Mandatory Advising

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.

Seniors! Your hold has been placed, but it will not impact your registration until December 6. Please read below to find the steps required to clear your hold. 
An appointment with our office is not required, and will not clear this mandatory advising hold.

First-Year Students (Freshmen)

College of Letters & Science banner at an event

All first-year students in our majors will have their mandatory advising requirement with the College of Letters & Science during their first year at UC Davis. Please check your email for further information on the hold and how to remove it.

Second-Year Students (Sophomores)

Student line up at a club's booth at an event

Second-year students will have their mandatory advising requirement in Spring quarter. The goal of Sophomore Mandatory Advising is to ensure that you know how to 1) track progress toward you major requirements, 2) create a balanced academic plan, and 3) explore resources and opportunities.

Information for Spring 2025's Mandatory Advising requirement will be added soon.

  • If you have a hold from Spring 2024, click here to find out what you need to do to get your hold removed.
  • Psychology and Cognitive Science Majors:
    To clear this hold, you must watch the recording of our group advising workshop and complete the post-workshop quiz with 5 out of 5 questions answered correctly. You do NOT need an advising appointment, and drop-in advising will not meet the mandatory advising requirement.

    Philosophy and Science & Technology Studies Majors

    1. Make and attend an advising appointment with a major advisor.     
    - Drop-in hours will not meet the mandatory advising requirement.    
    - Peer advisors cannot clear this hold.     
    - If you need support scheduling an advising appointment, please email us: ycadvising@ucdavis.edu

    2. Before attending your appointment, please update your degree worksheet with completed and in progress major classes, and update your academic plan to include all major requirements for graduation.

    Planning to switch majors?

    If you are planning to switch majors outside of Psychology, Cognitive Science, Philosophy, or Science & Technology Studies, please notify us via email at ycadvising@ucdavis.edu, and we’ll clear your hold. We also recommend that you communicate with your intended major’s advising office for further academic planning.

    Your hold will be removed within 1 week of completing the Mandatory Advising steps.

First-Year Transfer Students (Juniors)

Two students sitting in the Transfer Center with "Welcome Transfer Aggies" sign in background

First-year transfer students will have their mandatory advising requirement in Winter quarter. The goal of mandatory advising for new transfer students is to ensure that you know how to 1) track progress toward your major requirements, 2) create a balanced academic plan, and 3) connect to resources and opportunities.

Information on Winter 2025's Mandatory Advising requirement will be added soon.

Have a hold from Winter 2024?

If you have a hold from Winter 2024, email us at ycadvising@ucdavis.edu for steps to clear your advising hold.

Fourth-Year Students (Seniors)

Students at a career fair event

Seniors will have their mandatory advising requirement in Fall quarter. The goal of this mandatory advising is to ensure that you: (1) are on track to graduate, (2) plan for your transition out of college, and (3) finalize your next steps towards your professional goals.

An appointment with our office will not clear your hold. When your hold is placed in early October, you will need to complete the following steps:

Mandatory Requirements (complete both):

  1. Submit an academic plan in OASIS with 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.
  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 23, 2024).
  • These steps are due December 1, 2024 to allow for time for staff advisors to remove holds before they become active. 
  • The hold will become active on December 13, 2024.


Optional (but recommended):

  • Request a degree check from the College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Education & Advising Office. It is strongly recommended to get a degree check from 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.

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 2025 Pass 1 registration.

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:
Prepare for pre-health careers/professional school:
Prepare for graduate or law school:
Miscellaneous options:
  • Attend a workshop with Success Coaching & Learning Strategies
  • Make (and 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)