Frequently Asked Questions in Academic Advising
Contacting Advising
Who is my academic advisor?
You have an academic advising team in your College. You also have a major advisor in the department/program which houses your major. Review the list of College Advisors and list of Department/Program Academic Advisors.
How do I contact my advisor?
Send them a message via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC.ucsd.edu - Ask a Question). Learn how to use the VAC on this webpage.
New incoming students: See more information about when you can access advising on this page.
New Students
Where are my transcripts?
You must submit all official AP scores and official IB scores, official A-Level transcripts, and official transcripts from every institution you attended. For more information about sending exam scores, visit the Admissions FAQ page under Exams.
New Students only: If you sent your transcripts by July 1 or your test scores by July 15, and if it is after August 15 but some of your courses are not showing on your Academic History or appear to be inaccurately posted, you must contact UC San Diego Admissions (Log in to the Admissions Portal).
Where can I find my Degree Audit?
To find your Degree Audit, go to the TritonLink website then TritonLink Tools > Advising Tools > Degree Audit.
Will my AP or IB score give me credit for [specific UCSD course]?
Please refer to the AP chart or IB chart. Remember you must submit official scores to UC San Diego Admissions.
If I send my transcripts, AP, and/or IB scores after the deadline, will I still get credit for them and the potential courses they clear?
Even if transfer coursework or AP/IB scores are sent late to UC San Diego Admissions, you will still receive credit on your record. However, submitting scores late can affect your course enrollment. If you need that credit as a prerequisite for courses you want to enroll in for Fall, late submissions can delay or prevent you from enrolling.
For AP/IB scores, refer to the AP chart or IB chart to avoid enrolling in the same course at UC San Diego.
If my AP or IB score clears me from a UCSD course, can I still take the course and get credit for it?
You should not repeat courses for which you already earned credit via AP/IB exams.
If you do retake a course at UC San Diego that you already have credit for, you will NOT receive units or GPA points for that repeated course.
How do I send my high school and/or college transcripts to UCSD?
Visit the Admissions FAQ page for detailed instructions about How and when to send official transcripts.
I was admitted as a freshman to UCSD. If I followed IGETC for dual enrollment, can I use it?
IGETC/Cal-GETC and Partial IGETC apply exclusively to students admitted as Transfers. These programs do not apply to students admitted as Freshmen/New First Year students. However, the courses you completed at the community college may apply toward your College general education requirements. Contact your College advisors to see how these will apply.
If I took a course at a California Community College, does that mean I can transfer the credits I earned for that class to UCSD and that I don’t have to take this particular class once I am at UCSD?
The community college course must be UC-transferable. Use the Assist.org website to check if your course is UC-transferable and is articulated (equivalent) to a course at UC San Diego. If the course is articulated to a specific UC San Diego course, then you do not have to retake it. If the course is posted as general elective credit and is not articulated to a specific class that you need for a degree requirement here, then you will need to petition the course to the appropriate academic department at UC San Diego. See more information about petitioning courses. If the petition is denied, you will need to take the required course at UC San Diego.
Why doesn’t my GPA include my transfer courses?
Your UC GPA will only include courses taken at UC San Diego or another UC. GPAs from other institutions, such as community colleges or other universities, will not be included in your UC GPA.
How do I meet the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR)? Do I need to complete the Writing Placement Process?
All incoming first-year students who have not fulfilled ELWR through ACT/SAT/AP/IB scores or transfer credit must complete UC San Diego’s Writing Placement Process (WPP) in summer.
If you are a Transfer student, you have met the ELWR and do not need to complete the Writing Placement Process.
For questions, contact the Analytical Writing Program.Do I need to take the Math Placement Exam?
If you do not have credit for Calculus and your College GEs, major requirements, or pre-health path require you to take Calculus or Chemistry, you must take the Math Placement Exam. Contact Math Testing & Placement for more information.
You can view a list of majors that require math.
If I am starting a new language, should I still take the language placement exam?
It depends on the language. Revelle College has a helpful chart about Language Placement on their website.
You can view a list of colleges, majors and minors that require a language.Enrollment
How can I see my enrollment times?
Check WebReg for your enrollment start time for first pass and second pass.
Can I get a better enrollment time?
Appointment times are randomly assigned for all students each quarter by the Office of the Registrar. Your academic advisors cannot change them.
What happens if I missed my enrollment time?
First Pass - Your enrollment time for first pass starts and ends at a specific time on a specific date, so if you miss the start of your allotted time, you may still enroll in classes until your time ends. Try to register as close to when it begins as possible. Once your first pass window closes, you must wait until second pass.
Second Pass - Your enrollment time for second pass starts at a given time on a specific date. It remains open into the beginning of the quarter.
Keep in mind that appointment dates/times are based on Pacific time.
If I took a course outside UCSD and it's not posted yet, but I need it for a prerequisite - how do I get access to enroll in that course for Fall?
If your transcript is pending receipt or not yet posted, submit an Enrollment Authorization System (EASy) request to the academic department to ask for pre-authorization. You may need to provide an unofficial transcript or proof of enrollment.
Changing Programs
Can I change my College?
Changing Colleges is very rare. Applicants were asked to rank their preference of UC San Diego’s Colleges during the application process. The selection of an undergraduate College at UC San Diego does not affect a student’s choice of major.
New students may not request a change in College assignment.
Continuing students interested in the Inter-College Transfer (ICT) process should review all steps on this webpage to see if they are eligible. Petitions will not be reviewed unless the student can demonstrate graduating at least two quarters sooner by switching. Requests are handled through the College’s petition process and there is no guarantee of approval.
When can I change my major?
Once new students have enrolled in August for the Fall quarter, they are able to change their major via the Major/Minor Tool as long as the major is not a selective major. See How to declare/change a major.
New students must follow the timeline and steps for applying into a selective major once they have enrolled at UC San Diego and become a continuing student. Visit Selective and Screened Majors for details.
How do I declare a selective major?
Selective majors at UC San Diego are majors that limit enrollment. If you were not admitted to UC San Diego as this specific major, you must follow the timeline and steps for applying into a selective major once you have enrolled at UC San Diego and become a continuing student. Visit Selective and Screened Majors for details. There is no guarantee that students will be able to switch into a selective major.