Waiting for my rejection is killing me so I just want to see who else is also applying to DMA so we can suffer together lol. Also, I just realize DMA hates graphic design pieces and I submitted like 2-3 pieces of graphic design/digital illustration so I think I am doomed.
bumpity boo bump
No need to bump, your thread is near the top of the ucla forum already. Best of luck!
oof I applied for the dma program but I missed the portfolio deadline so its a definite rejection for me, but I wish you the best of luck my guy. :,)
thank you! I have slowly accepted my inevitable rejection haha. hope you get into your dream school!
ahh I also applied for DMA!! good luck ((:
Glad I found a UCLA DMA thread! My D applied for DMA and was sent invite few weeks ago to apply for the Alumni Scholarship. Does anyone know if being nominated for alumni scholarship helps with acceptance into DMA? Because really, the portfolio seems to be the most important thing for DMA. Worried this is building up everyone’s hopes and then the rejection is going to be really crushing. Thanks for any insights. Good luck to all, keep up with your art.
biogsktene, exact same situation. There seems to be a correlation between the invite and regular admittance, but I feel like all bets are off for DMA since we don’t know if the scholarship selections were made before or after portfolio review. It’s been driving me a little crazy. I almost wish I’d never heard about the supposedly higher chances, because I was doing just fine when I’d assumed my D wasn’t going to get in!
WhimsicalSquid- I understand and have the same exact thoughts! Pretty sure daughter’s ECs are what led to an invite for the alumni scholarship. Would love to know if invite was based on the general UC application or the portfolio submission.
@biogsktene Alumni scholarship invites are based on the general UC app.
@10s4life Thanks. I think we understand the invites, themselves, aren’t based at all on the portfolio. But with a 5% admit rate and admission largely based on the portfolio, pre-review DMA apps would have an almost insignificant likelihood of matching up with future admits (unlike other departments). So I think the distinction we’re making is that DMA could possibly refer their candidates after portfolio review so that their choices would be based on their actual top candidates - even though those candidates would then be re-evaluated for the scholarship only on their apps. It would make sense if they wanted department representation in the scholarship, but it may not be possible or maybe they don’t care. My D’s stats were also definitely not up to “normal” UCLA level (albeit good ACT/EC’s), so it didn’t seem likely that she would get it based on app alone; but who knows, maybe they’re relatively high for that program.
@WhimsicalSquid From my understanding I think all ucla apps are initially read by staff from undergrad admissions. And given the typical score that L&S applicants get. L&S applicants don’t have further review beyond that. Then anyone applying to a professional school (engineering, arts and architecture, tft) their apps are forwarded after that initial review to that school for final selection.
Ah, so one step closer to the source, but I guess we have no real way to know how Arts and Architecture handles it. More than anything, I just feel bad that my burnt-out-from-apps kid is still writing new essays, but she’ll do it for UCLA because it’s her dream school. The wait continues!
Thanks, @10s4life, for all your insights, and apologies to OP for the semi-hijack.
@nartyuht By the way, OP, I probably read the same warnings you did about traditional graphic design, but I think the emphasis is on “traditional.” I don’t think they’d exclude any particular format, they just don’t want traditional ANYTHING. If it was exciting work, the fact that it’s graphic design shouldn’t disqualify you. Good luck!
@10s4life thank you. So the alumni scholarship invite, while an honor, may not be too significant for DMA since it appears to happen separate from the portfolio application. Not a surprise, but was feeling a little hopeful for my D that they liked her portfolio. At the very least, someone like her UC general application! It can’t hurt to go ahead and apply for the alumni scholarship, but with a 5% admit rate to DMA…
@nartyuht - D submitted 2 graphic design/ digital works too, with the same worries. Stay hopeful -above all if the work demonstrates creativity or something that speaks about you I think that can be important. Good luck!
Hey there-so I asked in a different place about arts/scholarship and was told alumni scholarship goes to everyone. I understand that everyone can apply, but was my understanding that not everyone received specific email to apply. I was wondering the same thing about when you are applying to the arts when there is an audition. Everyone says the invite is a good sign but my daughter didn’t think much of it because she had to audition on top of that. Would the specific school (TFT) get word that she was sent the scholarship invite? It is so confusing that it is not clear that either certain kids or all kids would receive the scholarship email. We will all know soon! 
Hi guys! I’m a community college transfer applying to DMA as well! I got an invite to apply to the Alumni Transfer Scholarship, but some are saying that everybody who applied received that email. Can anybody give more info on that?
Also, I’m so nervous! I submitted mostly digital art (it’s more on the fine art side of things rather than graphic design.) Does anybody know if there’s an example of a DMA admitted portfolio?
Hi @supernovabitch - If you search “UCLA DESMA” on Youtube, a few portfolios come up. Just remember for perspective that just like with college decision videos, the people who post these could be the best of the best. Good luck!
@WhimsicalSquid Thank you so much!