university of hawaii personal statement

University of Hawaii at Manoa | UH Manoa

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Want to see your chances of admission at University of Hawaii at Manoa | UH Manoa?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

University of Hawaii at Manoa | UH Manoa’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-a-prompt essay.

In the sections provided below, please share information on your college goals, academic performance, extra-curricular activities and/or personal characteristics that would help the Admissions Committee make an admissions decision.

Why you would like to attend the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa?

How UH Mānoa fits into your career goals.

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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University of Hawaii – Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Requirements

The University of Hawaii’s flagship Mānoa campus is situated just outside of downtown Honolulu on the island of Oahu, in what is considered to be the happiest, healthiest, and (#2) safest state in the U.S.

Not only that, Hawaii is also ranked at the top when it comes to environmental quality. 

With an average daily temperature of almost 78 degrees, it is not difficult to understand why UH Mānoa is receiving a historical number of applications.

Many who attend UH Mānoa go on to achieve great success in the business and political realms. 44% of Hawaii’s state senators and 51% of their state representatives graduated from UH Mānoa. 

Other notable alumni include Richard Persons (former chairperson of Citigroup), author Michael Savage, and anthropologist/mother of President Barack Obama – Dr. Ann Dunham.

The school is best known for its trailblazing research initiatives in oceanography, astronomy, linguistics, genetics, and cancer research. 

They also offer over 50 distance learning courses where students and instructors interact from all over the globe.

Reading ahead, we’ll share information that all interested applicants should consider before applying to UH Mānoa, including their acceptance and tuition rates, admissions requirements and deadlines, minimum GPA and standardized test score requirements, and top-notch programs.

University of Hawaii Acceptance Rate

Most recently, the University of Hawaii Mānoa campus accepted 58.4% of those applying for admission to the fall 2021 semester – out of 16,244 applicants, 9,493 were selected for admission, and almost 3,000 first-year students enrolled.

These numbers are significant for UH Mānoa, representing the largest increase in student enrollment since 2003, and the first time their flagship campus has enrolled over 19,000 students since 2014. 

The record high can be attributed to the 34.6% increase in first-time freshmen, in which the university experienced a 22.7% increase in students enrolling in Hawaiian public schools, a 68.6% increase in students attending U.S. mainland high schools, and a 37.5% increase in international students.

UH Mānoa’s student body is currently ranked as the sixth most diverse university in the United States, with 60% coming from Hawaii, 34% from out-of-state, and 6% from over 120 countries and regions around the world. 

They also boast a high-achieving first-year student cohort, with over half ranking in the top 25% of their senior graduating classes.

University of Hawaii Out-of-State Acceptance Rate

For the fall of 2021 , UH  Mānoa accepted 81.7% of Hawaiian applicants, 65.1% of U.S. mainland applicants, and 47.4% of international applicants. 

Generally, these are favorable acceptance rates for all groups, particularly for out-of-state students.

The Western University Exchange (WUE) program at UH Mānoa is one offering that draws out-of-state applicants to the campus. 

As part of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), WUE grants just a 150% tuition increase to students enrolled in 14 states in the western part of the U.S., including California, Alaska, and Colorado. 

This discount is far more affordable than the standard out-of-state tuition rate, which we’ll discuss in a future section.

GPA for University of Hawaii

While there is no minimum GPA requirement for incoming first-year applicants, Hawaiian and U.S. candidates are expected to maintain a strong GPA and rank in the top 40% of their high school graduating class. International freshman applicants should have a cumulative GPA comparable to a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

UH Mānoa’s newest first-year cohort averaged a 3.68 GPA, which is up from 3.65 in the previous year. 

According to the school’s most recent common data set , 47% of accepted students maintained a GPA of 3.75 or higher, 21% held a GPA between 3.5 and 3.74, and 16% had a GPA between 3.25 and 3.49.

SAT & ACT Requirements for UH

While there is no minimum SAT or ACT requirement for domestic applicants, international freshmen applicants are required to meet minimum scores . 

For the ACT, applicants must have at least a combined score of 48 for the English and Reading sections, with individual scores of 21 or higher on each. Alternatively, the minimum SAT score in Critical Reading is 560.

Students can seek admission through the English Language Institute (ELI). 

The ACT minimum is lowered to 43 total (with English and Reading scores of 19 or higher), and the SAT Critical Reading minimum is lowered 520.

U.S. News reports that half of the admitted applicants entering class in the fall of 2020 submitted SAT scores between 1060 and 120 or ACT scores between 20 and 26.

Other Requirements and Admission Tips

The University of Hawaii at Mānoa’s admission requirements are similar to many U.S. institutions: four English credits, three math credits, three science credits, three social science credits, four additional college prep credits, and five elective credits. 

Homeschooled applicants should submit one of the following in place of an official high school transcript or diploma: ACT, GED, HiSET, SAT, or TASC scores.

In addition to submitting the University of Hawaii Mānoa Admission Application, applicants must send a $70 application fee and report all high school information through the Self-Reported Application. All admissions decisions will be based primarily on the information found in these materials. 

Students are also encouraged – but not required – to share supplemental documents: a letter of recommendation, a personal statement, and a list of achievements. 

Applicants can fill out the Letter of Recommendation Request Form, and an online recommendation form will be shared with the recommender to complete on behalf of the applicant. 

We’ll talk more about the personal statement and list of achievements in the section that follows.

Students admitted to UH Mānoa may be asked to provide their official transcripts to the Office of Admission – typically for validation or scholarship purposes. 

First-year applicants may also submit test scores as part of their application (which are not required).

For students hoping to enroll in the fall semester, the priority application deadline is January 5, the final deadline is March 1, and the late application deadline is May 1. 

The school does have four programs that offer direct entry for high achieving first-year applicants: business, nursing, dental hygiene, and medicine.

Essays for University of Hawaii

Unlike many U.S. colleges, the University of Hawaii does not require applicants to respond to short-answer prompts or submit a traditional college essay. 

The Mānoa application does, however, offer a section where students can write a personal statement and submit a list of achievements.

The personal statement is a chance for the applicant to state why they would like to attend UH Mānoa or how UH Mānoa fits into their career goals. 

While there is no minimum or maximum word requirement, applicants should strive to be concise and share a story that distinguishes them from other candidates in a unique way. 

This rule of thumb also pertains to the list of achievements section – while a long list of high school credentials may seem impressive, it might be more beneficial for an applicant to focus on one or two pivotal leadership roles, volunteer efforts, or other positions that informed their career path, changed their perspective, or motivated them in some way. 

Ideally, any achievements listed will be relevant to the applicant’s intent to attend UH Mānoa.

Is the University of Hawaii Right for You?

The University of Hawaii offers exceptional programs that may be especially appealing to native Hawaiians and students in the western part of the U.S. (who can attend at a highly discounted tuition rate). 

For residents, the total cost to attend UH Mānoa is approximately $30,000 per year, which breaks down to $11,304 in tuition costs, $13,642 in room and board payments, and remaining costs allocated to fees, personal expenses, books, and supplies.

Non-Hawaiian U.S. residents can expect to pay nearly $52,000 per year, with all fees comparable to Hawaiian fees except for tuition, which sits at $33,336 per year. 

UH Mānoa’s WUE program charges a tuition of $16,956, which is highly preferable to the standard out-of-state tuition cost.

UH Mānoa’s geographical appeal is an obvious asset for the school, and with its location come highly recommended programs focused on environmental science, business, and health. 

The U.S. News & World Report regularly ranks the Shidler College of Business’ international business focus among the top programs in the United States. 

UH Mānoa also boasts the only research facility in the U.S. located within a tropical rainforest and the only research facility in the world constructed atop a coral reef.

The John A. Burns’ School of Medicine ranks #1 in the National Institutes of Health among community-based public medical schools – paired with the university’s direct entrance policy for the school of medicine, this makes UH a strong choice for students on the west coast hoping to get a head start with their career goals.

If a physical tour is not a possibility, interested students should take advantage of virtual tour offerings to see if UH Mānoa is the best fit for them. 

Undoubtedly, students attending the school will love the location, diverse student body, and wealth of opportunities to participate in hands-on research.

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JD, AJD, Transfer, and Visiting student applicants must complete the online application with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) . We must receive all application materials (below) from LSAC before the deadline.

Applicants are encouraged to review our detailed application instructions: see Apply with the GRE or LSAT or Transferring & Visiting Students .

• Application Fee:  Pay the $75 nonrefundable application fee online at LSAC. See if you may qualify for a fee waiver from our law school. Students already enrolled in law school are not eligible for an LSAC fee waiver.
• Personal Statement:  JD applicants: compose a 500-word personal statement on a subject of your choice. AJD applicants : compose an 800-word personal statement explaining your experience and qualifications, reasons for seeking an AJD degree, and the desired course of study.
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University of Hawaii at Manoa Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are University of Hawaii at Manoa's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into University of Hawaii at Manoa and build a strong application.

School location: Honolulu, HI

Admissions Rate: 72.8%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at University of Hawaii at Manoa is 72.8% . For every 100 applicants, 73 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet University of Hawaii at Manoa's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

University of Hawaii at Manoa GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.69

The average GPA at University of Hawaii at Manoa is 3.69 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.69, University of Hawaii at Manoa requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. This will show that you're able to handle more difficult academics than the average high school student.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.69, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

University of Hawaii at Manoa hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to University of Hawaii at Manoa will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

University of Hawaii at Manoa SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1178

The average SAT score composite at University of Hawaii at Manoa is a 1178 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes University of Hawaii at Manoa Competitive for SAT test scores.

University of Hawaii at Manoa SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1070, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1270. In other words, a 1070 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1270 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

University of Hawaii at Manoa has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, University of Hawaii at Manoa will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and University of Hawaii at Manoa forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1070, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

University of Hawaii at Manoa ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, University of Hawaii at Manoa likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 24

The average ACT score at University of Hawaii at Manoa is 24. This score makes University of Hawaii at Manoa Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 21, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 26.

Even though University of Hawaii at Manoa likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 21 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 21 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to University of Hawaii at Manoa, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 21.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

University of Hawaii at Manoa considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1070 SAT or a 21 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of University of Hawaii at Manoa here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $70
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office March 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language
• Social Studies 3
• Electives 5

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes March 1 September 1

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 2500 Honolulu, HI 96822
• Phone: (808) 956-8111 x8111
• Fax: (808) 956-4148
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in University of Hawaii at Manoa, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than University of Hawaii at Manoa. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for University of Hawaii at Manoa, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for University of Hawaii at Manoa, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If University of Hawaii at Manoa is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Kou Moʻolelo: Your Story, Your Personal Statement

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Making Your SHPEP Personal Statement Stand Out

The personal statement is a crucial part of SHPEP applications. It’s your chance to show what makes you unique. In around 600 words, you have to convince your chosen program that you are the best applicant and that they should make you an offer immediately. These words are a crucial part of your application and chance for consideration, so your personal statement needs to be good. Really good. During this session, the University of Nebraska Medical Center SHPEP Program Site will share some tips on how to write a truly outstanding piece.

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Application Checklist

Applications are due One Year in Advance of intended study abroad semester.

Due: October 1st for Fall and March 1st for Spring.

Review this checklist to verify you have all the required documents when you apply.

• Be sure to be signed into your hawaii.edu email address when you apply.
• If you have started and saved your application and want to continue it at a later stage, it can be accessed at https://hawaii.kualibuild.com/ under 'My Documents," using your hawaii.edu email to log in.
• Please note that this form only accepts hawaii.edu email addresses.
• Submit all forms to the CGEE office before the specified deadline.

If your application is incomplete, it will not be considered.

If you require any help in writing your personal statement, see Kilohana: The Academic Success Center for help. They are able to assist students with proofreading and editing papers.

If you have any questions please contact the CGEE office .

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The priority deadline to submit your application for fall 2024 is Feb. 1 and the final deadline is June 1. The last LSAT we will accept for the 2024 application cycle is the June 2024 exam.

The admissions committee admits applicants on a rolling basis; therefore, we encourage all applicants to submit their application early.

All applications must be completed through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Please note that McGeorge does not accept hardcopy applications. The application should be complete when submitted.

You will need the following to complete your application:

• A completed application form
• Personal statement
• Two (2) letters of recommendation submitted through your LSAC CAS account. (Up to three letters will be accepted)
• Bachelor's degree
• CAS report with letters of recommendation, all undergraduate transcripts, LSAT score and LSAC Writing Sample or GRE score (taken in the last 5 years)
• Email address (this is the primary form of communication from the law school)

Personal Statement

The statement must be no more than three pages, double-spaced and 12 pt. font. An applicant's personal statement is an opportunity to provide information that the applicant believes should be considered.

The personal statement prompt is: Tell us about a person or event that impacted/influenced your life.  Please list the prompt at the top of your written statement.

If an applicant wishes to address their grades, academic disqualifications, etc. they may do so by addressing these circumstances in the Optional Essays section.

Provide a Resume of full-time employment and other activities, starting with the most recent. Include dates, name(s) of employer(s), and position(s) held. List the hours worked per week and academic honors received since entering college. List extracurricular activities, hobbies and community service. Describe the nature and extent of employment during college and include volunteer work. Please include summers. Explain any periods of time after high school not accounted for by the preceding educational and employment history. However, all high school information should be omitted.

Letters of Recommendation

In support of the application, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation directly to LSAC; we will accept a maximum of three letters. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to their college professors and administrators who have had the opportunity to assess their academic, time management, research and analytical skills to write on their behalf.

Applicants who have been out of school for a considerable amount of time can submit letters of recommendation from employers, business colleagues, and mentors. Letters from family members and close personal friends are discouraged. These letters should address skills relevant to your potential success in law school.

Please note that LSAC will not release an applicant's CAS report to McGeorge until they have received a minimum of two letters of recommendation.  The application will remain incomplete and will not be reviewed until the applicant's file is complete.

Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and LSAT or GRE

Applicants must register with LSAC for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and LSAC's Credential Assembly Services (CAS). Transcripts of prior college and university coursework must be furnished directly to LSAC. LSAT scores must be from administrations within five years prior to the year of enrollment. An application file is not complete and will not be reviewed until an applicant's law school report, including an LSAT score or GRE score, has been received. Please note, if you have a valid LSAT score on file, the GRE score will NOT be considered for admission.  (Applicants whose undergraduate degrees are not from educational institutions within the United States, its territories or Canada must use LSAC's Credential Assembly Service for international document authentication and evaluation.)

Applications will not be considered for final action until all required information has been received.

McGeorge School of Law maintains a long-standing policy of not discriminating in any of its activities based on race, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, age, color or religious belief.

Transcripts

All transcripts for college and graduate work must be submitted directly to LSAC. LSAC will evaluate each transcript and forward a report to each law school the applicant designates.

If an applicant matriculated at another law school, a letter of good standing from that school is required. Additionally, if an applicant sat for an examination at that school, a transcript from that law school must also be submitted directly to LSAC.

Please note if an official transcript with degree posted is not initially submitted in the CAS report , an applicant is required to submit  a copy of an official transcript with degree posted directly to the McGeorge JD Admissions Office before the first day of orientation to complete e nroll ment . 

Optional Essays: Diversity, Adversity Statements and Addenda

You may choose to attach a response to one or more of the following questions in addition to the required Personal Statement if you feel the information would be helpful to us when considering your application or submit an addendum to explain any discrepancies in your application.

• Explain any discrepancies in your application.
• Fully clarify and provide more information regarding any Character and Fitness questions.
• Tell us more about your interest in McGeorge School of Law.  What makes our school a good fit for you in terms of academic interests, programmatic offerings and learning environment?
• Discuss how your specific personal experiences, given your background (race, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQIA+ status, economic disadvantage or otherwise) demonstrate an important quality of your character and/or one more unique ability you can contribute to the law school.

Additional Application Requirements for Foreign Applicants

Test of english as a foreign language (toefl).

An applicant who did not complete their bachelor's degree from an English-language college or university, and for whom English is not their primary language is required to take the TOEFL. This requirement also applies to recent immigrants who have completed their education outside of the United States where English was not the language of instruction.

A minimum score of 600 for the paper-based test, 250 for the computer-based test, or 100 for the internet-based exam is required. Please note that acceptable scores must come directly from TOEFL and be submitted to LSAC. For additional information on TOEFL, visit http://www.ets.org/toefl .

Transcripts (International)

McGeorge requires that foreign transcripts be submitted directly to LSAC Credential Service which is included in the CAS subscription fee. A foreign credential evaluation will be finalized by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRO) and will be integrated into your CAS report.

Student Visa

Once an international applicant is admitted to the law school and has paid their first seat deposit, the Director of Graduate and International Programs will contact the student to obtain an I-20 application form, certification of finance, a notarized copy of their birth certificate, passport, and when applicable, marriage license. Once all of these items are received, the Director of Graduate and International Programs will process the student's SEVIS I-20. An I-20 form is one part of the requirement for an applicant to obtain a student visa .

Online Status

Once an applicant submits their application, they can check the status online through the Application Status Online. Login information for the Applicant Status Online is emailed to applicants when the application is submitted to the law school. The admissions committee will review files in the order that they were completed. Our admissions committee is devoted to reviewing each file in a holistic manner. Please allow four-to-12 weeks to receive an admission decision. Offers of admission will be sent via U.S. mail. Other admission decisions will be sent via email. Changes to an applicant's email or mailing address should be communicated to the Office of Admission immediately.  

Other Applicants

• Transfer Applicants
• Visiting Applicants
• Questions regarding the Undocumented/DACA Admissions Policy
• Summer Session Applicants

Non-Discrimination Policy

The McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (45 CFR 86), and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, does not discriminate in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions, scholarships, loans, or other activities or programs on the basis of race, gender (identity and/or performance), sexual orientation or preference, national or ethnic origin, color, disability, marital status, age, or religious belief.

Inquiries regarding compliance with these statutes and regulations may be directed to the Office of the Dean, 3200 Fifth Ave., Sacramento, California 95817, 916.739.7151, or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, in San Francisco or Washington, D.C. Student records: Inquiries about the School's compliance with student access and privacy rights regarding educational records, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, may be directed to the Office of the Dean or to the Student and Family Educational Rights and Privacy office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.

JD Admissions Phone: 916.739.7105 Fax: 916.739.7301 Email:  [email protected]

Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 3200 Fifth Ave., Sacramento, CA 95817

Miss USA boss denies harassment and abuse allegations from former titleholders

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The chief executive of the Miss USA Organization has responded to allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and toxic working conditions at the organization that were made weeks ago when the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA titleholders both resigned .

“We are very disappointed to hear the recent false allegations made by individuals speaking on behalf of our former titleholder,” chief executive Laylah Rose wrote in a statement obtained Friday by The Times.

Entertainment & Arts

Miss Teen USA resigns — days after Miss USA does the same — amid ‘workplace toxicity’ allegation

Days after Miss USA resigned, Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava also quits, saying that her personal values ‘no longer fully align’ with Miss USA Organization.

May 9, 2024

“The allegations of sexual harassment, toxic environment and bullying are not true. To be clear, such behavior is not accepted, and we can assure you that if such behavior ever occurred, we would take immediate steps to protect our titleholder and provide access to appropriate resources,” Rose’s statement said.

Her open letter came as a stark countering of the claims made earlier this month by the former titleholders and their mothers.

Former Miss USA Noelia Voigt, 24, announced her resignation via Instagram on May 6. In a leaked resignation letter, the 2024 titleholder accused the Miss USA Organization of having a “toxic work environment” where she experienced “at best ... poor management and, at worst ... bullying and harassment.” According to CNN , which obtained the letter, the pageant queen accused Rose of “slandering” her and calling her “mentally ill” in conversations with people outside of the organization. She also said Rose was “aggressive” and threatened to withhold her salary.

Separately, former Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava, 17, who announced her resignation days after Voigt, also said that her personal values “no longer fully align with the direction” of the organization.

Both women alleged that they signed nondisclosure agreements with the Miss USA Organization and were limited in what they could include in their public statements, so their mothers spoke to “Good Morning America” on May 14 on their behalf.

“The job of their dreams turned out to be a nightmare,” Barbara Srivastava said. “We could not continue this charade. The girls decided to step down and give [up] their dream of a lifetime — a crown, a national title. Why would two girls decide to give that up?”

Savannah Gankiewicz is sworn in as the new Miss USA amid resignation controversy

Savannah Gankiewicz steps into the role of Miss USA after Noelia Voigt resigned last week, citing bullying within the organization. Miss Teen USA also resigned.

May 16, 2024

Jackeline Voigt also described a situation in which she said her daughter was sexually harassed at an official Miss USA appearance and was not provided adequate security to protect her. Rose allegedly told her that harassment is “part of the role.”

Rose appeared to blame Voigt for the issues, writing in her statement that “the suggestions of a lack of communication and support for the prior titleholder are likewise false.”

“[W]e provided constant communication about events and procedures and provided access to all of the services needed, much of which went ignored or unused by our titleholder,” she said.

Rose additionally alleged that the pageant queen was ignoring her official duties.

“We also arranged many events (always with a chaperone) to which she was invited to showcase her achievements and highlight her ‘passion’ projects, many of which our titleholder canceled at the last minute and without good reason,” Rose’s statement read.

Voigt hit back Thursday against Rose’s “unequivocally inaccurate” claims, writing on Instagram that she is “constrained” by a nondisclosure agreement and strongly encouraged Rose to waive it.

Patt Morrison: L.A. used to be awash in beauty pageants. Where’d they go?

The big pageants like Miss America are nowhere near the cultural touchstones they once were. And the smaller ones — anybody remember an L.A. auto dealership’s Miss New Car Department? — have all but disappeared. What happened?

Oct. 25, 2023

“I ... would like to emphatically assert that, following the unauthorized circulation of my resignation letter, Laylah Roses’ [sic] assertions in her recent statement that contradict my experience after three weeks of unanswered resignation notification are unequivocally inaccurate.”

Srivastava has not responded to Rose’s statement.

After Voigt’s resignation, her Miss USA 2024 title was passed to the runner-up, Savannah Gankiewicz of Hawaii . The role of Miss Teen USA remains unfilled.

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Eva Hartman is a spring 2024 reporting intern with the Fast Break Desk at the Los Angeles Times. She is a senior at the University of Southern California studying international relations, where she has served as the news assignments editor and magazine editor at the Daily Trojan.

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Watch CBS News

Trump was found guilty in his "hush money" trial. Here's what to know about the verdict and the case.

By Graham Kates

Updated on: May 31, 2024 / 11:57 AM EDT / CBS News

Former President Donald Trump was found guilty  of 34 counts of falsifying business records by a jury in New York on Thursday, marking the end of a historic trial stemming from a "hush money" payment made to an adult film star before the 2016 election.

The trial lasted roughly six weeks, and the jury spent two days deliberating before returning a verdict. Trump denounced the decision as "rigged" and vowed to fight the conviction. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11.

Here are the basics of the charges, what happened during the trial and what comes next:

What were the charges?

Trump was indicted on March 30, 2023, and charged with 34 state counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a felony in New York.

What was the verdict?

Trump was found guilty on all charges on May 30, 2024. The jury returned a unanimous verdict in the Manhattan courtroom where the trial unfolded for six weeks.

What was needed for the jury to convict?

Justice Juan Merchan instructed jurors before they began deliberations that in order to find Trump guilty of falsifying business records in the first degree, they needed to unanimously conclude not only that he caused records to be falsified, but that he "conspired to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means."

There were a few types of "unlawful means" that the jury heard evidence about, including: falsification of other business records, violations of campaign finance laws and violations of tax tax laws.

What exactly did prosecutors say Trump did?

Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said Trump met with former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and ex-fixer Michael Cohen in his Trump Tower in August 2015, and that the trio hatched a conspiracy to identify, purchase and squash stories that might harm Trump's reputation and presidential campaign. 

Just days before the 2016 election, Cohen paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels , who claimed she had sex with Trump in 2006. She agreed to keep her story under wraps in exchange for the money.

After Trump became president, Cohen was paid $35,000 a month for a year in a series of checks, most of which were signed by Trump. Prosecutors said the checks and associated business records were illegally portrayed as payments to Cohen for his legal work, when in fact they were intended to reimburse him for the Daniels deal, among other things.

What did Trump's lawyers say?

Trump's lawyers said the arrangement with Pecker and the National Enquirer was not atypical for political campaigns, which often try to influence media narratives about candidates. They said non-disclosure agreements like the one Cohen struck with Daniels are common, too.

As for the checks to Cohen, Trump's lawyers noted that Cohen's title at the time was "personal attorney to the president," and he actually was being paid for ongoing legal work. They said Cohen and Trump had a verbal retainer agreement, but not a signed one.

How about Trump himself?

Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied all wrongdoing. He accused Bragg, a Democrat, of pursuing the case for political gain. Trump has called the case a "con job" and said the charges were "rigged" after the verdict came down.

Who were the key players?

Trump, Cohen and Pecker got top billing during the trial. Pecker was called to the stand by prosecutors first, and described the August 2015 Trump Tower meeting , as well as years of communications with Cohen and Trump about the scheme.

His testimony corroborated key moments relayed by Cohen, whose credibility the defense repeatedly sought throughout to undermine. Pecker's time on the stand was the lead-in to weeks worth of testimony from 18 others before Cohen, their final witness. Prosecutors sought to use those weeks to back up Cohen's story with corroborating evidence.

During the first day of their deliberations, the jury asked to hear portions of Pecker and Cohen's testimony related to the Trump Tower meeting.

What did Cohen say?

Cohen said Trump received regular updates on efforts to cover up salacious stories about him when he ran for president in 2016, and personally signed off on the scheme to falsify records related to them.

Cohen recounted three instances when he, Pecker and the editor of the National Enquirer worked to secure the rights to stories with salacious claims about Trump.

The jury heard a secret recording Cohen made of a conversation with Trump, in which Trump appeared comfortable with the purchase of a story told by another woman, named Karen McDougal.

"So, what do we got to pay for this? 150?" Trump can be heard saying on the tape.

Not long after the Enquirer paid for McDougal's story, Daniels' story hit the market. Her attorney approached the Enquirer about selling the rights one day after the release of the "Access Hollywood" tape in October 2016. On the recording, Trump was heard saying he could "grab [women] by the p****" and "make them do anything." The tape posed a major threat to his electoral prospects.

Cohen recounted intense negotiations in which everyone involved — Trump, Cohen, Daniels, her attorney and the Enquirer editor — were aware that Daniels' claim of a sexual encounter with Trump might have dire consequences for his campaign.

Cohen wired Daniels' attorney $130,000 of his own money on Oct. 28, 2016. 

During his testimony, Cohen described how working for Trump for a decade was an "amazing" experience that turned sour after the "hush money" payment to Daniels became public in 2018.

He testified that he believed he was subject to a "pressure campaign" by Trump and his allies after the FBI raided his home and office that year, leading to a pair of guilty pleas to federal charges.

Under scathing cross-examination from defense attorney Todd Blanche, Cohen acknowledged that he's since made a living by loudly criticizing Trump.

He admitted wanting to see Trump imprisoned, and saying as much on his podcast.

Cohen also acknowledged lying under oath on multiple occasions, and, in a shocking moment, admitted for the first time to having stolen tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization.

What did Daniels say on the stand?

Daniels wasn't part of the scheme to influence the election. She never worked for Trump and had no involvement in any of the crimes alleged in the case. 

Still, her story of sex with Trump in 2006 was the catalyst that sparked a series of events leading to this unprecedented criminal trial. Prosecutors said she was called to the stand because Blanche denied they ever had sex in his opening statement, an assertion they believed they had to rebut.

Daniels said she met Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada, and later was invited by Trump's bodyguard to a dinner with the famed businessman. She said they met up at a hotel suite she described in elaborate detail, right down to the tiles, and she was expecting to go to dinner when instead they began talking about business.

Daniels said Trump showed a keen interest in her industry, and seemed to value her insights. After some two hours of talking, with no dinner in sight, she excused herself to go to the bathroom. She recalled being surprised when she emerged to see that Trump had undressed down to a T-shirt and boxers. She described the sex that followed as, on her part, reluctant.

This part of her testimony caused the defense to demand a mistrial, a motion that was denied.

Daniels then described interacting with Trump frequently over the next year or so — including briefly meeting with him at Trump Tower — because he promised to advocate for her to get a spot on his reality television competition. When he told her it wouldn't happen, they stopped communicating.

Later, through a representative, she began shopping her story, seeking to sell the rights to it. When Trump's presidential candidacy gained steam in 2016, those efforts also became heated. They reached a fever in October of that year, when the "Access Hollywood" outtake surfaced.

Daniels said she realized her story was potentially more valuable, because it could be bad for his campaign. Cohen testified to frantic efforts to purchase it.

What comes next?

Trump's conviction kickstarts the sentencing portion of the case. Merchan, the judge, set a date of July 11 for Trump's sentencing hearing. He asked the defense to submit any motions they plan to request no later than June 13, and said prosecutors must respond by June 27. 

Falsification of business records carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each charge, but Merchan has broad leeway when determining the punishment. Some experts expect Merchan to use other options, like fines, probation or home confinement. But others say he could order Trump to serve some time behind bars. 

• Donald Trump

Graham Kates is an investigative reporter covering criminal justice, privacy issues and information security for CBS News Digital. Contact Graham at [email protected] or [email protected]

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China’s hypersonic missiles threaten US power in the Pacific – an aerospace engineer explains how the weapons work and the unique threats they pose

Director, Center for National Security Initiatives; Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder

Disclosure statement

Iain Boyd receives funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, and Lockheed-Martin.

University of Colorado provides funding as a member of The Conversation US.

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China’s newest hypersonic missile, the DF-27 , can fly as far as Hawaii, penetrate U.S. missile defenses and pose a particular threat to U.S. aircraft carriers , according to news reports of an assessment from the Pentagon .

Chinese researchers claimed in a May 2023 research journal report that the country’s hypersonic missiles could destroy a U.S. carrier group “with certainty .” This capability threatens to sideline U.S. aircraft carrier groups in the Pacific, potentially shifting the strategic balance of power and leaving the U.S. with limited options for assisting Taiwan in the event China invades.

This shift in the balance of power highlights how the next-generation hypersonic missiles that China, Russia and the U.S. are developing pose a significant threat to global security. I am an aerospace engineer who studies space and defense systems, including hypersonic systems. These new systems pose an important challenge due to their maneuverability all along their trajectory. Because their flight paths can change as they travel, defending against these missiles requires tracking them throughout their flight.

A second important challenge stems from the fact that they operate in a different region of the atmosphere from other existing threats. The new hypersonic weapons fly much higher than slower subsonic missiles but much lower than intercontinental ballistic missiles. The U.S. and its allies do not have good tracking coverage for this in-between region, nor do Russia or China.

Destabilizing effect

Russia has claimed that some of its hypersonic weapons can carry a nuclear warhead. This statement alone is a cause for concern whether or not it is true. If Russia ever operates this system against an enemy, that country would have to decide the probability of the weapon being conventional or nuclear.

In the case of the U.S., if the determination were made that the weapon was nuclear, then there is a very high likelihood that the U.S. would consider this a first strike attack and respond by unloading its nuclear weapons on Russia . The hypersonic speed of these weapons increases the precariousness of the situation because the time for any last-minute diplomatic resolution would be severely reduced.

It is the destabilizing influence that modern hypersonic missiles represent that is perhaps the greatest risk they pose. I believe the U.S. and its allies should rapidly field their own hypersonic weapons to bring other nations such as Russia and China to the negotiating table to develop a diplomatic approach to managing these weapons.

What is hypersonic?

Describing a vehicle as hypersonic means that it flies much faster than the speed of sound, which is 761 miles per hour (1,225 kilometers per hour) at sea level and 663 mph (1,067 kph) at 35,000 feet (10,668 meters) where passenger jets fly. Passenger jets travel at just under 600 mph (966 kph), whereas hypersonic systems operate at speeds of 3,500 mph (5,633 kph) – about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) per second – and higher.

Hypersonic systems have been in use for decades. When John Glenn came back to Earth in 1962 from the first U.S. crewed flight around the Earth , his capsule entered the atmosphere at hypersonic speed. All of the intercontinental ballistic missiles in the world’s nuclear arsenals are hypersonic, reaching about 15,000 mph (24,140 kph), or about 4 miles (6.4 km) per second at their maximum velocity.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles are launched on large rockets and then fly on a predictable trajectory that takes them out of the atmosphere into space and then back into the atmosphere again. The new generation of hypersonic missiles fly very fast, but not as fast as ICBMs. They are launched on smaller rockets that keep them within the upper reaches of the atmosphere.

Three types of hypersonic missiles

There are three different types of non-ICBM hypersonic weapons: aero-ballistic, glide vehicles and cruise missiles. A hypersonic aero-ballistic system is dropped from an aircraft, accelerated to hypersonic speed using a rocket and then follows a ballistic, meaning unpowered, trajectory. The system Russian forces have been using to attack Ukraine, the Kinzhal , is an aero-ballistic missile. The technology has been around since about 1980.

A hypersonic glide vehicle is boosted on a rocket to high altitude and then glides to its target, maneuvering along the way. Examples of hypersonic glide vehicles include China’s Dongfeng-17 , Russia’s Avangard and the U.S. Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike system. U.S. officials have expressed concern that China’s hypersonic glide vehicle technology is further advanced than the U.S. system.

A hypersonic cruise missile is boosted by a rocket to hypersonic speed and then uses an air-breathing engine called a scramjet to sustain that speed. Because they ingest air into their engines, hypersonic cruise missiles require smaller launch rockets than hypersonic glide vehicles, which means they can cost less and be launched from more places. Hypersonic cruise missiles are under development by China and the U.S. The U.S. reportedly conducted a test flight of a scramjet hypersonic missile in March 2020.

Defensive measures

The primary reason nations are developing these next-generation hypersonic weapons is how difficult they are to defend against due to their speed, maneuverability and flight path. The U.S. is starting to develop a layered approach to defending against hypersonic weapons that includes a constellation of sensors in space and close cooperation with key allies

With all of this activity on hypersonic weapons and defending against them, it is important to assess the threat they pose to national security. Hypersonic missiles with conventional, non-nuclear warheads are primarily useful against high-value targets, such as an aircraft carrier. Being able to take out such a target could have a significant impact on the outcome of a major conflict.

However, hypersonic missiles are expensive and therefore not likely to be produced in large quantities. As seen in the recent use by Russia, hypersonic weapons are not necessarily a silver bullet that ends a conflict.

This is an updated version of an article that was originally published on April 15, 2022.

• Ballistic missiles
• Missile defence
• Nuclear missiles
• Cruise missiles
• The Pacific
• Hypersonic weapons

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Director, Social Policy

Head, School of Psychology

Senior Research Fellow - Women's Health Services

PGA TOUR reacts to the death of Grayson Murray

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FORT WORTH, Texas — The PGA TOUR community has responded with sadness, shock and sympathy to the passing of two-time PGA TOUR winner Grayson Murray.

The Raleigh, North Carolina, native passed away unexpectedly Saturday at the age of 30. PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and many of Murray’s fellow PGA TOUR players have expressed condolences to his family and shared their memories of Murray, both on social media and at this week's Charles Schwab Challenge.

“Grayson was a remarkable player,” Commissioner Monahan said. “But he was a very courageous man as well, and I’ve always loved that about him.”

After completing Sunday's final round at Colonial, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said it was hard to play golf after the news, but he knew that Murray's family wished for competition to proceed.

"Obviously it was a pretty difficult day to come out to the golf course with news of Grayson yesterday and, you know, spent that moment of silence today really just thinking about him and praying for his family and his fiancée, and obviously it was pretty difficult to come play golf," Scheffler said. "But like his parents said, he would have wanted the tournament to continue.

"I got to know him fairly well over the last few months, shared a couple meals with him, played a couple practice rounds. I was with him for a few hours, he was at our rental house last week. It's a tough day for all of us out here on TOUR and we're thinking about his family and we're praying hard for them, for sure."

Akshay Bhatia, a fellow North Carolina native and two-time TOUR winner, shared a photo on Instagram of him congratulating Murray after Murray's win at this year's Sony Open in Hawaii. “Words can’t describe how tough this is,” Bhatia wrote. “A great friend that always supported me as I did to him. I’m gonna miss you so much man. You fought so hard.”

Justin Thomas posted on X that he was “speechless,” adding: “Guy has been through so many ups and downs to get to where he was. I hurt so much for his family and people closest to him.”

Webb Simpson first met Murray when he was around 8 years old in their shared hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina.

“He was a competitor and a great player,” Simpson said.

Fourteen years ago, Murray became the first winner of Simpson’s junior tournament, the Webb Simpson Challenge. Both Simpson and Murray had worked with swing coach Ted Kiegiel, the director of golf at Carolina Country Club in Raleigh, at various points in their careers. Simpson shared a meal with Murray at this year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and encouraged him at the recent Wells Fargo Championship, saying that Murray was well on his way to establishing himself as a top-50 player.

“When you hear news like that over the phone you don't think it's real at first, and you know, you hear the emotion coming from our swing coach and then you realize it's real,” Simpson said.

“You know, I think he has really explored his faith over the years, and it seemed like the last six months to eight months he had really started committing his life to Christ and trying to honor Christ with his life. It definitely seemed like there was more of a lightness to him, in a good way, over these past few months when I would see him,” he said.

Murray finished 10th at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte two weeks ago. His family was there to watch him compete that week in his home state.

“His mom talked about being at Quail Hollow for the entire week and seeing him play so well, being so proud of the way he played and for them to share that week together is a memory that she will take forward and cherish for the rest of her life,” Commissioner Monahan told CBS. “Obviously this is a family that is devastated and there are so many members of that family that are coming together, and they are going to have our full support.”

Murray was a talented player since his youth, winning three consecutive Callaway Golf Junior World titles and making a cut on the Korn Ferry Tour at just 16 years old. He was a PGA TOUR rookie at 23 years old and earned his first PGA TOUR title that season, winning the 2017 Barbasol Championship. Murray won his second PGA TOUR title at this year’s Sony Open in Hawaii.

Peter Malnati, who played alongside Murray in the first two rounds of this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, broke down into tears while speaking Saturday with CBS’ Amanda Balionis.

“We all want to beat each other,” Malnati said. “And then something like this happens and you realize that we’re all just humans. It’s just a really, really hard day.”

He added: “It’s a huge loss for all of us on the PGA TOUR. It’s a huge loss for our fans. At a time like this you realize that, as much as we want to beat each other, as much as we want to be competitive, we really are one big family and we lost one today, and that’s terrible.”

Luke Donald called the news "truly devastating" in a post on X. “He asked me for some advice on how to play Augusta a few months ago, last week I saw him at the PGA Championship, life truly is precious," Donald wrote.

“(Grayson) was a true gentleman,” posted Matthieu Pavon.

Kip Henley, who caddied for Murray for two of his Korn Ferry Tour victories, posted on X that he was “lost for words.” Murray “had a heart of gold,” Henley wrote.

“My heart and prayers go out to his beautiful family,” Henley wrote. “They are (the) sweetest people who couldn’t have loved their son anymore (sic) than they did.”

UH professor connects moonless nights to rare cookiecutter shark bites

• May 28, 2024

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty member’s personal interest in channel swimming has led to published research highlighting the rare interactions between cookiecutter sharks ( Isistius brasiliensis ) and humans, particularly among channel swimmers in Hawaiʻi . The study, led by Steven Minaglia, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and women’s health at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine and an avid channel swimmer, showed how environmental conditions can increase the likelihood of these attacks.

Cookiecutter sharks, known for their distinctive feeding method that leaves cookie-cutter-shaped wounds, are typically found in deep tropical and subtropical waters. Despite their small size, these sharks can pose a significant threat, although rarely. Of the seven reported cookiecutter shark attacks on humans worldwide, six occurred in Hawaiʻi , and five of those involved channel swimmers.

Finding the link

Minaglia’s study analyzed data from 1961 to 2023, covering 129 successful solo channel swims and five shark-related injuries. He discovered a link between these attacks and environmental conditions, particularly on moonless nights. The risk of shark attacks significantly increases during complete darkness compared to when the moon or sun is visible. Other factors, such as swim start times and the time of year, also correlate with the likelihood of an attack.

Minaglia’s study was prompted by his ongoing personal research on channel crossings in Hawaiʻi to determine optimal swimming conditions. He planned to swim the 26-mile Kaʻiwi Channel between Oʻahu and Molokaʻi in 2020, but was concerned because of a series of shark attacks among swimmers the previous year.

“When I noticed that five out of six shark bites occurred on moonless nights, I felt a duty to publish these important findings that can potentially improve safety for channel swimmers,” said Minaglia, who successfully swam the challenging Kaʻiwi Channel in 22-hours in October 2020 during a full moon. He noted the strong currents during full moons also made it a difficult swim.

Minaglia compiled an electronic database in 2018 with data from the Hawaiian Channel Swimming Association . His research is one of only three papers addressing cookiecutter shark attacks on live humans.

The study, supported by Queen’s University Medical Group where Minaglia serves as director of urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, is available as open access on PLOS One .

“I hope this research provides valuable insights into safe swimming practices for the global swimming community,” Minaglia said.

Related Posts:

• Hammerhead sharks hold their breath on deep water…
• 30-foot whale shark spotted off Kāneʻohe Bay by UH…
• National Geographic docuseries features UH shark scientists
• previous post: Gender pay gap present in 74% of Hawaiʻi jobs, more in UHERO report
• next post: UH researchers uncover rare Japanese scroll set in Honolulu

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