UCLA MESA Program

About
The UCLA MESA College Prep Program is one of 19 university centers in the Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Statewide organization. MESA’s mission is to enable economically disadvantaged students to prepare for and pursue a math-based degree in areas such as science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).
Beginning in 1997 with only five schools, UCLA CEED’s MESA Program currently serves 20 schools and over 800 students in the Los Angeles Unified and Inglewood Unified School Districts. Please check here to see if MESA is offered at your school!
The UCLA MESA Center continues to work toward engaging and advancing the academic development of educationally disadvantaged student groups with low UC eligibility students in STEM. Each year, efforts are made to further support and enhance the MESA model through supplemental activities for MESA students, advisors, and parents and to increase students’ success and persistence in STEM. These programs include: Math and Science Tutoring to assist students in learning math and science concepts learned in the classes; Saturday Academies, to provide assistance on MESA projects; STEM competitions in the LA area, to gain hands-on experience; Financial Aid Workshops, to provide information on funding college; and pre college Summer Enrichment Programs, enhance student academic preparation for college.
Schools Served by the UCLA MESA Program
Animo Watts High School | Crozier Middle School |
Birmingham Community Charter High School | Emerson Middle School |
Fairfax High School | Laces MS |
Hamilton High School | Mark Twain Middle School |
Jordan High School | Orville Right STEM School |
LACES HS | Virgil Middle School |
Los Angeles High School | Webster Middle School |
Morningside HS | Woodworth Monroe Middle School |
RFK School for Visual Arts and Humanities | |
Sylmar High School | |
Theodore Roosevelt High School | |
University High School Charter | |
Westbrook Academy | |
Westchester Enriched Science Management |
Supplemental Programs:
STEM Competitions
To provide students with hands-on experience
Saturday Academies
To provide assistance with MESA projects
Financial Aid Workshops
To provide information about funding college
Pre-College Summer Enrichment Programs
To enhance a student’s academic preparation for college
Each MESA school site is supported by 1-2 teachers who serve as MESA advisors and coordinate STEM activities for enrolled students. In addition, MESA high school students benefit from the support of college counselors who have joined our team of MESA advisors. Culminating the MESA student experience each year is MESA Day. MESA Day is a regional event that engages students in STEM-based MESA competitions to test their design skills and math acuity. MESA projects provide the groundwork for the competitions that are offered during the event.
2024-2025 UCLA MESA Calendar
August 2024
- 8/28: MESA Advisor Meeting
November 2024
- TBD: Engineers in Training Day (EIT): Hosted by SOLES; Regional JPL Invention Challenge
- 11/2: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
Virtual Arduino Workshop
- 11/9: UCLA MESA Math Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 11/16: UCLA MESA Math Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 11/20: MESA Advisors/Counselor Virtual Meeting
- 11/22: MESA Advisor Fall Activity Log Due
- 11/30: UCLA MESA Math Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
February 2025
- TBD: Youth Motivation Day (YMD)- Hosted by AISES
- 2/1: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/ AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 2/8: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/ AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 2/12: HS MESA Prelims Advisors/Counselors Webinar
- 2/15: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/ AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 2/19:MS MESA Prelims Advisors/Counselors Webinar
- 2/22: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/ AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
May 2025
- 5/5: Women in Science & Engineering Day (WISE)–Hosted by NSBE; UCLA Admission Info Session
- 5/16: Senior Exit Surveys, Individual Academic Plans & Spring MESA Activity Log Due
- 5/21: End of Year MESA Advisor Meeting and Awards
September 2024
- TBD – SMART MESA Advisor Training, JPL Invention Challenge registration Opens
- 9/6: MESA Senior Transcripts Due (Non-LAUSD schools)
- 9/7: Academic Skills Workshop – Time Management
- 9/13: Academic Skills Workshop – Note Taking Skills
- 9/20: Academic Skills Workshop – Time Management, UCLA MESA Virtual Parent Meeting
- 9/28: Academic Skills Workshop – Test Taking Skills
December 2024
- TBD: Engineers in Training Day (EIT): Host AISES, NSBE, SOLES; Final JPL Invention Challenge at Jet Propulsion Lab
- 12/7: Completing Your FAFSA Workshop
March 2025
- 3/1: High School MESA Day Prelims @ UCLA
- 3/8:Middle School MESA Day Prelims @ UCLA
- 3/15: Choosing the University/Navigating You College Campus Workshop
October 2024
- 10/12: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES);
- 10/19: UCLA MESA Math Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 10/25: MESA Enrollment Form Due
- 10/26: UCLA MESA Math Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
January 2025
- 1/8:Winter MESA Advisors/Counselors Meeting
- 1/11: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 1/18: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 1/25: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
April 2025
- 4/19: MESA Day Regional Competition
- 4/5: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 4/12: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 4/19: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
- 4/21: MESA Advisors Begin Pre-Enrollment Process; Individual Academic Planning Sessions for 8th grade students
- 4/26: UCLA MESA Math/Science Tutoring (w/AISES, NSBE, SOLES)
If you have any questions about the MESA Program, email ceed.ucla@gmail.com