UCLA

[RaymondDale]

I see one acceptance to UCLA. Any ideas as to whether there will be more? Seems like there has to be. Based on last year's results pattern, it looks like they first accept people with funding, then a few days later accept people without funding, and then finally reject people.

Comments?

I hesitate to call this Department because they tend to be very terse and snappy.

[C-Money]

I see one acceptance to UCLA. Any ideas as to whether there will be more? Seems like there has to be. Based on last year's results pattern, it looks like they first accept people with funding, then a few days later accept people without funding, and then finally reject people.

Comments?

I hesitate to call this Department because they tend to be very terse and snappy.

I'm very curious about UCLA as well. The person that I spoke with back when I submitted my application wasn't that bad.

[utsusemi]

OP, maybe you caught someone on the phone at a bad time?

I heard from UCLA about two weeks ago, because they wanted me to apply for a particular fellowship outside the department that had a February deadline--there's another poster on this board, also in East Asian history, in the same boat. But even having been told that decision informally, I've still had nothing from the department as a whole, from which I deduce that they've yet to send out official letters (and perhaps also that other fields didn't finish deciding as early as mine did).

[figurefive]

Of the 12 schools to which I applied, UCLA was the only one that required sending in hard-copy LORs. Given the budget crisis, you'd think they could find a more cost-effective, if not environmentally friendly, application system.

I stopped checking UCLA a month ago when I initially logged onto my the application status website and was told that neither my SOP nor my undergraduate transcript had been received. I don't know what happened, but they really don't seem to be on top of their game.

[C-Money]

Of the 12 schools to which I applied, UCLA was the only one that required sending in hard-copy LORs. Given the budget crisis, you'd think they could find a more cost-effective, if not environmentally friendly, application system.

I stopped checking UCLA a month ago when I initially logged onto my the application status website and was told that neither my SOP nor my undergraduate transcript had been received. I don't know what happened, but they really don't seem to be on top of their game.

Agreed--UCLA was by far the worst set up logistically of any program that I applied to.

[ResPublica]

My advisor at UCD was contacted by an adcom member on Feb. 1st, and was told decisions would be in a few weeks. That is somewhat ambigious, but that should hopefully place notices sometime next week, maybe even today. As far as funding goes, they are fairly short on it. I was told that in my field (Ancient), no new students would be getting anything from the department initially, but that after the first year the funding situation would improve quite a bit.

As far as UCLA using hard-copy letters, this is the first year you are able to upload your SOP and writing sample rather than mail a hard-copy, so they are clearly in the transitional phase in that respect. One other school I am applying to this year also does hard-copy supporting documents, and another I applied to last year did as well. I don't think having hard copy documents in any way has an negative effect on their budget. In fact it might help out by saving the need to print hard copies for the sake of adcom meetings and such.

I believe there is also a disclaimer on the application website which states that your particular department may not choose to use that method to update your application status. My application status also says that none of my documents have been received, yet I know all of them have been received and reviewed.

[lifetimestudent]

Agreed--UCLA was by far the worst set up logistically of any program that I applied to.

Completely agreed. Having my professors send in hard-copy letters, while it might not seem like a big deal, took a lot more work on my end than for the other schools.

[happy_elephant]

OP, maybe you caught someone on the phone at a bad time?

I heard from UCLA about two weeks ago, because they wanted me to apply for a particular fellowship outside the department that had a February deadline--there's another poster on this board, also in East Asian history, in the same boat. But even having been told that decision informally, I've still had nothing from the department as a whole, from which I deduce that they've yet to send out official letters (and perhaps also that other fields didn't finish deciding as early as mine did).

Just FYI to everyone, I'm the East Asianist who was also contacted re: the fellowship application. And, I've since heard back from both my POC and the department about my acceptance, with an official letter via the application website...but perhaps utsusemi is correct in guessing that other fields aren't moving as quickly with their responses? The information I've been receiving has a visitation day set in mid-March, so I would assume there's still some leeway for those who haven't heard. Good luck to everyone!

[Alea Iacta Est]

One of my friends, a South Asianist, got an email from her prospective adviser saying that she'd been admitted with a stipend for five years. This was, I believe, a week ago.

I still haven't heard from them (I'm a medievalist.)

Edited February 21, 2010 by Alea Iacta Est

[lifetimestudent]

Anybody else hear from UCLA?

[ResPublica]

Anybody else hear from UCLA?

I'm in at UCLA, though I already posted as much in the History 2010 thread. I'm doing ancient history, particularly Roman. I got my email about eight days ago, and got financial info two days ago from my prospective advisor. What originally looked like an unfunded offer is shaping up to be much better now. Although I won't be getting a traditional fellowship or stipend from the department (apparently no one in the ancient field is), I will be getting tuition remission and some pay through a readership during the first year, and possibly some work digitizing and cataloging slides. Second and third years will be covered by a TAship, provided that I'm making satisfactory progress during the first year.

I am still waiting to hear from USC Classics, though at this point I have assumed rejection, so it looks like I will be going to UCLA this fall. Although I would certainly prefer a stipend of some sort, I really feel grateful to have received any acceptances during this economic climate. Also UCLA was my 'reach' school, and I told my friends it was my 'joke application' because I didn't think I would even be considered. I'm starting to wish I applied to Berkeley...not that I would have gotten in, but I'm kicking myself for not trying now.

[C-Money]

I got in, though without first-year funding. Has anyone heard anything about a visitation day? My acceptance letter doesn't say anything about that.

[ResPublica]

I got in, though without first-year funding. Has anyone heard anything about a visitation day? My acceptance letter doesn't say anything about that.

My potential advisor mentioned meeting together "if you decide to make a visit to UCLA," but other than that, I have heard nothing of the sort.

[lifetimestudent]

That's interesting, my letter talked about a visitation day in a few weeks... I figured they would have invited everyone to come.

[xorge84]

So, who's going to Visitation Day on the 18th?

[lifetimestudent]

I will!

[utsusemi]

That's interesting, my letter talked about a visitation day in a few weeks... I figured they would have invited everyone to come.

I didn't hear anything of the sort either--like ResPublica, when I spoke to my potential advisor (finally got over the shyness today), it was just a matter of "if you decide to visit," and I was advised against coming between the 19th and 29th because of spring break.

Perhaps the visiting weekend was organized by/for a particular field or group of fields, or only prospective students with guaranteed funding were invited?

[xorge84]

I didn't hear anything of the sort either--like ResPublica, when I spoke to my potential advisor (finally got over the shyness today), it was just a matter of "if you decide to visit," and I was advised against coming between the 19th and 29th because of spring break.

Perhaps the visiting weekend was organized by/for a particular field or group of fields, or only prospective students with guaranteed funding were invited?

Here's what I got in my acceptance letter (before I found out about funding):

"...you are invited to attend a Visitation Day at the Department of History commencing at 10:00 am on Thursday, March 18, 2010. At that time, you will have an opportunity to meet faculty member and continuing students from various fields. We encourage you to set up appts. in advance with any faculty whom you may be interested in working with. If you are planning to attend Visitation Day, please email our Graduate Advisor, Hadley Porter at hporter@history.ucla.edu by Thursday March 4, 2010. Please confirm if you will need housing for one night. We will work to place you with current graduate students in our program. Save your receipts - your transportation expenses will be reimbursed by the Dept. of History (up to $500)."

This was in the paragraph after the one that began "You can also view the decision status on you admission at https..." It seems like it's department wide and for everyone accepted.

[utsusemi]

Here's what I got in my acceptance letter (before I found out about funding):

"...you are invited to attend a Visitation Day at the Department of History commencing at 10:00 am on Thursday, March 18, 2010. At that time, you will have an opportunity to meet faculty member and continuing students from various fields. We encourage you to set up appts. in advance with any faculty whom you may be interested in working with. If you are planning to attend Visitation Day, please email our Graduate Advisor, Hadley Porter at hporter@history.ucla.edu by Thursday March 4, 2010. Please confirm if you will need housing for one night. We will work to place you with current graduate students in our program. Save your receipts - your transportation expenses will be reimbursed by the Dept. of History (up to $500)."

This was in the paragraph after the one that began "You can also view the decision status on you admission at https..." It seems like it's department wide and for everyone accepted.

How funny. Mine went straight from the "You can also..." paragraph to the one beginning "If you have questions about the Department..."

[C-Money]

Clearly, they are only inviting people with guaranteed funding packages.

[utsusemi]

Clearly, they are only inviting people with guaranteed funding packages.

Indeed, makes sense to me, since it sounds like they are paying for travel. So for those of us still waiting to hear about other fellowships... *shrug*