Exceptional Student Admission Program
(ESAP Program)

*Subject to change*

The ESAP Program was established several years ago.

ESAP recognizes outstanding SEAS undergraduates who wish to enter the SEAS graduate program upon completion of the B.S. degree. ESAP admitted students are genuine graduate students who are eligible for graduate fellowships and Teaching Assistant positions.

To be eligible you must have:

1. an overall UCLA GPA of at least 3.5, and
   
2. an upper division engineering GPA of at least 3.5,
   
3. no more than 36 units remaining to be completed for the B.S. degree, and
   
4. if following a catalog year prior to 2005-2006, make an appointment to completed the Academic Program Planner with your Academic Counselor at 6426BH.  If following the 2005 or later catalog, make an appointment to review your DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) report with your Academic Counselor at 6426BH. 

5. if student has 36 units or less to degree completion, email jan@ea.ucla.edu with the following information if not already notified of ESAP eligibility:

5a. Name

5b. UCLA ID#

5c. Expected Degree Completion term

5d. Major

5e. Courses that you still need to complete for degree completion (including present term)

Students who meet these conditions will receive a letter informing them of their eligibility.

To maintain your eligibility you must maintain the specified GPAs and complete your B.S. degree.

Admission is guaranteed to the graduate program in the department in which you earned your B.S. degree, for the time period specified in the ESAP letter,

and is subject to your meeting the posted deadlines for filing the

graduate admissions application.

For Non-Electrical Engineering ESAP students, this guarantee of admission is valid for three academic quarters after you earn your undergraduate degree. Students should discuss with their department's graduate Student Affairs Officers (see contact information below) the scheduling of courses to find out which quarter is most beneficial for them and additionally if the quarter in which you intend to enroll may have a significant impact upon the availability of financial aid.

Because the Electrical Engineering Department's new M.S. program consists of all graduate courses that are sequenced, Electrical Engineering ESAP students must apply for the Fall quarter that immediately follows their B.S. degree completion.

ESAP students are not required to take the GRE. However, GRE scores may be required for students who want to be considered for departmental financial support or for other departmental purposes. Check directly with your department. ESAP students are required to submit two letters of recommendation from professors in their department. The letters are for purposes of determining the appropriate area of study; as a graduate student.

On the 3rd recommender line of the supplemental application which you will be prompted to complete during the admissions application process,it is recommend that you type in "ESAP" to flag your ESAP status, although this is not necessary.  

Merit based financial support is at the discretion of the department, but has no bearing upon admission itself. For financial aid information, contact the Financial Aid Office.

ESAP students must complete the regular graduate admissions application form

and must meet the posted application deadlines. ESAP students should not delay submitting their applications and supporting materials whether or not they have received their ESAP letters. There is an application fee, and applicants must provide the department with copies of their transcripts (unofficial UCLA transcripts are sufficient).

Please note that the departments are notified of the new ESAP students, but when students talk to the departments they should identify themselves as ESAP students.

5121 Engineering V

jpberger@ea.ucla.edu

3121K Engineering V

For any additional questions or problems please contact Jan LaBuda, 6426 BH, jan@ea.ucla.edu.

To apply on-line, start here.