Below are some of the most commonly asked questions that transfer students have.
If you do not see your question listed below do not hesitate to contact us at the Transfer Student Center or post on the UCLA Transfer Student Facebook Group. You may also want to check out the Transfer Timeline Pages and the Resources Page for more information about student support services and transfer specific concerns and questions.
Whether you live on campus or off, transfers can find it challenging to get involved and feel plugged into the University. The speed of the quarter system, the transition to a new environment, and the fact that most UCLA transfer students are commuters exacerbates the common tendency to feel isolated or overwhelmed by the new experience.
Even for those that live on campus, most feel that they really need to deliberately search out opportunities to connect with other students (by going to events and reaching out to other students for example) because the campus is so large and busy it is easy to feel disconnected.
Grades, retention, and student wellness are all linked to feeling connected in an academic environment. Mitigate the challenges list above by deliberately searching out opportunities to join in with other students, attend activities, and social, academic, and professional events.
Here are some ways in which to connect and feel more plugged into the university system:
‘Like’ the Transfer Program Facebook Page, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn sites to get instant updates on transfer specific events, activities, resources, and other information pertinent to the transfer community.
Go on the UCLA Transfer Students Facebook Group and meet other transfers! This group is for current and former UCLA transfer students to ask each other questions and have conversations about academics, social life, LA living, campus resources, support, etc. Get a chorus of answers from fellow transfers and dedicated UCLA Transfer Student Program and Bruin Resource Center (BRC) staff. More information about the Transfer Student Program can be found here.
Attend Transfer Transitions (we need a link to this, does not exist yet) a free supplement to orientation that introduces you to seasoned transfers, ways to get involved as a new student, academic adjustment seminars, resources for transfers, and how to map out your time at UCLA to be successful. Transfer Transition Sessions are offered during the summer before your first quarter.
Attend Welcome Week events like the Transfer Student Welcome, Volunteer Day, and the Enormous activities Fair during the week before classes, this is a great time to explore the options.
Look out for Bruin Transfer Pride Week during week three of fall quarter. Bruin Transfer Pride Week (we need a link to this) is a week of transfer programming, events, and a celebration of all things transfer. Bruin Transfer Pride is offered all year long through collaborative transfer programming during week three of every quarter.
Join a student organization; there are a number of transfer specific organizations and over 1000 clubs on campus. Look up UCLA student organizations by keyword here.
Whether they are transfer specific or simply student specific, there are a plethora of activities, events, workshops, and service opportunities offered every week during the quarter. Be on the lookout for them through the Transfer Program Page, the AAP website, the CPO Facebook Page, or any of the many other UCLA Facebook groups. There are also events and workshops listed on your MYUCLA homepage, this is a great place to find out what is going on campus. For service opportunities check out the UCLA Volunteer Centers website as well as the Community Service Commissions web page as they offer multitudes of projects throughout the year. If you are looking for sports, arts, and cultural events be sure to follow the UCLA Happenings website.
Even working out at the gym is an opportunity to meet other students with shared interests. Look at what UCLA Recreation has to offer!
Internships, research positions, jobs on campus, and volunteer opportunities are terrific ways to get plugged in and create a cohort.
Start a study group.
Go to office hours! Meet with professors and TAs, and do not be anonymous in class! Terrific relationships and opportunities can come from reaching out to those doing work you are interested in.
Use the resources available to you. If you are feeling stressed, disconnected, or just need some inspiration about how to get more involved stop by the Transfer Program or any other advising office and chat with an advisor. It is not unusual to feel this way as a transfer! Do not feel as though you are alone in this, there are other students feeling the way you are feeling, and there are a tremendous amount of resources to help.
Lean in to opportunity. Anything is possible at UCLA. There is opportunity all around you and all you need to do is lean in to it. Search it out, pick a direction, say yes, and do not be afraid to ask questions!
You're not alone.
The first quarter can be rattling, and is a huge adjustment, especially if you have never experienced the quarter system. We guarantee you that you are absolutely not alone in these feelings. This is a normal part of the transition and normal part of being a transfer student at UCLA. Plus, UCLA is a huge campus with a gazillion people, opportunities, and activities, so it is easy to get a little stunned by it all. The good news is, there are also a ton of resources and ways in which to help ease the stress. Visit Counseling and Psychological Services, come to transfer specific events and meet other transfer students, or start conversations with students in your courses. This may seem a little obvious but it can often be quite challenging to get to know people unless you reach out. Finding a cohort, a group of friends, or others with shared experiences can be your best resource, will ease stress, and can help you find focus at UCLA.
There are over 1,000 student organizations here at UCLA so there should be something that peaks your personal or professional interest. Browse organizations here.
You can either search for a group by typing in what you are looking for or browse by category. If there is not a student group on campus for what you are interested in, then look in to starting your own student organization, all you need is three likeminded individuals!
Find out more information here.
There are many transfer student specific organization to be involved in as well.
Be sure to check out workshops and student panels highlighting seasoned transfer students who have been in your shoes. Hear first-hand how others have adjusted academically to the quarter system and learn what to anticipate. These events are offered in the summer during the Transfer Programs free Transfer Transition Sessions, at the beginning of fall quarter, as well as throughout the academic year.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers time management, procrastination, and other helpful workshops throughout the year.
Time management is key when it comes to getting all of your assignments done in 10 weeks. Remind yourself of all the incredible skills you have and what got you to UCLA in the first place, and then utilize those tools in your new environment. It is easy to forget because you are in a new situation, but the fact is you have written papers before, talked to professors before, you have taken exams before, etc. now you just have to refine these skills for the quarter system, but you do not have to relearn them!
Start study groups, use a planner, visit the Undergraduate Writing Center and other academic resources at your disposal, find out about tutors, ask other students –whatever it is that you think you will need to set yourself up for success.
Using a planner effectively is a lifesaver on the quarter system. 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 and you can utilize offices hours like tutoring sessions. Try writing in study time this way as well, and the moment you get your class syllabi write down all important assignment due dates in your planner.
Be sure to check out the Study Tips and Time Management for the Quarter System section of the Transfer Student Success Guide for more ideas on how to prepare yourself for your first quarter.
If you feel you are really struggling and that you may have a learning disorder or some other issue that may be affecting your ability to manage your time well be sure to visit CAPS and/or the Office for Students with Disabilities.
Eligible for work study and not sure where to get started? Find answers to your work study questions here.
In order to be eligible for summer aid, students need to enroll in a minimum of 6 units (half-time status). A minimum of 8 units is required to qualify for summer University Grant.
Aid will be subject to cancellation if you drop below half-time status. Some programs (Federal Pell Grant and Summer University Grant) require enrollment in 12 units to receive full eligibility.
The Financial Aid Office will review all units at the end of the third week of each UCLA summer session (the census date) in order to determine your eligibility for summer aid. If you are not enrolled in the number of units on which their award was based on you will be billed. Adding units after the census date will not reinstate your eligibility.
For more information click here.
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.
• 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.
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.
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.
For more information please contact:
Study abroad options include the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), Summer Travel, Quarter Abroad, and non-UC programs.
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
The College Library Instructional Computing Commons (CLICC) offers free drop-in computer labs and lends laptops from 7 different libraries on campus.
It is free to check out a laptop on campus, you just need a Bruin Card. You are only charged if you bring a laptop back late.
Currently-enrolled students may checkout a laptop using their Bruin Online Logon
On a related note: if you feel that $40 is too much for an iClicker to be able to take class quizzes, you can check out an iClicker for free during each quarter courtesy of the Office of Instruction and Development.
Here is a map of all of the computer labs on campus.
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.
In order to find out more and enroll in summer courses visit UCLA Summer Sessions.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
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.
UCLA Housing offers something for everyone, whether it is the social interaction and convenience of on campus housing, independent living in University Apartments, or special communities for married or single-parent students.
Transfer students have several options if they are interested in living off-campus.
Living Off-Campus In University Apartments: Transfer students who prefer more independent living can choose from a variety of University-owned and privately-owned off-campus living options. Conveniently located within walking distance of campus, University Apartments offers single undergraduates a variety of furnished units. Five miles south of campus, UCLA’s University Village is designed especially for married students with or without children, students with same-gender domestic partners, and single parents.
The Community Housing Office (CHO) offers resources to students interested in finding different types of privately-owned housing in neighborhoods close to campus. The office maintains a database of rental listings which includes shared and vacant apartments, rooms in private homes, studio apartments, guest houses and short-term sublets. Full-time UCLA students may search listings for free.
The Community Housing office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. They can be also be reached via phone at (310) 825-4491 and e-mail at uclahousing@housing.ucla.edu.
We have a Housing Co-op at UCLA! The University Cooperative Housing Association (UCHA) provides reasonable-cost housing to qualified students, visiting scholars and faculty of UCLA and other nearby educational institutions. Located just two blocks from campus! Other resources that have been used by students when searching for housing around the UCLA area include the following websites:
Bruinwalk Facebook Housing Group Facebook Apartment Group Summer Sublet Facebook Page UCLA Class of 2017 roommate search UCLA Class of 2018 roommate search Craigslist WestsideRentals Padmapper
Health Insurance is mandatory for all UCLA registered students and a condition of enrollment. The UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) is a comprehensive medical insurance program offered to UCLA students. All registered students are automatically enrolled in UC SHIP, but if you have comparable insurance and you do not want to keep UC SHIP as dual coverage, you must submit a request to waive enrollment by the specified deadline.
The cost of coverage through UC SHIP will be included as part of your Student Services Fees. You will receive more information about UC SHIP with your first BruinBill.
Here are FAQs regarding UC SHIP.
100% coverage for prescription contraceptives at The Ashe Center and UC Family medical centers. Some conditions apply.