UCD, An Overlooked UC?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Davis
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<p>Okay, so I was recently admitted to UCD but I originally applied to UCD as a safety school. Coming from SoCal, I have heard little about UCD so consequently, I’d like to know more. I’ve done my share of research on the UCD site among others and I skimmed a few articles related to UCD but I’d like to know more about the campus and the atmosphere from students who attend the school/people who possess a vast amount of UCD knowledge. ;]</p>

<p>I have a few questions in regards to:
*Academic rigor
*Community (other than being agricultural)
*Campus life (are there a lot of activities? What kind?)
*Off-campus life
*Housing
*Food</p>

<p>One of my best friends told me that UCD seemed like the right fit for me, so I’m curious to see if what she said is true. :] I’d like to learn as much as possible about UCD before I commit to a decision.</p>

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<p>Edible Egg, i have a feeling i was in the same boat as you last year when i was making my decision as to where i'd go to college. I'm from socal, as you are, and ended up at Davis. </p>

<p>The academics here are definitely challenging, but by no means overwhelming, if you put in the proper time and effort, you'll do well. If you slack off, you will most definitely see the effect in your grades. Just keep up with the work, and if you've been admitted, their is absolutely no reason why you wouldn't be successful here.</p>

<p>The community of Davis has changed a lot since its agricultural days, to be honest, you see very little of that "Agg" culture outside of the campus (though many in the college of agricultural and environmental sciences are trying to bring back some of those ideals). The city itself is a very progressive area, due to the fact that it is a true college town. To be honest, it's like a small-town version of Berkeley: great restaurants, shops, entertainment (w/o all the bums that accompany the big city). The city and the school are kind of one in the same. If you go downtown, you'll find students working in the stores, and you will almost always bump into someone you know. We actually get pretty big name bands to come through here considering the size of the town (Death cab is coming in April).</p>

<p>In terms of campus life, the school really does a great job with entertainment. Like i said above, concerts happen pretty frequently with top-notch bands. The MU on campus has a full arcade and bowling alley. The arboretum on campus is truly a beautiful and spectacular place where you can just get away from everything or have a picnic on the weekend. In addition, (this is just something i noticed) i feel that UC Davis has that "college campus" aesthetic feel in the architecture and design of the school (you'll have to visit to understand).</p>

<p>Off-campus life really depends on what you want to get out of it...If you're a partier, there's never a shortage of parties/frat parties on any given weekend. If you're not, the city of Davis has plenty to do, and if that's still not enough, Sacramento is 15 minutes away and the Bay Area is about 45 minutes (trains take you directly to Berkeley, Oakland, SF, etc.).</p>

<p>On-campus housing is guaranteed your freshman year and i recommend you take advantage of it. There are basically two types of living accommodations suite-style (found in Cuarto) and the normal dorm-style you generally see (found in segundo and tercero). You can learn more about this stuff on the housing website, but this is a matter of personal choice. Off-campus housing is abundant and relatively inexpensive (this'll be important your sophomore year and on).</p>

<p>Food is top notch at the dining commons and in the city :).</p>

<p>The most important thing I could tell you though is to make sure you visit, and the biggest piece of advice I could give to someone visiting UC Davis is to visit when school is in session. Since this is a college town life tends to revolve around the school calendar and Davis is alive when the students are around and it goes into hibernation when school is on break due to the fact that about 30,000 people leave the city that has a total population of about 65,000.</p>

3

<p>Wow, thank you very much for your reply. Unfortunately, UCD is the one campus I have not visited and apparently I really need to. I've been looking for "word on the street" opinions about UCD because I'm sure it's designed to look great in catalogues, etc. ;] Davis sounds perfect for me in terms of community size and activity. Lol my parents are just worried that I'll be "so far from home" even though I have friends who are going to college across the country. =P But yeah, thank you for the input and advice. Much appreciation. :]</p>

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<p>It really depends on what you're looking for. Most of my friends will agree that Davis is boring as hell. While there may be big bands coming here and there, you're really gonna have to drive for a while (if you're driving the speed limit it's gonna take you 1.5 hours to get to SF). Housing is cheap and abundant as Kmass said. I have friends from Socal who are bored the hell out at Davis and just smoke weed and drink every day, I guess that's what you do when you're bored and there's really nothing to do? Come visit before you take my word or Kmass' word for it though.</p>

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<p>Go to admitted students day. It will give you a nice grasp of UCD and you will learn a lot about what the campus has to offer.</p>

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<p>To put another twist on what ilikeoranges said. UCD may not be the place for people looking to be entertained often. It is however awesome for anyone willing to invest a little bit of energy in making their own fun. Tons of student clubs, amazing bright student body, and easy and frequent excursions to outdoor destinations. No, downtown Davis doesn't have a happening club scene but 15 minutes up the road in Sac you can find all sorts of weekend activities that offer more action.</p>

<p>Here is what a certain college review co says about UCD's nightlife:</p>

<p>For those under 21, the nightlife experience at Davis consists of frat and house parties. While sufficient for the first few years, that scene tends to get old by the time students are living off campus and are old enough to drink. Unfortunately, Davis hardly offers a kicking bar scene, and it’s not exactly considered a hot spot for clubs or dance clubs either. Though not overly stifled by the small suburban atmosphere, students seem to consider the night scene left with much to be desired. They are less than impressed with the bars, and with only one club in town, it’s not surprising that many get antsy. Still, considering Davis’ small size, the clubs and bars are decent. To keep things fresh and entertaining, many have theme nights that manage to keep the atmosphere not so stagnant. </p>

<p>Luckily, Davis’ neighbor city, Sacramento, offers many convenient options for students looking for more action. With clubs like the Rage and 815 Street, most students are easily satisfied by Sacramento’s variety. For those who are hard to please or just truly desperate, San Francisco is also another entertaining option.</p>

<p>OTOH this is what it says about the overall atmosphere of the community of Davis:
UCD students have no problem admitting that Davis isn’t the most bustling university. In fact, that’s one of the things they most appreciate. Although entertainment is limited in a small suburban setting, students seem grateful for the relaxing environment after a stressful day spent over the books. Because the town is essentially built around the University, students enjoy the convenience of a college town and the comfortable atmosphere of a community. Davis is also just a car ride away from Sacramento, San Francisco, Tahoe, and Cache Creek. It’s close enough to the beach to throw together a full-day adventure or even a weekend camping trip.</p>

<p>The majority of students express overwhelming satisfaction with the local atmosphere. Although some complain about the lack of entertainment, others claim that all it takes to have fun in town is a little creativity. Students who prefer the hum of metropolitan life will undoubtedly appreciate Davis’s close proximity to Sacramento and San Francisco, but it’s important to keep in mind the fact that the town of Davis itself is far from fast paced. If students are flexible and able to make their own fun, this small town may fit just right. You have to be creative.</p>

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<p>Anecdotal information is pretty useless, but my d has three really close friends who are bored and unhappy at UCSB because all everyone ever does is party. They are all counting the days until they can come home for break. All three have come to Picnic Day and say it is more fun than any event at their school. Another close friend is taking a semester off from USC because she feels that she has no real friends (she is in a sorority) and she is unhappy. Another friend just left SDSU because he felt wasn't getting an education. Yet another friend started at USD, moved to Oregon and then came back home. That student is still unhappy. Smoking pot is a sure fire way to kill initiative. You can be bored and unhappy for a vareity of reasons at any school. Attitude is 100% of the solution.</p>

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<p>I wholeheartedly agree that you have to make your own fun in Davis. I don't party, drink, or smoke, but the way I have fun is gathering a large number of friends and just hanging out and playing childish games with an interest...albeit sometimes naughty (lol) twist. And since my lounge has a piano, I go in there to play a few times. </p>

<p>For the Winter Q, I found that watching basketball, baseball and softball games killed a good amount of time. I would totally recommend doing that. Fall quarter offers football and volleyball to watch.</p>

<p>If you don't have friends to go with, just go by yourself. Not only will they get jealous from the free stuff you get (I got a good amount of tube socks, beads, coupons for eateries, ice cream, etc from going to football and basketball games), but sometimes it's a good way to get away if you feel the need to =P</p>

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<p>This post makes it seem as though college life is just about the "night life." ?? I mean, college is where education should be first priority, not whether there are enough bars and clubs keep you away from your books. UCD is a college town for students first. If I were a parent, I'd be happier and more relaxed if my kid isn't engulfed in a "party/alcoholic" environment for a college life and I think UCD is calmer in that aspect.. And the things I saw at UCSB when I was an undergrad, I would prefer not to retell on this board.</p>

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<p>My cousin recently graduated from UCD and had transferred from CalPoly. She loved UCD, but I guess it depends on the person.</p>

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<p>jmilton...my post and the subsequent posts are in response to ilikeoranges' post about people from So. California being bored at UCD. No one who attends UCD would ever tell you that being there isn't mostly about the academics.</p>

<p>Th OP started the thread to find out about the academics, community, housing and food. Academic rigor is the first thing on the OP's list. I think we are all trying to paint a picture for EdibleEgg with the information we have to offer.</p>

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<p>Thank you for all who posted. I'm really looking for a multitude of responses because I want to formulate a general list of possible pros/cons. I'm more quiet and studious than most of my friends and I don't smoke or drink, so the party scene is definitely not for me. Being bored isn't really an issue for me either because I like finding other activities that will fill my time--activities I feel are productive or fun. So far, it seems UCD is pretty laid-back though not idle, which is something I really like.</p>

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<p>EdibleEgg the realistic picture is that there IS a big party scene at UCD, BUT there are lots of other things to do besides party. You do not need to party to have fun at UCD.</p>

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<p>Anecdotal information can be very helpful. I would not base a decision on that type of information, but certainly one sees patterns in this type of information.<br>
When the same complaints come up year after year about certain schools, definitely look into it! The same goes for the "happiness factor". There are themes running through cc posts that will give students some serious clues about their prospective schools.</p>

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<p>Well I'm basically looking for anecdotal information because you can't get that by reading a brochure or an article. I certainly won't base my decision on external factors alone, the programs/academics at UCD are really important to take into consideration as well, but since I haven't had the opportunity to visit Davis myself, I really need to know what it's like to live there. I'd just like to gage whether I'd truly enjoy Davis or not.</p>

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<p>I live 20 minutes away, and if not for that, I cant think of a more perfect place for my D & her friends. they are not "party" people but they love sports & other "school spirit" activities. Academically, they strive to be among the best, but not to the exclusion of good times, and Davis is perfect for that, especially from the looks of this years admissions. They are used to the 'burbs and and to them Davis is pretty cosmopolitan. It does get hot as hades in the summer but "it's a dry heat", and while it's Never TOO cold, Tahoe with skiing, river rafting, and casino type entertainment is just a two huors (except on Fridays) away. And for a BIG treat, nothing beats San Francisco. Unless it's Napa.... or Monterey....</p>

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<p>Indian casinos are much closer than Tahoe. ;)</p>

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<p>I'm actually from Davis, was living there 16 years. When you come, be sure to check out Fuji, and just walk around downtown. Definitely join some clubs and become an officer cuz that'll eat up your time and it's fun. However, I will say that many of my friends did transfer after their 2nd year to other UCs (I think I was the only one that transferred to a private). I think like 4 to UCSD, 2 to UCLA and 1 to UCB. So even if you find yourself not liking the area as much as before in 2 years, you have that option as well.</p>

<p>Also, I really advise you to party. Why? Try it, get hung over, you know. In reality, the people who can have the most fun while also getting the most done (grades, internships) get the furthest professionally. I know a guy who does weed like every week (I'm NOT saying do week -just an example!!), but also has almost a 4.0...and a job offer for basically over 100k first year salary.</p>

<p>The secret to success is combining that weird guy that sits in the library reading all day (sorry to stereotype) + that frat boy (I'm not saying join a frat either) that parties a lot. Only sacrifice partying for grades, but if you find yourself sitting on the couch watching TV you should be studying so you can party/have fun with friends later. In this way, I was very happy with Davis because there was so much free time.</p>

<p>Anyway, be sure to check out the library, Wellman, the new Bio Sciences buildings, the random new building near the Silo with the largest lecture hall on campus, the career services center. Those are just off the top of my head. Enjoy your visit</p>

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<p>Indian casinos....</p>

<p>For entertainment or just gambling?</p>

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<p>Gambling</a> - Davis Wiki</p>

<p>Cache</a> Creek Casino Resort - Davis Wiki</p>

<p>Cache</a> Creek - Entertainment</p>