<p>Yeah I know there is a checklist on UCLA orientation site, but I want to know what we should bring aside from the items mentioned on site. I assume we have to bring our own toothbrushes, shampoo, and the like. Are the sheets and pillows clean? Or should we bring sleeping bags? Any recommended items to bring, maybe like a deck of cards to have fun in dorms? Condoms? Alcohol? one of my friends said his dormmate brought beers to orientation haha. And I heard the counselors distribute loads of condoms(?)</p>
<p>If we do bring a laptop, can we safely lock it somewhere? Is there a safe/locker?</p>
<p>Any advices/recommendation? I am looking forward to orientation!!! =]</p>
<p>Your list is complete. I would def. bring your laptop as it will really come in handy as your registration time gets closer since you can track how the classes you want might be filling up. We bought a lock for my daughters laptop so she could keep it locked in her room when she wasn’t using it. I don’t know if she ever used it. Your dorm room will be locked when you are not in it and as long as you put it away somewhere when you are not using it you should be fine.</p>
<p>your list is fine, the stuff they provide (sheets and pillows) are decent enough, laptop is a really good thing to bring since the line at computer labs will be pretty long, i don’t really know about locks, i bought one my freshmen year but never used it, too lazy to lock it all the time as im careful enough with closing the doors and stuff… cards can be fun but there are some decent activities to pass your time with, 2 years ago we had cabaret and poker tourney type of stuff in the first night or you can go to westwood, the 2nd night there is carpe noctrum so thats pretty fun to do, but don’t forget running shoes (Do Not wear flip flops lol) </p>
<p>as for condoms… ummm yeah maybe they’ll be useful, doubt it…</p>
<p>^ From what I’ve read/heard everyone’s schedule may be slightly different depending on the placement tests you have to take (or don’t have to) and the counselors you meet with. For example, I will be meeting with a PEERS counselor since I’m in that program, but no one else that’s not in PEERS will. So whenever you have a gap in your schedule (free time) then you can explore. I wouldn’t recommend walking too far from UCLA at night though…</p>
<p>Are you kidding, nodnarb? Westwood is not the slums. We had a schoolwide notice posted on the residence hall walls for a month when a girl merely had her ass grabbed by a stranger (not condoning it, but it’s not being mugged, either), it’s that rare that something happens.</p>
<p>I guarantee you won’t be walking past Wilshire Blvd. on your first night, and everything you need is much closer. Frats, apartment parties, Diddy Reese, In-N-Out, whatever you can think of to do in 3 days, you’ll find it, and hey!
You’re at a great school with tons of new people that really are dying to meet you that weekend. Could have a blast even confined to the hall you stay in.</p>
<p>Edit: Alithyaiden, when I went to Session 104 last summer, we were in the residence plazas (Rieber Terrace and Vista). A couple may have been outside those two plazas, but the rooms in both are very, very nice.</p>
<p>Everyone’s in on-campus housing, but the vast majority were in residence plazas. Everyone I have met or since talked to has been (plazas have a bathroom inside, unlike the residence halls, and are a bit more spacious).</p>
<p>I had a double, triples are common, too. The Orientation roommates, as far as I remember, are random, although likely when you signed up for orientation you could choose a few criteria (yes? no? guessing here) on whether they smoked or stuff like that.</p>
<p>You do many activities with your group, but you are by no means restricted to it. You will, however, attend certain activities/assemblies (or at least walk to them) with your group, and your orientation counselor will give you the lowdown on classes and finally get you in to sign up for them on the final day of orientation.</p>
<p>Bring a blanket or sleeping bag if you like to stay warm during the night. The “blanket” they give you is thinner than the bath towel they give you. </p>
<p>If you bring a laptop, make sure to bring an ethernet cable too, since there’s no wifi in the dorms except in the lounge area.</p>
<p>And as everyone’s said, all of the events are optional, so if you don’t want to attend the info-sessions, you can do whatever you want.</p>
<p>Rooming is done alphabetically. Last year I did early arrival, and they had the early arrival kids stay on the 9th floor of Rieber Terrace (where all the counselors stay), which was kind of cool. The rest of the people stayed on the lower floors.</p>
<p>How many bags does the average person take? I was only thinking of taking one bag full of clothes and another full of bathroom stuff… i mean, it’s only three days ._.</p>
<p>-sxchanspaint: I know Westwood isn’t the slums. I am very familiar with the area and spend a lot of time out there. I’m just saying that it is a big city and bad people aren’t incapable of coming into Westwood area so if you venture too far from the security of UCLA , at night especially, you are taking a risk. And I assumed he would be exploring by himself which would be potentially more dangerous than with a group (where the risk is likely to be far lower.)<br>
And overall I’m just one of those risk-averse people (risk of bodily harm that is) so I’m especially careful even when the chances of something happening are low.</p>
<p>Violent Crime Statistics (numbers are annual):
West Los Angeles L.A.P.D. Station - pop. 234,701:
Homicide: - 9<br>
Rape: - 31
Robbery: - 529
Aggravated Assault: - 379
(Violent Crime Overall): 10</p>
<p>So yes Westwood is relatively very safe, but of course taking special care and being especially prudent at night is not ridiculous as you make me sound but actually rather reasonable.</p>
<p>If you ARE going to leave the UCLA campus, be sure to go with a parent. It’s a big bad world out there (just look at the statistics!). AT LEAST go with a buddy, and whatever you do, do NOT let go of your buddy’s hand UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!
In fact, if you can help it, don’t ever leave your house. Screw UCLA, an education is not worth your safety.</p>
<p>it’s okay to be careful, but it’s not like the streets are deserted on Westwood Blvd. </p>
<p>laptop and maybe a comforter are all you need (the blankets actually have systematic holes in them. at least you guys will have central heating). seriously, its like a short hotel stay. dont bring lots. </p>
<p>Look I just like to debate, I would have no problem going out into westwood at night by myself (as long as there are other ppl around). I just like to make a point and back it up, regardless of whether it’s my personal belief or not.</p>
<p>In all seriousness, if you venture up to a mile away from campus, you’ll be perfectly safe.
Between one and five miles, you may encounter some danger, but just make sure you’re with an extremely large group of people and you’ll be okay.
However, if you travel further than five miles from campus,</p>
<p>so free time we’re just free to do whatever we want? i was just wondering in the case that i wasn’t in the mood to sleep yet when the orientation part of the day is over. ^_^</p>