Undergraduate teaching assistants (UTAs) play a significant role in many university departments, from facilitating and teaching activities to providing mentorship and support to students in and out of the classroom. As enrollments grow in Animal Science programs across the country, UTAs are becoming increasingly important as instructors aim to meet the needs of large laboratory courses. This study used qualitative methods to identify key areas that undergraduate students felt were most important for their success as teaching assistants and to explore how best to support UTAs. In Fall 2023, twelve UTAs who supported a large first-year animal science course were chosen to participate in the study. All UTAs participated in weekly 60-minute discussions, where the course content and laboratory stations were discussed, including teaching pedagogies. During week 9, UTAs submitted a teaching philosophy statement, and in week 15, they wrote individual letters offering advice for future course UTAs. This study utilized inductive coding, and five key emerging themes were identified from the teaching philosophy statements. These included: 1) the importance of student-centered learning; 2) the need to engage and motivate students in the course; 3) the creation of a positive learning environment; 4) self-reflection and their own professional growth; and 5) building relationships with students. Three key themes were identified in the student letters to future TAs: 1) the need to be confident and prepared; 2) encouraging student participation and engagement; and 3) building a genuine connection with students. In conclusion, the results of our study provide additional evidence on key topics that should be included in the preparation of UTAs to successfully engage with students in undergraduate courses.