Hi all,
I got accepted as a transfer student yesterday after completing two years at a community college in the Bay Area. I’m planning on commuting to UC Davis in the fall, and I have a few questions.
Would it be better to drive or take the Amtrak from Martinez? And how easy is it to schedule my classes so I only have to come in twice a week to minimize the commute?
Thanks!
If you live near Martinez, the train is a nice option since you can work on it and there’s wi-fi. But the answer would really depend on time of day/your schedule.
My son attended UC Davis as an Undergrad and never was able to schedule classes only 2 days a week. In fact, in the 4 years he was there, he never had any day off during the week from taking any classes. It may depend upon your major since he was a STEM major with several lecture/discussion groups and labs.
Take a look at the course catalog to get an idea if it will be feasible. Since it looks like Fall quarter might be on-line, that may work to your advantage now but if everything goes back to normal, it may be an issue.
Hi! This would definitely depend on your major. I am currently in my 3rd year as a Poli Sci/Soc Law double major and I am always able to schedule my classes on only 2 days of the week. I travel to the bay area every week as well and I may say it is pretty painful. If there is any way you would be able to secure housing in Davis I would recommend that because I have wasted a ton on gas just going there and back once a week and the time spent in traffic at the end of the day is not fun.
Amtrak is a good option since you can use the wifi. However, travel time on Amtrak takes a lot longer than driving for me so take that into consideration when you have to schedule your classes. The Davis Amtrak station is downtown so I would greatly recommend leaving a bike on campus/at the station to get to campus in a timely manner, otherwise it might take some time to walk.
I also bought a parking permit for one quarter overall it wasn’t too bad. You have to make sure to get there when classes are getting out to secure a spot so if you go that route definitely give yourself time before class.
Hope this helps you weigh your options!