Navigating UCLA: A Comprehensive Guide to New Student Orientation
UCLA's New Student Orientation is a pivotal summer program designed to integrate newly admitted students into the Bruin community. This orientation, orchestrated by the New Student and Transition Programs (NSTP) department, caters to first-year, transfer, and international students, as well as their parents and families, ensuring a smooth transition into university life. The primary aim is to familiarize students with the university environment, its resources, and the essential steps for academic enrollment.
Importance of Orientation Registration
Students are required to register for orientation by July 1. Failure to meet this deadline results in an account hold, impeding their ability to register for classes. Orientation sessions provide an invaluable opportunity for new Bruins to connect with peers, explore campus services, and gain insights into university life.
The Role of New Student Advisors (NSAs)
The UCLA new student orientation sessions are offered for students only. These sessions are led by New Student Advisors (NSAs), who are current undergraduate students that serve as mentors, guiding new students through the orientation process.
Orientation Programs for First-Year Students
First-year student orientation sessions span two days. The UCLA Undergraduate Education New Student and Transition Programs webpage specifies that these sessions cover a range of topics, including information on majors, courses, graduation requirements, and fall quarter enrollment. Additionally, workshops on student services such as housing and financial aid are provided, along with presentations on post-graduation opportunities like professional or graduate schools and career paths.
The first day focuses on acquainting students with the university's landscape, while the second is dedicated to academic schedule planning. A total of 12 first-year student orientation sessions are offered, including two tailored for international and out-of-state students. These sessions commence with session 101 on July 10 and 11, continuing throughout the summer until session 112 on Sept. 11 and 12. Specifically, sessions 111 and 112 allocate spaces for students residing outside of California.
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Orientation Programs for Transfer Students
The UCLA new student orientation sessions for transfer students are condensed into a single day. Mirroring the structure of the first-year program, the UCLA Undergraduate Education New Student and Transition Program webpage highlights that the transfer student orientation encompasses academic course planning, fall quarter enrollment, and workshops and presentations on student services and career opportunities.
Ten orientation sessions are available for transfer students, including one designed for out-of-state and international students. The first transfer student orientation, session 201, is scheduled for July 15, with the final session, session 210, taking place on Sept. 10. Reservations for the summer 2025 transfer orientation sessions open via MyUCLA on June 5. Transfer students also have the option to attend the two-day first-year new student sessions for a more comprehensive experience, subject to the applicable fee.
UCLA New Parent & Family Orientations
UCLA New Parent & Family Orientations are one-day sessions designed to welcome families to the UCLA community and address the concerns family members have relative to their student’s upcoming university experience. These sessions aim to welcome families into the UCLA community and address any concerns regarding their student's transition to university life. Sessions feature presentations from UCLA staff, faculty, and students on academics, available services and educational opportunities, the transitional experiences of students and how families can support them, and general campus life. Lunch and light refreshments are included. These orientations include presentations from UCLA staff, faculty, and students, covering academics, available services, educational opportunities, the transitional experiences of students, and strategies for family support, as well as general campus life.
New Parent & Family Orientation components are held separately of your student’s orientation session but do coincide with the first day of each two-day First Year session - as well as a standalone Spanish session on Saturday, August 2. Family Orientation runs from 8:00 am to approximately 6:00 pm PDT. These sessions are separate from the student orientations but coincide with the first day of each two-day First Year session, with a standalone Spanish session also available.
NSTP's Overarching Goal
The New Student & Transition Programs (NSTP) department's overarching goal is simple - to help you with academic and educational planning (which includes enrolling in your fall quarter courses), while also assisting you with your overall transition to college. The department aims to facilitate academic and educational planning, including fall quarter course enrollment, and to ease the overall transition to college life.
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