Academic Advancement Program (AAP) is the largest university-based student diversity program in the U.S. Its programs for first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students help ensure their academic success, retention, and graduation; and support their pursuit of academic excellence. AAP aims to increase member entrance to graduate and professional schools; develop academic, political, scientific, economic, and community leadership; and promote UCLA access and academic success for diverse high school and community college students across California.
Students are eligible for AAP if their academic profiles and personal backgrounds may impact their university experience and their retention and graduation from UCLA. Students are also eligible if they are part of any federally funded program that requires counseling, tutoring, or mentoring. For more information, contact AAP New Student Programs, 1230 Campbell Hall.
The Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP) develops academic partnerships between California community colleges—particularly those with large underrepresented populations—and UCLA, to improve student competitiveness for UC admissions and increase the transfer admission pool diversity. Its Scholars Program offers mentoring and summer programs to help prepare students for transfer to a four-year school.
Graduate and Professional School (GPS) Exploration Services offers AAP undergraduate students one-on-one mentoring in preparation for graduate studies and professional school admission. It also offers workshops on graduate school topics. Appointments are with and workshops are led by current graduate and professional school student mentors.
The program focuses on integration of the arts into different scholarly fields. AAP students engage in interdisciplinary research involving fine, commercial, and performing arts with an emphasis on connections to social justice issues.
The Carter-Huggins Community Development and Social Justice Program (CDSJ) assists AAP students interested in pursuing graduate study in public health, public policy, social welfare, and urban planning. Students conduct applied research projects while interning at community-based social justice and equity organizations.
The Educators for Tomorrow (EFT) program assists a new generation of socially conscious educators. AAP students participate in community service programs, internships, and research related to all facets in the field of education.
The High Achievement in Math and Science Program (HighAIMS) supports AAP students in their chosen health science professions. It offers career and academic guidance, and includes graduate school preparation, workshops, and information sessions.
The two-year McNair Research Scholars Program prepares AAP students for PhD programs. Students conduct an independent research project and participate in a research-intensive summer program.
AAP Peer Learning offers numerous academic support sessions with peer learning facilitators (PLFs). Mainly upper-division undergraduates, PLFs are academic role models who have successfully completed courses in the mathematics, sciences, humanities, and social sciences disciplines. PLFs facilitate individual and small-group sessions designed to help AAP students recognize their own intellectual authority by encouraging them to engage with course materials actively, critically, and independently.
The Research, Assessment, and Evaluation (RAE) unit maintains data on the Academic Advancement Program and AAP students while designing and implementing assessments and evaluations that examine their progress and outcomes. AAP RAE also provides AAP students with the opportunity to engage independently and collaboratively with institutional research projects that can inform real world practices and decision-making within the program from data cleaning, coding, and visualization to analyses and report writing.
The program gives second-year AAP students the opportunity to develop entry-level research projects in humanities and social sciences. Over two academic terms, students gain valuable knowledge and experience regarding research.
Eligible AAP students may receive merit and need-based scholarships through established financial aid programs. AAP also awards scholarships; see scholarships for help with the application process.
Over six weeks during summer session, students prepare to apply to graduate or professional school. Students draft their application materials with a graduate student mentor. The program is not unit or credit bearing.
This seven-week residential summer program prepares incoming AAP freshman and transfer students for the academic rigors of UCLA. Students build an academic support network that supplies interaction and broadens life experiences. Students enroll in three UCLA courses that fulfill graduation requirements, and get support in small groups or individual sessions from teaching assistants and peer learning facilitators.
The program prepares undocumented AAP students for graduate school. Students conduct independent research projects related to issues regarding immigration and immigration policy. Special emphasis is given to resources that best serve undocumented students and their communities.
The initiative partnership between UCLA and the Los Angeles and Pasadena school districts prepares historically underrepresented students in 11 high schools to become competitively eligible for admission to UCLA and other flagship universities. The Vice Provost Initiative for Precollege Scholars (VIPS) offers peer mentoring, summer programs, Saturday academies, and research opportunities to scholars and their families.
