ADVISING RESOURCES FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Academic advising in the UCLA College of Letters and Science is shared between advisors in the College and departmental advisors. There are four College advising units, and each major/minor has a designated department advisor. To learn more about the structure of academic advising, click the links below:
- Structure of Advising in the College
- Departmental Advisors
There are four advising units in the College
- College Academic Counseling (CAC) – A316 Murphy Hall
- Academic Advancement Program (AAP) – 1205 Campbell Hall
- Honors Programs – A311 Murphy Hall
- CAC-Athletics – JD Morgan Center
Students in AAP, Honors, and Athletics work with academic advisors in those programs. Some students may be in more than one program. All other students work with CAC academic advisors. The advising unit can be found at the top of their Degree Audit Report (DAR).
Academic advising is a partnership between the student and their advisors. To learn more about the Advisor-Student Partnership, see https://caac.ucla.edu/about-the-center/the-advisor-student-partnership/.
College advisors are here to support students intellectually, professionally, and personally.
- Intellectually, advisors can help students collaboratively design a strategic course plan exploring majors and minors, and connect their learning across disciplines and beyond the scope of UCLA.
- Professionally, advisors can help students explore valuable leadership and teamwork experiences, and relate the skills acquired from their undergraduate experience to their career goals.
- Personally, advisors can help encourage students to participate in extra- and co-curricular activities and challenge them to reflect on their personal development and well-being.
Advisors can also help students with the transactional aspects of their undergraduate careers, such as understanding degree requirements, transferring credit from other institutions, knowing about policies and deadlines, planning their academic program, taking time off, graduating on time, and more.
We suggest meeting with an academic advisor at least once a year to ensure students are on track, and as often as students have questions or are planning their academic program.
(Note: This information applies only to students in the College of Letters and Science; students in the other Schools should contact that School.)
How will my AP credit transfer?
Please see Admissions’ website for transfer credit information.
- AP Credit – https://admission.ucla.edu/admitted-students/ap-credit-the-college
- IB Credit – https://admission.ucla.edu/admitted-students/ib-credit-the-college
Can I change majors after I arrive?
If you are a first year admit, you may explore and change majors, as long as you meet eligibility requirements and can graduate within 4 years. Be sure to check with the major department for eligibility as some majors have application processes and deadlines. Transfer students are admitted based on the major applied to, so changing majors may be possible if the major is not impacted and you can complete all degree requirements in a timely fashion (by the Fall of your third year). Please note that some majors are restricted and you must have been admitted to UCLA in that major to be eligible, so not all majors will be open to transfer students.
What majors does UCLA offer?
UCLA has over 125 majors and over 90 minors! If you’re not sure what major would fit, check out our Find Your Major assessment tool.
Will I get into medical school if I attend UCLA?
As the #1 public university in the nation, UCLA graduates are highly competitive for medical schools. Check out the UCLA pre-health website .
I want to double major – how do I do this?
Students should carefully consider why they want to double major and what this would accomplish. Otherwise, they should consider other activities that may be more meaningful on a graduate/professional school application or resume, such as internships, studying abroad, research, etc. Meeting with an academic advisor could help clarify these options.
What study abroad options are available to me?
There are different programs available, including the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) or Summer Travel programs. Students can also choose from non-UC programs, and should be sure to consult with the International Education Office to help select the option that would best fit their needs.
Can I meet with an academic advisor now?
Unfortunately, we are not able to support non-UCLA students. Once you have matriculated, we will be happy to help you navigate UCLA!