Accelerator For Engineering Transfer Students

The Accelerator for Engineering Transfer Students at UCLA Samueli is a series of essential summer activities designed to help engineering transfer students quickly acclimate to UCLA Samueli and successfully transition their learning from previous institutions.  The program will help students maximize their experience at UCLA Engineering without a deep learning curve.

Please note – If you are an incoming UCLA Engineering Transfer student, please contact the Engineering Transfer Center at etransfercenter@hsseas.ucla.edu, for access to this year’s participant site for more detailed information and content for this year’s program. 

New Student Programs

Diagnostic Assessment Tests

June 2 – June 10, 2022

Engineering transfer students (eTransfers) who submit their intent to register (SIR) by June 1 will receive an invitation to take Diagnostic Assessments to help you assess your knowledge and strengthen any areas that may prevent you from succeeding in your first year courses.  Students can view the results of their scores to determine the best course of action to brush up on content before fall quarter classes.  

The Diagnostic Assessment Tests are available in the following subjects:

UCLA’s CS 31 & 32 (C++),
M20 (Matlab),
ECE 10 (Circuits),
Math (Differential Equations)*
Math (Linear Algebra)*
*At a minimum, all incoming engineering transfers should take the Differential Equations & Linear Algebra assessments.

Incoming students who have taken the equivalent of the UCLA engineering course should take the corresponding Diagnostic Assessment test.  Please check assist.org for articulation agreements for equivalent courses.  Please note these assessments will NOT earn you credit for any courses.  They are for gaining an understanding of your core proficiency in order to address any gaps in learning and preparation needed for subsequent courses at UCLA Engineering.

Based on the results from the assessments, students have elected to self-study using our zyBooks Course Refresher online textbook, pulling out their notes and textbook from the course they took, or auditing a summer session course if they are weak in more than 1/3 the course content.  Information on the zyBooks Course Refresher textbook will be provided at the How to Spend your Summer info-session on June 8, 2022.

There is no fee for taking the tests.  We recommend all incoming eTransfers take the relevant assessment for any class they took at their previous institution.

Participant fee: $0 (Open and free to all incoming eTransfer students)
For more information and to access the tests, visit our Diagnostic Assessment webpage.

How to Spend the Summer before you start at UCLA Engineering info-session

Wednesday, June 8, 2022 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Register for the Zoom session link, here: https://forms.gle/LvQqtQYLXE9NzmU98

Diagnostic Assessments – Summer Session – New Student Orientation – Course Refresher – Basic Training – HAcK Technical Competition – eTransfer 101 – Classroom Boot Camp – wot?!

Hear testimony from current engineering transfer students about their experience at UCLA Engineering and how to spend your summer preparing for year 1.

In addition to your New Student Orientation and Advising, incoming engineering transfer students will have the opportunity to participate in the following activities in the summer before you start:

(1) Take a UCLA Summer Session course,
(2) Brush-up on content from courses taken at your previous institution based on your results from the Diagnostic Assessments, and
(3) Participate in an Accelerator for UCLA Engineering Transfer Student program:

      • Basic Training
      • HAcK Technical Competition
      • eTransfer 101 orientation for engineering transfers
      • Classroom Boot Camp

The outcome of this info-session is provide you with information on these programs to help you determine the programs and activities you should participate in based on your past-experiences and the results of your Diagnostic Assessments.

Summer Activities Before Year 1

New Student Sessions for Transfer Students

Each New Student Session is an extensive introduction to the academic and campus life at UCLA. New Student Sessions for transfer students (those coming to UCLA directly from another institution) are one day.

Your session includes:

  • Information on your major, course planning, and fulfilling graduation requirements
  • Enrolling in your Fall Quarter classes
  • Workshops and presentations on UCLA’s student services, such as housing, financial aid, and extracurricular activities
  • Presentations and information on graduate programs, professional schools, and career opportunities

Engineering transfers will meet with an academic counselor from the School of Engineering during the New Student Session. To learn more about New Student Sessions, including how to sign-up, visit the UCLA New Student Academic Programs website.  If you are unable to attend the New Student Session, please email the UCLA Samueli Engineering Office of Academic and Student Affairs at orientation@seas.ucla.edu with your full name and UID to notify them that you cannot attend orientation.

UCLA Samueli Engineering Office of Academic and Student Affairs

The UCLA Samueli Engineering Office of Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) is home of your academic counselors.  We encourage all incoming engineering transfer students to visit the OASA website to familiarize themselves with the resources available to engineering students.

The website will provide information on how to request an appointment with your counselor.  We also highly-encourage students to visit the page for New Incoming Student Frequently Asked Questions for information on credit for community college courses.

New Student Programs

UCLA Summer Sessions


Summer Session A begins on June 26, 2023 – see UCLA Summer Sessions website for courses, schedule, fees, and deadlines.

For some of you, taking a UCLA Summer Session class is encouraged.  Here is a list of summer courses (by major) that are highly-recommended by our engineering academic counselors to ensure you are able to make progress to your degree in year 1.  This includes:

  1. Any missing course prep required for admission (Chemistry, Physics, or Math) – all majors
  2. MAE or CEE M20 (Matlab) – Chemical Engineering majors
  3. MAT SCI 104 – Materials Science & Engineering majors

These courses will enable you to more seamlessly continue your education in the fall and reduce your time to degree.  Students who took a Diagnostic Test with results that show weakness in 1/3 course content or more and are interested in auditing a summer session course should contact the Engineering Transfer Center Director at wuehara@seas.ucla.edu by Monday, June 13, 2022.

Participant fee: See the UCLA Summer Sessions website, for information on fees and deadlines.

Accelerator for UCLA Engineering Transfer Students programs

New Student Programs

zyBooks Online Course Refresher textbook


To help students brush-up on courses they have taken at their previous institution, we have created an online textbook that includes practice problems, challenge questions, and practice-labs aligned with the content from our Diagnostic Assessment tests.

Students utilizing our zyBooks textbook will get to spend their summer brushing-up on modules of their choice.  zyBooks will provide feedback as participants work on practice problems to focus on learning the content.

All students will be welcome to retake the Diagnostic Assessment at the end of the summer to re-evaluate their proficiency after their efforts to brush-up on content.

Participant fee: $88 zyBooks license
Information on making payment to zyBooks and access to the text book code will be provided shortly.

To learn more about the Course Refresher program, please visit the Course Refresher webpage: https://etransfercenter.seas.ucla.edu/course_refresher.

New Student Programs

Basic Training – design skills workshops


Evenings and weekends from Thursday, June 22, 2023 – July 22, 2023
Please
see program web page for workshop schedule dates.

Students increase their competitiveness for industry internships and lab work as they gain technical experience.  Start building your engineering design-tool-belt at Basic Training.  Students will learn coding, circuits & working with Arduinos, computer aided design (CAD) and fabrication.  Learning about these technologies will give you the essential tools to create your own projects and help you to get involved in our student design teams in your first year.  Workshops are virtual!

Participant fee: $0 (free and open to the first 50 registrants) –  Student completing Basic Training will be invited to participate in the HAcK technical competition.

For more information on Basic Training please visit our program website.

New Student Programs

HAcK Technical Competition


Monday, July 24, Tuesday, July 25, & Wednesday, July 26, 2023 (6 – 9 PM) – Specialized Training
Thursday, July 27, 2023 (6 – 9 PM) – HAcK Competition Reveal & Team Assignments
Friday, July 28 – Sunday, July 30, 2023 – HAcK Competition
Saturday, August 5, 2022 (9 – 12 PM) – HAcK Awards Ceremony

Team up, work on a technical project, and prepare for the HaCK competition and design review.  This activity will provide eTransfers an additional technical experience to share with recruiters in the fall. This experience will also help participants to start exploring various engineering fields and identify areas of interest.  It’s also a lot of fun and there will be prizes!

Participant fee: $0 (Open to 50 participants; pre-requisites to participate include Basic Training, eTransfer 101, and Classroom Boot Camp or CEED Breeze or CISE Bridge programs.

For more information, please visit the HAcK 2022 page: https://etransfercenter.seas.ucla.edu/hack-2022/

New Student Programs

Classroom Boot Camp 


Evenings starting Tuesday, August 29, 2023 – Saturday, September 16, 2023 6-8PM (virtual)

 

You will spend 3 weeks learning the content from either CS 32 or M20.  You will experience the rigor of the classroom, start working with eTransfers who will be taking these classes with you, and take a sample examination or work on a culminating project. 

We recommend all eTransfers who need to take CS 32 or want to brush up on CS 32 content before taking CS 33 to enroll in the CS 32 Boot Camp.  Students needing to take M20, want to learn or brush up on Matlab to enroll in the M20 Boot Camp. 

Participant fee: $0 (Open and free to 50 participants) – supported by UCLA Samueli Engineering

Accelerator helps with eTransfer Challenges


The summer Accelerator for eTransfers program activities were designed to address specific challenges shared by past generations of engineering transfer students.  Here are some things we’ve heard from engineering transfer students that came before you:

Note: Transfer Bridge went through a name change in 2021 and is now being called Accelerator for eTransfers.

“I was lost in my CS 32 course.  I ended up dropping the class and auditing CS 31, a class I already took at my previous institution.  We spent a week on a topic that we spent 20 minutes on at my previous institution.” ~Computer Science Transfer Student in 2018.

“I wish Diagnostic Assessments were available in my incoming year.  It would have saved me a lot of time and headache.  My first year experience would have been a lot different.”  ~The same Computer Science Transfer Student in 2021.


“My ECE 102 course was difficult because I took Math 33A & B a year ago. I had to spend time brushing up on my differential equations before being able to apply it on problem sets in class.  I seem to spend all my weekends and breaks between terms trying to relearn concepts that are necessary for the classes I am taking.” ~Electrical Engineering Transfer Student in 2020. 

“I took my coding class over a year ago and haven’t coded since.  Participating in Classroom Boot Camp gave me a really good refresher for my first year at UCLA.”  Transfer Bridge participant in 2020.  


“Everything is such a whirlwind.  We get to campus.  They tell us to get involved in engineering orgs and apply for scholarships.  Then there is the engineering career fair in week 3.  I completely missed the fair because I wanted to prepare for my first set of mid-terms.  My head is spinning.  If I miss it in year 1, I’ll have only one more chance next year.”  ~Civil Engineering Transfer Student in 2018.

Knowing what each week will look like has prepared me to manage my time differently. The student panel gave us really good insight on what to expect while attending UCLA. The networking practice interviews with real professional engineers in industry was an excellent opportunity to get feedback on how to attain the same kind of success outside of school.” ~2020 eTransfer 101 participant.


“How do I find the other engineering transfers?”  ~Civil Engineering Transfer Student in 2017.

“Meeting the other transfer students in Classroom Boot Camp, eTransfer 101, and the HAcK made me feel like I was a part of a community before classes started in the Fall.  It was good to see people I met over the summer in my fall classes.  We still get together.”  2019 Transfer Bridge participant.


I am an electrical engineering student with a 3.7 GPA.  I don’t know what kind of work I want to do, I don’t really want to go to graduate school and my parents wouldn’t pay for it anyway.  I’m graduating at the end of the quarter and I don’t know what to do.  ~Conversation with an Electrical Engineering Transfer Student in 2019. 

Transfer students that have participated in the Accelerator (previously the Transfer Bridge program) have out-performed their peers in the classroom with an average GPA in the first quarter of 3.6 participants vs. 3.3 transfers that did not participate (Fall 2020).  Additionally, Accelerator participants have already surpassed the extra-curricular professional development (academic research, industry internships, participation in student design teams) in the first year of study in comparison to the two – three years it takes for transfer students that did not participate. These activities are vital in helping a student find an area within engineering to pursue and to strengthen their narrative when applying for employment or graduate study. ~GPA data, Senior exit survey data, and Bridge Participant Survey.

Accelerator Programs Calendar

Accelerator Program Calendar

Hit this link to download a current copy of the Summer Accelerator Program website.

Event dates subject to change.  Check back closer to the start of the program for an updated version. Last updated: May 7, 2023.

Registration

Newly admitted transfer students who submit their intent to register (SIR) will receive an email with information on how to register for Accelerator programs on June 8, 2023. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

hidden

What is the Summer Accelerator for Engineering Transfers?

The summer Accelerator for Engineering Transfer Students at UCLA Samueli is a series of essential summer activities designed to help engineering transfer students quickly acclimate to UCLA Samueli and successfully transition their learning from previous institutions.  The program will help students maximize their experience at UCLA Engineering without a deep learning curve.

Transfer students have a shortened amount of time at UCLA Samueli Engineering to take advantage of extracurricular activities that will help them to decide on an area of interest in engineering, what career pathways they want to pursue after graduation, and what professional development will help them to be marketable.

The Accelerator activities is designed to assist our incoming transfer students prepare to maintain their classroom performance as they transition learning to UCLA Engineering.  Additionally, our programs will provide you a ‘lay of the land’ with regard to opportunities, important dates through your first year, and help you prepare to take advantage of those opportunities. Finally, identifying other eTransfers in your fall classes can be difficult.  Participating in the Accelerator ensures that you connect with other eTransfers before classes start in the fall.

Who should participate in the Accelerator?

All incoming eTransfers who are looking to make the most of their time at UCLA Engineering.  The summer Accelerator was designed to address specific needs and challenges faced by our engineering transfer students. The goal of the Accelerator program is to bridge experiential and learning gaps to ease your transition to UCLA Engineering and maintain the stellar classroom performance that our transfers have achieved at their previous institution and to ‘accelerate’ access to activities that will help you prepare for a career as a professional engineer after graduation.

Is the Accelerator a selective program?

Accelerator is NOT selective.  Certain activities have pre-requisites for participation and enrollment limitations. See below for details:

  • Diagnostic Assessment Tests – Pre-requisites: must have already taken a course of the associated diagnostic test.  Open to all eTransfers.
  • zyBooks Course Refresher – Pre-requisites: paid the zyBooks license fee.  Open to all eTransfers.
  • Basic Training – Pre-requisites: none. Enrollment: up to 50 participants.
  • eTransfer 101 – Pre-requisites: none. Open to all eTransfers.
  • HAcK – Pre-requisites: Basic Training, eTrasnfer 101, and Classroom Boot Camp or CEED – CISE or BREES. Enrollment: up to 50 participants
  • Classroom Boot Camp: CS 32 Boot Camp prerequisite: taken the equivalent of CS 31.  Enrollment: up to 50 participants.

Can anyone participate? Am I eligible?

All incoming UCLA Engineering Transfers are eligible (and encouraged) to participate in Accelerator.  Please see information on pre-requisites in the ‘Is the Accelerator a selective program’ FAQ above for details.

What Diagnostic Asssessment Tests should I take?

All incoming UCLA Engineering Transfer students should take the Math (Linear Algebra & Differential Equations) assessment test.  We highly-recommend students to take any of our assessment tests available for course topics that you took previously.

What is the difference between Course Refresher and Boot Camp?

Course Refresher – will help you to ‘brush-up’ on content you learned in a class that you already took.  Topics are aligned with the Diagnostic Assessment tests and are designed to address any weaknesses identified through the results of your assessments.  Students can spend the summer brushing-up on content and will be invited to re-take the Diagnostic Assessment tests at the end of the summer to see if their efforts have helped their proficiency.

Classroom Boot Camp – offers incoming eTransfers the opportunity to pre-learn content from CS 32 or M20.  Participants will attend lecture and discussion sessions to get a feel for the rigor and structure of a UCLA Engineering classroom.  Participants in the CS 32 Boot Camp must have taken and received credit for the equivalent of CS 31.  Those needing to take CS 32 or 33 are welcome to register for the CS 32 Boot Camp.  Students that don’t need to take CS 32 are welcome to register for the Matlab Boot Camp.

What is the difference between Classroom Boot Camp and CEED's BREES and CISE?

The courses covered in Classroom Boot Camp is not offered through the Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity (CEED) BREES and CISE programs, and vice versa.  The Engineering Transfer Center (ETC) and CEED are working together to maximize support for our engineering transfer students.  CEED programs are by invitation-only.

Will I get course credit for participating?

No, Accelerator does not offer class credit for participation.

It seems like the eTransfer 101 presentations are going to be posted on the website. Why should I attend the events?

eTransfer 101 will be offered through a flipped-event experience.  Participants will be asked to view presentation material ahead of events.  Our live virtual events (which will not be recorded) will offer participants an opportunity to hear testimony from current students, ask questions to staff and faculty invited to speak to eTransfer 101 topics, and to work on tasks.  For example, students will be expected to watch a recording on drafting a resume focused on applying for an engineering position prior to the work session dedicated on having your resume peer-reviewed.

What will the HAcK competition be like?

Similar to hack-a-thon competitions, participants will have 48 hours of intensive work to prepare their prototype or system for final competition.  Teams will receive parts and tools required to design, build, test, iterate, and prepare for the final technical competition.  Teams will submit their prototype for the technical challenge along with a design review presentation for judging at the end of the HAcK.

The results will be presented at the HAcK Awards ceremony.

What skills do I need to participate in the HAcK?

All HAcK participants will need to complete the Accelerator Program’s Basic Training.  Additional skills will be provided at HAcK Training workshops.

How much does the program cost?

Costs associated to running the Accelerator for eTransfers program are being supported by UCLA Samueli Engineering and donors to the Engineering Transfer Center.  This has enabled us to offer the program at a much reduced cost to our participants. 

Do I need to participate in all Accelerator activities or can I pick and choose?

While we highly recommend students to participate in all Accelerator activities, it is NOT required. The HAcK requires students to participate in Basic Training, eTransfer 101,  and Classroom Boot Camp.  

Can I work or take summer classes during Accelerator?

Participating in Accelerator, taking summer classes, holding a job, or participating in a summer internship or research are all full-time commitments.  We highly advise participants to consider your commitments before signing-up for summer activities.

Will I have homework?

Yes, you may have homework tasks or assignments.  Here is some information that will help you to understand the commitment:

  • Basic Training: 1 – 5 hours of work/ week
  • eTransfer 101: 1 hour of work/ week
  • HAcK Training: 1 – 5 hours of work/ week
  • Classroom Boot Camp: 10 hours of work/ week

How do I register? How do I know if I was selected?

An invitation to register for Accelerator will be sent on June 8th after the Planning your Summer info-session.  We will post a registration tracker on the website. 

Academic Year

The Engineering Transfer Center offers support, resources, and activities to UCLA Engineering Transfer Students throughout the year.  See our website for more information.  Current eTransfer students will receive a weekly e-newsletter from the Center highlighting important information, deadlines, events and opportunities.  Keep an eye out for these emails which will start in Welcome Week of the fall quarter.

Some things to look forward to early in the academic year:

New Student Programs

eTransfer Student Welcome & Academic Year Kick-off


Welcome week (0 week)

Meet fellow incoming and returning eTransfer students as we meet in-person for the first time.  We’ll share important quarter 1 information, introduce you to people and groups you want to connect with, and kick-off the new year!

 

UCLA Samueli Engineering Welcome, Engineering Student Organization Fair, and MentorSEAS Kick-off


Wednesday, September 27, 2023 | Court of Sciences (9-12PM).

Hear from our Deans as we kick off our new year and welcome the incoming freshmen and transfers.  Meet your student leaders and important engineering staff that will help you navigate your way through quarter 1.  Get the most up-to-date information on events and deadlines for the first weeks of the quarter.  Learn more about the student organizations and see their prototypes (if we are in-person), and meet your MentorSEAS peer mentors who will provide you peer support and guidance through your first quarter and year!

 

Welcome Week (week 0) Drop in Advising at the Engineering Transfer Center


Thursday & Friday of Welcome Week

The ETC Staff will be available for drop-ins on Thursday and Friday of 0 week to ask questions.

 

Tutoring – ETC Discord Server 


Starting in week 2 of each quarter, the Engineering Transfer Center will be offering tutoring through the ETC Discord Server.

 

Week 3 | Transfer Pride Week


Week 3 of each quarter is TRANSFER PRIDE week!!!  Come by the ETC for a treat!

 

Please email the eTransfer Center for additional questions or concerns at etransfercenter@hsseas.ucla.edu.