Accelerator For Engineering Transfer Students
Accelerator info-session (save the date)
How to Spend the Summer before you start at UCLA Engineering info-session
Wednesday, June 3, 2023 | 9:00 – 10:30 AM
No need to register – all incoming engineering students that submit their SIR will receive an invitation to attend this session.
Diagnostic Assessments – Summer Session – New Student Orientation – Course Refresher – Basic Training – HAcK Technical Competition – eTransfer 101 – Classroom Boot Camp – wot?!
The summer before you start is an important time for incoming engineering transfer students to prepare for your first year. You will have half the time at Bruin Engineering before having to apply for a job as a professional engineer or pursuing for an advanced degree in engineering. You will quickly learn that taking courses is only the first step in exploring the world of engineering, connecting with and networking with people, and gaining the hands-on technical experience that is needed to be marketable.
Accelerator was created to help our engineering transfer students to transition their learning to UCLA Engineering, connect the dots on the importance of utilizing all that Bruin Engineering has to offer in preparation for life after graduation as a professional engineer.
At this info-session, you will learn more about the Accelerator program, why you would want to participate, and how to register. There are several Accelerator programs and resources which include:
Diagnostic Assessments (available after June 3)
zyBooks Course Refresher
eTransfer 101
Basic Training skills workshop
HAcK Technical Competition
Classroom Boot Camp
We will also discuss the importance of taking the Diagnostic Assessments and how you should spend your summer to brush up on content you are weak in. For some of you, taking a summer session course will be highly-recommended. For some majors, taking a summer session course is highly recommended to reduce your time to degree. Finally, we will share some important dates for the summer.
Diagnostic Assessment Tests
June 2 – June 19, 2023
Engineering transfer students (eTransfers) who submit their intent to register (SIR) by June 1 will receive an invitation on Monday, June 5, 2023 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. We encourage students to take the Assessment by June 19, 2023 in time to register for a summer session course if it is needed.
The Diagnostic Assessment Tests are available in the following subjects:
UCLA’s CS 31 & 32 (C++)* – take this if you need to take CS 32 or CS 33
Math (Differential Equations)** – all students should take this assessment
Math (Linear Algebra)** – all students should take this assessment
ECE 10 (Circuits) – take this if you want to check your proficiency
M20 (Matlab) – take this if you want to check your proficiency
*UCLA’s CS 31, 32, and 33 courses are rigorous courses. Faculty who teach this course have helped us to create the Diagnostic Assessment to help students understand if they are prepared to take CS 32 or 33 at UCLA.
** Math concepts in differential equations and linear algebra will be utilized in your upper-division engineering courses to solve engineering problems rather than equations. Students will want to brush-up on these concepts before starting courses.
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 Accelerator info-session.
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.
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: Check back shortly for 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.
eTransfer 101: for engineering transfers – do not miss this!
Evenings starting Monday, June 5, 2023 – Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Please see program web page for workshop dates.
eTransfer 101 is an orientation specifically designed to help incoming eTransfers make the most of year 1. You will meet other eTransfers, learn what to expect during your first year, decide what organizations and clubs you’d like to get involved with, and prepare for the fall industry recruiting season and winter academic research opportunities. eTransfer 101 is open to all incoming engineering students.
Participant fee: $0 free & open to all incoming eTransfers
To learn more about eTransfer 101 and see the scheduled events, please visit the program website.
Basic Training – design skills workshops
Evenings and weekends from Thursday, June 22, 2023 – July 22, 2023
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. Add skills to your resume for fall recruiting!
Workshops are virtual with the exception of the June 22, 2023 session which will be held in the UCLA Innovation Lab Makerspace.
Workshop schedule:
- Thursday, June 22, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – Welcome & Orientation
- Friday, June 23, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – Coding 1: Basics of C++
- Tuesday, June 27, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – Coding 2: Intro to Javascript
- Thursday, June 29, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – Coding 3: UI/UX
- Friday, June 30, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – CAD 1: Intro to SolidWorks – 2D drawings
- Wednesday, July 5, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – CAD 2: Solidiworks – extrusions and mates
- Friday, July 7, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – CAD 3: Solidworks – mates continued and assemblies
- Tuesday, July 11, 2023 | 6 -9 PM – Engineering Design, Fabrication, and 3D printing
- Thursday, July 13, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – Circuits 1: Intro to Circuits: electricity, resistance, schematics, bread-boarding & working with potentiometers
- Friday, July 14, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – Circuits 2: basic circuits theory
- Tuesday, July 18, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – Arduino 1: Introduction to circuits and Arduino
- Wednesday, July 19, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – Arduino 2: working with sensors
- Friday, July 21, 2023 | 6 – 9 PM – Arduino 3: intro to serial communication protocols
- Saturday, July 22, 2023 | 9 – 2 PM – Intro to UCLA Engineering MakerSpace (optional; but recommended for those participating in-person at HAcK)
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.
To register for Basic Training visit the Registration section on the bottom of this web page.
HAcK Technical Competition
Monday, July 24, 2023 (6 – 9 PM) – HAcK Orientation & Training
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
Tuesday, August 1, 2023 – Design Review presentation submission deadline
Saturday, August 5, 2023 ( 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. Show your ability to use your skills and design tools to accomplish this technical challenge.
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!
HAcK is run in a hybrid format accommodating students participating in-person as well as remotely. Remot participants will be assigned portions of the project that do NOT involve prototyping. While there is an option to participate remotely, we highly encourage students to consider participating in-person for the full experience. In year’s past, students have commuted in to UCLA, arranged to stay at a relative or friend’s house that lives in Los Angeles.
Participant fee: $0 (Open to 50 participants)
Pre-requisites to participate include attending eTransfer 101, Basic Training, and Classroom Boot Camp or CEED Breeze or CISE Bridge programs. Students that participate in HAcK will be invited to a Networking Practice with alumni working in industry to practice sharing your ability to engineer.
For more information, please visit the HAcK 2022 page: https://etransfercenter.seas.ucla.edu/hack-2022/.
To register for HAcK, visit the Registration section on the bottom of this web page.
Classroom Boot Camp
Monday – Friday 6 – 9 PM starting Tuesday, August 29, 2023 through Friday, September 15, 2023.
Final examination – Saturday, September 16, 2023
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.
Schedule:
- Tuesday, August 29, 2023, 6 – 8 PM Welcome, Orientation & Assessment quiz
- Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Lecture 1 (virtual)
- Thursday, August 31, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Lecture 2 (virtual)
- Tuesday, September 5, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Discussion 1 (virtual)
- Wednesday, September 6, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Lecture 3 (virtual)
- Thursday, September 7, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Lecture 4 (virtual)
- Friday, September 8, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Discussion 2 (virtual)
- Monday, September 11, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Lecture 5 (virtual)
- Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Lecture 6 (virtual)
- Wednesday, September 13, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Discussion 3 (virtual)
- Thursday, September 14, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Lecture 7 (virtual)
- Friday, September 15, 2023, 6 – 8 PM | Discussion 4 (virtual)
- Saturday, September 16, 2023 | Final Examination & Project Submission (time tba)
Participant fee: $0 (Open and free to 50 participants) – supported by UCLA Samueli Engineering
Register for Classroom Boot Camp visit the Registration section on the bottom of this web page.
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 calendar.
Event dates subject to change. Check back closer to the start of the program for an updated version. Last updated: June 2023.
Registration
Registration for Accelerator Programs are as follows:
- eTransfer 101: no registration required. All incoming eTransfers should attend this and will receive an email with the Zoom session link.
- Basic Training, HAcK, and Classroom Boot Camp registration – click this link and complete your registration by Friday, June 9, 2023. There are spots for up to 50 participants in each of these programs.
- Check the zyBooks Course Refresher page for information on how to purchase your zyBooks license.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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What is the Summer Accelerator for Engineering Transfers?
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?
Is the Accelerator a selective program?
- 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?
What Diagnostic Asssessment Tests should I take?
What is the difference between Course Refresher and Boot Camp?
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?
Will I get course credit for participating?
It seems like the eTransfer 101 presentations are going to be posted on the website. Why should I attend the events?
Some 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.
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. While we highly recommend attending HAcK in-person, we invite those outside the Los Angeles area to participate remotely.
The results will be presented at the HAcK Awards ceremony.
What skills do I need to participate in the HAcK?
How much does the program cost?
Do I need to participate in all Accelerator activities or can I pick and choose?
Can I work or take summer classes during Accelerator?
Will I have homework?
- 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 3rd after the Accelerator info-session.
Additional Summer Activities
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 as well as the Curriculum Requirements page for sample 2 year plans by Department.
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:
- Any missing course prep required for admission (Chemistry, Physics, or Math) – all majors
- Bioengineering – Physics 1C, Math 33 A, and Math 33B
- Chemical Engineering majors – MAE or CEE M20 (Matlab)
- Materials Science & Engineering majors – MAT SCI 104
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering majors – Chem 20B and MAE 82
These courses will enable you to more seamlessly continue your education in the fall and reduce your time to degree.
Participant fee: See the UCLA Summer Sessions website, for information on fees and deadlines.
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:
UCLA Samueli Engineering Welcome, Engineering Student Organization Fair, and MentorSEAS Kick-off
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 | Time and location to be announced.
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!
eTransfer Student Welcome & Academic Year Kick-off
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
5 – 7 PM
Location will be emailed to students in the week approaching the start of Fall 2023
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!
Welcome Week (week 0) Drop in Advising at the Engineering Transfer Center
Our staff will be available on Thursday & Friday of week 0 to answer any questions. Come on by!
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.