Important Notice: Fall enrollment for continuing students has been moved to mid-July, due to the upcoming transition to the new Triton Student System (TSS). For questions about how this may impact fall enrollment, please contact the Registrar’s office. Additional information from campus will be shared as it becomes available.
Advising Services
Academic advising is a process designed to facilitate student development and communicate information regarding degree programs, courses, resources, and departmental policies/procedures to help students attain their educational goals. The academic advising process helps students to:
- understand policies and procedures, curricular options, and academic program requirements
- define and outline their educational objectives
- plan programs that incorporate their interests, abilities, and goals
- take full advantage of the facilities and resources available at UC San Diego
Advising Options & Resources
Options for advising and related resources are outlined in the drawers below.
Ask A Question in the Virtual Advising Center (VAC)
Current students can submit a brief question 24-hours a day through the Virtual Advising Center, within the Ask a Question area. An advisor will respond within 72 business hours (and often sooner), and the response can be viewed in the Contact Record area.
Note: Response times may exceed three working days during enrollment periods.
FAST 15: Drop-In Advising (Online)
Fifteen (15) minute online drop-in sessions are available to all students in real time to address simple inquiries related to major/minor requirements, the degree audit, current or upcoming quarter planning, etc.
Drop-In Advising days/times are noted on the advising calendar below. When Drop-In Advising is open students will be able to meet with an advisor by signing in to the Meet with Advisor area of the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
Availability is subject to change.
FAST 15: Walk-In Advising (In-Person)
Fifteen (15) minute walk-in sessions are available to all students in Urey Hall 1510 to address simple inquiries related to major/minor requirements, the degree audit, current or upcoming quarter planning, etc.
Walk-In Advising days/times are noted on the advising calendar below. When Walk-In Advising is open, students will be able to sign in to meet with an advisor in the reception area of Urey Hall 1510.
Availability is subject to change.
Campus forms that need to be reviewed by a biology advisor should be sent to biousis@ucsd.edu as a PDF attachment. Campus forms will not be signed in-person.
Scheduled Appointments (Online & In-Person)
To better accommodate student demand during the summer, and the transition to the new Triton Student System (TSS), 30-minute advising appointments will be temporarily paused.
Advising support will continue to be available through FAST 15 walk/drop-in advising, where advisors can assist with most academic and degree-related questions.
Our 30-minute advising appointments will resume in Fall 2026.
Form Submission (Online)
Campus forms that need to be reviewed by a biology advisor can be sent to biousis@ucsd.edu as a PDF attachment.
Before sending forms to Biology, ensure all guidelines for completion are met.
Forms that are processed via an auto-routing application will not be uploaded to the VAC. All other forms will be signed and returned via the VAC (Contact Record area).
Typical expected turnaround times vary, based on form. Students are expected to plan accordingly.
| Form | Expected Processing Time Frame |
|---|---|
| Athletics Final Quarter Declaration Form Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Forms Max Time Frame Appeal ROTC Forms Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Veteran's Affairs (VA) Forms |
3 business days |
| Return to UC San Diego Form UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) Academic Planning Form |
5 business days |
| Double Major Petition Form | 10 business days |
Information Sessions, Workshops, and Events
Information sessions, workshops, and events are designed to introduce and expose students to academic and cocurricular services, as well as highlight various programs/offerings within the School. In addition to supporting current students, events are also hosted for prospective students.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Academics
- Study Abroad
- Research
- Prospective Student Outreach
Biology information sessions and workshops are scheduled throughout the year.
Graduate, Professional School & Career Advising
The Career Center offers various resources and advising services to assist students with graduate/professional school and career planning.
Students interested in graduate or professional school programs should review the following resources:
If specific admissions requirements are know for professional school programs, biology advisors can assist with plotting biology-related coursework into an individual long term plan or addressing questions about specific biology courses or enrollment.
Students can find employment and postgraduate career pathways data on Career Center's site.
Additionally, to supplement campus resources and offerings, undegraduate and graduate biology students are encouraged to take advantage of the Biosci Career & Professional Development Program.
Undergraduate Advising & Events Calendar
Communication Protocol
The official methods of communication used at UC San Diego by the School of Biological Sciences and your college are email communication via a students’ UC San Diego email account and the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
Due to privacy regulations, the advisors will communicate solely through the VAC or your UC San Diego email account. While some inquiries may be resolved through email correspondence, most situations benefit from face-to-face interaction, so please select the most appropriate form of communication to address your inquires.
Questions
Current UCSD students: Please submit your questions via the VAC. An advisor will respond in 1-3 business days.
Non-UCSD students: Email us at biousis@ucsd.edu