<p>Hey guys, so I've been admitted to UCSD into ERC as a cognitive science major, and I've been talking to the track and field coach at UCSD and I'm really interested in running here. The only thing I'm really worried about is the difficulty of making friends and becoming close with people in your dorm due to the amount of time that the pre-preseason, preseason, and in-season track practices take up. Is anyone familiar with this who'd like to give me some advice??</p>
<p>Hey, first off congratulations on your admission to UCSD! </p>
<p>I ran cross country and track at UCSD and I can’t imagine what UCSD would have been like without athletics. In my experience, running only helped me make MORE friends, and it also allowed me to form bonds with a wide variety of people–not just athletes or people in my dorm. The track team usually starts getting together around October, and the season gets into full swing when we get back from winter break. Running track at UCSD is something to be taken very seriously, but it won’t take over your life or be the only thing you can think about. For me, running at UCSD made my time in La Jolla incredibly enriching and if I had to do it all over again, I would run 100 times out of 100. </p>
<p>If I were you, I would absolutely run the first year–you can always stop if you don’t like it, but it’s more difficult to make the team as a second or third year and you might miss out on your chance. UCSD is a school where your experience is much more fulfilling when you’re involved with something–and most students DO get involved in a variety of things–Cross Country and Track weren’t the only things I did at UCSD. You’re going to get involved with something at UCSD, and if you have a chance to make one of those “things” NCAA athletics and you truly want to run (because it is still hard work), I would highly recommend not passing up this opportunity. </p>
<p>Please feel free to send me a private message if you have any more specific questions. </p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>