<p>I'm debating applying to the School of Art at UCLA and was wondering what happens if I get rejected. Does that mean I would be rejected from UCLA in general? Or does it mean I got rejected from the School of Art and they'd still consider me in general admissions?</p>
<p>I would also like to know if I would get rejected from UCLA all together, or just rejected from the theatre department?</p>
<p>From what I know, you need to get accepted to UCLA . YOu don’t get accepted to the art program alone. If you get rejected, I think you are rejected from the university.</p>
<p>Languidness,</p>
<p>You’ll be fine if you list Art as your first choice major and another major from the College of Arts and Sciences as your second choice major. </p>
<p>The School of Art & Architecture is a professional school within UCLA and this means that both the School and the University have to approve you before you can take a seat as an art major. Don’t make the mistake of listing your second choice major from another professional school (ex. engineering). </p>
<p>So lets say you apply as first choice art and second choice as english. If the School of Art says no but UCLA says yes then you are in as an English major. You could then minor in art and/or petition in your junior year to double major in both majors.</p>
<p>Best,
Wheaty</p>
<p>I hesitate to contradict the wonderfully informed Wheaty, but 4 years ago my older son applied to UCLA art and was informed clearly that if his application/portfolio was not accepted by that major, he would <em>not</em> be considered by UCLA for any other major/school. Last year, my S2 applied to the theater design major and, again, the application (plus audition/portfolio review/supplements) went directly to the School of Theatre & Film–do not pass go, do not get considered for any other UCLA admission. </p>
<p>In other words, you get just that one shot.</p>
<p>Kinda harsh!</p>
<p>But, best of luck.</p>
<p>Disregard my post from yesterday - wow, was I wrong on this one! I called UCLA and talked with an admin advisor and I had it completely wrong. Madbean and Taxguy have it correct - you get one shot and that’s it.</p>
<p>To get into the School of Art the applicant must select an art major as their first choice. Once you do that your second choice is essentially meaningless. If the School of Art says no then that’s it for UCLA. Yikes!</p>
<p>Sorry for getting this wrong but at least I learned something in the process.</p>
<p>Perhaps the best tip from all of this: when in doubt, call the source! The admin person I just called picked up on the first ring and answered all of my questions. When in doubt, call!</p>
<p>Best,
Wheaty</p>
<h1>egobruise</h1>
<p>No worries, wheaty!</p>
<p>This was a big discussion in our house as both my kids had to face the choice, so I do remember wondering why UCLA made this policy.</p>
<p>It’s a big state and these departments/majors are so well regarded, I think this policy may help cut down on applications to the art and theatre schools (my suspicious mind thinks the enormous workload of reviewing portfolios each year, and the time it takes, is enough to justify the policy!) Yet, for the student, it’s scary to put all the chips in one pot! </p>
<p>For one thing, an applicant must believe his/her portfolio or audition will be competitive enough to risk his/her entire chance of admission on it. When we hear the astounding numbers that do not make it, that’s a big risk and a hardball way to play the admissions game Secondly, a student must be 100% passionate and committed to the major (and many HS seniors are rightly taking some time to decide what major to pursue for 4 more years) to take this risk. I also think this may appeal to the UCLA Schools of Art and Theatre, who might prefer students who are completely gung ho already and won’t transfer out. </p>
<p>These two combined impose a stressful decision–whether it’s in the best interest for the student to apply to art or theatre or not. Luckily, some other universities do permit one to list a second major and get a chance to the general admission pool if one’s portfolio isn’t (yet) up to speed. But they don’t have the UCLA instate tuition.</p>
<p>In a larger sense, I find it pretty harsh that HS seniors who love art must make similar all-or-nothing decisions when deciding whether to apply to art schools vs. universities, or to pursue BFAs vs. BAs. It’s a big decision and there many times is less room for reevaluating one’s major down the road.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>that’s what we all did/still do in Japan.
I could not yet make my Japanese-Japanese parents here understand what liberal arts schools do to their kids, and why in the world I’d pay for that.</p>
<p>Wheaty dear, it prove that you did not have to agonize over the weight of the choice your kid made (as your username box suggests) and love you for the fact calling up UCLA (the source) to clarify it just because…
Hope all UC kids are safe and happy after all hard work done.
No I am not saying this in my old meanie-way. I am seriously worrying about what this movement grows into.</p>
<p>Hmm, I’m still processing this revelation. I just deleted a long post because I’m now not sure of the correct strategy. This is a serious monkey wrench in the works for my D2. Cue the dramatic music. Duh duhhh dunnn! Her stats are above UCLA averages for admitted students but does she risk it all on a portfolio?</p>
<p>Smoke is pouring out of my ears as the gears whir wildly. I’ll post more after I think about this some more. </p>
<p>BTW, this is the opposite at USC. There your second choice major does come into play and it’s not all or nothing. It’s interesting that the schools are different on this and I wonder why?</p>
<p>Best,
Wheaty</p>
<p>Well, I don’t know whether to feel sorry I had to be the one to provide the splash of cold water or glad I was able to give you a heads up so you could digest the issue in full. I guess both. ;)</p>
<p>Your D2 is in the worst predicament, frankly. Any student who solidly is in the gpa/sat range for UCLA is giving up a good chance at admission to pursue a very unpredictable path. As I just watched my two kids face the same decisions, I feel your angst. For art kids with slightly lower stats, I think this policy actually may work in their favor–giving them a better chance (well–better than “none” which is what they’d have among 60,000 applicants to the regular majors in the university) for admission to UCLA. </p>
<p>As you say, each university may have a different policy and USC, to name one, allows students to apply to more than one School. An applicant can list Roski Art as their first choice, and School of Cinematic Arts as their second choice, for example, and be considered for both! In fact, if they should not be admitted to either of those highly competitive Schools, their application will still be considered for the general College as undecided major. So you really have three shots! I’ll also share that at USC, it’s best to put your major choices in order carefully. If, for example, both Roski and the SCA both approve an application, USC admissions will only admit the student to their listed first choice and they’ll never hear they were also admitted to their second. !! </p>
<p>Ah, isn’t college applications in the arts easy?</p>
<p>Wheaty? Have you put down the smelling salts yet?</p>
<p>T_______________________________________________T
That’s my position too. My stats are pretty good for LA, but I might blow my chance if I get rejected by the art school. But I don’t really want to go to a huge public school if I’m unable to get into the art program. Sigh.</p>