Ucla Law: Late Application, What Are My Chances?

can you still apply to ucla law past deadline

UCLA School of Law is one of the top 20 national law schools, and applicants are generally encouraged to apply early. The priority deadline for Early Decision is November 15, and the final deadline to apply is January 31. However, applications for transfer students close on June 2. If you are applying for the Achievement Fellowship Program, the deadline is December 16, 2024, and you must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 30, 2024. Applicants taking the LSAT or GRE after these dates may still apply and be considered for any remaining Achievement Fellowships.

Characteristics Values
General round application deadline June 2, 2025
Priority deadline for transfer applications May 15
Deadline for Achievement Fellowship Program December 16, 2024
Deadline for Early Decision Program November 15
Application fee $75

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UCLA Law's general application deadline

UCLA School of Law has various application deadlines depending on the type of applicant and the program they are applying for.

The general application deadline for the Master of Legal Studies degree program is June 2, 2025.

For first-year applicants to the J.D. program, there are different deadlines depending on whether they are applying through the Early Decision Program or the regular decision program. The priority Early Decision deadline is November 15, 2024, and applicants must take the LSAT or GRE by October 31, 2024. Applicants will be informed of their admissions decisions by the end of December 2024. The final deadline for all applications is January 31, 2025.

For transfer applicants to the J.D. program, the transfer application opens on April 15, 2025, and the priority deadline is May 15, 2025. The final deadline for transfer applications is June 2, 2025.

UCLA Law also has specific deadlines for other programs, such as the Achievement Fellowship Program, which had a deadline of December 16, 2024, and the Summer Preview Program, which has a deadline of May 26, 2025.

While UCLA Law has set deadlines, they consider requests to defer enrollment on a case-by-case basis, and applicants should contact the Office of Admissions for more information. Additionally, UCLA Law encourages applicants to apply early, as it may allow for a quicker decision, but notes that applying early does not affect an applicant's odds of being admitted.

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The Early Decision Program

UCLA Law School offers two types of Early Decision Programs: a binding Early Decision Program and a full-tuition UCLA Law Distinguished Scholars Program. The primary advantage of applying to the Early Decision Program is that applicants who apply by the priority deadline of November 15 are notified by late December and can be done with the law school admission process.

While awaiting the outcome of their Early Decision application at UCLA Law, applicants are permitted to apply to other law schools through their regular decision programs. However, they must withdraw these applications if they are admitted to UCLA Law. UCLA Law reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if an admitted applicant fails to comply with these requirements.

The LSAT or GRE must be taken no later than January 31, 2025, for students applying to the regular JD program. Those applying for the Early Decision Program or the Distinguished Scholars Award must take the LSAT or GRE no later than October 31, 2024.

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Application fees

UCLA Law has various deadlines for applications, depending on the type of applicant and the program. For instance, the Fall 2024 deadline for transfer and visiting student applicants was June 30, 2025, while the deadline for visiting for the spring 2025 semester was December 1, 2024. The priority deadline for transfer applications is usually May 15.

The UCLA Law website encourages applicants to apply early so that all materials are received on time, but notes that applying early does not guarantee early receipt of a decision. Offers of admission are typically made between January and late April. The website advises applicants to apply when they feel most prepared.

The Early Decision Program offers an advantage to applicants who apply by the priority deadline of November 15, as they are notified by late December and can be done with the law school admission process. However, this option is only for applicants who are committed to enrolling at UCLA if admitted, as they will not receive admission decisions or financial aid offers from other law schools.

The Distinguished Scholars Program is a full-tuition program, but students admitted must also be willing to enrol at UCLA if accepted. Applicants for this program must take the LSAT or GRE by October 31, 2024.

The Achievement Fellowship applicants must take the LSAT or GRE by November 30, 2024.

The UCLA Law website does not specify whether applications submitted after the deadline will be considered. However, for UCLA graduate programs, some programs have firm deadlines and never review late applications, while others may be more flexible depending on the circumstances. It is recommended to contact the program directly to learn whether a late application can be considered. It is important to note that the application fee is non-refundable.

The application fee for UCLA Law can be waived for applicants who meet the eligibility requirements set by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) for a need-based fee waiver. Applicants seeking a need-based fee waiver are encouraged to start the process early. UCLA Law also offers merit-based fee waivers based on data from LSAC's Candidate Referral Service (CRS).

In addition to tuition and fees, UCLA Law students should budget for books and supplies, which cost approximately $1,896. Health insurance is a mandatory fee, but it may be waived if the student has comparable health insurance. The UC Graduate Professional Council (UCGPC) fee is a non-mandatory fee that may also be waived.

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Transfer applications

Application Requirements

The following are required for transfer applications:

  • Two letters of recommendation from members of the law faculty, submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service or emailed/mailed directly to the Law School.
  • LSAC law school report (including LSAT score and undergraduate transcripts) sent directly from the Law School Admission Council.
  • Letter of good standing from the current (ABA)-approved law school, including class rank if available, sent directly from the law school's dean of students or registrar.
  • A non-refundable application fee of $75, which can be paid electronically via LSAC or by check, money order, or international money order.

J.D. Transfer Option

Students enrolled in the LL.M. Program at UCLA or elsewhere may apply to transfer into the three-year J.D. Program. This requires the submission of a valid LSAT score.

Application Deadlines

It is important to note that UCLA Law has various deadlines for different programs and application rounds. Here are some key deadlines for transfer applicants:

  • Transfer application deadline for Fall 2025: June 2, with a priority deadline of May 15.
  • Application deadline for the Summer Preview Program: May 26, 2025.
  • Bidding deadline for Summer Virtual OCI: June 8, 2025, with interviews from June 23-25, 2025.

Early Decision Program

UCLA Law also offers an Early Decision Program for candidates who have decided that UCLA School of Law is their first choice. Students admitted through this program must commit to attending UCLA Law and must submit the Statement of Intent to Register and a seat deposit by the deadline stated in the admission letter. The priority deadline for the Early Decision Program is November 15, and applicants must take the LSAT or GRE by October 31.

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Reapplications

UCLA School of Law is one of the top 20 national law schools, and the application process is quite competitive. The school offers four degree programs and a collaborative and challenging environment for students. The general application deadline for the Master of Legal Studies degree is June 2, 2025. However, deadlines may vary for specific programs. For instance, the deadline for the Achievement Fellowship Program is December 16, 2024, and applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 30, 2024.

If you are a transfer student, the application deadline for Fall 2025 is June 2, 2025, with a priority deadline of May 15. For Spring 2025, the deadline is December 1, 2024.

Although UCLA Law has various deadlines for different programs, there is no specific information on whether applications are accepted after the deadlines. However, the school mentions that it considers requests to defer enrollment on a case-by-case basis. Applicants in such cases should contact the Office of Admissions.

If you are a re-applicant, you must comply with the following procedures:

  • Submit a new application form.
  • Pay the non-refundable application fee of $75. This can be paid electronically via LSAC or by check, money order, or international money order payable to the Regents of the University of California.
  • Submit all required documents, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores.
  • Provide an additional statement explaining how your application has improved since your previous submission. This statement should be no more than one page and should be submitted with your application.

It is important to note that re-applicants must submit a new application and all required materials, even if they were previously submitted. UCLA Law does not keep files or documents from previous applications.

While UCLA Law does not specify whether late applications are accepted, they do provide information for re-applicants, indicating that you may still have a chance to apply after the deadline. However, it is always best to apply early to ensure your application is considered.

Frequently asked questions

It depends on the program you are applying to. The general deadline for applications is June 2, 2025, but the deadline for the Achievement Fellowship Program is January 31, 2025, and the priority deadline for Early Decision is November 15, 2024.

Applicants are required to include an additional one-page essay describing the obstacles they have overcome and why they are a strong candidate. The deadline to apply is December 16, 2024, and applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 30, 2024.

The Early Decision Program is for candidates who have concluded that UCLA School of Law is their first choice and do not need to compare financial aid offers. Students must submit the Statement of Intent to Register and a seat deposit by the deadline stated in their admission letter.

There is a non-refundable application fee of $75, which can be paid electronically via LSAC or by check, money order, or international money order.

Yes, UCLA Law offers several full-tuition scholarship programs to high-achieving students.

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