Hi Bruins!
At UCLA, you are very lucky to have both College Academic Counselors as well as departmental counselors if you are within the College of Letters and Science. Other schools at UCLA have similar models. For purposes of this blog post, we will focus on the departmental counseling within the College of Letters and Science. In order to take full advantage of all the resources available to you during your first year, we highly encourage you to make a plan every quarter to visit both your departmental counselors and general College Academic Counselors in Murphy Hall A316. If you are part of the Academic Advancement Program, the Honors Program, or Athletics, you should visit your respective counseling unit.
What is the difference between both counselors? Your departmental counselor are experts in your major and minor requirements; your general counselors can help with any college or university requirements.
What kind of questions should you be asking your departmental counselors if you are undeclared or a pre-major? UCLA’s First Year Experience office has just compiled the top 5 questions that should guide your counseling sessions to help maximize the time spent with your counselor.
Question #1: Why do students typically select this major?
Whether you have declared your major or not, it’s a good idea to know why students have chosen this major and if those reasons align with your academic interests. You may be surprised at the many possibilities within a major. Remember to keep an open mind when exploring your academic and career path.
Question #2: What pre-major requirements exist?
Most likely, each major has pre-major requirements you will have to complete before you officially can be admitted to the major. Your departmental counselors are the experts on sharing the requirements for the majors within their departments. They might also help guide you as to the order of which pre-major classes to take.
Question #3: Are there any specific deadlines or requirements I should be aware of (minimum GPA, maximum unit count prior to declaring, etc.)
We share this questions with a caveat: It’s your responsibility to become aware of deadlines and requirements. However, if you are unsure or just want confirmation, it’s best to go to the source directly. Refer to each department’s website prior to your meeting with your departmental counselor. Check with each counselor to make sure you are up-to-date on any changes in the major and remain informed on any deadlines at all times. It is your job to do so and not that of your departmental counselor.
Question #4: Are there any opportunities for internships, undergraduate research, honors, or study abroad associated with this major?
The beauty of majors at UCLA is that they filled with abundant opportunities for academic and extra-curricular growth. All you need to do is explore and ask. We highly recommend you do so in your first year because you can then plan accordingly. If you visit your counselor in your senior year and ask about studying abroad, unfortunately, this will probably be way too late for you to do so. If you plan in advance, you maybe be able to have an internship or take a class abroad for major credit.
Question #5: I have completed my degree plan for my four years. Can you please double check to see if I am on the right track?
Notice we didn’t phrase the question like this: Can you complete my four year degree plan? Why? Because it is your responsibility to research and plan your academic career at UCLA; your departmental counselor is there to support the plan and provide any guidance throughout your major. Invest in reviewing all the pre-major and major requirements before you make an appointment with your counselor. This will not only save you time when you do meet with your counselor, but it will also show that you are taking your academics seriously. If you did not plan it properly, your departmental counselor can help you. Additionally, we strongly advise you to show this plan to your general counseling unit.
Finally, one of the departmental counselors in the English Department has graciously shared some words of advice of what not to ask your departmental counselors. Try to steer away from asking very broad general questions like, “What classes should I take?” Take time to research your requirements and be more intentional in your questions. For example, it may service you better to ask, “What class should I take that can give me more knowledge on (insert subject area)? Additionally, avoid asking your departmental counselor any question related to ways to get around certain requirements. They are there to make sure you complete the requirements, not there to help you figure out how not to do them. Finally, do not ask questions that can be easily answered by searching through your schedule of classes. Departmental counselors are busy year round; be mindful of the type of questions you ask that can be answered with just a little research done on your own time. Such questions like, “What class is offered on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. that can meet my pre-major requirement?” is clearly not a productive conversation to have with your counselor.
We hope this information provided is useful to you. Remember, your counselors are an incredible resource to you and have a wealth of knowledge to share with you. Don’t be shy and make an appointment to visit them soon. Their job is to make sure you succeed academically.
Written by FYE Professional Staff Writer: Carmen Garcia-Shushtari in collaboration with English Department academic counselor Danielle Maris
Photo credit: Question Mark Blog Jared Cherup
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