Application ProcedureThe Communication Studies Application will be available on June 1, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. and will close on June 30, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.The Admissions Committee will arrange to receive your UCLA transcripts from the Registrar through the end of Summer Session A 2015.  General Information Students not admitted at the sophomore or junior level may reapply the following year. If you have 140 units or more, please consult with a counselor before applying. Prospective double majors must be independently accepted into the CS Department; there is no automatic acceptance. The Admissions Committee gives detailed attention to every application it receives, and its decisions each year are final.  Other than to correct an error in the information it originally evaluated, the Admissions Committee is not able to comply with appeals from applicants for a second review.Please DO NOT submit letters of recommendation — they will not be accepted.Dear prospective Comm Studies majors:We are delighted to announce a major improvement in the way in which UCLA students apply to the Comm Studies major. As you already know, Comm Studies has been one of the most sought-after majors at UCLA since its creation nearly 40 years ago, with more and more outstanding students applying each year. Choosing our students from among the very best people at UCLA has been our privilege, but also our great challenge, so we have decided to improve our admissions decisions by…Giving students an incentive to take more challenging courses prior to entering the major. In our discussions with students, many told us that they had delayed taking difficult classes prior to applying for fear that receiving a lower grade might harm their chances of getting into the major–a strategy that had the unfortunate effect of making them less prepared for some of the difficult courses within the major. To ensure that students are well-prepared for the major, we have adjusted the way we evaluate the GPA of applicants, ensuring that students who take challenging courses are not penalized compared to students who take so-called “Easy A” classes.Getting to know you beyond grades. While our traditional application process has relied heavily on looking at your performance in UCLA courses, our new process will give you a chance to make a case for your admission through a series of very concise essays. The essay questions –presented below– give us a chance to better understand your experiences, attitude, accomplishments, and connection to Comm Studies. One of the most important parts of the new application is a chance for you to impress us with your best work by uploading a short creative work sample.Letting you make your case… in person: While the many applicants will still be selected and notified online before the start of Fall Quarter, our admission process will now allow some students to make their case in face-to-face interviews with an admissions committee at the start of Fall Quarter. We think giving our admissions advisory committee a chance to hear our applicants communicate will allow us to better understand how they could flourish in Comm Studies.These changes represent a lot of additional work for our applicants–and ourselves–but we truly believe they will give great students the best opportunities to be admitted to our great major. We look forward to hearing from you soon!Essay Questions:In your application, you will be asked to tell us in no more than 750 characters (each):Why do you want to be a Communication Studies major?Communication Studies is a highly selective major. Tell us briefly why you believe you should be chosen for the major.Communication Studies is a challenging major. Tell us briefly how you have overcome obstacles or adversity to achieve a goal.Communication Studies is a diverse major. Tell us briefly how you would contribute to that diversity.Communication Studies majors are leaders. Tell us briefly about a specific instance where you have successfully led others to achieve a goal.Communication Studies is a creative major. Tell us briefly about a project, short movie, writing sample, or other creative work you have completed of which you are especially proud.Creative Work:All applicants must upload a sample of your creative work for a valid application.  A sample can be any format or type (e.g., special project, short film, blog, research project, writing sample, photo(s), audio file) you like, but should be something uniquely creative or exceptional. (We will also ask you to tell us about the project and explain why you are especially proud of it). For more information and instructions on uploading your creative work click here.-Tim Groeling,Associate Professor and Chair