INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS - 2007
Application deadline: December 15, 2007.
Moving Image Archive Studies at UCLA is a 2-year, full-time Master of Arts program.
Admission is made for the fall term only. There is no doctoral program. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an Information Session (Schedule) before applying.
Application requirements:
- UCLA Application for Graduate Admission
- GRE within 5 years, OR TOEFL or IELTS
- Statement of Purpose
- Writing Sample
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Official Transcripts
- Resume or Portfolio (optional)
Applications lacking any of these items will be considered incomplete, and will not be considered for admission.
UCLA Application for Graduate Admission
The application for admission and instructions are available online at http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/applicat.htm. Candidates should apply to the Moving Image Archive Studies degree program (major code 49C). Applications must be accompanied by the application fee. Applications unpaid by December 15, 2007 will not be considered for admission.
GRE – Graduate Record Examination
Scheduling and pricing information is available from the GRE website: http://www.gre.org/. Applicants who have scores five years old or less may submit those scores. The GRE is required of all applicants, including those who hold graduate degrees, except those for whom the TOEFL or the IELTS is required. The admissions committee does not set a threshold score or percentile for admission; rather the test scores are considered as a part of the entire application dossier.
TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language OR IELTS – International English Language Testing System
International applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not previously completed a degree at an English-speaking university-level institution, must certify their proficiency in English. Such applicants must submit scores received on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as part of their application. The TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Information is available at http://www.ets.org/toefl/. A TOEFL score of at least 560 on the paper and pencil test or 220 on the computer-based test is the minimum required for applicants to graduate programs at UCLA.
The IELTS is administered by local IELTS test centers throughout the world. Applicants should consult http://www.ielts.org/ for the nearest IELTS test center. The results of these tests help applicants determine whether they are prepared to undertake graduate study conducted in English before making extensive plans for graduate study in the U.S. An IELTS overall band score of at least 7.0 is the minimum required.
Applications are not considered complete without the test scores. Scores should be sent to the UCLA Program in Moving Image Archive Studies (institution code 4837, subject code 90).
The statement of purpose is a crucial part of the application that is weighed carefully during the selection process. It should be both concise and specific in discussing the candidate's career objectives and the reasons for choosing the MIAS program. The statement of purpose does not need to be on the official form provided with the online application, but should have the applicant's name on every page. It should be sent to the Program Coordinator at the address below. Electronic copies, as email attachments, are acceptable.
The writing sample is typically a scholarly work (such as a term paper or master's thesis) in a field closely related to the proposed subject of study. It should demonstrate the applicant's skills as a researcher, thinker, and writer. It should demonstrate the applicant's readiness to undertake research at a graduate level. The ideal writing sample would make use of original sources, show mastery of secondary materials and attack an old problem in an original way. Since only one writing sample will be evaluated applicants are encouraged to submit their strongest written work. The sample should be at least 10 pp in length but not exceed 25pp. Creative writing or a substantial community report may be submitted. If the sample is coursework from a prior academic endeavor, the Admissions Committee strongly recommends that you revise the writing sample before you submit it with your application. You may wish to ask a faculty member to work with you on editing the paper before you submit it to the admissions committee. All writing samples should be proofread for grammatical and spelling errors. It should be coherent, well-organized, and show your analytical and research skills. Your writing sample, like the statement of purpose, should show that you have the research and writing skills needed for graduate-level work and should be coherent and well-organized.
Three letters of recommendation are required from persons who have worked with the applicant recently. At least one of these should be an instructor. If an applicant has not had recent contact with her instructors, then letters from supervisors or colleagues are recommended. The letters do not have to be on the form included in the Official Application, but may instead be on institutional letterhead. Each letter should bear the applicant's name on every page. They should be mailed to the Program Coordinator at the address below.
Two official transcripts from each institution of post-secondary education attended by the applicant should be mailed to the MIAS Program Coordinator. These transcripts must be sealed and must bear the official stamp/seal/signature of the institution that issued them.
This gives the admissions committee additional perspective on any relevant experience that a candidate may have. Formats should not require extensive technological equipment to view the portfolio or resume. These items should be sent to the Program Coordinator at the address below.
Submitting materials
The mailing address for supplemental application materials (those which are to be sent to the Department) is:
UCLA MIAS Program
Attn: Program Coordinator
103G E. Melnitz
Box 951622
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622
Electronic copies of Statements of Purpose, Resumes, Writing Samples and Portfolios can be sent to miasinfo@ucla.edu. Other documents must be submitted in hard copy.