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What is ACES?
ACES is UConn’s academic advising program for students who want to explore the University’s opportunities before deciding on a field of study and for students who must complete specific requirements before applying to an application-based major. ACES advisors work with the following populations of students:
- Pre-Professional: Students who are interested in a professional program that has an application process and specific admissions requirements. Professional majors are not open to any students until junior year. These majors include Pre-Teaching, Pre-Sport Management, and Pre-Social Work.
- Decided: Students who are interested in a restricted major that has an application process and specific admissions requirements who were not directly admitted to the major upon their admission into UConn. These majors include those in the School of Business, College of Engineering, School of Fine Arts, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, Allied Health Sciences, and Exercise Science.
- Exploratory: Students who are exploring their options for majors. Some students are completely undecided, while others want to take some time to explore their interests before they commit.
How does academic advising in ACES work?
ACES academic advising is facilitated by a team of professional advisors whose role is to support students through their academic journeys; this includes major exploration, course selection, and campus/University navigation. We view advising as a collaborative partnership between students and advisors. Our advisors are here to teach and empower students to be independent decision makers and self-advocates as they pursue their unique educational, professional, and personal goals. ACES advisors are generalists and are knowledgeable about all of the UConn majors. We are well-connected to our campus partners and assist students in forming relationships with additional UConn resources and support services.
Each student in ACES is assigned an ACES advisor with whom they will work until they transition into a major. All new UConn students starting in the ACES program will first meet with an ACES advisor during their New Student Orientation session to discuss their interests and course registration. Some ACES students, depending on academic and credit standing, are then required to meet with their assigned advisor prior to course registration for the following semester; this includes first-year students, first-semester transfer students, and students on scholastic warning or probation. However, students are encouraged to meet with their ACES advisor (or any advisor on the ACES team) as often as they find necessary to help them be successful at UConn.
How long will I be in ACES?
At UConn, there is technically no deadline to declare a major. However, our goal is to try and keep you on track to enter a major by your third year to ensure you graduate on time. While a majority of majors at UConn are open access and can be declared at any time, there are the exceptions that are application-based. Your time in ACES will really depend on which major you choose to pursue, and where you are at in terms of the courses you have taken thus far. We have some students in ACES for one semester, and others for two years. It’s different for everyone.
I already know what I want to major in. Why was I put into ACES?
If you noted on your UConn application that you were interested in a professional or application-based restricted major, you were most likely put into ACES because you did not meet the admissions criteria for direct entry into that major. You will now work with your ACES advisor to remain on track to be eligible to apply to that major as an internal UConn applicant, if you still choose to pursue that interest. If you have questions about why you were not directly admitted into your major of choice, please contact UConn's Office of Undergraduate Admissions, as the ACES program does not take part in that evaluation process.
Find more information about the Internal Admissions Procedures for Application-Based Majors.
What happens if I am not accepted into my major of choice?
ACES advisors will work with you from day one to discuss all of your options, including “parallel plans” for majors that have an application and are thus not guaranteed. A “parallel plan” is another option for a major that will still lead you to your ultimate long-term goals. In many cases, your choice for an undergraduate major will not have as much of an impact on your employability as other factors, such as the experiences you have during college, the connections that you make, and the transferable skills that you develop. A majority of jobs and graduate programs do not give preference to what your undergraduate major is, so you have options! You will work with your ACES advisor to create a plan that works best for you.
How can I start exploring majors now?
UConn has an interactive resource for major and career exploration called The Major Experience (TME). On there, you will find information about all of the majors UConn offers, student TME Mentors you can connect with to learn more about their majors, and a variety of tools and resources designed to support your exploration. If you need a place to start, we recommend completing the virtual Major Elimination Activity!
If I am a new UConn student starting in ACES, which placement exams am I required to take?
- English Guided Placement Survey (GPS): While taking the English GPS is advised for all students to help determine readiness for UConn writing courses, it is only required for international students and/or non-native speakers of English who have not yet earned UConn credits for First-Year Writing courses.
- Math Placement Exam (MPE): This depends on the major(s) you may be interested in. STEM majors at UConn (e.g., Engineering, Mathematics, Health Sciences, Physical Sciences, Math Education) require a qualifying score on the MPE to be able to register for MATH 1060Q (Pre-Calculus), MATH 1131Q (Calculus I), and MATH 1132Q (Calculus II). If you are even slightly considering a STEM major, it is advised to take the MPE to determine readiness for the UConn MATH courses required for these programs.
- Note: If you are transferring in credit for MATH 1060Q (Pre-Calculus) and/or MATH 1131Q (Calculus I) and you plan to pursue a major that requires MATH 1132Q (Calculus II), you will still need to take the MPE and earn a qualifying score to be able to register for MATH 1132Q (Calculus II).
- Note: If you are considering a major related to economics or business, it is recommended to take the Math Placement Exam to gauge preparedness for quantitative coursework in these majors.
- Chemistry Placement Exam (CPE): This depends on the major(s) you may be interested in. If you are even slightly considering a STEM major (e.g., Engineering, Mathematics, Health Sciences, Physical Sciences, Science Education), it is advised to take the CPE to determine readiness for the UConn CHEM courses required for these programs.
When in doubt, it is safest to take the placement exams, just to keep your options open! New students are advised to take the placement exams before they attend a New Student Orientation session to best prepare for the course registration process. More information about UConn's placement exams can be found on the UConn Placement Website.
How can I change into the ACES program?
If you are a newly-accepted UConn student looking to change into ACES before your first semester begins, you can request this change in your UConn Applicant Portal.
If you are a current UConn student looking to change into ACES, it is required to meet with an ACES advisor first to discuss this change. Please visit our Contact Us page for more information on how to connect. Once you have met with an ACES advisor, the change will be processed by the ACES office.
ACES Transfer Students FAQ
Many transfer students begin their UConn journeys in the ACES program; some students wish to take some time to explore their options before they commit to a major, while other students will spend their time in ACES taking the appropriate steps to apply to their selected major of choice. Visit our ACES Transfer Students FAQ page for more information.
ACES International Students FAQ
We recognize the value and diversity that our international students bring to the UConn community, and are looking forward to supporting you during your transition to UConn! Many international students begin their UConn journeys in the ACES program; some students wish to take some time to explore their options before they commit to a major, while other students will spend their time in ACES taking the appropriate steps to apply to their selected major of choice. Visit our ACES International Students FAQ page for more information.