<p>Hey guys! I live in the Bar Area and driving down to San Diego and back up would be around $300 for gas. And then $175 for orientation and around $100 for my dad too. That would be around $600 =/. Is orientation mandatory? If not, is it worth going? We're not going to pick classes or anything so it's basically just talking and meeting some new people. Can I find out the stuff they will say during orientation by browsing through sites? Basically, is it necessary? Should I go?</p>
<p>near-mandatory for you (although you can sign up for classes w/o it) but definitely not mandatory for your parents. it’s a clear attempt by ucsd at trying to get as much $$$ as possible by catering to helicopter parents. nearly all freshmen will be 18 by the end of the first quarter and the university doesn’t release your information to your parents, so why on earth would they need to know what you’re up to? all the important stuff is online.</p>
<p>why don’t you just carpool w/someone?</p>
<p>virgin has awesome sales on plane tickets that only last 3 days (register w/them and you’ll get emails when they happen). ~$120 round trip to SD from SF.</p>
<p>Did they announce when your orientation is? Some colleges have their orientation a few days before school starts so you can just move in early and stay there.</p>
<p>But orientation really isnt necessary, but I would suggest going as it’s a great way to learn about campus and meet some friends.</p>
<p>Honestly I don’t think it’s necessary, especially if it’s going to cost you that much. I delayed a trip to Europe back in 2010 because I thought orientation was really important, but I regretted doing that because I didn’t learn anything I couldn’t have learned online.</p>
<p>I didn’t learn anything from orientation, though I did meet a few people that I’m still friends with now. Don’t they automatically charge you the orientation fee anyway though? That’s what I thought anyway…which I why I went in the first place, haha.</p>
<p>Now that I think of it, I didnt learn much either, so change my comment. But you do “learn” where everything is around campus.</p>
<p>Last year they put a registration hold on our student accounts until we completed orientation. The orientation leaders were really strict and made us sign in on time and out after it was totally over. Orientation was soo long boring and lame, too (Marshall College). If you can get out of it, I would, even though they charge you the fee, anyway. Also, they do not allow your parents to come… it’s only for the student.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback guys! Looks like I will go. Thanks again!</p>
<p>i really got bored with the whole orientation thing on the second day (the first day i realized how boring it was… in fact i got so bored I left early [they don’t care] and i went to Ralph’s to go shopping for food), so i just wondered off on my own. They gave a map, so i walked all around campus, went to the bookstore to get some books (lol i was soo tired) . I went the second day b/c that was when ID cards were being given, so after walking around, i took my ID picture and went straight home. </p>
<p>You’re paying for it so definitely go, but just keep in mind, you aren’t really held by any “laws or rules” that you have to stick with your group. Just take some free time and explore UCSD - it’s extremely beautiful so take a camera too so you can post on facebook the beauty of OUR campus!.</p>
<p>TRITONS FTW!!</p>
<p>… lol got carried away there, hehe</p>
<p>Thanks! This is a random question but can we shower there?</p>
<p>Yeah, you’re sleeping in the residence halls and have access to the showers, etc. </p>
<p>And I don’t remember exactly, but don’t they let you pick your orientation date? If you pick the September date, I think you get to move in early, so it’s just travel you’d have to do anyway.</p>
<p>If the cost of traveling is an issue, sign up for the session that starts right before school begins.</p>