Category: First Years

Orientation: FAQ

  • I’m going to a later session; Am I not going to get classes because of this??
    No! Classes reserved for the purposes of orientation are generally distributed evenly between each session. There is no advantage in going to an earlier session for this reason.

  • Who will be in my group?
    You will be led by your New Student Advisor and your group should consist of around 9 students total if you’re a freshman and around 6 if you’re a transfer. Generally, other students in your group will be in the same or similar majors, but this can vary.

  • What’s a New Student Advisor?
    New Student Advisors (NSA) are current or recently graduated students who are trained extensively both to advise you with academics and be your peer mentor. You will be receiving guidance and instructions from your NSA throughout the orientation session and they will make time to meet with you individually to plan out your academics and answer more of your personal questions as well. NSAs and students are assigned to each other, and you’ll know who yours is once you check in on day 1

  • What am I supposed to bring to orientation?
    Packing list for first years
    Packing list for transfers

  • How will I know where I’m supposed to go or when I have to be somewhere?
    There’s a lot of scheduled events at orientation to keep track of, but you will receive a session schedule booklet during check in with details about all the different events and activities. Your New Student Advisor will also be reminding you about where and when to meet throughout the session.
    Having google maps on your phone would be handy; most locations/buildings are available to search directions for!

  • MyUCLA says I have a “Hold” on my account… How will this affect me?
    Please let your New Student Advisor or the Orientation staff know that you have a hold! It is likely to block you from enrolling, but the office can attempt to “delay” your hold so that its restrictions are postponed to after our enrollment period at orientation and you can deal with it later

  • What options are available for students with a food sensitivity/allergy?
    The student should let the orientation staff know ahead of their orientation session of what dietary restrictions they have so that the staff can accommodate properly on the day of. There are gluten free and dairy free options available for a variety of food, but these must be asked for so they aren’t taken from those without restrictions.

Orientation: First Year Enrollment Prep

Getting Started
Here’s how we get prepared for enrollment:

  1. Figure out what requirements you need to fulfill + What classes would fulfill them through your Degree Audit Report
  2. Find classes that are available in the upcoming quarter that can fulfill those requirements + Interest you
  3. Add these classes to your Class Planner and organize your weekly schedule
  4. Finalize your Class Planner with three courses and three alternative (or backup) classes for each just in case!

What You’ll Need
I created a guide for using the Degree Audit Report (DARS) and a guide for using the Class Planner with the schedule of classes (Find a Class and Enroll). Feel free to read through and familiarize yourself before starting. Ask your New Student Advisor if you have any questions or need assistance!

Expectations and Rules

  • You will be enrolling in 3 lower division courses at orientation.
  • Your schedule will generally be 1 major prep course + 2 GEs or 2 major prep courses + 1 GE
    • Note: At least 1/3 of the courses you select must be outside of your major
    • Another option is to explore a different potential major/minor by taking one of its required prep courses!
  • You should be choosing plenty of alternatives / back up classes (At least 3 backup courses for each of the three classes.. ex) if Class 1 and 2 work, but 3 doesn’t, what’s my plan? A, B, or C)
  • None of the 3 courses in your schedule should share a final exam date
  • Your classes need to be “Open”, shown with a green padlock. We’re not enrolling in classes that have a waitlist or are closed during orientation. (Exception: Ask about Cluster courses or Fiat Lux if full)
  • Your classes should have at least or around 15 minutes or more in between them. This is to compensate for walking distance, securing a good seat, and packing/unpacking. Make sure to google maps the locations between two classes

Course Restrictions / Requisites
As mentioned in the Class Planner Guide, make sure you are clicking on the orange triangle button next to all courses to check its restrictions:

✅ New Students Only
✅ First-Year Freshmen Only
✅ (Your Major) Major Only
✅ Course Requisite that you’ve TAKEN and PASSED

🚫 New Transfers Only
🚫 (Not your Major) Major Only
🚫 Sophomores and/or above
🚫 Course Requisite that you haven’t taken or passed
🚫 Instructor or Department Consent
🚫 PTE number

Orientation: First Year Packing List

  • ID (driver’s license, passport, etc)

  • Laptop / tablet
    If you don’t have one you can bring, we’ve got computer labs available for use during course planning day 🙂

  • Chargers and Portable Power Banks for your phone and laptop

  • Copy of all prior college transcripts and exam scores (AP/IB/etc.), or access to them online

  • Access to your MyUCLA
    I know it’s autosaved on your phone/laptop, but you should actually know the username and password)

  • Water bottle / light snacks
    Meals are provided throughout orientation, but the schedule dictates when we eat and dining halls close by 8pm! Get those late night hönger snacks in line before it’s too late…!

  • Prescription/Over the counter medication, glasses/contacts, menstruation/hygiene products

  • Comfortable clothes / shoes / sunscreen / hat / sunglasses
    Yes, there will be a lot of walking…and a lot of sun… you’ve been warned!

  • Reasonable expectations and a good attitude 🙂

  • List of all and any questions/concerns that you would like addressed
    It can be a little hard coming up with questions on the spot, but you definitely have at least a few you need answers for! Prepare some in advance and there will be opportunities to ask several departments such as Financial Aid, study abroad, etc

  • Hand soap
    You will most likely be staying in a suite with a shared bathroom between two rooms. It’s got toilet paper, but no hand soap.

  • Warm outerwear / light blanket
    Yes, this is California, but it can get surprisingly chilly into the evening time! Make sure to bring at least one thing you can wear to stay warm. Blankets are provided in the rooms, but many students have expressed regret at not bringing an additional blanket for more warmth. Something about those ACs…?

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