I agree with you that there a million unfair techniques used by admissions offices.

I disagree that the deadlined offer is consistent with this latest tactic (because in that case there’s at least information provided clearly up front about the potential loss of the offer).

From the perspective of applicants’ best interests long-term, I think it is best to publicly shame UCLA now. An effective PR effort could absolutely reverse these actions.

I think allowing this behavior to become entrenched would be harmful to applicants down the road. It wouldn’t undo the already popular abuses of power, but it would at least keep admissions offices from adding to them in this particular instance.