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Marsey Novak
•This response has been verified in line with school guidance.
Registrar

My student is struggling with their mental health and is considering taking Winter Quarter off. We already emailed but haven’t heard back yet. Since classes aren’t “official” until midnight tonight, is it best to drop classes now to avoid a W notation, and what’s the correct process if you’re doing this before week 3?

Given your student's mental health concerns and the urgency of the situation, it is crucial to act promptly. Since classes are not officially recognized until midnight tonight, the best course of action is to withdraw rather than simply dropping classes.

Withdrawal Process

To officially withdraw from the Winter Quarter and avoid any transcript notation, your student should:

  • Submit a Withdrawal Notice: Use the UCLA Withdrawal Notice form to initiate the process.
  • Consult Financial Aid: It's important to check how withdrawing may affect financial aid eligibility by contacting the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
  • Check Course Impact Status: If any enrolled courses are marked as impacted, they must be dropped by the Week 2 deadline (January 16, 2026) to avoid any notation or fee.
Important Dates
  • January 16, 2026: Final deadline to drop impacted courses without a fee or notation.
  • January 23, 2026: Final deadline for new undergraduate students to withdraw while maintaining eligibility for readmission.
Following these steps will help ensure that your student can take the necessary time off without negative academic consequences. For more details, refer to the UCLA Withdrawal/Time-off policy.

Recent questions at UCLA

Anonymous
•This response has been verified in line with school guidance.
Academics

What are some of the easiest psychology upper division required and elective courses?

For students seeking easier upper-division psychology courses at UCLA, several options stand out based on student feedback and course evaluations.

Recommended Courses

  • Psych 150 (Health Psychology): Often considered an "easy A," this course covers lifestyle and wellness topics through projects and discussions that are accessible to most students.
  • Psych 137C (Intimate Relationships): This course is highly recommended for its interesting content, with assessments that often include straightforward essay responses referencing the textbook.
  • Psych 135 (Social Psychology): Known for its engaging discussions on group behavior and social dynamics, this course avoids complex statistical analysis, making it more approachable.
  • Psych 131 (Research Methods in Developmental Psychology): While it includes group projects and research papers, the structured guidance from instructors makes it manageable.
Additional Electives
  • Psych 130 (Developmental Psychology): Focuses on developmental processes through peer and parental interactions.
  • Psych 133 series: Courses in this series are frequently highlighted as favorites for their engaging content and lighter workload.
  • Positive Psychology: Centers on happiness and well-being with minimal heavy theoretical content.
For more information on course offerings and evaluations, students can refer to resources like Bruinwalk and MyUCLA Course Evaluations.
Anonymous
•This response has been verified in line with school guidance.
Registrar

Hi May daughter missed her UC Shape training and now they put a hold on her enrollment. The SHAPE office said it's an automatic update and there is nothing they can do to expedite it. The regsitrar says there is nothing they can do either. She will miss her window of enrollment. Is there anyone else who can help?

Given the situation with your daughter's enrollment hold due to missing the UC SHAPE training, there are additional resources at UCLA that may help her navigate this issue.

Contact Key Offices Your daughter should reach out to the following offices:

  • Dean of Students Office: They advocate for students facing administrative challenges and may provide guidance or intervention.
  • Email: dean@saonet.ucla.edu
  • Phone: (310) 825-3894
  • UCLA Case Management Services: This office offers academic support and can assist with complex administrative issues.
  • Email: CRTeam@ucla.edu
  • Phone: (310) 825-7291
  • Title IX Civil Rights Office: Since the SHAPE training falls under their jurisdiction, they may help verify her completion manually if the automated system is causing the hold.
  • Email: TitleIXtraining@equity.ucla.edu
  • Phone: (310) 206-3417
Immediate Actions To expedite the process, she should:
  • Complete all three SHAPE training modules in Bruin Learn as soon as possible, as holds typically lift within 2-3 business days of completion.
  • If the hold is cleared but she misses the enrollment deadline, she may need to file a Late Study List Petition through the Registrar’s Office to enroll after the standard window.
For more information on the Late Study List, visit the UCLA Registrar's Office for guidance on the petition process.
Anonymous
•This response is community-sourced and may not reflect official school guidance.
Wellness

What is a difference between cognitive science degree and psychology degree?

Choosing between a Cognitive Science degree and a Psychology degree at UCLA involves understanding their distinct focuses and career paths.

Core Focus Cognitive Science (B.S.) examines the mind as an information processor, blending psychology with fields like computer science, linguistics, and neuroscience. In contrast, Psychology (B.A.) centers on understanding individual and group behaviors, rooted in social science and clinical observations.

Curriculum Differences

  • Cognitive Science: Requires advanced math and programming courses, focusing on computation and data modeling.
  • Psychology: Offers more flexibility with lower math requirements, emphasizing social, clinical, and developmental aspects.
Career Outcomes
  • Cognitive Science graduates often pursue roles in tech, such as UX/UI design, data science, and human factors engineering.
  • Psychology graduates typically enter fields like clinical counseling, human resources, and social work, focusing on human-centric roles.
Ultimately, choose Psychology for a social science approach to mental health, or Cognitive Science for a technical understanding of cognitive processes.
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