New Student Frequently Asked Questions
Orientation
Where do I register for Orientation?
To register for your college orientation program, go to the College Orientation Registration site.
Having trouble getting into the registration site? Make sure you've created your TritonLink Active Directory Account - you were prompted to do this in your Applicant Portal.
Are all three parts of the Eighth College Orientation program required?
Yes, all three parts of your Eighth College Orientation Experience are mandatory. If you do not complete one, or all, of the college orientation program, a hold may be placed on your account.
I am having technical difficulties registering for Part I of the Eighth College Orientation program. What do I do?
Before you can register for Part I of your Eighth College Orientation Experience, you must activate your UCSD Zoom account. To do so, follow the instructions under "Getting Started" on the UC San Diego Zoom webpage.
If you have already activated your Zoom account or are experiencing difficulties registering for Orientation, please email eighthorientation@ucsd.edu.
Can I change my in-person orientation session?
Students can change their registration for Orientation Part III once before Friday, July 26, 2024 via the College Orientation Registration website. If you need to change your session after this date or for a second time, email eighthorientation@ucsd.edu. Please note, changes are not guaranteed.
How can I ensure my in-person orientation session does not conflict with move-in?
Students who have applied for UC San Diego housing and met all requirements will be able to select their move-in day/time and should choose a time that does not conflict with their pre-selected orientation session. More information about move-in will be released over the summer.
How do I pay for New Student Orientation?
As a self-supporting program, the Orientation fee covers expenses for materials, publications, mailings, meals, staffing, as well as Welcome Week activities. The Orientation "Program Fee" of $200 will be charged to each student's account and will appear alongside registration fees on the fall quarter student billing statement. Please do not send a check to pay for the Student Orientation Program.
Will there be interpreters for any of the orientation sessions?
Students can request ASL or other accommodations from the Office for Students with Disabilities. Additionally, students should indicate accessibility accommodations through Orientation Registration.
Unfortunately, Eighth College cannot provide language interpreters (e.g., Spanish, Chinese) for students or families during the programs. While some orientation leaders are fluent in languages other than English, the program is in English.
Unfortunately, Eighth College cannot provide language interpreters (e.g., Spanish, Chinese) for students or families during the programs. While some orientation leaders are fluent in languages other than English, the program is in English.
Does Eighth College have a Family Orientation?
In collaboration with Parent & Family Programs, the campus will offer a series of optional online webinars for family members during the summer.
Eighth College will also offer an optional virtual session specifically for Eighth College family members in early September. The exact dates are forthcoming but should be released by early/mid-July. These webinars are designed to help family members with the transition of their student to college.
Additionally, Eighth College Orientation invites you to review our Family and Triton Supporters page of the website to consider attending the Family and Triton Supporters Welcome Luncheon on Sunday, September 22nd.
Academics at Eighth College
Where is Eighth College Academic Advising located?
Eighth College Academic Advising is located on the second floor of the Podemos building. You can also view a campus map on maps.ucsd.edu for your reference.
When can I begin speaking to an Academic Advisor?
Incoming students will have the opportunity to hear from an Eighth College Academic Advisor during the Orientation Part I: Enrollment and Academic Planning Webinars, which is the first required part of new student orientation.
Following the Webinars we will also be hosting one on one speed advising sessions which are not required but are intended for students who have questions about their academic plan following the webinar. More information on speed advising will be sent directly to students as we get closer to August.
When do I contact my college advising? When do I contact my department/program advisor?
Consult department and program advisors for assistance with major requirements and courses.
Contact Eighth College Academic Advising for help with college and university requirements or any other academic matters.
Contact Eighth College Academic Advising for help with college and university requirements or any other academic matters.
What are Eighth College’s GE requirements?
The Eighth College GE curriculum is designed to be flexible and to complement any major. Students will select 2 courses of interest from the 5 following categories: Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Quantitative Methods and Engineering, and Social Sciences.
A full list of accepted courses in each of these categories can be found on our website. Eighth Students will also complete the 4-course Eighth Writing Series called CCE. More information on CCE can be found at the same attached link.
Why does each college have different General Education (GE) requirements?
The UC San Diego college system combines the academic advantages of a large research university with the finest features of a small liberal arts college. Each undergraduate college has its own residential neighborhood, general education curriculum, support services, and distinctive traditions.
Can my AP/IB scores and/or community college coursework satisfy degree requirements? Is there a limit to how many credits I can receive?
AP/IB credit may satisfy degree requirements. Please refer to Eighth College’s AP and IB charts for details. There is no limit to the amount of credit you can receive from AP/IB scores.
Community College coursework may also satisfy degree requirements. Information about how to transfer courses can be found on our website. A maximum of 105 quarter units/70 semester units can be transferred from outside institutions.
Community College coursework may also satisfy degree requirements. Information about how to transfer courses can be found on our website. A maximum of 105 quarter units/70 semester units can be transferred from outside institutions.
Should I schedule back-to-back classes with a 10-minute gap in between?
We typically advise against scheduling back-to-back classes, however this might be necessary in order to enroll in your required courses.
You have the option of trying out a back-to-back schedule during the first week of the quarter, and if you find you don’t have enough time in between classes, you can make changes to your schedule up until Friday of Week 2.
How do I change my major?
The process for changing your major depends on your current student status and the type of major.
- If you are a continuing student, you can change your major any time via the Major/Minor tool
- If you are an incoming student, you will be able to change your major via the Major/Minor tool once you have enrolled in Fall Quarter courses
- If you are interested in a selective major outside of your current department/program, you will be redirected to the Selective Majors Application
I was not admitted into my first choice major which is a selective major. Is it possible for me to switch into a selective major?
Some majors at UC San Diego are selective, which means enrollment in the major is restricted due to high demand. If you were not accepted to the major upon admission to UC San Diego, you will need to apply sometime after you start your academic journey.
Every selective major has its own admissions requirements, so it is important to contact the major department or program directly to ask about the application process. We recommend exploring alternative majors since admission into a selective major is not guaranteed.
Every selective major has its own admissions requirements, so it is important to contact the major department or program directly to ask about the application process. We recommend exploring alternative majors since admission into a selective major is not guaranteed.
How many classes should an incoming student take for their first quarter at UC San Diego?
Students are encouraged to enroll in anywhere between 12-16 units for their first quarter at UC San Diego. This often means 3-4 classes for the quarter.
As the quarter progresses, we also encourage students to review the UC San Diego Quarterly Deadlines in case you are considering dropping and/or adding a course to your schedule.
Living in Eighth College
When will Eighth College construction end?
We're looking forward to having our construction end in August 2024!
What appliances and amenities do Eighth College residential areas include within the living space?
Our apartments will provide: stove, full-sized refrigerator, and an oven
Our suites will provide no in-unit kitchen amenities, but large communal kitchen on every other floor
More information can be found on our Eighth College Residence Life page.
Are incoming first-year students required to live on campus?
Yes, first-year students are required to live on campus for their first-year a UC San Diego. Exceptions can be made, but you are encouraged to contact Housing and Dining Hospitality for further information.
What on-campus dining options are available for Eighth College students?
64 Degrees is the nearest dining hall in Revelle College, just a 2 minute walk from Eighth College! Students will also have close access to Roger's market, located in Revelle College.
You can review the various restaurants and markets available to UC San Diego students, including the menus and hours of operation.
How many people do I have to share a bathroom and kitchen with?
The exact number of people you will be sharing a space with will vary depending on which building/room style you are assigned to, ranging from 9-12 students. Please review our Residence Life page for more specific information and virtual tours of our residential buildings.
What type of after hours support is available to students living in Eighth College?
After hours, Resident Assistants (RAs) on duty will be on-call from 5pm-11pm M-F and 9am-11pm Saturday and Sunday. Additional resources include UC Police Department, University Safety Officers, and Triton Core.
Can first-year students park on campus?
Unfortunately, first and second-year students are not able to purchase parking permits outside of a few exceptions. Please check out the transportation page for undergraduates which includes information on exceptions as well as other means of getting around San Diego without a car.
Student Life and Involvement
How can I meet and build a community with peers from other colleges?
UC San Diego offers many ways to engage with students from across the colleges. We highly recommend joining campus student organizations, participating in Associated Students (Student Government), attending athletic events, and more.
Eighth College also partners with other colleges to create events and programs for the entire student community.
What is Eighth College's philosophy and theme?
Eighth College’s philosophy and theme of community and engagement is at the heart of some of the world’s most challenging issues, including structural racism, economic disparities, health and wellbeing, climate disruption, and many more. Eighth College seeks to cultivate students' abilities to understand and respond to these challenges, inspiring and equipping our future leaders.
Can I change my college?
Please know that process is very rare. We have yet to develop the specifics for Eighth yet on our website, but I can share what Revelle has available on their site as the process/criteria itself would be the same.
The main component is that students have to show they can graduate at least two quarters sooner in another college than they would if they stayed in their current college. This is to ensure students do not have an added financial burden due to the alignment with their major and college. This is very rarely the case, and with the flexibility of Eighth College this should be highly unlikely for students. One other item I want to point out is that the earliest a student would be able to request the transfer is after they have completed their college writing courses – for Eighth that will mean completion of Critical Community Engagement 2 and 3 (which you’ll finish in your 2nd year).
When new students ask about it, we always want to be upfront that choosing to attend UC San Diego means you are choosing to attend Eighth College. No one should accept an offer here hoping they’ll be able to leave their college. I know this is likely not the exact answer you were hoping for, but I hope it helps alleviate your concerns and that you’re excited to join us in the fall in Eighth College.
Let us know as you have additional questions.
The main component is that students have to show they can graduate at least two quarters sooner in another college than they would if they stayed in their current college. This is to ensure students do not have an added financial burden due to the alignment with their major and college. This is very rarely the case, and with the flexibility of Eighth College this should be highly unlikely for students. One other item I want to point out is that the earliest a student would be able to request the transfer is after they have completed their college writing courses – for Eighth that will mean completion of Critical Community Engagement 2 and 3 (which you’ll finish in your 2nd year).
When new students ask about it, we always want to be upfront that choosing to attend UC San Diego means you are choosing to attend Eighth College. No one should accept an offer here hoping they’ll be able to leave their college. I know this is likely not the exact answer you were hoping for, but I hope it helps alleviate your concerns and that you’re excited to join us in the fall in Eighth College.
Let us know as you have additional questions.