UPDATED October 31, 2023
• What is your purpose in applying for graduate study in your specified degree program?
Describe your area(s) of interest, including any subfield(s) or interdisciplinary interests.
• What experiences have prepared you for advanced study or research in this degree
program? What relevant skills have you gained from these experiences? Have your
experiences led to specific or tangible outcomes that would support your potential to
contribute to this field (examples: performances, publications, presentations, awards or
recognitions)?
• What additional information about your past experience may aid the selection
committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UCLA? For
example, you may wish to describe research, employment, teaching, service, artistic or
international experiences through which you have developed skills in leadership,
communication, project management, teamwork, or other areas.
• Why is the UCLA graduate program to which you are applying is the best place for you
to pursue your academic goals? If you are applying for a research master’s or doctoral
program, we encourage you to indicate specific research interests and potential faculty
mentors.
• What are your plans for your career after earning this degree?
• PERSONAL STATEMENT (REQUIRED)
The Personal Statement is an opportunity for you to provide additional information that may aid
the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at
UCLA. It will also be used to consider candidates for Graduate Opportunity fellowships.
Instructions: Please respond to one or more of the following prompts. Your statement can be up
to 500 words in length (approximately 1-page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point
font). To be considered for a Cota-Robles or Graduate Opportunity fellowship, be sure to
describe your contributions to diversity. The University of California Diversity Statement
can be
found online
• Are there educational, personal, cultural, economic, or social experiences, not described
in your Statement of Purpose, that have shaped your academic journey? If so, how?
Have any of these experiences provided unique perspective(s) that you would
contribute to your program, field or profession?
• Describe challenge(s) or barriers that you have faced in your pursuit of higher education.
What motivated you to persist, and how did you overcome them? What is the evidence
of your persistence, progress or success?
• How have your life experiences and educational background informed your
understanding of the barriers facing groups that are underrepresented in higher
education?
• How have you been actively engaged (e.g., through participation, employment, service,
teaching or other activities) in programs or activities focused on increasing participation
by groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education?
• How do you intend to engage in scholarly discourse, research, teaching, creative efforts,
and/or community engagement during your graduate program that have the potential
to advance diversity and equal opportunity in higher education?
• How do you see yourself contributing to diversity in your profession after you earn your
advanced degree at UCLA?