All About Being a ULA

What is a ULA?

A ULA is an undergraduate student who is hired by a department to assist professors and graduate students in teaching a course. Other responsibilities include assisting with grading assignments and exams, and answering student questions in class and over email. Almost all introductory courses utilize ULAs, such as biology, chemistry, physics and others. In addition to introductory courses there are also ULAs in more advanced courses, usually just less of them per class.

How to become a ULA?

This can vary a little depending on the class and the department you plan on applying for. Some have applications online to fill out (Physics and Astronomy, Lyman Briggs, CSE, Biosci). Some courses simply send out ULA applications at the end of a semester (check your email regularly for these). The other common route to becoming a ULA is by simply reaching out to your professor and asking if they are hiring new ULAs for the next semester. This is typically how some of the upper level science courses will work, such as anatomy and physiology. From there, the professor will tell you the next steps. 

When identifying what class you would like to apply to be a ULA for, make sure to consider the following:

• Did you get a good grade in the class? To be a ULA, you typically have to verify via transcripts what grade you received when you took the course. Usually, you need at least a 3.5 to be considered for a ULA. This is because it is essential that you understand the material you will be teaching so that you can effectively help new students learn.

• Can you explain material effectively? Just because you understood the material of  a class well doesn't mean that every student will. Make sure that you are able and willing to do your best to explain concepts in creative and effective ways. 

  • A plus of this is that teaching others material helps reinforce your own understanding!

• Did you like the class? This may seem like an obvious one, but it is important. Just because you excelled at a class or subject doesn't always mean that you enjoyed it. Make sure you would be happy to attend class every week!

Why Should I Consider being a ULA as a Pre-Health Student?

As a current pre-health student and ULA, I can list some reasons why I think being a ULA is a great opportunity. 

• It is a great way to gain leadership experience! There is a higher level of responsibility that you take on as a ULA beyond being just a student. Students ask you questions all the time and truly count on you for help. You get to be a leader and role model in a student's life which is a good experience and also rewarding!

• It is a way to practice educating others. As an aspiring pre-health professional, teaching information to people who are unfamiliar is a huge part of your job. This is a great way to become familiar with that process.

• It is a fun job! As a ULA you work with other ULAs as well as graduate students and professors. In my experience I have grown pretty close to those I work with and am friends with all of my fellow ULAs! Working with graduate students and professors help you to build connections and get guidance on future education and career paths.