UC Davis: Path To Success!

The campus expects each new student to participate in an orientation program. The Summer Advising and Registration Program is the primary orientation activity. Click here for more new student orientation information.

Welcome to the UC Davis Path to Success
Web site! Follow the Path and click on the boxes to further explore the services and activities that UCD has to offer!

Working with a staff advisor or peer advisor in the department or college of your choice is a great way to explore majors.

Each student is assigned to one of the undergraduate colleges or the Division of Biological Sciences. These units can let you know about their various academic advising and related support services.

The Residence Hall Advising Team assists residence hall students every Tuesday and Wednesday evening from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Check with the Academic Coordinator in your residence hall area for more details; these individuals work with your Resident Advisor (RA).

For information on jobs for students---both on and off campus, contact the Student Employment Center in Dutton Hall.

For a list of the 300+ student clubs/organizations at UC Davis, or if you want to start your own group, contact the Student Programs & Activities Center (SPAC) on the 4th Floor of the Memorial Union (MU).

Major advisers are found in the academic departments. To find the location of your department, check the UC Davis General Catalog for a complete listing of all undergraduate programs and courses at UC Davis.

After exploring various academic areas and narrowing your interests, choose a major that challenges you intellectually as well as meets possible career interests and meets professional school prerequisites.

The Internship and Career Center, 2nd and 3rd floors South Hall, offers various workshops, seminars and career fairs that can help you think about the world of work. Better yet, find out about ICC's Career Decision class-offered each quarter.

The Student Leadership Development Series teaches essential leadership skills from professionals in various fields through quarterly two-hour workshops, team activities, group service projects and internships. The Series focuses on areas of communication, integrity, service, self-awareness, organizational understanding and appreciation of differences.

Both the Counseling Center and the Internship & Career Center are great resources to assist in assessing your career interests and strengths. ICC provides a variety of materials including assessment tools to give direction to your career exploration. The Counseling Center offers several assessment instruments that can aid in clarifying your interests and abilities.

The Pre-Graduate School Advising Office of Advising Services can assist you in all aspects of preparation for graduate school. Advisors are available to assist in the planning and decision-making process, to give ideas of application strategies, to provide testing information, and to offer several handouts on the application process.

The Internship & Career Center offers a variety of resources for developing an effective resume. Start by attending a resume workshop to learn the purpose, form, content, and use of resumes, cover letters, and thank you notes. ICC's resume-writing resources include Web publications and links as well as the Career Placement Manual workbook.

Visit your respective academic department (or college) and meet with a major advisor to ensure you will be taking the appropriate course work. It is best to do this as early as possible to make certain that you do not miss any courses that are necessary prerequisites or for graduation.

Once you've completed 90 quarter units, you're half way to completion of the bachelor's degree. In order to maximize upper-division study and position yourself for grad school or a career, you should have chosen your major at this point. This is an excellent time to meet with an academic advisor in your major or college.

Overseas study options are more flexible than ever and can tremendously enhance your undergraduate education---programs last six weeks (summer), a quarter, or a full academic year. Visit the Education Abroad Center in Kerr Hall to learn about the UC Education Abroad Program as well as other study abroad programs.

Internships are an excellent way to explore careers as well as confirm an existing career interest. Visit the Internship and Career Center early to find out about the numerous experiential learning opportunities they offer. UC Davis students typically take internships beginning in their sophomore or junior years.

As an undergraduate researcher you can develop teamwork and problem solving skills and see how research is done in your discipline. You will gain useful first-hand experience and may earn letters of recommendation that will speed you on your way to graduate school. Transcript notations and academic units may also be available. For further details, check with Advising Services, the Internship and Career Center or the academic department of your choice.

While you are an undergraduate, Advising Services can help you build a letter of recommendation file. These files, which contain letters of recommendation from faculty members and other people familiar with your work, greatly simplify the process of applying for graduate or professional school. If you are a junior, start now!

Communications, English and the foreign languages and literature departments (such as Spanish, French, and German) are just a few of the academic departments that will help you strengthen your communications skills. Look at any class that requires an oral report or term paper or offers an optional writing component. The Learning Skills Center and Student Programs and Activities Center offer a range of skill-building opportunities, too.

It's difficult to thrive in today's world without a good working knowledge of computers and information technology. At the minimum, you should know word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail and the Internet, and you will benefit from knowing data base management and how to prepare computer-based slides. Check with Information and Educational Technology for courses available to you.

Don't be bashful, even George Washington and Abraham Lincoln had to start somewhere! Enhance your teamwork, problem solving, and communication skills at the same time that you network with other students and establish friendships that could be with you for life. Whatever your level of past experiences, the Student Programs and Activities Center is a great place to start.

Many if not most graduate and professional schools require entrance exams and the time to prepare is now! To learn about examination and other requirements for the schools of your choice, stop by Advising Services. "Multiple-guess" tests not your strong point? The Learning Skills Center can help.

Planning to graduate this year? Stop by your college Dean's Office to initiate a degree check. There are deadlines set by set by each college for this important step---forgetting this can delay your graduation date. In addition, file a "graduation application" with the Office of the Registrar, Room 12, Mrak Hall.

An important part of the Internship and Career Center is the Career Recruitment Program. This is located in the Beuhler Alumni and Visitors Center. The Center uses AggieTraks that connects seniors with employers who conduct on-campus interviews.

Advising Services is the place to start your graduate or professional school search. Located in South Hall, you can
use their extensive resource library, surf the Internet for schools, or meet with an advisor to get you started.

Here's the place to explore your options with interviewer from top employers and graduate schools. Advising Services and the Internship and Career Center organize these events.

Put together an impressive application package with an outstanding academic record, a well-crafted statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. Advising Services can help you in these efforts.

Complement your major with another area of study. Sharpen your focus or broaden your horizons! Check with the colleges on minor programs.

Wrap up loose ends and make sure you're on the right track to receive your diploma. Check with your major department and/or college dean's office.

Take the final step toward graduation. Certify that you've met all requirements and make preparation to have your diploma issued. In addition, file a graduation application with the Office of the Registrar , Room 12, Mrak Hall.

Get your foot in the door with a professional-looking resume. Learn how best to convey your skills and experience to employers. The Internship and Career Center has both information and offers advice on preparing resumes.