Student Resources

PRE-ARRIVAL & ORIENTATION

Pre-Arrival Information

Coming Soon.

Orientation Schedule
Move-in Orientation
September 13, 2021 September 14 - 18, 2021
Day One Day Two
September 14, 2021 September 15, 2021
Day Three Day Four
September 16, 2021 September 17, 2021
Day Five
September 18, 2021
Additional Resources
UCLA Extension Academic Calendar: https://www.uclaextension.edu/calendar To schedule airport pick-up, please complete the American Collegiate, LA Arrival Form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is orientation mandatory?
Yes! All students are required to attend American Collegiate, LA (ACLA) program orientation. Students admitted to the ACLA First Year and Extended First Year tracks are also required to attend the American Language Center (ALC) program orientation, which will occur during the first week of classes (the week following ACLA orienation).
What should I bring to orientation?
A positive attitude and willingness to learn from the ACLA Team and peers. Also, visit the ACLA Before You Arrive page for a list of items to bring with you to campus.
What if I cannot arrive to campus on time and miss orientation?
All students are required to attend ACLA program orientation. If you are experiencing extenuating circumstances that will not allow you to make it to campus on time to attend orientation (ex. delayed visa approval), please contact your Enrollment Services Advisor immediately. You will need approval from the ACLA Managing Director to arrive after the scheduled move-in date.
Will Fall 2021 orientation be online or in-person?
Although the ACLA Team would love to see you all in-person, we must pay strict attention to the guidance from local public health officials and university policies. It is likely that Fall 2021 orientation will be a hybrid of remote/virtual and in-person sessions. The final ACLA orientation schedule will be shared with students two weeks prior to the program start date.
How can I register for ACLA Orientation Day 1?

Click here to register for ACLA Orientation Day 1.

When can I move into ACLA housing for Fall 2021?
For Fall 2021, students can move into ACLA program housing on September 13, 2021 from 4:00-8:00pm LA local time. Students will receive move-in instructions approximately one week prior to scheduled move-in date.

ACADEMICS

Academic Calendar
UCLA Extension Academic Calendar
Fall 2021 Winter 2022 Spring 2022 Summer 2022 Fall 2022
Move-In September 13, 2021 December 27, 2021 March 21, 2022 June 13, 2022 September 12, 2022
Orientation September 14, 2021 December 28, 2021 March 22, 2022 June 14, 2022 September 13, 2022
Classes Begin September 20, 2021 January 3, 2022 March 28, 2022 June 20, 2022 September 19, 2022
Last Day of Quarter December 12, 2021 March 20, 2022 June 12, 2022 September 4, 2022 December 11, 2022
Academic & Transfer Advising

You will need to meet with your Advisor throughout your journey with American Collegiate, LA. It is recommended that you meet one-on-one with your advisor a minimum of 3 sessions each quarter. Group advising sessions will also be made available via open office hours. Office hours for each term will be announced during week 1 of classes.

Schedule an appointment with your American Collegiate, LA Advisor here.

Course Registration

Students will be pre-enrolled in all academic courses for their first term. Beginning term 2 and beyond, students will meet with their ACLA Advisor to selective 1-2 elective courses, depending on their study plan.

Center for Academic Success
Do you need to improve your writing skills or study habits? Do you need help preparing for an exam or presentation? Maybe you just have a question and don’t know who to ask? Our friendly online tutors and counselors are here to support you! Schedule a free Zoom session with one of our Academic Skills or Subject Area Tutors (see options below) and gain the confidence and skills to succeed in your undergraduate and graduate classes. Email CAS@shorelight.com for more information.

Meet your Tutors

Click below to watch a video introduction of each other tutors.

Academic Skills Tutors

Alicia Coe

I am Alicia Coe. I have been teaching English for academic purposes and critical writing at several universities in Europe and the United States for 17 years. Apart from teaching, I work as a curriculum developer, a writing consultant for undergraduate and graduate students, a copyeditor, and a Cambridge examiner. I am experienced in teaching international students; therefore, I can provide different learning approaches depending on the cultural background of each student.
Schedule an Appointment

Amanda Wilcox

I am Amanda Wilcox. Originally, I hail from Macon, Georgia, where I studied Biology and Spanish at Mercer University. After teaching foreign language for about 5 years, I began a master’s degree at Auburn University. Upon graduating, I continued to teach Spanish at the university and eventually began teaching in the ESL Department, where I found my calling. I have been involved in teaching, tutoring, and curriculum writing for international students learning English ever since. In total, I have nearly 20 years of experience teaching all ages from young children to adults in an academic setting.
Schedule an Appointment

Bianca Coria

I am Bianca Coria. I have eight years of experience teaching English at various levels in Asia and the United States. I currently work as an English instructor and course developer, and I hold certifications in TESOL, TEFL, and TEYL. I have experience working with students of all ages, from toddlers to adults from various backgrounds. In addition to enjoying my career, I also enjoy meeting new people, visiting new places, tasting new foods, and spending time with my family. I love working with students, and I strive to create a positive and enjoyable environment. I look forward to working with you.
Schedule an Appointment

Math Tutors

Dipen Bhuva

I am Dipen Bhuva. I am a PhD student in Computer Science at the Cleveland State University and have a Masters graduate from Northeastern University in Information Security. I am also a certified Network+ by Comptia, Certified Ethical Hacker, RH-11 Expert Hacker, RedHat Server Certified Engineering and am Amazon Web Service (Cloud) certified. For my “extraordinary dedication and teaching,” I was granted an “excellent achievement for Graduate Assistantship” from CSU. I will be happy to help with any problems and solutions related to computer science: Programming, Networking, Server engineering, Cloud, Statistic, Advanced Mathematics and Cyber Security.
Schedule an Appointment

Watch CAS Webinars On-Demand

CAS Social Skills: How to Make American Friends

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Skills covered in the Academic skills tutoring sessions

  • Academic writing – generating ideas, organizing, summarizing, paraphrasing, revising/editing
  • Research skills: Finding credible sources and academic articles
  • Understanding academic integrity; avoiding plagiarism
  • MLA & APA citations and format
  • Academic presentation preparation and practice
  • Time management – weekly planning, semester-long planning
  • Reading strategies
  • Note-taking skills
  • Test preparation strategies
  • Class and groupwork participation strategies
  • Discussion skills
  • Grammar rules and practice
  • Academic communication etiquette – emails, office hours, requesting letters of recommendation
  • Business writing – emails, reports, meeting summaries
  • Career development – resume and cover letter writing

Skills covered in the Math skills tutoring sessions

  • Building math confidence for students who struggle with math
  • General and Foundational Math help at any level
  • Calculus including Calc 1 and Calc 2
  • Algebra and Linear Algebra
  • Topology
  • Discrete Math
  • Category Theory
  • Algorithms
  • Differential Equations

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will my Fall 2021 courses be online or in-person?
American Collegiate, LA (ACLA) students enroll in courses offered via UCLA Extension. Most UCLA Extension courses will continue to be offered online or via remote instruction for Fall 2021. Please read more about UCLA Extension's course offerings for Fall 2021 here.
Will all my academic courses transfer to another university?

Each transfer destination will ultimately determine which of your academic credit-bearing courses will transfer to their institution. Your advisors will work with you to ensure you are enrolling in courses with the most likelihood of transferring to your desired transfer destination so that you can make steady progress in your degree requirements.

Will I be able to choose my classes?

You will be pre-enrolled in all academic courses your first term with ACLA. All academic courses during the first term are required and cannot be changed. Beginning with your second term, you will meet with your ACLA advisor to select 1-2 elective courses, depending on your program track and progress. Each term will have at least 1-2 required courses for your study plan.

What type of classes will I take?

ACLA students enroll in a wide range of first-year foundational courses that span the humanities and sciences. Most often these courses will meet prerequisite, general education, and/or elective requirements.

How do I know which math course is right for me?

All ACLA students are required to complete the ALEKS math placement exam upon full acceptance to the program. You will have three opportunities to complete the ALEKS math placemnent exam, and it is highly recommended that you complete the first attempt prior to your Pre-Arrival Advising Session with your ACLA Advisor. The ALEKS math placement exam will inform the ACLA Team which course is the right fit for you based on your current skill level, and your ACLA Advisor will provide guidance on the sequence of math courses based on your score and program track.

What happens if I do not complete the ALEKS math placement exam?

Students without an ALEKS math placement score will be enrolled in Introduction to Statistical Reasoning (STATS XL 10) their first term. Moving forward, if you do not complete the ALEKS math placement exam (or do not score sufficiently to qualify for advanced math courses), you will not be able to enroll in any additional math courses.

Where can I learn more about the courses offered at UCLA Extension?

You can learn more about UCLA Extension course here.
Please note that course offerings can change each term. For this reason, you will work closely with your ACLA Advisor to determine which electives are right for you.

Is tutoring available?
All ACLA students have access to the Center for Academic Success, which can support students with writing assignments, presentations, resumes, and more!

HEALTH & COVID-19

COVID-19 Information

Visit https://covid-19.ucla.edu/ for the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 on campus.

Individuals with F-1 student visa status are required to show proof of COVID vaccination in order to enter the US. Vaccinations must align with the US’s approved list of COVID-19 vaccines. Only two exceptions apply:

  1. Student is from a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability (see list here ).
  2. Student is under 18 at the time of travel.

Effective December 06, 2021 – all international travelers (regardless of vaccination status) must show results of a negative coronavirus test taken one day prior to their flight’s departure from a foreign country traveling to the United States.

If neither vaccine exceptions apply to you and you remain unvaccinated, you may not be able to enter the US on the date of your scheduled travel.

For those passengers traveling under one of the above exceptions they must complete and present the Combined Covered Attestation Form to the airline at the time of departure. Passengers must be prepared to answer questions regarding Section 4 of the form and should have a clear understanding of their school's COVID policies.

Health Services

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Health Center

American Collegiate, LA Health Insurance Plan

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend orientation?

To participate in any in-person orientation sessions, you must provide proof that you are fully vaccinated with a CDC-approved or WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine and/or provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours from arrival to LAX.

Do I need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend in-person classes?
Yes. Please read the University of California university-wide vaccination policy and UCLA Extension's announcement here.
I cannot get a COVID-19 vaccine in my home country. Can I receive the COVID-19 vaccine upon arrival?
Yes! If you are age 18 or older and have not received a CDC-approved or WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccination, you may receive a free 1-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine upon arrival at LAX. Learn more here.
I need to take a COVID-19 test. Can I take a COVID-19 test while in Los Angeles?
Yes! Please note that any "surveillance" testing is not covered by your ACLA program health insurance, therefore you will be responsible for any costs associated with receiving a COVID-19 test(s). You can find a local LA County or LA City testing center at https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/. You can also book an appointment at a local CVS Minute Clinic here.
Which zip code do I use to find a local COVID-19 testing center or vaccination site?

Please use the zip code 90024 to find a local COVID-19 testing center or vaccination cite close to Westwood Village.

Upon arrival to LAX, do I need to complete any forms related to COVID-19?
Yes, to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the City of Los Angeles requires all travelers entering the city from another state or country to fill out this online form, acknowledging that they have read and understood the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Travel guidance. All travelers over the age of 16 must submit this form online prior to or upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

IMMIGRATION

Immigration

Immigration and enrollment policies
All students are required to be enrolled full-time under their respective ACLA program track. Failure to remain enrolled full-time will result in the termination of the student's SEVIS record (i.e. I-20) and will the student will be dismissed from the ACLA program. Learn more about maintaining F-1 visa status here.

Immigration advising
UCLA Extension’s International Student Office (ISO) will help students keep track of their student status while studying at UCLA Extension. Click here for more information about UCLA Extension's ISO.

New Student Check-in

Students arriving to campus will need to clearly scan the below listed documents and combine them into one PDF. This combined PDF of documents will then be emailed to the ACLA Team at studentservices.LA@americancollegiate.com. This combined PDF of documents must be received no later than ACLA Orientation Day 1.

JOB & CAREER SERVICES

Working as an International Student
Due to the fast-paced nature of the American Collegiate, Los Angeles program, students are not encouraged to find employment while enrolled in the program. Rather, students are encouraged to find community service and volunteer opportunities that will add to their transfer application profile and connect them to the Los Angeles community. Following acceptance to their transfer destination, students may work with their Transfer Advisor or CAP Advisor to research potential campus employment opportunities at the transfer destination.
Job & Career Support

American Collegiate, LA students have the opportunity to earn a UCLA Extension General Studies Certificate, exclusively offered to ACLA student only. Upon successful completion, students gain the following benefits:

  • UCLA Alumni Association Membership
  • Access to UCLA Career Center's online job board, "Handshake", featuring thousands of jobs and internship postings
  • Access to UCLA Extension's Career Resources, including online career coaching, workshops, and networking events
Career Accelerator Program

The Career Accelerator Program (CAP) at American Collegiate, LA allows for students to build their skills and confidence to enter their desired professional field following graduation. Students will have a dedicated CAP Advisor with whom they can connect directly via Pronto and email. Be sure to check your Pronto for the latest events and opportunities available to students!

PARKING & TRANSPORT

Parking Information
If you choose to purchase a car while studying with American Collegiate, LA, you will need to be mindful of parking in Los Angeles. Not every space is free or permissable to park at all hours. Whether you intend to park on-campus, in a residential neighborhood, or in a public/private lot, pay close very attention to posted signs. Signs to watch for include, but are not limited to the following:
  • Required city permits to park in residential neighborhoods
  • Street cleaning (often once a week with 2-hour window for no parking)
  • Metered or timed parking
  • Loading zones or Curb-side pickup only
  • Reserved parking for business-specific employees and/or customers
  • Anti-Gridlock Tow-Away Zones
Learn more about Los Angeles parking laws here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is parking included with ACLA program housing?
No. Parking is limited and will be an extra charge, as available.
Can I park on the residential streets where ACLA program housing is located?
Westwood neighborhoods typically require a city-issued permit in order to park on the residential streets. This keeps the neighborhoods safe, as only local residents will be parking near ACLA housing locations. To learn more about obtaining a city-issued parking permit, visit the LA Department of Transportation (LADOT) Parking Permits page.
Can I park on the UCLA main campus or in Westwood Village?
Yes, you may park in any of the parking lots located on the UCLA main campus or around Westwood Village at your own expense. Pay close attention to parking signs and costs before entering a parking lot.
Can I purchase a parking permit day pass or quarterly pass?
Yes, as an ACLA student attending UCLA Extension, you may purchase either a daily parking permit or a quarterly parking permit. Click here to learn more.