CAC PEER COUNSELORS

College Academic Counseling (CAC) Peer Counselors are undergraduate students in the College of Letters & Science who are trained to assist students with questions about rules and regulations, deadlines, referrals, petitions, GE and degree requirements, IGETC, 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 1-10 of the Winter 2024 quarter. Please see below for the location and times:

    • Registrar’s Office Mondays – Fridays 10am – 3pm (except Fridays 12-1pm)
      • Wednesday (4/24): 11am – 1pm, 2-3pm
    • Court of Sciences Mondays – Fridays 10am – 3pm (Fridays 12-1pm)
      • Tuesday (4/23): 11am-3pm

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.

Hiring for the CAC Peer Counselor position takes place every year. Applications for the 2024-2025 Per Counselor team are currently open! Applications are due March 25, 2024 12pm (PT). See our flyer for more details. 

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

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!

Austin

Hi everyone! My name is Austin, I’m a 4th year Cognitive Science Major minoring in Data Science Engineering. I’m originally from Vancouver, Canada, and I’m interested in pursuing a career in Product Management. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, playing racquet sports, trying new restaurants around LA, and phone photography. I’ve been a PC for the past two years, and I’m excited to answer questions and suggest helpful resources.

Carina

Hi! My name is Carina and I am so excited to be a CAC counselor this year. I am a third 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

Hi everyone! My name is Eleanor. I’m a 3rd year from Seattle, Washington. I’m majoring in Human Biology & Society with a minor in Spanish and I’m interested in medicine. In my free time I enjoy painting and I also love spending time outdoors – whether that be hiking, swimming, or biking. I’m looking forward to supporting you all as you navigate UCLA!

Elizabeth

Hi everyone! My name is Elizabeth (she/her) and I’m from Temecula, California. I’m a fourth-year Art History major minoring in Classical Civilization and Professional Writing. I’m passionate about theme parks, youtube deep dives in TV shows I loved as a kid, and the UCLA class planner. This is my second year as peer counselor and I’m so excited to keep doing what I love.

Gabbie

Hello everyone! My name is Gabbie, and I’m a 3rd 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 third year sociology major looking to double major in comparative literature 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, going on bike rides, and exploring new restaurants with my friends. I look forward to answering any questions you might have!

James

Hey everyone! My name is James, and I am a 4th year Business Economics major planning to double minor in Statistics and Film. I am from Irvine, California, but I moved to China to live for 10 years until coming here. After graduation, I am interested in pursuing consulting as my career. I love helping people and giving back to my community. Hobby-wise, I enjoy going to concerts, movies, and musicals, and I love playing board games and cooking! Happy to answer any questions you have as a PC!

Jamila

Hi there! My name is Jamila (she/her) and I am a rising senior majoring in Public Affairs and minoring in Education, I am a pre-law student with an interest in public health and I look forward to pursuing a legal career in public health law. In my free time I like reading, hiking and hanging out with friends. I look forward to working with you and answering any questions you may have!

Jennifer

Hello! My name is Jennifer, and I am a fourth-year majoring in Psychobiology with an interest in medicine and public health. Beyond academics, I enjoy crocheting and reading mystery/thriller books. I look forward to providing support to students by connecting them to resources and offering academic guidance. Do not hesitate to reach out with your questions or concerns!

Jessica

Hello my name is Jessica and I am from Long Beach, CA! I am a fourth year majoring in Psychology with double minors in Education Studies and Applied Developmental Psychology. I am a first-generation Latina student and I am excited to guide bruins throughout their UCLA journey, as well as share my own experiences. In my free time, I enjoy spending time in nature, hanging out with my friends and family, going to concerts/eating out, and binge watching shows. I look forward to engaging with you all this year!

Lily

Hello everyone! My name is Lily; I am a 3rd-year Psychology student from Vancouver, Canada. I enjoy photography, listening to music in different languages, and travelling in my free time. In the future, I hope to go to grad school for counselling or I/O psychology, but I am still exploring this fascinating subject. I am excited to provide guidance as a CAC counselor to any questions you may have, and I look forward to meeting you!

Lucero

Hello! My name is Lucero (she/hers). I am a senior majoring in Geography and International Development Studies. I am from Lima, Peru. I am really interested in research in Urban studies. After undergrad, I would like to attend graduate school and get a degree in Urban Planning. I am really excited to be a CAC Peer Counselor this year and I am happy to answer any questions you have during your career as an undergrad.

Lucija

HI! My name is Lucija and I’m a third 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 third-year from Somers, Connecticut majoring in Statistics and Data Science and double-minoring in Bioinformatics and Film, TV, & Digital Media. Outside of peer counseling, I am involved in biomedical informatics research, and dance with Icarus Contemporary. I love to travel, spend time with friends and family, 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 third 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. I can’t wait to grow as a peer counselor and provide you with answers and guidance to your questions/concerns!

Mila

Hello! My name is Mila, and I am a fourth-year student majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics and minoring in Asian Humanities. I am from Santa Ana, California. Although the sciences are a passion of mine, in my free time I love drawing, painting, photography, and creating all kinds of different art! I look forward to meeting you and helping you navigate your time as a UCLA student!

Namrata

Hi everyone! My name is Namrata (she/her) and I’m a third-year double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. I’m passionate about promoting mental health equity for underserved communities and hope to become a culturally-sensitive mental health professional in the future. Outside of CAC, I’m also part of MannMukti and Henna with a Heart at UCLA, as well as the CARE Lab and DiSH Lab. In my free time, I love going to the beach, exploring coffee shops and cafes, or staying in to rewatch my favorite movies and sitcoms. I look forward to supporting all of you as a Peer Counselor this year!

Sanketh

Hi everyone! My name is Sanketh and I’m a 4th year, 2nd year transfer majoring in Political Science. I grew up in the Bay Area and love drumming, thrifting, working with kids, going to concerts, and working out in my free time. This is my first year as a CAC Peer Counselor and I’m stoked to begin this role and support you all in your academic journeys! My on-campus involvements outside of CAC include Campus Tours and Kids Korner. Looking forward to meeting you all this year!

Shannon

Hi! I’m Shannon, a second year physiological sciences major with a prospective minor in public health. Outside of peer counseling, I’m involved in Swipe Out Hunger and SCOPE to teach kids about nutrition and fitness. I also love to read, bake, work out, and go to the beach. I’m excited to meet everyone and be a source of support for students on campus!