Preparing for Academic Success

Adjusting to a New Academic Experience

How U.S. Grading Works

UC Davis has two types of grading systems: In the first, students are given a letter grade between A and F. Depending on your major, a D or F may require you to repeat the class. At the end of each academic quarter, the letter grades will be assigned a grade point and will be used to calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA). Your GPA is a numeric evaluation of your academic performance at Davis and can be considered when applying for jobs, scholarships and academic programs.

The second grading system gives a Pass (P) or No Pass (NP) instead of a letter grade. Some classes are only offered on a P/NP basis. 

The Quarter System

At UC Davis, the academic year is made up of three 10-week quarters (fall, winter and spring) with two optional six-week summer sessions. One week of final exams follows the end of each quarter. On average, students take three to four courses each quarter, depending on the level of difficulty. Students looking to get ahead or stay on track can choose to attend one or both of the summer sessions.

Interacting with Faculty

This can be a big cultural difference to overcome when you get to the U.S.: Faculty want to interact with you. In fact, many encourage it and may factor your participation in discussions into your final grade. 

In addition to instructing the class, the faculty at UC Davis can serve as a resource for academic and professional advice and mentorship and can even provide research opportunities. Students are encouraged to interact with faculty by contributing to the discussion in class, asking questions and respectfully sharing opinions, even if they are different from your instructor’s opinion.

Typically, on the syllabus, faculty let you know if they prefer to be emailed or approached during office hours. Professors and instructors set aside weekly office hours throughout the quarter for students to come and ask for help, guidance or to talk and learn more about the professor and their research interests. In most cases, faculty can also meet outside of their scheduled office hours if there is a conflict with your schedule—you just have to ask with enough notice.

If members of the faculty get to know you, they can be excellent references in the future, so drop in during office hours to check in with them.

Test of Oral English Proficiency (TOEP)

Graduate students interested in holding teaching assistant (TA) and associate instructor (AI) positions can take this on-campus exam to demonstrate their oral English proficiency. The TOEP is offered at the end of each quarter. 

Adjusting to School 

Foundations for Success for International Students 

This course is designed to help international students adapt to UC Davis and American life. It is an optional year-long series of seminars for new international students offered by the School of Education and Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS). Topics include: academic expectations, quarter system, American cultural celebrations, academic writing rules, conduct expectations, culture shock, friendships, campus involvement and time management. (The class is 2 units, Pass/No Pass grading.)

First-Year Seminars

First-Year Seminars are small, innovative classes that reflect the instructor’s intellectual interests. Limited to 19 students each, these courses cover an exciting range of topics. 

Global Ambassador Mentorship Program

This program helps incoming first-year and transfer international undergraduate students successfully transition to life at UC Davis. The program has mentor fellows who help guide and, most importantly, offer friendship as they help new international undergraduate students excel in their new lives at UC Davis. Participants, called “mentees,” share their culture and values with their mentors and receive support from them. While mentees are exclusively international students, mentors include a combination of international and domestic students.

Pal Program

The Pal Program pairs undergraduate students for intercultural conversation. Meetings with a partner can be used to practice language, explore campus, and enrich your college experience. 

Academic Advising and Assistance For All

It's natural for even the best of students to struggle academically. Should you find yourself behind or having difficulty, we encourage you to address it sooner rather than later. There are many opportunities across campus that are available just for you, and for just this reason. We hope you will not hesitate to connect with them if you need them. If you are unsure about connecting, please remember that everyone at this university is committed to your academic success. They are here to help you.

Undergraduate Academic Advising 

All international undergraduate students have international academic advisors specifically assigned to them in each college. Advisors are your first resource if you are having academic difficulty. Contact information can be found by logging onto the Online Advising Student Information System (OASIS).

Your international academic advisor can assist you with: degree and general education requirements, course planning for your first year, academic policies, regulations and petitions.

Graduate Academic Advising 

All graduate programs have a Graduate Program Coordinator who serves as the primary point of contact for their students. Your Coordinator can help you understand and navigate UC Davis resources and policies, and can work with your SISS International Student Advisor to address visa requirements. 

In addition, each graduate student has a faculty Academic Advisor assigned to them by their program, to help them plan their academic progress and needed coursework. 

University Writing Center

This friendly and professional resource aids all Aggies of all abilities by providing support to empower writers. It offers one-on-one consultations, writing groups, workshops, seminars and more. Whether or not you believe you are a good writer, are confident, or have experience, find support for any writing project.  

Academic Assistance and Tutoring

Academic Assistance and Tutoring (AAT) provides academic support to undergraduate students enrolled in biology, chemistry, economics, mathematics, physics, statistics and writing across the disciplines. Professional staff offer classes, workshops and office hours. In addition, there are undergraduate tutors that provide drop-in services for students enrolled in math, science and writing across the discipline courses. 

Language and Culture Coaching

This one-on-one English support program helps multilingual graduate students develop their oral English skills for work as TAs through weekly sessions with an undergraduate student coach. Common areas of focus include pronunciation, American classroom culture and presentation skills. 

International TA Seminars

These free seminars are designed to help current and prospective international TAs learn about and practice their language and communication skills for the classroom. Seminars are offered each quarter and often include topics related to pronunciation, presentation skills, TA classroom communication and vocabulary. Any UC Davis grad students or postdocs may attend.  

Success Coaching and Learning Strategies 

Whether you are a first-year student transitioning to our research university and the quarter system, or a fourth-year student wanting to maximize your last year and prepare for what’s next, the Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services has workshops and trainings that can help you reach your goals. Workshops cover time management, academic skills and life skills topics.  

Residential Academic Centers 

Students can study, and meet with peer tutors and peer mentors at the Residential Academic Centers located in all three living areas: Segundo, Tercero and Cuarto. Academic peer mentors are available during drop-in hours to answer questions, share experiences and offer suggestions. Peer Tutors have drop-in hours Monday—Thursday. Tutoring is a group tutoring model. Stop by during available hours for free assistance with common first-year courses like math and chemistry. 

UC Davis Language Center 

The UC Davis Language Center (DLC), located on the bottom floor of Olson Hall, is the central support site for language teaching,  testing, learning and research. The Center maintains specialized, media-equipped classrooms and computer laboratories available for instructors and students.  

Student Disability Center 

The Student Disability Center receives all requests for reasonable accommodations, approves disability-related services, and coordinates support for students with disabilities to ensure equal access to the university’s educational programs. 

Academic and Staff Assistance Program 

The Academic and Staff Assistance Program offers confidential, cost-free counseling services, including assessment, intervention, consultation, and referral services to all UC Davis and UC Davis Health faculty, staff and their immediate families. 

Working and Career Planning 

Working On Campus 

F-1 students may work on campus without work authorization during times that they are active students in good standing. J-1 students may work on campus during times that they are active students in good standing, but must have work authorization from SISS prior to the employment start date. Students may work a maximum of 20 hours per week. Search for jobs and internships with the Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD) and explore employment opportunities on Handshake, a job search website used by UC Davis.

Working Off Campus 

F-1 students may receive authorization for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). J-1 students can apply for Academic Training (AT). Always consult SISS before starting an internship or a job if you are an F-1 or a J-1 student to obtain authorization for CPT, OPT, or AT. 

Career Center 

The Career Center provides experiential education and career services to students and recent alumni through collaboration with the campus community and employers. They provide workshops and programs that allow for professional development and help students with career decisions and exploration. Each quarter, the Career Center hosts internship and career fairs where many companies and organizations come to campus to recruit students. There are even specific programs to help international students prepare for the fair. 

• Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Location: South Hall
• 2nd floor: Career Advising
• 3rd floor: Employer Engagement

Center For Leadership Learning (CLL)

The CLL aims to educate and cultivate the next generation of leaders who have a strong sense of self-awareness, the ability to work effectively with others, and who are civically and socially engaged. The CLL holds a variety of curricular and co-curricular programs and workshops open to all undergraduate students. 

GradPathways 

Graduate Studies offers comprehensive professional and career development opportunities through the GradPathways Institute for Professional Development. Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars can access a number of professional development programs, such as workshops to advance core competencies, specialized micro-credential series and leadership programs such as Professors For The Future and Leaders For The Future.