Tips from Current Transfers

Go to office hours

• Go to both Professor and teaching assistant’s (TA) office hours.
• All Professors have office hours, and they all want to see you succeed!
• Your professors and their graduate student teaching assistants are invaluable resources. Establishing relationships with your professors and TAs is not only a good way to deepen your understanding of the course topics, it is also a wonderful way for professors to get to know you, your interests, and work ethic which comes in useful when you are looking for future letters of recommendations, faculty advisors to do an independent project or contract course with, or a research position in a lab.
• Put office hours in your weekly planner as though it is part of the course, that way you will not schedule other activities during this time. If the office hours available are not convenient for you, professors and TAs are generally willing to set up alternative times to meet so be sure to contact them.

Use the resources available to you

• For example, use the Test Bank (located at 105, Student Activities Center) early, take advantage of the free printing at the CPO Computer Lab, nightly Study Hall, the Commuter Van Ride Service , and the CPO Food Closet .
• Utilize the Transfer Student Program and AAP’s resources and events
• For a list of more resources

Don’t Procrastinate and Set SMART goals

• Time management skills will be really important when it comes to adjusting to the quarter system. The time goes by very quickly and many transfers find it easy to get behind on the workload, which adds unneeded stress to an already intense new experience.
• Attend one of the many workshops about study skills and adjusting to the quarter system offered in the beginning of fall quarter and throughout the year to help you foresee what future obstacles and challenges may come up for you and ways in which to address and avoid the common pit falls.

Get involved and engaged: Academically, Professionally, and Socially

• Join a Student Organization!
• Find a student organization/group/activity/department you like at the beginning of the quarter and get involved and engaged in activities on campus and with other students.
• Learn about what UCLA offers and take advantage of all the opportunities that interest you
• Engaging in high-impact opportunities
• Study abroad
• Undergraduate research
• Honors
• Scholarships
• Career Center
• Internships
• Contract Courses
• Office hours with both Professors and TAs
• Get involved in student government

Familiarize yourself with the campus before classes start/Give yourself enough time to get from class to class

• Walk your schedule, see how long it takes, especially on a hot day.
• Remember that some quizzes are in the first few minutes of class.
• Use the UCLA Interactive map!

Get a planner and use it!

• Good time management is a must in the quarter system especially for transfer students.

Network

• Talk to transfer alumni/Attend graduate alumni panels.
• Be proactive in networking opportunities, "meet and greets" and workshops
• Find mentorship support ( CCCP , GRIT , NSTP , Alumni Mentor )
• Join UCLA Transfer Students Facebook Group to start networking and connecting with current students.
• Join a mentorship program through your cultural organization or professional organization.
• Be open minded, seek new things

Know that you are not alone!!

• The transfer transition can be challenging, everyone feels the stress and intensity of the quarter system and being in a new environment.
• If you are feeling discouraged or stressed out this is not uncommon and chances are that most of the transfer students around you are feeling the same way.
• Be confident and make the effort to talk to people and create a cohort of support at the University.
• You got yourself here, you are incredibly skilled and talented, remember that as you dive into the UCLA experience.

Visit Counseling and Psychological Services if you are stressed and feeling overwhelmed

• Whether you are intensely stressed out, have something very distressing going on in your life, or are just feeling worn down by the quarter system it is a good idea to visit CAPS . Services are free to you as a student with UC SHIP and the counselors at CAPS are very familiar with the transfer experience and the issues that sometimes go along with that.

Find your people! Find your cohort

• Finding students with shared interests and experiences can be your best resource as a transfer.
• Connecting with others is linked to better wellbeing, academic achievement, and retention. The UCLA experience, although great, can also be challenging. Having other people to share the experience with can change your experience drastically for the better.