UCLA
Transfer Student Center

Academic Questions

Where can I find important academic dates and deadlines?

To stay up to date on important academic and administrative dates and deadlines such as when instruction begins, course drop dates, university holidays, etc. be sure to visit the Registrar’s Office website regularly. Dates can be found under the " Calendars " tab.

Where can I find the schedule of classes?

• You can access current and future schedules of classes either through your MYUCLA account by using your class planer and enrollment links, or by visiting the Registrar’s Office website .

What type of academic advising is available to me?

There are many options for academic counseling at UCLA depending on your needs. As a transfer you should make an appointment with your advisers as needed, however, it is a good idea to try to see your College Academic Counselor and your Departmental Advisor at least once a quarter to make sure you are on track for graduation and meeting all of your major requirements.

College Academic Counseling (CAC)

  • Referred to as College Counselors, College Advisors, Academic Advisors, or College Academic Counseling
  • Each student’s situation is unique, while there are multiple ways to get your questions answered and the website is a good place to start, you should definitely meet with an advisor to go over your case specifically.
  • CAC is the place to go for general questions regarding requirements for graduation, any academic difficulty you may be experiencing, and program planning such as double majoring or taking on a minor.
  • The CAC website offers FAQs regarding academic issues, online advising, and other online resources.
  • CAC provides three counseling options:
    • Fulltime College Counselors and Staff
      • Academic Counselors are available to meet with UCLA students for same-day appointments Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., make a same-day appointment by visiting Window 2 in A-316 Murphy Hall. Be aware that no appointments are available 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Friday mornings and that Window 2 will also be closed at this time.
      • Students in Honors , AAP (Academic Advancement Program) or Athletics must meet with a fulltime college counselor in their respective advising unit.
    • College Academic Mentors (CAM)
      • CAMs are graduate students from various academic departments who are available to advise undergraduates on topics such as preparing for graduate school.
      • CAMs are available for both same-day and advance appointments. Schedule your appointment with a CAM at A-316 Murphy, Window 1. Keep in mind that CAMs are unavailable for appointments from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. every Wednesday and that and Window 1 will also be closed at this time.
    • ASK Peer Counselors
      • Another option, if you have a quick question, is to visit an ASK Peer Counselor at one of their five locations. ASK Peer Counselors are undergraduate student advisors trained in UCLA policies and procedures. They are available Monday through Friday at five locations on campus.
      • ASK Peer Counselors also write and produce a terrific resource newsletter called Bear Necessities that comes out weekly and is full of terrific information for students.
      • They are great resources for:
        • Questions about College policies and deadlines
        • Petitions and forms
        • Referrals

UCLA Departmental Counselors

  • Each department at UCLA has its very own counselor to help students with their upper division requirements working towards a degree.
  • If you have questions regarding your major/minor requirements, courses for your major/minor, professors in your major/minor, or anything having to do with your major/minor you would go see your departmental advisor.
  • Transfer students should definitely sit down with their departmental advisor at least once a quarter to make sure that they are on track with their major requirements and go over any questions specific to the department.
  • To find out who your counselor is and where their office is located check on your departments UCLA webpage. Click Here for a quick link to find your department’s page.

Honors Counselors

  • To be able to use the honors counselors a student must be accepted into the College Honors Program. To find out if you qualify see the Honors Program Website .
  • You visit an honors counselor at UCLA if you are part of the UCLA Honors Program. Honors counselor’s help students plan their program and find honors courses that best meet their academic needs and graduation goals.
  • Honors Programs utilizes the Same-Day Counseling Appointment System. They begin signing up students at 8:30 every morning for appointments that begin at 9:00am of the same day.

Academic Advancement Program Counseling (AAP)

  • AAP addresses the specific needs of students who come from historically disadvantage backgrounds through specialized programming and resources. AAP Offers Academic Advising specifically for Transfer Students.
  • Membership is required to use their services, to find out if you are eligible for these services visit 1232 Campbell Hall or see the AAP website .

Professional Counselors at AAP

  • All AAP Counselors are available for scheduled appointments and walk-in advising. Please Call (310) 825-1481 or drop by the AAP Counseling Front Desk at 1205 Campbell Hall to schedule a time to meet with your AAP Professional Counselor or Peer Counselor.

Peer Counselors at AAP

  • AAP peer counselors are para-professional undergraduate academic counselors who are extensively trained on university resources and policy. They also provide a student-focused look at life at UCLA - both academically and socially.

Student Athletics Counselors

  • The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Program is to provide an interactive learning environment that emphasizes life-long learning habits, goal setting, teamwork, leadership and character. These services are only available to UCLA student athletes.
  • Athletics Peer Learning Lab : Student athletes can receive free tutoring services for their classes.
  • Athletics offers different programs for athletes to develop different skills and also offers workshops, mentors, and a leadership council.

In addition to the various academic and departmental advising options there are some student mentoring and coaching programs that transfer students may want to look into for extra support and access to resources.

  • The Bruin Resource Center provides a peer coaching program called GRIT (Guidance, Resilience, Integrity, and Transformation). GRIT is a peer-to-peer life coaching program, in which trained peer-coaches help support students in reaching their academic and personal goals.
    For more information please contact:
    • Nikita Gupta, MPH, Student Development Specialist
      UCLA Bruin Resource Center
      220 Westwood Plaza (SAC Building) #B44
      Los Angeles, CA 90095
      ngupta@saonet.ucla.edu | 310.267.5543
  • The Community Programs Office (CPO) offers numerous resources that students should definitely explore, one of them being the Student Retention Center , the first student-run, student-initiated, student-funded retention project that is designed to assist undergraduate students with academic difficulties as well as cultural and social transitions.
  • For those students who are eligible, the Academic Advancement Program (AAP) provides services and resources for first generation and low income students, and students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. Resources include academic advising, tutoring, scholarships, and peer mentoring. Membership is required.
    • See the AAP for application information. Location: 1232 Campbell Hall Los Angeles, CA 90095-1514

Where can I find course textbooks?

Is it possible to study abroad as a transfer student? Where can I find information about travel abroad programs?

  • It is completely achievable to do a study abroad program as a transfer student at UCLA! It just takes some planning and forethought.
  • Go to the International Education Office (IEO) to set up an appointment and check out the Transfer Travel Abroad Timeline for more information about study abroad options, important dates, and tips on how to best plan your travel abroad experience.
  • You can get a lot of information about study abroad on the International Education Office website.
  • If you’d like help choosing a program, you can also visit the office in Murphy Hall, room B300. There, you’ll find counselors who can help you decide among many different options.

Study abroad options include the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), Summer Travel, Quarter Abroad, and non-UC programs.

Where can I find tutoring?

  • Everyone needs tutoring: not just those struggling academically, but also those who want to succeed in the quarter system!
  • A complete list of tutoring resources available for a variety of subjects can be found through UCLA College of Letters and Sciences.
  • For more tutoring options, contact your Departmental Advisor Advisors are usually listed under "Contacts" or "Staff", and are generally described as “Undergraduate Advisors" or "Departmental Counselors". ​
  • You may be able to find additional tutoring in the Los Angeles area for a fee through websites such as ULoop and Wyzant. These are outside organizations not connected with UCLA.
  • There are many options for academic support in Residential Life such as College Academic Mentors, Classes on the Hill, and Undergraduate Writing Center locations on the Hill, you can find out about them here.
  • The Student Initiated Access Center is a student-run, student-initiated outreach program. Services include peer advising, skill building, and tutoring for historically underserved populations.
  • If you qualify for AAP, you have access to their peer mentoring service which offers free tutoring to all AAP students who want to strengthen their abilities to think independently, read analytically, write well, reason quantitatively, and study effectively.
  • The Student Retention Center offers peer counseling, mentorship, and tutoring to undergraduates with academic difficulties, and cultural and social transitions.
  • The UCLA Library offers a terrific online guide, one-on-one help, workshops on multiple topics such as how to write research papers, and more. Check out their website for more resources and information.
  • The Undergraduate Writing Center helps students with particular writing assignments and also guides students to become more effective and confident writers. They offer one-on-one appointments with peer learning facilitators, as well as walk-in appointments for more immediate questions. If you are using this resource be sure to start early in the quarter as the later in the term it gets the more difficult it is to get in to see the experts.

Community Programs Office’s Writing Success Program Get one-on-one writing counseling with peer support, quarterly workshops on writing, and daily drop-in hours. Below are additional resources outside of UCLA that others have found to be helpful:
• Khan Academy
• General Assembly
• Skillshare
• Lynda.com
• Coursera
• Dev
• Bootcamp

Where can I checkout laptops on campus?

Where are the best places to study on campus?

  • There are so many great places to study on campus depending on what your needs and preferences are.
  • Private rooms, collaboration pods, and large tables can be reserved at the various libraries on campus. ( Library map )
  • Young Research Library (YRL) has the most study space options with 15 group study rooms and 20 collaboration pods in the Research Commons
  • You can reserve rooms through your MYUCLA account.
  • Powell Library has 6 group study rooms. These rooms are also available during Night Powell .
  • You can reserve rooms through your MYUCLA account.
  • If you want a nice quiet place outside try the sculpture garden!
  • If you want to have easy access to coffee and don’t mind studying with lots of people around, there are 11 coffee shops with seating spread throughout the campus. Click here for a map of all locations.

If you are staying in the dorms and do not want to venture all the way to the middle of campus you can study at Covel Commons , or Rieber Hall that has two study group rooms that you can reserve online and a 24/7 room (Rieber Hall 137) with computers any resident may use.

I heard there is free printing, where is it?

  • On the main campus, the LGBT Center located in the Student Activities Center offers 5 pages of free printing
  • The CPO Computer Lab , located in the Student Activities Center, offers students 75 pages of free printing (front and back).
  • If you live on The Hill, there are several free printing stations in Covel Commons , and the Rieber and De Neve residence halls; look them up here .
  • If you are currently enrolled in a Life and Physical Sciences course students may print up to 50 pages per quarter at no cost in one of the five computer labs in Franz Hall.
  • If you qualify for Advanced Academic Placement , Campbell Hall offers free printing.
  • There is printing both black & white and color printing at Powel and YRL Library if you are in a bind. It cost 10¢ for Black and White and 40¢ for color each side. A wise tip would be to use this as a last option as there are many other sources named above.
  • Be sure to load up your BruinCard with funds so you always have a way to pay for last minute copies. More information on how here .

Here is a map of all of the computer labs on campus.

How do I sign up for summer classes?

  • Taking classes in the summer is a great way for transfers to keep up pace if they want to graduate in two or three years.
  • UCLA Summer Sessions offers more than 500 six, eight, and ten-week courses over two sessions. Students often choose to study in the summertime to meet their degree and major requirements in a timely fashion; often particularly interesting to transfer students and to enjoy the relaxed campus atmosphere.
  • Summer Sessions also sponsors thirty Travel Study programs on five different continents and several intensive programs in subjects ranging from management to architecture. For more information see the International Education Office

In order to find out more and enroll in summer courses visit UCLA Summer Sessions .

How do I schedule my courses for the next two years?

  • For more information on how to best schedule your academic timeline as a transfer at UCLA checkout the Transfer Academic Timeline . This timeline will give you a general overview of what to consider each quarter academically starting from the moment you are admitted to UCLA through to graduation!
  • It is important to meet with a counselor in College Academic Counseling (CAC) counselor, they will be able to pinpoint the requirements that you must complete in order to graduate on timely manner. If you are in the College Honors Program , the Athletics Program , or the Academic Advancement Program (AAP) you would visit your advisors in those offices rather than CAC.
  • It is also important to meet with your Departmental Advisor to make sure you are on track to finish all of your major requirements. Make sure to go to your department website and download your course requirements.
  • Use your Degree Audit Report Service (DARS) through your MYUCLA account to keep track of all of your courses including transferable credits, degree progression, UC units needed, etc. You can use the DARS to track your own progress.
  • The Assist.org website is a helpful at-home resource for determining which courses from community college fulfill General Education Requirements.

How do I change my major?

• It is possible to change majors as a transfer student although doing so is not advised if you plan on graduating in two years. Switching majors can be more difficult as a transfer because you have limited time at UCLA, there are restrictions on what majors you may switch to, and often there may be financial aid issues that come into play as well, so be sure to check in with an advisor if this is something you are considering.

• If interested in changing majors students should fill out the Undergraduate Program Change Petition and speak with the departmental advisor in their major and in the major they are interested in switching to. Transfer students must go through the departments, as not all programs permit new advanced-standing students to enroll into a new program after admission in to another major.

When should I start preparing for graduate school and life after UCLA?

  • For more detailed information about when start thinking about graduate school, how to begin applying for grad school, and more about life after UCLA check out the Transfer Graduate School Timeline, the Transfer Career/Internship Timeline, and be sure to look out for workshops during the quarter that focus on graduate school and life after UCLA, many programs and departments offer them.
  • Talk to your TAs! They are in graduate school right now and know firsthand what it is like, start picking their brains for ideas and insights.
  • The UCLA Career Center offers personal assistance and programs on the graduate and professional school application process, including program selection, the personal essay, faculty recommendations, admissions tests, and financial assistance.
  • The Career Center also offers an immense amount of resources for free, such as walk-in counseling session, help finding internships, jobs for summer, or jobs for after graduation, resume and interview preparation workshops and more.
  • Visit the Bruinview website. The Career Center maintains this site as a place where various employers across the US post job listings and positions available at their business. It is a terrific resource to use while you are a student at UCLA, start using it early.

Why, how, and when should I get involved in research?

  • Explore the Transfer Research Timeline to see how you can get involved in research as a transfer student.
  • There are many reasons to explore research opportunities at UCLA. Research can help to make your academic experience more meaningful, provide one-on-one mentorship, give you a resources for stellar personal letters of recommendation, provide exposure, experience, and skills for the workforce, and is a great addition to resumes, CVs, and grad school applications.
  • To get involved in research students do not need to have previous experience or know everything there is to know about research. Most students start out doing data entry and work toward doing more complicated research as they learn.
  • When you take courses and/or browse your departmental website (or that of the area in which you want to do research) consider whether or not the professor and the subject are interesting to you. If you find a professor and/or a lab that is doing work that interests you contact them and ask for an informational meeting, see if this is a professor you would want to work with on a research project or for an independent study project. You can do this with a professor whose class you are in or with professors you have not met! Go for it! Professors like student who are curious and eager to learn a subject and explore research, the worst they can say is that they do not have time.
  • Create a relationship with the professor in their office hours.
  • There are many options for contract courses with professors, take a look at the schedule of classes, generally course numbered 189 to 199 are contract courses (the numbers may vary according to major and department). These classes give you an opportunity to do internships, research, independent projects, and more for class credit.
  • The Undergraduate Research Centers (URC) assist students in research
  • For the arts, humanities, and social sciences, go to A334 Murphy Hall, 310-825-2935
  • For science, engineering, and mathematics, go to 2121 Life Sciences, 310-794-4227
  • Visit the Student Research Program (SRP)
  • SRP offers undergraduates, especially lower division and first-year transfer students, opportunities to become actively involved in the University research community. Working with faculty members on research projects, SRP students gain valuable research training and experience, as well as preparation for advanced undergraduate work and graduate school.
  • For students majoring in science, engineering & mathematics, check out the Center for Academic & Research Excellence .
  • The UCLA Library Website has terrific information on how to start your own research project. They also offer workshops and one-on-one sessions with skilled librarian to guide you on how to best utilize a research library.

What are the citation rules at UCLA? And other rules and regulations at UCLA?

Should I take more than three classes my first quarter?

  • Take no more than the minimum requirement in your college. (In the College of Letters and Science that’s 12/13).
  • During your first quarter as a transfer many of you will be negotiating the transition to a new college, city, campus, and academic and social experience.
  • Taking the minimum units allowable will give you an opportunity to manage the transition and adjustments while handling a reasonable course load.
  • It is not advisable to take over the minimum your first quarter as a transfer. You will have plenty of quarters to take more.

Will my classes transfer?

The classes that transfer from your community college to UCLA will vary depending on the kind of courses you take at your community college, what your major is when you transfer to UCLA, and what course requirements there are in your major. The unit totals for each of your classes taken at community college will usually differ from those taken at UCLA because of the quarter system that UCLA follows.

To gain a better understanding regarding how your classes transfer, it is best to talk a counselor in College Academic Counselling or your department counselor. If you do not know who your department counselor is, go to your department’s webpage to find out where the advising office is located.