<p>Any tips/suggestions/info for prospective NorCal UCI students, please post.. such as what to bring, what to expect, etc.</p>
<p>Nearby there is a shopping complex with Target, Costco (with gas station), and Lowe’s. You can see it when you pass by Jamboree Road. You can pretty much get most things there. Don’t need to lug so many things from home. You can buy food (I got mainly snacks) and water from Costco. I also got a small refrigerator from the Costco here so didn’t have to bring all the way from home. After seeing my room, I got some extra plastic containers from Target. You will see many students shopping there during the first day or so after moving in. Also, you may want to catch some of the before school sales near home. </p>
<p>Welcome NorCal Anteater!</p>
<p>The happiest place on Earth is South Coast Plaza-bring lots of $$$(Disneyland is ok, too)
Driving through LA is unpredictable and maddening, plan accordingly
If you fail at Math and need to take the placement test, you have a chance to take it at Cal (look for the date on the UCI website later), so you don’t have to wait until orientation to take it
Trader Joe’s and In N Out across the street from campus</p>
<p>You have Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm; Fashion Island, Irvine Spectrum, and South Coast Plaza (shopping); beaches (Newport, Laguna, Huntington, Dana Point).
Big Bear Mountain, LA, Palm Springs (Desert), San Diego (Seaworld, SD Zoo) are an hour or so away.
Probably the most important thing to bring is a CAR.</p>
<p>Very safe city, a lot of asians, amazing weather :)</p>
<p>Yes, a car is definitely important! There can be so much traffic at times though. I was thinking about commuting from the LA area to Irvine, but realized that traffic is too much of a hassle.</p>
<p>Is it possible to take a subway to LA anywhere near irvine?</p>
<p>subway-ha ha ha
You take Amtrak.</p>
<p>@ty92kool:</p>
<p>Sorry but I kinda had to laugh at the subway question because Cerritos is probably the closest city in Los Angeles county and even that’s about 26 miles from the actual city of Los Angeles.</p>
<p>And like the other person said, you can take Amtrak to Union Station in LA for less than $20</p>
<p>dang, I know a car will come in handy but won’t people want to bug you all the time saying " hey let’s go to ____ we can take your car."</p>
<p>IDK, it would get kind of annoying right?</p>
<p>Subway? You are totally from NorCal haha! The LA metro system only goes as far south as Long Beach. How do I know? I live next to a metro station :)</p>
<p>i’m from norcal. first year, i didn’t take my car, and i’m glad. got rides from my friends, and i wasn’t burdened with driving everyone.</p>
<p>second year, brought my car down. i’d recommend doing the same, though it’s really up to you.</p>
<p>Do we need any cash for school and do we need to bring a printer or does the school supply… what about laundry?</p>
<p>^Generally, college is a time where parents open up a bank account for their kids. There are ATM machines on campus, as well as a Wells Fargo bank. I would like to think that there might be something worth spending your money on to have cash for college :)</p>
<p>Last year they sold printers at the bookstore for a mere $19.95 (pretty good printers). I’m not sure whether or not they will do the same, but let’s hope. If anything you could always work things out with your future roommate and there are printers at the libraries/study facilities. </p>
<p>As far as laundry, there are washers and dryers located in each hall. You will need to purchase a laundry card as well.</p>
<p>
they always sell printers dirt cheap… its the ink where they get you! i heard about one guy who found it cheaper keep buying new printers than new ink cartridges. </p>
<p>and there a a few ways around campus to get free printing…</p>
<p>and a car would be nice to have. some people can find friends with cars, others may not be so lucky… irvine is hard to get around without a car (bus system is mediocre).</p>