Read below for important information regarding your Mandatory Advising hold.
Our objective is to help you achieve your personal and academic goals. Mandatory advising is one of the ways that your major and college advisors can ensure that you get the most out of your experience at UC Davis. Please review the instructions below for your specific mandatory advising requirements.
What is a Hold?
A hold prevents students from making any changes to their schedule. Yellow Cluster Mandatory Advising holds are placed without becoming active until a later date. This allows you time to take action to remove the hold to prevent registration issues.
Fourth-Year Students
This hold is placed for high school students admitted in Fall 2022 or transfer students admitted Fall 2024.
Seniors have their mandatory advising requirement in Fall quarter. The goal of the mandatory advising is to ensure that you
- Are on track to graduate
- Plan for your transition out of college
- Finalize your next steps towards your professional goals
How to Remove Your Hold
An appointment with our office will not clear your hold.
Requirement 1 - Submit an academic plan in OASIS that includes all of your remaining major requirements.
- Title it: Senior Academic Plan
- Submit to your major only. Please do not submit it to the College of Letters & Science.
Requirement 2 - Participate in one “Post-Graduation Preparation Activity” (see below) to help you prepare for the transition out of UC Davis, and submit the Google Form about your experience.
- The activity must have taken place during Fall quarter or later (after September 24, 2025).
Once you have completed both of the mandatory steps above, the academic advisor will remove your hold. Your hold may take up to 1 business week to release. Please note: This hold will not affect your Winter Quarter 2026 Pass 1 registration.
Optional (but recommended): - It is strongly recommended to meet with the College of Letters and Science to ensure you are completing all university and college requirements, which include things like: overall unit minimum (180), upper division unit minimum (64), General Education requirements, foreign language (for A.B. majors) or Natural Science & Math units (for B.S. majors), and more.
Deadlines
- Holds Placed: Week 2 of Fall Quarter
- Last Day to Clear Hold: December 5, 2025
- Holds Become Active: December 12, 2025
Transfer Students
This hold is placed for transfer students who were admitted Fall 2025.
First-year transfer students will have their mandatory advising requirement in Winter quarter. The goal of mandatory advising is to ensure that you
- Start thinking about your post-graduation plans
- Know how to connect to resources and opportunities that can help you with your post-graduation plans.
How to Remove Your Hold
Coming Soon
Deadlines
- Holds Placed: Week 2 of Winter Quarter
- Last Day to Clear Hold: March 13, 2026
- Holds Become Active: March 20, 2026
Second-Year Students
This hold is placed for high school students who were admitted in Fall 2024.
Second-year students have their mandatory advising requirement in Spring quarter. The goal of mandatory advising is for you to
- Connect with a Yellow Cluster Staff Advisor or Peer Advisor
- Understand your major requirements and the progress you have made towards them
How to Remove Your Hold
Coming Soon
Deadlines
- Holds Placed: Week 2 of Spring Quarter
- Last Day to Clear Hold: June 4, 2026
- Holds Become Active: June 11, 2026
Examples of Post-Graduation Preparation Activities
There are so many resources available at UC Davis! Pick one that will help you with your post-graduation goals, whether that is finding a job, attending graduate school, or something else! Only one Post-Graduation Preparation Activity is required for your mandatory advising hold.
Prepare for finding a job or internship:
- Attend a Career Fair
- Attend an appointment with a Career Advisor
- Attend a workshop or employer information session with the Career Center
- Get your resume or cover letter reviewed through Resume Review+
Prepare for pre-health careers/professional school:
- Attend an appointment with a Health Professions Advisor
- Attend a workshop or event put on by Health Professions Advising
Prepare for graduate or law school:
- Attend an appointment with a Pre-Grad or Pre-Law Advisor
- Attend a workshop with Pre-Grad/Pre-Law Advising
- Get help with your personal statement with a Writing Specialist
Miscellaneous options:
- Attend a workshop/event with the Yellow Cluster Advising Office
- Attend a workshop with Success Coaching & Learning Strategies
- Attend an appointment with a Success Coach
- Attend a workshop with the Center for Leadership Learning
- Discuss graduate school exploration/application with a faculty member
- Do an informational interview with a professional in a career you are interested in (cannot be a friend still in undergrad)