<p>Any tips for incoming freshmen? From how to intereact with your floormates, security, what to bring, tips to succeed, anything that you wish you knew when you were a freshman. Thank you very much!</p>
<p>Basically for the first month, try to leave your door open when you are in the room. It’s an easy way to meet new people. For security, you don’t really need anything. I’ve seen some people with laptop locks, but I never had one and didn’t get mine stolen. Bring a Brita water filter (maybe split the cost with your roommate). </p>
<p>Tips to succeed: Don’t overwhelm yourself during the 1st quarter. Try to take an easier course load without many major-related courses. You don’t want to mess up in these courses and jeopardize your ability to declare a major. </p>
<p>If you have any specific questions that I can answer, go for it. I can’t really think of anything on top of my head right now.</p>
<p>Do a lot of people ride bikes to class? Or walk? Or how? Because it’s a big campus.</p>
<p>What is the temperature like in dorms? and what about health? When one person gets sick, do all people get sick?</p>
<p>It seems like a big campus, but it really isn’t. It’s all basically in one whole cluster. Most people just walk or take campus shuttles. I’m almost done with my second year at UCSC and I’ve been completely fine without a bike. Some people find it to be handy as their own mode of transportation, but I think it’s a hassle to take care of.</p>
<p>Oh, that reminds me. You might want to bring a fan for the spring time. Last spring was pretty hot (one week the temp avg’d 97 degrees) and my fan really came in handy. Each dorm has a “working” heater that can be really useful for the rainy days. However, there is no AC in the dorms.
As for health, I don’t really see that as a issue. My roommate got sick a few times and none of us caught anything from him. As long as you don’t have really DIRECT contact (share food, drinks, spit?) then there really isn’t a domino effect with sickness.</p>
<p>Leave your door open as much as possible during welcome week.
I’ve never used my heater (it doesn’t work anyways), but I also have really great ventilation in my dorm, so I have yet to need AC.
It may seem like a good idea to bring a little square fridge, but don’t. Bring one with a semi-legit freezer at least and some actual room for stuff like a water filter and milk.
Don’t **** around every night. Actually do some sort of homework/studying every day because trust me, it may seem easy first quarter, but once you start taking classes towards your major, it’s easy to get behind.
Utilize resources like office hours, MSI, tutoring, etc. Once again, it’s easy to get behind, so make sure you don’t.
Get your money situations sorted out before you start attending.
Enjoy the campus!</p>
<p>Depending on where you are you should bring a fan. I didn’t really need because if I got hot I would just open the window and that was find but I know some of the college dorms can get pretty hot. </p>
<p>Go to discussions and if you need extra help go to MSI, tutoring and office hours. Don’t sit and think you’ll eventually get it cuz you won’t and will get behind.</p>
<p>When people get sick not everyone gets sick but sometimes there are a cluster of people that get sick There was a bug in my dorm during fall quarter and I didn’t get sick but like 2/3 of my hallmates did.</p>
<p>There’s too much temptation to ditch class. Don’t get into that habit.</p>
<p>Fan: YES. When I moved in it was 90+ degrees and there was literally nowhere in town to buy one in the Fall.</p>
<p>Go to every social event you can, even if you’re not interested in it. You’ll meet people and possibly get free non-dining hall food. </p>
<p>Walk every chance you get. The campus is amazing, and it really doesn’t take more than 20 minutes to get anywhere (I’m a slow walker).</p>
<p>Don’t take Metro buses unless you’re going off campus. Use the campus shuttles in between campus stops. </p>
<p>Find someone with a car and be best friends with them…but don’t use them just for their vehicle.</p>
<p>Don’t be the same person you’ve always been. Use this as an opportunity to reinvent yourself into someone you’ve always wanted to be.</p>