From the moment you set foot onto the UCLA campus, you become a Bruin for life. Take part in the many traditions of excellence, spirit and service that make the UCLA community unique. As you begin completing these traditions you will become more connected to UCLA and feel like a True Bruin. Complete a certain number of these traditions and be awarded the True Bruin Traditions Keeper medal at Commencement. If you have any questions about True Bruin Traditions Keeper, please contact our office at (310) 206-6685, or email us through the MyUCLA Message Center (with UCLA login or without UCLA login).

Listed below are the True Bruin Traditions. In order to verify your completion of each tradition, you will need to show some sort of proof of completion (i.e. a picture, a ticket stub, etc.) so be sure to document each activity.  You can download the free True Bruin Traditions Keeper app   from the Apple App Store to help keep track of your progress (currently, the app is only available for Apple products).

If you share your experiences on social media, be sure to use the hashtag #truebruintradition. You can download the list below and begin completing your True Bruin Traditions! Good luck on becoming the next True Bruin Traditions Keeper!

First Year Checklist
Transfer Checklist

ACADEMICS

  • Meet with a departmental advisor
  • Meet with your College/School advisor
  • Attend Orientation Part 2
  • Participate in a Common Experience event
  • Attend a research consultation in Powell Library
  • Study at Late Night Powell
  • Attend a My Last Lecture
  • Attend Major Blast
  • Take a Fiat Lux course
  • Participate in a Student Research Project
  • Attend a professor’s office hours/meet with a professor
  • Plan a group study session/utilize a Powell or YRL Study Room
  • Complete a General Education Cluster
  • Participate in the Freshman/Transfer Summer Program (FSP/TSP)
  • Take a course during Summer Sessions
  • Participate in Study Abroad

ARTS/CULTURE/FOOD

  • Attend a movie world premiere in Westwood
  • Visit the Fowler Museum, Hammer Museum, or Getty Center
  • Attend a Campus Events Commission Free Sneak, Movie, Concert or Speaker Series
  • Attend a show at Freud Playhouse
  • Attend an event sponsored by the Center for the Art of Performance  
  • Participate in or attend a student cultural night
  • Visit Diddy Riese
  • Participate in Dinners for 12 Strangers  
  • Swipe a friend in for a meal together
  • Participate in or attend a student exhibit
  • Visit the UCLA or Westwood Village Farmers Market
  • Attend a floor/house program in the Residence Halls
  • Attend the UCLA Pow Wow
  • Visit the UCLA Clothesline Project
  • Attend a TEDxUCLA event

ATHLETICS

  • Attend a UCLA Football game
  • Attend a UCLA Basketball game
  • Attend a USC rivalry game
  • Attend a Women’s sporting event
  • Attend a Fall sporting event (other than Football and Men’s Basketball
  • Attend a Winter sporting event (other than Men’s Basketball)
  • Attend a Spring sporting event
  • Attend an away game for any UCLA sport
  • Visit the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame at the JD Morgan Center
  • Take a picture with the Victory Bell
  • Tailgate at the Rose Bowl
  • Join the Den
  • Attend a playoff or championship game for any sport

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

  • Take a stroll through the Sculpture Garden
  • Find the turtles in the Botanical Garden
  • Watch a show at the UCLA Planetarium  
  • Rub the Bruin Bear’s paw for luck
  • Participate in a Department of Psychology study
  • Visit the dinosaur fossils in the Geology Building
  • Take a picture with the John Wooden statue
  • Take a selfie in front of Royce Hall
  • Take a selfie in front of your favorite campus location

CAMPUS LEADERSHIP

Get involved in any of the following student groups/campus departments:

  • AAP (Peer Counselor or Volunteer)
  • BruinWoods (Camp Counselor)
  • Bruin Leaders Project
  • Center for Accessible Education (Note Taker, Volunteer, etc.)
  • Community Service Office (CSO) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
  • Fraternity & Sorority Life (leadership in chapter, IFC/Panhellenic, etc.)
  • Honors Societies
  • New Student & Transition Programs (New Student Advisor)
  • Pediatric AIDS Coalition
  • Residential Life (Resident Assistant, Hill Government Representative, Move-in Assistant, etc.)
  • Student Alumni Association
  • Student Media (Daily Bruin, Bruin Life, magazines, UCLA Radio)
  • Undergraduate Admission (Bruin Ambasssdors, Campus Tours, Cub Tours)
  • Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC)
  • UniCamp (Camp Counselor)
  • Volunteer Center (Task Manager, Site Manager, Project Manager)

CAREER

  • Join UCLA ONE
  • Visit the Career Center  
  • Join the UCLA Alumni LinkedIn group
  • Participate in the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program
  • Attend a career building workshop
  • Have your resume critiqued through a Career Center workshop
  • Attend a career networking night
  • Attend a campus job fair
  • Complete an internship
  • Participate in the Sharpe Fellows Program
  • Participate in the Bruin Development Academy
  • Participate in the Social Enterprise Academy

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

  • Join a club or organization
  • Flyer on Bruin Walk for a club or organization
  • Visit the Enormous Activities Fair
  • Attend a USAC Open Meeting
  • Attend a social event held by a campus club/organization
  • Attend a Dashew Center event
  • Participate in an activity or event held by an academic club or group

HEALTHY LIVING

  • Attend a drop-in meditation session
  • Attend a Mindful Music event
  • Visit the Medicinal Herb Garden at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
  • Take a nap in one of the locations on the UCLA Nap Map
  • Participate in GRIT peer-to-peer coaching
  • Attend a Healthy Campus Initiative pod meeting
  • Nominate a Bruin who helped a student in crisis for True Bruins R.A.I.S.E. recognition
  • Attend a “Science & Food UCLA” lecture series event
  • Apply for an HCI Student Grant
  • Attend a program through UCLA RISE
  • Attend a wellness workshop at UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
  • Attend the Healthy Campus Initiative Celebration in spring quarter

RECREATION & OUTDOORS

  • Relax at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center
  • Take a recreation class through the John Wooden Center
  • Participate in an IM sport
  • Walk/run the perimeter of campus or take a self-guided campus tour
  • Visit the UCLA Marina Aquatic Center in Marina Del Rey
  • Watch a noon concert in Bruin Plaza

UCLA SPIRIT

  • Become “Bruintized”
  • Attend the “Welcome to Bruin Life” event
  • Attend “CHAMPED UP: UCLA Athletics Welcome” event
  • Obtain a UCLA license plate frame
  • Attend/perform in Spring Sing  
  • Attend the Beat ‘SC Bonfire and Rally  
  • Attend Bruin Bash
  • Participate in 8-Clap Heard Around the World
  • Take a picture with Joe or Josie Bruin
  • Participate in “Fan Friday”
  • Donate to the UCLA Fund
  • Join the UCLA Marching Band or Color Guard
  • Participate in the Transfer T-Shirt Exchange
  • Participate in “Carpe Noctem” at New Student Orientation
  • Attend a “UCLA Geek Week” event
  • Submit a design for the “UCLA T-Shirt Design Contest”

VOLUNTEER

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • Finish a Daily Bruin crossword puzzle
  • Write a response to a Daily Bruin article and have it published
  • Take a photo in a cap and gown for the Bruin Life Yearbook
  • Become a recipient of the Chancellor’s Service Award
  • Become a finalist or recipient of the True Bruin Distinguished Senior Award
  • Declare candidacy for graduation
  • Make the Dean’s List for a quarter
  • Graduate with Departmental Honors
  • Graduate with College Honors
  • Graduate with Latin Honors

CREATE YOUR OWN

Create your own tradition for you and your friends to participate in while at UCLA!