CAC PEER COUNSELORS

College Academic Counseling (CAC) Peer Counselors are undergraduate students in the College of Letters & Science who are trained to support students with questions about academic policies, deadlines, referrals, petitions, GE and degree requirements, the process for declaring majors and minors, tutoring resources, pre-health requirements, and program planning.  CAC Peer Counselors also manage and contribute to the CAC social media initiatives by creating weekly content for the CAC Facebook  and Instagram  pages, and CAC YouTube Channel .

How to Meet with a CAC Peer Counselor

Currently, students can meet with CAC Peer Counselors on a drop-in basis during REACH Virtual Drop-in Advising Hours:

  • Monday – Friday 10am – 3pm

CAC Peer Counselors will be available for in-person drop-in during Weeks 2-10 of the Fall 2024 quarter. Please see below for the location and times:

    • Registrar’s Office: Mondays 10:00am – 11:50am, 1:00-2:50pm; Tuesdays & Fridays 10:00am – 2:50pm, Wednesdays & Thursdays 12:00pm – 2:50pm
      • Wednesday (11/27): Closed
    • Court of Sciences: Monday – Friday, 10am- 2:50pm
      • Closed on Mondays & Fridays 12-1pm, Tuesdays 10am-11am
      • Wednesday (11/27): Closed
      • Friday (12/6): 10:45am – 11:50am, 1:00pm – 2:50pm

Students can also meet CAC Peer Counselors at any of the College Academic Counseling quarterly workshops, and campus-wide events such as Major Blast, and Bruin Day.

*Please note that CAC Peer Counselors are not available during University holidays, intersession, and summer. There may also be sudden changes with the hours due to weather or staff availability. Thank you for your understanding. 

CAC Peer Counselor Workshops

Pre-Med 101 Workshops
To support pre-health students, CAC Peer Counselors have created and host “Premed 101: A Guide to Being Pre-Med at UCLA” where students learn about the medical school admissions criteria, required prerequisite coursework, MCAT, pre-health resources on campus, and more. The Pre-Med 101 workshop is generally offered each quarter sometime during weeks 5 – 8.

Other Workshops
CAC Peer Counselors have also offered other workshops such as How to Get Involved in Research and Study Tips & Time Management workshops in the past.

Please stay updated about our workshop details and schedule by following us on our CAC Facebook and Instagram  pages!

Become a CAC Peer Counselor!

Are you interested in joining a dynamic team of undergraduate students who are dedicated to counseling, advising, and mentoring their peers? Apply to become a CAC Peer Counselor! As a CAC Peer Counselor you’ll have the opportunity to support undergraduate students as they matriculate through UCLA, while also developing transferable and leadership skills applicable to any industry.

Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated with details related to our hiring process and timeline! Current UCLA College of Letters & Science freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and first-year transfer students are eligible to apply to the CAC Peer Counselor position.

Cyndi Ichinose

Cyndi Ichinose

CAC Peer Counselor Coordinator

Alison

Hi everyone!  My name is Alison and I am from Huntington Beach, California.  I am a fourth-year student majoring in Communication. In my free time, I enjoy finding new coffee shops, roller skating, traveling, and paddle boarding.  I am excited to be joining the CAC team as a Peer Counselor and look forward to helping you navigate your academic journey at UCLA!

Anela

Hi!  My name is Anela and I am a second-year student majoring in Business Economics.  I’m from the Coachella Valley and I love reading, baking and trying new foods in my free time!  I’m so excited to answer all your questions this year!

Carina

Hi!  My name is Carina and I am so excited to be a CAC counselor this year.  I am a fourth year majoring in psychology on the pre-nursing track.  Outside of being a peer counselor, I work in a psychology lab, am director of Social Media for Her Campus at UCLA, and enjoy spending time outdoors with friends.  I hope to answer questions any student has, as I heavily utilized the CAC peer counseling unit when I was a freshman and sophomore!

Eleanor

Hello!  My name is Eleanor.  I am a 4th-year majoring in Human Biology & Society and minoring in Spanish.  I’m interested in medicine and environmental public health.  I’m from Seattle, Washington and I love spending time outdoors in my free time – whether that be hiking, swimming, or biking.  I look forward to meeting you and supporting your journey at UCLA!

Gabbie

Hello everyone!  My name is Gabbie, and I’m a 4th year Human Biology & Society major with a Public Health minor.  I love interdisciplinary education and strive to immerse myself in various fields, with an emphasis on healthcare and sociology.  I love to play music, dance, try new foods, watch movies/shows, and spend time with people!  It is my personal joy to serve others and help empower them towards their passions.  I’m excited to be a peer counselor again this year and am looking forward to meeting you all!

Gabe

Hello everyone!  I’m Gabe, a fourth year majoring in Sociology from Los Angeles.  I’m very excited to be working as a CAC peer counselor this year, and I’m here to help make your time at UCLA the best it can be!  I’m very interested in pursuing a career in media or social work.  Outside of class, I enjoy reading, creating art, and going on bike rides.  I look forward to answering any questions you might have!

JR

Hi everyone!  My name is JR, and I’m a 4th-year Cognitive Science major with a minor in Public Affairs.  I love dancing, thrifting, and trying out new restaurants and cafes!  Outside of peer counseling, I’m involved in the Pilipino Recruitment and Enrichment Program and Tapestry LA.  I find joy in pouring into others and supporting them in any way I can.  I’m excited to be a CAC Peer Counselor this year and have the opportunity to help you navigate your time here at UCLA!

Juliana

Hello!  My name is Juliana, and I am a second-year Biology major and Gerontology minor.  I am from Los Angeles, California and enjoy swimming, traveling, and going to the beach!  I look forward to supporting my fellow UCLA students as a Peer Counselor this year!

Lana

Hi!!!  I’m Lana, a brand new PC, and a few things about me are that I’m a HUGE book and music lover—so if you wanna get me yapping, now you know what to do!  I’m also a pre-med Psychobiology major, and let me tell you: it’s been a journey.  My first year at UCLA completely slapped me in the face, I was completely unprepared for the rigor and lifestyle changes, but now that I know what to expect, the next year will be much better!  I have lots of tips for incoming freshman that may be experiencing the same thing, or even just insights on college life so far, so don’t be afraid to just pop up and talk.  We’re here to help!!

Lucija

Hi!  My name is Lucija and I’m a fourth year Communications and Psychology double major.  I am an international student from Croatia.  In my free time, I like doing anything related to wellness or fashion, and I enjoy discovering new brunch/matcha places in LA.  I am looking forward to helping you with any questions you have in your UCLA journey!

Maeve

Hello!  My name is Maeve, and I am a fourth-year from Somers, Connecticut majoring in Statistics and Data Science and double-minoring in Global Health and Film, TV, & Digital Media.  Outside of peer counseling, I am Finance Director for Icarus Contemporary, and work behind the scenes on UCLA’s DataFest hackathon.  I love to travel, spend time with friends and family, dance, and play piano and drums.  I am looking forward to meeting you all and hope to help you navigate life as a UCLA student!

Malia

Hello!  My name is Malia, a fourth year majoring in Communication and Psychology.  I’m also a commuter student from Cerritos, California.  Since I began my journey here at UCLA, I have taken a gap year to better my mental health and revisit my passion for musical theater.  Besides musical theater, I love spending time with my friends and family, going to Disneyland, and line dancing.  This will be my second year as a peer counselor, so I can’t wait to continue to grow within this role!

Nidhi

Hi everyone!  I’m Nidhi, a third-year majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology pursuing a minor in Global Health.  At UCLA, I’m involved in clinical research, community service in Mexico, and college advising for underrepresented communities!  I love playing tennis, traveling with my friends, and trying new matcha spots around LA.  I’m excited to be working as a CAC Peer Counselor this year, and I can’t wait to meet you!

Sabin

Hi!  My name is Sabin and I’m a proud Armenian American from La Crescenta, California.  I’m a 4th year Psychology major who is passionate about mental health, helping people and providing people with a safe space to be themselves.  I’m also passionate about my academics and love to learn!  In my free time I love to spend time with my loved ones, listen to music, sing, and spend time in nature.  I’m excited to be a Peer Counselor and can’t wait to support you all in your journey as UCLA students!

Seema

Hello everyone!  My name is Seema, and I’m a second year student majoring in Cognitive-Science.  I aspire to pursue a career in healthcare or research where I can advocate for underserved communities and promote mental health equity.  In my free time, I enjoy reading, writing, crocheting, watching movies, and spending time with my siblings.  I am so excited to be a peer counselor, and I look forward to helping fellow students navigate their college journey with a holistic, supportive approach!

Shannon

Hi!  I’m Shannon, a third year physiological sciences major with interests in medicine and public health.  Outside of peer counseling, I’m involved in Patient Health Advocates to casework patients in clinic and SCOPE to teach kids about fitness and nutrition.  I also love to read, bake, go to the beach, and find new ways to be active.  I’m excited to support you all in your academic journeys!

Victoria

Hi everyone!  I’m Victoria from Palm Springs, California.  I’m currently a third-year Biochemistry major, interested in pursuing a minor in History of Science, Technology, and Medicine.  Outside of my academics, you’ll often find me running, exploring the outdoors, or touring LA.  I’m excited to be a CAC peer counselor this year and look forward to helping you make the most of your UCLA experience!

Yitao

Hi!  My name is Yitao and I’m from the Bay Area.  I’m a junior majoring in Cognitive Science and minoring in Linguistics and Stats/Data Science.  I enjoy thrifting, making music, and exploring the outdoors.  In the future, I hope to pursue a career in project management and language processing.  I’m excited to join the CAC Peer Counseling team this upcoming year!