<p>Hey I'm going to be transferring to UCLA this upcoming fall 2009 and wanted to know where I can live. I'm a very outgoing person and I don't like video games, or nerdy people of that sort but I'm very studious and need a place where I can study hard and meet people. I fear living in the dorms this upcoming year as a transfer student will be like freshman year but worse because most UCLA transfers (i would assume) aren't very social and outgoing. I'm already in a fraternity so I will be socializing with my fraternity once I transfer but I wanted to know what other choices I have for housing for next year as a transfer student.</p>
<p>What are the dynamics of the on campus/off campus transfer housing? Are there social/outgoing transfers like myself? Where do they usually live their transfer year? </p>
<p>Would you suggest living in apartments off campus? Where would be an ideal location that is close to the fraternity scene but not too close so that its too loud? </p>
<p>Also, where would be a good place off campus to live so that one can easily get to campus?
Which brings me to another question, how do most people get around campus? I don't have a car and I hear bikes aren't that popular in UCLA because the campus is not very flat....</p>
<p>I know I asked a lot so thanks in advance for any helpful advice.</p>
<p>“I fear living in the dorms this upcoming year as a transfer student will be like freshman year but worse because most UCLA transfers (i would assume) aren’t very social and outgoing.”</p>
<p>So, transfer students aren’t social? Hmmm…</p>
<p>A lot of UCLA students (read: Juniors/Seniors) chose to live off campus, if not in/around Westwood then down in the Palms/Mar Vista area given that the Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica Bus) and the MTA as well as the Culver City Bus System all have various routes that end at UCLA. So you don’t really need to have a car to get in and around the westside to/fro UCLA and the surroundings.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing:
I don’t mean to insult anybody with any of my statements…but in comparison to many other schools, UCLA students, I HEAR aren’t very outgoing. Being that transfer students are new to the campus, most transfer students don’t know many people and are therefore left out of the social loop. Second, I feel that at any college most guys are not very motivated (i.e. on top of their game) and spend a lot of time playing computer/video games and smoking weed or endlessly studying without the Friday night, Saturday night partying. I’m worried my roommate will be as I just described. </p>
<p>My intentions are to know what most transfer/UCLA students are like. Are transfer students easily accepted and brought into the party/social loop or are they for the most part excluded from the “popular crowd” ( I hesitate to say that since this isn’t high school but I’m sure at least some of us know of the social stratification that takes place no matter where one is.)</p>
<p>If anyone any insightful information (or disagrees with my understandings), I would be happy to hear from you. My beliefs are open to change since they are, as yours are, just speculations of the world around us. </p>
<p>Thanks guys for any posts.</p>
<p>Well, if you continue with your pre-assumptions about people and their social habits based off of hearsay and gossip, then you are going to have a difficult time breaking into the social scene here. Update your world view; this isn’t some hodgepodge home of insecurities. </p>
<p>I’m a transfer student living on campus, and I can tell you that your social life will be what you make of it. If you go out to events and meet people – well, that’s will happen. If you stay in your dorm and study and never attend any events, then holy crap, you won’t meet anyone. And no one cares whether your a transfer student or not (and if they do, then UCLA forgot to check what year they are suppose to graduate high school). </p>
<p>This school is far too large for there to be any central popular hierarchy. You find the type of people you like and get along with and go from there. And maybe even branch out and include some other kinds of people (like those damn “nerdy” types and their ant-frying thick glasses and sweaty console controllers that you can only find in the lockers after the large handsome jock had his fun), so you can grow a bit.</p>
<p>I feel like the posts I’m getting are very aggressive and somewhat angry. Again, I don’t mean to hurt anyone with my beliefs. </p>
<p>Anyway thanks for the post, if you could, please let me know how you went about meeting people and what kind of people you associate yourself now that you are already so far into the school year. If you have any other insight as to the rest of my questions I would really appreciate it. </p>
<p>For anyone else who wants to post on this thread: I’d really appreciate anything that can help me out with my questions instead of voicing opposition now that I’ve gotten such a straight forward slap in the face (if I may say) about my beliefs (thanks btw, it was helpful). </p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>** Now that I think of it, they aren’t that aggressive but wtvr…thats not what this thread is about.</p>
<p>Regarding what I said earlier: “I fear living in the dorms this upcoming year as a transfer student will be like freshman year but worse because most UCLA transfers (i would assume) aren’t very social and outgoing.” </p>
<p>What I mean by this is the following: My impression of UCLA is a place where most people don’t party very much and stay in. Being transfers, I can only assume (please forgive me for my assumptions…I want to be told wrong) that its harder for transfers to find places to party and socialize with those of the opposite sex. I don’t mean that the transfers are different than freshman admits. but that they are put into difference circumstances (where friends are already made between freshman, etc. Kinda like going to high school your junior or senior year, people in high school have been friends since freshman year and its often hard to make strong friendships with freshman admits…etc…)</p>
<p>College life is what you make of it. If you want a social scene besides fraternity life go join clubs. It’s fall quarter so in most organizations there are activities to make you feel more welcome. If you let the status of “transfer” get to you it might not work out though - it really doesn’t matter if you’re freshman, sophomore etc. as long as you like who you’re with. Lots of people party, lots of people study - don’t generalize because that will get you nowhere. You shouldn’t be worried about meeting people of the opposite sex if you already have fraternity plans and if you check out different organizations fall quarter to see what you like. There will be tons of flyering on Bruinwalk so you can see what interests you and go to their events.</p>
<p>As for your other questions -</p>
<p>What are the dynamics of the on campus/off campus transfer housing? Are there social/outgoing transfers like myself? Where do they usually live their transfer year?</p>
<p>Most of the transfers I’ve met live off campus, I think a few live on. But they are all very sociable and very friendly people.</p>
<p>Would you suggest living in apartments off campus? Where would be an ideal location that is close to the fraternity scene but not too close so that its too loud?</p>
<p>I like the apartments because the dorms are too loud for me. Mind you I lived in Hedrick. Canyon Point and Courtside are quieter from what I’ve heard. For where to live next to fraternities, if you walk down Landfair and Gayley towards Strathmore you see all these fraternity houses but if you live on Landfair near Midvale/Gayley it’s quieter - at least from my experience. Kelton is also a close walk by but I don’t know how loud it is.</p>
<p>Also, where would be a good place off campus to live so that one can easily get to campus?</p>
<p>Some people I know live south of Wilshire and they take the shuttle to get to campus if I remember correctly. Hilgard is nice too because it’s near Ralphs. Others live in Santa Monica I think and it’s like a 15 minute bus ride for them.</p>
<p>Hope that answers your questions. I would strongly recommend you remove statuses like freshman/sophomore/junior/senior/transfer from your mind though. It really doesn’t matter what you are because who you get along with can be anyone of any age. Just don’t mind that you’re a transfer and you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Oh and Big Blue Bus is popular for transportation - it’s 25 cents with your Bruincard but over summer this doesn’t apply (75 cents regular fare I think)</p>
<p>Rosedust,</p>
<p>thanks that was very helpful. </p>
<p>A few more questions to anyone, what is the nightlife like at UCLA? Do people do house parties a lot? Where are most the house parties? Do most people usually walk to parties around the Westwood apartment area? How do you hear about them (facebook?)? </p>
<p>Also, do most students go clubbing a lot or do they usually stay around campus for nightlife?</p>
<p>Also, do most students walk, bike, skateboard, (scooter?) around campus from the westwood apartments?</p>
<p>viper, you already found out that you are accepted at UCLA as a transfer ??</p>
<p>No but im planning ahead…</p>
<p>^I wish I knew…there’s another few weeks till decisions come out…</p>
<p>If your at UCLA, it would be great if you could help me with my questions…thx</p>
<p>I have read about the campus owned apartments off campus, does anyone live there/ know anyone who does? They seem like a better fit for me than the dorms but I was wondering what they are really like. Any info would be great!!</p>
<p>Viper,
as a prospective transfer student, i can assure you that UCLA is not a “dead/non-partying” school. i stayed there for one night after the TAP conference and partied like no other… and i wasnt even a student yet. most of the other people at the party thought it was cool that i was a transfer student. so take that for what it’s worth. and you know what’s even more crazy? that friday… was their last friday before midterms week. crazy, huh?</p>
<p>Viper, I completely understand what you mean. I can tell you tried to word your question without offending anyone, but there is no easy way to say that some passive, boring, dull people will be there… and uh… we all want to live a little! We studied our asses off for 2 years, I think we deserve that much. I hear ya buddy. I’m worried just as you are, because I missed out on college life BIG TIME, living with my parents. Compared to that, whatever the social scene at UCLA offers for transfer students will be SO freaking awesome!</p>
<p>I just wish there was a online site/forum where we can find roommates/make friends among the transfer community BEFORE we get there. It’s a bit daunting to imagine going to a school/city without knowing many people (especially since my high school friends there are have found their own “place” at UCLA and live off campus.)</p>
<p>I think the best advice would be to go to as many events as possible, and live in dorms (if not, with roommates at least). I never thought I would say this, but I’m not the sorority girl type, but I might change my mind when I get there! :O</p>