UCLA Band Appeal Experience

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
1

When I was applying to UCLA, I heard about the band appeal option from my former drum major (who is a member of the Solid Gold Sound). Unfortunately, there isn’t much info available for students like myself who want to explore this option. This is why I decided to share my experience.

BEFORE ADMISSION DECISIONS- I contacted the UCLA Color Guard page on instagram to ask if I could audition even if I hadn’t been accepted yet. They said that I could, so I submitted my audition video to Gordon Henderson. He told me that if I were accepted into the school, I could join the guard.

MARCH 22- I was waitlisted at UCLA

MARCH 24- I emailed Gordon about my situation and he sent me the link for the Band Appeal form

MARCH 27- I submitted my appeal

I had heard from my friend that he knew people that got in through the band appeal, and they received their decisions in early May. After May 1 I waited anxiously for almost two weeks to hear back. I was starting to get worried, so I emailed Gordon asking if I would receive a rejection letter/email if my band appeal was unsuccessful.

MAY 13- I emailed Gordon
his response: XxXxXxX, My understanding is that Admissions has made its decisions regarding Appeals, so if you have not been accepted by now, you should probably assume that your appeal was not accepted. I’m sorry that there’s nothing more that I can do.

MY STATS:
-among the top 10 of my senior class (ELC candidate)
-Weighted Academic GPA (9-12) 4.5
-Biology major

MARCHING EXPERIENCE:
-Marching band for four years, Color Guard captain for 2
-Helped create the Winter Guard program at my school
-4 yrs flag, 2 yrs rifle, 1 yr sabre
-No coach for 3 yrs, had a coach for my senior yr
-Los Angeles Catholic Schools Band (Local Band)
-Macy’s Great American Marching Band (National Band)

There are many factors that go into the appeals process, and I’m not sure if the fact that I am not a musician affected this process at all. I suggest that if you are 100% dedicated to marching band (as I am), and you really want to go to UCLA, that you try to appeal through the marching band. However, make sure to remember that this is not a guarantee of admission. Good luck to you if you choose to appeal! I hope you get better results than I did

2

You were appealing a decision by admissions and not a decision made by the band director, right?

Had you been accepted to the school you would have been able to accept a place in the color guard as one had been extended to you.But, acceptance into the band cannot force the hand of admissions to give you an offer of acceptance to the university.

3

@Waiting2exhale yes, I understood that. I only added that information to show that I had already showed interest in the band prior to the release of admissions decisions.

4

Do you know if admissions has decided for all appeals or just band appeals?

5

@slclassof2023 I’m not sure. The way the email was worded made it sound like all appeals have been decided, but I saw a few people who got in very recently through normal appeals on another thread.

6

Band appeals are often prioritized by how crucial your instrument and skill level is to the band. Unfortunately, I assume that color guard is not nearly as crucial as getting another snare drum.

7

@ImStressedOut did you ever formally hear about your appeal from admissions?