I've been leeching off of this forum for so long that I feel like I should finally contribute something. I can tell you that the UCLA admit for Strategy on Grad Cafe was real (because it's me, lol). But different departments could move at a different pace, and the stipend the finance admit mentions on Grad Cafe is slightly different from the one I was offered (though that might also differ by department/candidate). On the other hand, the Strategy prof invited me to an admit day next week that at least some of the other departments are also doing, so if that includes finance, the finance admit might be real. Sorry I don't have more definitive information.