Winter Counselor Newsletter

Winter 2025

Counselor Connection newsletter banner

 

Financial Aid Update

We hope you and your loved ones are safe and well during these challenging times. We know the recent fires have affected many members in our community, and we want to extend our heartfelt support to you.

We know you wear many hats as a school counselor, but we are so grateful to all of you who wear your “college is possible with financial aid” hat. Our priority is to ensure that you have the resources and support you need during this time. Please make note of the following:

  • We want to encourage you all to keep spreading the FAFSA/Dream Act application message with the students you serve and to remember the March 2, 2025, financial aid application priority deadline for UCLA.
  • We understand that undocumented students and parents may have concerns about privacy when completing financial aid applications. For those with questions, please see the latest guidance issued by the University of California (UC) that was reviewed by UC Legal – Office of the General Counsel and UC Immigrant Legal Services.
  • UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships understands the challenges that students and families are facing due to the recent Southern California fires. If prospective Bruins for the 2025–2026 academic year have been impacted by the SoCal fires, they should apply for financial aid and contact our office about appeal options after being admitted.
  • In addition to applying for financial aid, all prospective Bruins are encouraged to complete the UCLA Prospective Student Scholarship Application.

In February 2025, UCLA Financial Aid & Scholarships will be hosting a series of fifteen FAFSA/CADAA workshops for students and families to attend virtually or in person. Check out our ambitious calendar of events for details.

UCLA offers remarkable affordability for low-to-middle-income California residents. About one-third of new first-year and transfer students are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant at UCLA. For higher-income families from California and beyond, UCLA costs compare favorably to other elite institutions, especially when paired with UCLA scholarship opportunities.

Regards,
Marvin Smith
Executive Director 
UCLA Financial Aid & Scholarships

 

 

Belonging banner

Diversity at UCLA

Our recruitment strategies focus on building strong connections with communities and we’re proud to have enrolled record numbers of new Black and Latino students for Fall 2024. The LA Times shared in November that new Bruins from historically underrepresented communities feel welcomed and supported by faculty, staff, and students who reflect their own experiences.

Explore Belonging at UCLA to see how our students find community and support on campus.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What steps do applicants need to take to withdraw their application?

A. Applicants must log in to the UCLA myApplication site to submit their withdrawal request. We are unable to process requests sent via email.

Q. Do transfer applicants need to update their fall and winter courses and grades?

A. After applying, transfer students are required to update both their grades and courses. Final grades from the previous term and all in-progress and planned courses for all terms before students expect to enroll must be reported. Students should log into their application and complete the Transfer Academic Update (TAU). 

Please note that we do not review updates to coursework during the review process for first-year applicants. If they are admitted, they will have the opportunity to submit updates and report any changes to coursework at that time.

Q. How can applicants update their contact information?

A. Applicants can log back into their application to update their contact information. This will be passed on to the campuses they applied to within 48 hours. For more information on what can be updated, visit the UC admission website.

Q. Is it possible for applicants to change their major?

A. Yes, but it is limited to certain majors and the deadline is January 31. Students can change their major to any major in the Samueli School of Engineering or any major in the College of Letters and Science, with the exception of Communication. Current applicants should submit their change of major request via our contact form.

Q. Where should transcripts and letters of recommendation be sent?

A. Applicants do not need to submit transcripts at the time that they apply unless specifically requested.

Admitted students will be required to submit final transcripts through Spring 2025 by July 1, 2025. Upon receiving transcripts we will verify that the courses and grades match the information reported in the academic history section of the UC application. The expectation is that students will continue with the same level of academic achievement through Spring 2025.

Supplemental materials, such as letters of recommendation, portfolios, etc. are only required and considered as a part of the supplemental application for the following specialty schools: School of Arts & Architecture, School of Music, School of Nursing, and School of Theater, Film & Television. Additional information, including submission deadlines, can be found on the supplemental procedures page.

Additional Resources

Transfer Academic Update (TAU)
The priority deadline for transfer applicants is January 31, 2025.

FAFSA and Scholarships
The priority deadline for applicants to submit is March 2, 2025.

UCLA Admission Representative
Connect with your UCLA admissions representative.

Assist (CA colleges only)
The official course transfer and articulation system for California's public colleges and universities.

UC Quick References for Counselors
View information, resources, and support for you to help your students get to UC. UC Quick References for Counselors View information, resources, and support for you to help your students get to UC.

UCLA First-Year International and Transfer Guides
Downloadable guides for first-year, international, and transfer applicants.

University of California A-G Course List (CA high schools only)
Find a specific institution's A-G course list. View associated schools within a school district or network. List of online schools with A-G course lists.

Supplemental Application Procedures
Information and deadlines for all of the supplemental applications available at UCLA.

UC Application Support
Contact information for the University of California application support team.

UC Counselor Newsletter
More information about Fall 2024 enrollment, UC Application verification reminder, PIQ, plagiarism check, A-G course submissions and more.

UCLA Recorded Presentations
Watch recorded presentations about first-year and transfer admission, living on campus, student life and diversity and community.

Upcoming Events

Save the Date! Registration for these events will be available soon:

For more information on our events, visit UCLA Admission Events.

Learn more about UCLA
Hear more about events in your area, application deadlines and more.
Request Information