in school in order to have the best chance of getting off the waitlist.

Is a waitlist a soft rejection?

If you've been waitlisted, don't panic. We know it's not the decision you were hoping for, but it's also not a rejection. And yes, you still have a real chance of getting accepted. Or you can return to considering other schools, like those with rolling admission application deadlines.

What are the 5 D's of college essays?

The "5 Ds" of college essays are common, overused topics to avoid, representing Death, Divorce, Disease (or Depression), Drugs, and Dating, as they're hard to write about compellingly and often become cliché, making it tough to stand out; instead, focus on showcasing your personality and growth through more unique experiences, experts advise. 

Did UCLA close their waitlist?

In 2022, UCLA closed the waitlist August 19, for 2023 and 2024, they closed it on July 31.

How long does it take to hear back after being waitlisted?

Waitlist decisions take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, often stretching from late May/June through the summer until August, as schools fill empty spots from May 1st onward, depending on enrollment numbers, yield rates, and institutional needs. You might hear back in waves, or sometimes as late as just before move-in day, as schools exhaust their waitlists as seats unexpectedly open up, say. 

How to check waitlist status UCLA?

Waitlists. Students are not automatically notified when their waitlist status changes. If waitlisted, students should check their status by viewing the Study List on MyUCLA. Waitlists are maintained through Friday of the first week of the course, unless deleted earlier by the department.

Is being waitlisted at UCLA good?

A wait-list position within 10 percent of enrollment capacity (for example, number five for a class of 50) indicates a good chance of being enrolled. Many students drop a class after the first meeting, at which point other students may enroll in the class or advance on the wait list.

Is it harder to get into UCLA out of state?

Out-of-state students have a slightly higher acceptance rate than in-state students, but this is due to disparate application rates, and it is much harder for out of state students to gain admission generally. International students have a harder time than all domestic students.

What time do waitlist decisions come out?

While some waitlist decisions may come out in May or June, others may extend into July or even later. It's important to be patient during this period and to have a backup plan in place in case you are not admitted from the waitlist.

Why is UCLA not number 1 anymore?

UCLA's slip from the #1 public university spot (held for eight years) to #2 behind UC Berkeley in recent U.S. News rankings is attributed to factors like cuts in federal research funding due to campus controversies (antisemitism, affirmative action) and shifts in ranking methodologies, though some argue the rankings don't fully capture UCLA's value, while others note UC Berkeley's strong programs and Silicon Valley ties. 

What major is the easiest to get into UCLA?

The "easiest" UCLA majors to get into often fall within the humanities or arts, with Ethnomusicology, Musicology, World Arts and Cultures, and certain humanities/social sciences (like Spanish, American Indian Studies, or English) showing higher admission rates, especially for transfers. However, admission difficulty varies significantly between freshman and transfer applicants, and "easy" is relative at a competitive school like UCLA; focusing on your genuine interest is key, as STEM fields, Engineering, and TFT have much lower admit rates. 

What is the 9% UC rule?

The Statewide Index identifies California-resident students in the top 9 percent of California high school graduates and offers these students a guaranteed space at a UC campus, if space is available.

Is a waitlist basically a rejection?

No, being waitlisted is not the same as being rejected; it's a "maybe" status, meaning you met the qualifications but there's no space yet, so you're on hold for potential acceptance if spots open after accepted students decline their offers. It's a better position than outright rejection, but you should still plan to attend another school, as admission from the waitlist isn't guaranteed and often happens later (e.g., after May 1st). 

What not to do when waitlisted?

Top 10 Things To NOT Do After Being Waitlisted

1. Don't email an update to admissions that you've been named a National Merit Finalist. ...
2. Don't call the admissions office to find out why you didn't get in outright. ...
3. Don't send off a short note to admissions thinking you'll send a longer note later.

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM.