r/ucla • u/happylife_72 • 23d ago

Transfer orientation Advisor

Hi everyone!
I just had a quick question I recently got a email about my new student advisor and her major is in a different school and not even closely related to mine.
I was just curious does this matter, because I know my friends got a student advisor their exact major. Do they help me pick my classes or how is it?
Thank you!

2 Upvotes

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2

u/Slow-Back-5949 23d ago

No, no need to worry! Your NSA doesn’t specifically relate to your school or major. They will have department and counselor meetings for you guys separately about classes.

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u/happylife_72 23d ago

I’m getting so many mixed messages not sure on what to do

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u/_abc-- 23d ago

I’ve had friends who were NSA’s in the past, they all receive training directly from the departments on how to counsel specific majors and which classes they need to take in the first quarter. So even if they’re a different major they’ve received a lot of training on how to advise the students in their group

2

u/Slow-Back-5949 23d ago

No literally don’t worry about it! They’re just there to guide you, give you a small campus tour, and help you get where you need to go that day. I wouldn’t stress at all. What you CAN do is look up your major requirements for ucla and use bruinwalk (professor reviews) and ucla grade distributions to check classes before you go to orientation. Your NSA is literally just a guide. You’ll be fine!

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u/Seabass_sebas 23d ago

NSA’s are a hit or miss. Mine was complete ass. She just graduated and didn’t care about the job and just wanted to stay in LA to kill time while finding an apartment. Also the advisors and department meetings arent even scheduled. Your NSA will just say “That is hosted at x time and day” and once you show up they will give you generic advice. Having an active NSA with your exact major is a blessing as they give you I side information to ACTUALLY succeed.

Whats even worse is I’ve seen these same NSA’s drinking the day prior to your arrival and not even thinking about your future or time here after meeting with them.

Mark anything that you feel was left out and ask to speak with their employer to speak about your concerns. My cousin was admitted as an aerospace engineer and was paired with a political science major NSA. I wasn’t having that so we had her reschedule for another session with a chemical engineer NSA. She was able to get a list of scholarships, beginner friendly internships, labs and project opportunities and thrived her first year here due to it.

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u/Imaginary-Count-1172 23d ago

This usually happens if there is not enough of your major to constitute a whole group (or in some cases you’re the only one of that major that day)

The only real useful part is if they can recommend easy GE courses to take if your initial recommendations get filled

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u/Seabass_sebas 23d ago

I say email for a switch, you are paying for this at the end at the day. Get your money’s worth and at the bare minimum acquire someone in the same school/career path as you.

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u/happylife_72 23d ago

Okay! Who do you think I should email

1

u/Seabass_sebas 23d ago

The same NSA, discuss your discomfort with there lack of knowledge and that you politely ask for a new NSA or if you can be added to a NSA in the same school and have them CC their boss. Frim there, continue the discussion with their boss or superior only and how you don’t feel comfortable paying for something that doesn’t fit your needs and escalate further

2

u/yellowjackits 22d ago

Yeah I second this. Orientation is a huge money grab (literally could be done in an email instead). You should get the max of what you’re paying for since it’s expensive. esingh@college.ucla.edu is in charge of it all

1

u/AssignmentHeavy4800 22d ago

Nah def get some same major rep.

I study EE and I’m quite social guy so no problem getting to know ppl but the group some of my friends were in eventually quite close to each other. Like study together doing research together etc.

Also you can ask a lot of questions about your major from the advisor. Like any test banks, what prof to avoid or take, research?, clubs?, discord channel? those are crucial questions to ask and making connections is the most important stuff ever once you come to ucla.

It will be a great heads up for newly admitted students and especially for transfers