With its rigorous quarter system, frustrating enrollment process and a daunting array of resources to sift through, UCLA can be difficult to navigate on one’s own. Luckily, students in College Academic Counseling, or CAC, and the Academic Advancement Program, or AAP, can meet with peer counselors trained to support their academic questions, needs and goals.
CAC, the college advising unit for students in the College of Letters and Science, and AAP, the college advising unit serving students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, offer separate peer counseling services. Regardless, both aim to provide students with counseling options that may feel more accessible, given the opportunity to speak with someone maneuvering the same system.
Peer counselors in AAP meet with first and second-year traditional and transfer students. They assist students with academic, personal and professional endeavors. AAP counselors inform students about different policies, options and resources within the university to meet their specific interests and needs. Services are available throughout the academic year, where students can schedule a counseling appointment online. Resources are available in the summer, too, through AAP’s Freshman and Transfer Summer Program, or FTSP.
Carmen Trejo, a fourth-year sociology student, served as an AAP peer counselor for FTSP and is currently a peer counselor for the full academic year. As a transfer and AAP student herself, Trejo applied for the position with wishes of helping students from a diverse population. As a peer counselor, Trejo hopes to provide a safe space for students to seek academic counseling, and, if they wish, to discuss aspects of their identity they want to explore at UCLA through various cultural clubs, organizations and professional opportunities.
“I just felt that the position really aligned with what I wanted to do,” said Trejo. “I’ve never had an academic counseling job before this, so I feel like the reason it interested me so much was because I was an AAP student as well. I felt like it was a really unique way to give back to the community while also broadening my skill set.”
Trejo has discovered resources through this position that she finds invaluable to the Bruin community. For students who may have questions regarding resources outside an academic scope, Trejo recommends that they make an appointment with a peer counselor.
“I’ve learned about things like the Career Center or the Student Activity Center. There are a lot of retention programs, like Soñar, which is a Latino-specific retention program for students. The Bruin Resource Center houses a lot of resources for students from marginalized communities, like undocumented students or students with dependents,” shares Trejo. “So while these may not be parts of my identity, I think it’s always really important to know what student communities we have at UCLA and how we can support them.”
Trejo also adds that AAP students can come to peer counselors for personal matters, emphasizing that this service plays a large role in AAP’s mission to prioritize student success and make this campus more accessible to students of marginalized identities.
“I think now more than ever given our political climate, it’s really important to show up for our community members and to find our own voices, so whatever that looks like for other students — like if that looks like going to meet with peer counselors — I think everyone should be doing more of what makes them feel heard right now,” said Trejo. “Even just being in conversation with one another can help.”
Students who want to make an appointment or apply to the AAP peer counseling position can find out more information by checking the official AAP website at aap.ucla.edu and the AAP peer counseling Instagram, @aap_peercounseling, for updates. Though the window to apply for the AAP peer counseling position has closed for the 2025-2026 school year, the application often opens at the beginning of the winter quarter every academic year.
CAC peer counselors also provide academic support, assisting with making four-year plans, filing petitions, finding more information about academic policies, deadlines and more. Additionally, they host workshops on topics relevant to undergraduate students, such as how to navigate enrollment, what paths students can take after graduation, how students can get involved in research and resources for pre-med and pre-health students.
Fourth-year sociology and Chicana/Chicano studies student Veronica Aguilera says her background as a transfer student and her desire to pursue a career in the field of education has helped her in her role as a CAC peer counselor.
“I mean, I’ve done this before and I think because of my college experience, I really wanted to work within the education system,” said Aguilera. “It’s just a great opportunity to work within the UCLA system, but also expand those skills within the counseling area. I think what I love, too, is that CAC is flexible and acknowledges that we’re students too.”
Aguilera states that peer counseling offers an experience that is different from most academic counseling services; students feel more comfortable opening up to peers who can relate to their identities and experiences.
“It’s so unique when it comes to having a support system from students on the same, shared level,” said Aguilera. “I’ve had experiences where people see me wearing my Mexico jersey, and they’re like, ‘Do you speak Spanish?’ and I’m like, ‘Yes, I do! Do you prefer to speak Spanish or English in this conversation?’”
Aguilera wants to remind students they can meet with peer counselors without a specific question.
“We try to really help students in whatever capable way we can,” stated Aguilera. “I definitely want to emphasize that there’s no such thing as a ‘dumb’ question. Anything that concerns you is really important. We understand that not a lot of information is presented to you, and we’re here to guide you with that. The service is free for students, so while you’re here at UCLA, please take advantage of all the resources you have and don’t feel ashamed of using them.”
CAC is currently hiring peer counselors for the 2026-2027 academic year, and applications close on March 23rd. For more information on how to apply for the CAC peer counseling position or make an appointment with a CAC peer counselor, students can visit the CAC website at caac.ucla.edu and the CAC Instagram page, @uclacac.
