Application Instructions


Dear prospective Communication majors (current UCLA students ONLY):

We are delighted to announce a major improvement in the way in which UCLA students apply to the Comm major. As you already know, Communication 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 by answering two (2) essay questions. The questions –presented below– give us a chance to better understand your experiences, attitude, accomplishments, and connection to communication. Please note that we are no longer requiring or accepting a creative project for the application.

Essay Questions:

Please refer to the following two essay questions. You are allowed up to 250 words (1000 characters including spaces and punctuation) for each answer.

  • Why are you a good fit for the Communication major, a highly selective and challenging major?  Address your intellectual interests, research experiences, and/or academic preparation.
  • Describe how you would contribute to this major by focusing on one or more of the following:  demonstrated leadership, contributions to diversity, and/or ability to overcome challenges and obstacles.

The 2023 application period opens June 1 at 11am and closes on June 30, 2023 at 4PM * SHARP*.