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  3. Advising 101

Advising 101

Academic Advising for Families

See five things we'd like all families to know about their student's academic journey — and ways you can help!

1. Most classes and exams will be in person.

At UC San Diego, most of our classes are in person. We have few remote classes available, and it is expected that students are here in person for their courses. Please encourage them to attend class.

2. Classes (and exams) are scheduled from 7 a.m. until 9:50 p.m.

Your student may have a gap in their daily schedule. They may have midterm exams and final exams at different times from their scheduled class time, including later at night and on Saturdays. Please encourage them to plan out their whole quarter at the beginning of the term.

3. Students likely will not get their first-choice classes.

Enrollment appointment times are randomly assigned each quarter by the Office of the Registrar, based on the student’s class level as determined by earned units. These will not be rearranged if requested by a parent, and advisors do not have control over these. Please help normalize to your student that they may not get their top choice of class time, classroom, or professor.

4. Course wait-lists are typical and are managed by departments.

UC San Diego academic departments rely heavily upon wait-lists during enrollment periods, so it is normal for students to be wait-listed, and normal for them to initially need to choose back-up classes. Please encourage your student to speak directly with their department advisors via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) with any questions about wait-lists.

5. Students need to schedule study time outside of their classes.

In high school, students learn most of the course material during the class period and then need to learn a small fraction outside of class by studying on their own. However, in college, students will only learn a portion of the material during lectures and discussions. They are expected to study 2-3 hours outside of class for every hour they are in class. If a student is enrolled full time in 12 units, they will be in class for 12 hours each week. That means they will have 24-36 hours of studying and homework each week they need to complete on their own. Please help them with time management and prioritizing time for their studies.

Family Dos and Don'ts

Help advisors to help your students by following these guidelines.

Do:

  • Attend Parent/Family Orientation if offered by your student’s home college.
  • Attend initial meetings with the Office for Students with Disabilities to support your student in understanding their role in the accommodations process.
  • Encourage your student to visit their academic advisors.
  • Prepare your student with specific questions to ask in meetings.
  • Ask your student specific questions, such as:
    • What courses are you taking?
    • Where are you studying? What is your study schedule this week?
    • Who are your advisors? Have you talked to them about internships or research opportunities?
    • Who are your professors? When are their office hours, and have you visited them yet?

Do Not:

  • Do not contact a student’s instructor or advisor directly to check in on their progress or advocate for grade changes.
  • Do not attend class with the student.
  • Do not complete the student’s homework, quizzes, or other assignments.
  • Do not contact someone at the university on your student’s behalf without the student being part of the conversation.
  • Do not escalate to the top (e.g. Dean, Chancellor) without following the advice of advisors who are trained and equipped to solve advising-specific problems.