HI!!!!!

Hey everyone!!

CONGRATS on getting into UCSD!!!! I hope you all are really excited to start school here in the fall but i hope youre even more excited to attend orientation and meet the greatest people on campus.... the ORIENTATION LEADERS!!! =] lol

I dont really know what to write that someone else already has written so i do apologize if i talk about something again. umm i guess ill just give some advice that I wish someone would have told me when I was coming here or advice i was given and i wish i took or just some random advice i have haha.... and i guess this applies to campus and around SD

1. meet ur professors and go to office hours. they love when students come in so go in. theyre really helpful and you tend to do better in your classes
2. stay on top of your classes. 10 weeks goes by faster than you think. its like you blink and its already midterms then you take a second to breathe and its finals.
3. use OASIS tutoring for help in classes. they are located on the top floor of center hall. oh and did i mention its FREE?!?!
3. SMILE!!!! =D
4. join a club or organization that you like and stick with it.
5. meet as many people as you can.
6. try new things. SD offers tons of activities you can participate in that are fun
7. try new food places!!! so many good places to eat!!!! lol find all the local secrets!
8. enjoy the sun and the beach... and maybe even even learn how to surf
9. talk to a school counselor regularly to make sure ur on schedule to graduate and u have all the requirements to apply to whatever u want to do after ur an undergrad
10. buy and wear a UCSD sweatshirt =] show some school SPIRIT!!!!
11. make good choices

but most importantly ENJOY THE TIME YOU HAVE HERE!!

hope everyone is having an amazing summer and see you in the FALL!!!!

Tricia =]

Transportation in sunny San Diego

Hello Everyone! I hope your summers are going along wonderfully.

Your first year at UCSD is sure to be one of excitement and great experiences, and A LOT of learning in all aspects. Here are a few tips to start off your year:


*I’m a native San Diegan, and I can testify that San Diego weather, as advertised, is pretty great. The consistent weather makes this place like paradise. When the heat comes though, be sure you are ready with your shades and summer attire. Sunscreen is a very good idea :) UCSD’s location is quite identical to the beach, so it’s a good idea to protect your skin from the same rays that burn you at the shore (even when it is overcast...the marine layer will not stop the burn if you burn easily)!


(<---See how close?! It’s really easy to get there, so definitely take advantage of UCSD’s proximity to La Jolla Shores)

*Transportation is definitely something to explore when at UCSD. Between parking and bus routes there are plenty of ways to get on and off campus.

PARKING: Parking on campus can be a little crazy, but completely do-able. One of the main parking lots, Hopkins, has about 3-4 floors of parking, but they go fast! Give up your parking spot and try to come back past 10 a.m. and it’s likely most of the spots will be snatched up. BUT, there are plenty of spaces around campus to park, so there’s no need to stress. Half of them you can find from just going to class. The lot behind the Warren dorms, the Pangea parking structure, and the far corner of Revelle are just a few of the on-campus sites. You can view all the spots on campus through the Maplink tool here.


I have found that a great place to park (especially if you commute every day) is lots 702 through 705. They are farther from campus, but if you take the campus shuttle, it drops you right by the Price Center (at the heart of campus). It is very convenient.


Look at your different options for parking passes. You can get Lot Specific passes that allows you to only park in one certain lot and it can save you some money! P.S. When you put the pass on your mirror or window, MAKE 100% sure it is visible (be sure it cannot fall off or behind anything in your car) or you will get fined!


BUS: There are several bus routes if you are coming in from off campus. Many students use the bus and love its convenience and the money it saves! You can look at bus routes here. The Blink website has great resources for all kinds of transportation, and can give you many options to get on campus.

ZIPCARS: Another way to get around town is through the Zipcars. You can join the Zipcar program and take the cars off campus to run errands or to simply tool around town. You can rent them hourly or daily and their rates include gas and insurance. You can reserve them online or over the phone, then you hold your “Zipcard” to the window of the car you reserved. Then it unlocks the car and it’s yours until the end of your reservation! It’s so easy! This program is definitely an option to look into when looking at your transportation options.


*With all these ways to get around, don’t forget to explore La Jolla and San Diego. The bus can take you not only to school, but to endless places in San Diego County. Explore downtown La Jolla with its amazing restaurants (the Burger Lounge has supplied me with many meals, and there are some GREAT sushi places as well). Continue your exploration into downtown, Balboa Park (the Zoo is a must see), and east county. Your time will be filled with school, but when you have time free from responsibility, treat yourself to a good dinner and see the sights. I’ve lived in San Diego my entire life and I still play the tourist on weekends!

Happy travels and see you in the fall!

Lauren Smyle :)
Transfer Orientation Group #20

Secrets of San Diego

Hello all!
I just want to take a minute to congratulate all of you on getting into UCSD and for choosing Warren College! You are all in for some new experiences, wonderful memories, and everlasting friendship :D

It may seem a bit awkward since you’re not a “freshman”, but you’re also not “in the know” like returning students, either. It may take a bit of extra effort on your part, but taking the efforts will definitely be worth the time! Here are a few tips:

1. Join a club! There are so many sports clubs, art clubs, religious clubs, heritage clubs and MORE that UCSD has to offer. It may also help to know that some students who have been on campus join campus clubs AFTER their first year, so you may not be the only upper-class student new to the organization.
2. Seize social opportunities. PARTICIPATE in the transfer group orientation. There you’ll meet other transfer students and returning UCSD students who can be your potential friends that you'll cherish forever <3
3. Reach out! I heard of a story of one student who put Smarties and Hershey’s Kisses on her residence hall door and invited others to help themselves and leave a message (including their room number so she could visit them back). Cute isn't it?

And if you ever get tired of dining hall food (It's kind of hard not too) here is a secret place that not many people know about. It's hidden in the heart of San Diego and when you find it, it's always a surprise! (Kind of like finding wild pokemon in the grass...) Anyhoo! Have you ever wanted to be WILD, SPONTANEOUS, AND CRAZYYY?!? Then you should try out Tiloli's Crazee Burger! They have burgers that you can't find anywhere else. They have crocodile, ostrich, kangaroo, wild boar, and more! I personally have tried the crocodile and ostrich. Pretty interesting, if you ask me(as compared to McDonald's or Burgerking). You can check out the menu here. The downside is that it may be a little but pricey but I say its well worth it. Where else can you find exotic burgers like these??

Stay fresh and have fun :)

Victoria Ha (V-ha)
Transfer OL Group #18

for this upcoming year....

As a native San Diegan, meaning I never leave San Diego other than to travel and visit friends elsewhere, I get to enjoy San Diego year round! Granted, we could use some hotter weather here :)

Here are some things I'm looking forward to during my last year as a Warren College Student!

Orientation - I'm extremely excited to welcome all the incoming students to an amazing college and university! There's so much that UCSD has to offer and nothing excites me more than to share my passion of being a Warren College student :D Orientation is a great bonding experience and a chance to get all your questions answered. I really enjoyed getting to know all the new students last year and can't wait to meet everyone this year!

Unolympics - The first competition between the six colleges! Each college learns a dance and performs it at the Unolympics. There are also relay races. The dance is judged by a panel and the winner receives the Golden Shoe trophy, and bragging rights for the year. It's a terrific chance to come out and show off your Warren College pride!

Classes - I'm looking forward to my classes this year since I'm mostly done with my major (Biochemistry and Cell Biology) and am taking a lot of biology electives. This means I can choose what topics I want to focus on and learn more about. The upper division classes are a lot more specific and focused than the lower div classes, and there are plenty of interesting professors who know a lot about their area of expertise. I've also been working in a neurology/geriatrics lab at the med school for the past 2 years and hope to be included in a published paper by the end of the year. There are plenty of labs on campus and at the med school and hospitals nearby to get experience and volunteer.

WCSC - Warren College Student Council is the student government specifically for Warren College. I am currently the Commuter-at-Large Representative and am in process of thinking of goals and things I want to do this year to improve commuter life at UCSD! WCSC has been my family for the past 2 years and I'm excited to see everyone again and see what is in store for this year :) We work to improve student life at Warren and UCSD and do our best to address the concerns of our constituents. If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact us! We put on a lot of different events during the year, including a winter wonderland festival, plenty of socials to get to know other members of Warren College, open mic nights, fundraisers for our scholarship fund, and a semiformal at the end of the year. I will also be serving on WTCC (Warren Transfer and Commuter Commission) so hit me up with any and all your questions/concerns!

Spirit Night - Right when we come back from Winter Break, spirit season is in full swing! We have some great sport teams at UCSD, like our water polo, volleyball and basketball teams. During the first couple weeks of Winter Quarter, attendance to specific basketball games racks up points for the college. During Spirit Night, a home basketball game, everyone is dressed up with as much pride as possible. The gym is all decked out for the game. Each college is also required to decorate their college and the decorations are judged. At Spirit Night, all the points from the different categories are added up and a Spirit Night Winner is declared. We missed winning by just a bit last year and so we're ready to rally and come back bolder and setting the standards higher this year in order to win! COWS! (Commission of Warren Spirit) is in charge of all Spirit Night operations so if you're interested, you should join and check it out :)

Living off campus - As much as I loved living on campus, I also really love living off campus. I feel much more responsible for myself, having to pay bills/rent, learning how to cook, etc. I am being very spoiled right now living back at home for the summer haha Since most students choose to live off campus, many of the surrounding apartment complexes are full of college students so its still fairly easy to visit friends :) I do kinda missing living at my apartment and being on my own and being with my apartmentmates.

Circle K - Circle K is a community service organization under Kiwanis. It's the org I decided to join my sophomore year and really love. Clubs are a great way to meet new people and also find those people who have the same passions as you do. There are plenty of clubs on campus and easy ways to find them. Most clubs will be passing out flyers on Library Walk (next to Price Center leading to Giesel Library) during the first couple weeks of school so you should go around and see what you like. Most clubs/orgs hold their meetings in the evening so find out when they meet and where. This is a great way to find your "place" here at UCSD :)

This is just a few of the major things I'm looking forward to this year and I hope you are too! :) Can't wait to meet you all!

-- Diana Lui

Transfer Orientation Leader - Group 2

Food, glorious food

I transferred to UCSD from a community college with what we’ll politely call a severe lack of cuisine choices. Hopping in the car meant an epic battle for a parking spot once you returned, and nothing else was close enough to grab a bite between classes; thus, we were limited to the janky Jack-in-the-Box a block from campus, or the “aww, how cute, it’s trying” cafeteria located in the center of school. This was like deciding between death from a firing squad or from a speeding train, and so more often than not I wound up with a bag of chips and a soda (and a midsection that reflected those decisions).

Imagine my amazement and wonder, then, when I set foot on UCSD for the very first time and basked in the cornucopia at my fingertips. A Subway, at my school! Indian food, a full market, a Panda Express - I’d really love to tell you that besides the whole world-renowned education thing, the wide variety of food options had absolutely no bearing on my decision to attend, but I’d be lying through chopstick-chomping teeth.

As the fall quarter sped on I miraculously lost weight, thanks to my newly-active lifestyle (more on that later), but I kept an appreciation of eating well at school and a comprehensive list of the best places to grab a bite, which I’ll now share. (Note: I'm a vegetarian, and some of you might be too, so I'll try to point out meatless options where I can.)

Price Center is the most popular and well-known dining establishment on campus – it was likely your first campus destination during Admit Day, and houses the most "corporate" food vendors. Burger King (24-hours most days), Subway, Rubio’s, Panda Express, Tacone, Bombay Coast, Santorini’s, Croutons, Round Table, Tapioca Express, Shogun, and Yogurt World all call it home, and they’re all delicious - but you’ll be doing yourself a great disservice if you don’t check out the other fantastic options tucked away throughout our lovely school.

(Of special note in Price Center is the Sunshine Market - it's pretty much a 7/11, with friendlier staff and quicker service. I especially love grabbing some inari [sweet tofu with rice], a bottle of tea and maybe a snack from their formidable selection.)

The most popular alternative for students looking to “buck the trend” of big-brand eateries would probably be the Co-Op. Co-op is short for cooperative, which means that the establishment is wholly owned and operated by its patrons - in this case, the student body. Both food-based co-ops (the first is simply known as “the Co-Op”, and the second is the Che Café) serve up fresh, hot, delicious and nutritious vegetarian and vegan food at highly competitive prices. They’re not just environmentally-conscious eateries, but vibrant communities with a lively stream of regulars.

Adjacent to the Co-Op, in the Old Student Center (our name for the Student Center after Price Center opened up) is Hi-Thai, completely delicious and filling. It also has an attached study lounge. I recommend the pad Thai with a nice cup of boba tea to wash it down.

The lucky transfer students living in the Village will get to know this very soon, but for the rest of us: don’t avoid the dining halls! Contrary to high-school cafeteria stigma, the several school-operated eateries peppered throughout campus offer an amazing variety of high-quality food that puts most UCs – and many restaurants- to shame. With recurring themes like Meatless Mondays and individual perks like a sushi station (Café Ventanas), better-than-Chipotle burritos (Goody’s), a frozen yogurt stand (Ocean View Terrace), rotisserie chicken (Plaza), a steady stream of pizza (Foodworx) and the best breakfast sandwiches in the world (Warren’s own Canyon Vista), you’ll never grow hungry – or, more importantly, bored.

Did you know that UCSD has its own performance lounge? The Loft, a hip and trendy nightclub/venue that features many up-and-coming artists is known as Zanzibar Café by day, where it serves classy-but-affordable fare like sandwiches, burgers, Italian sodas and great little meals like gourmet mac ‘n cheese or vegetarian chili with cornbread (for only $5!)

After you head into ERC to watch the Tritons kick butt at RIMAC Stadium, don’t forget to stop at Home Plate, a sports bar-themed grill offering sandwiches, burgers and salads – I’ve heard the seared tuna is especially delicious.

Speaking of bars – and this is going out to the over-21 folks only here – Porter’s Pub is surprisingly legit for being an on-campus watering hole. The wide variety of beer on tap and the very decent food draws you in; the concert stage, karaoke, trivia, and open mic nights get you to stay. Tell Steffan, the owner, that Adam Powers sent you – either good things or bad will happen at that point, depending on whether or not I’ve paid my tab that week.

If you’re a java hound, you’ll be relieved to know that you’re rarely more than a few steps away from a cup of coffee. There are independently-operated carts scattered around the colleges, the Bookstore has Perks, Price Center has Espresso Roma and the Sunshine Market, each of the dining halls serves it… but the best, passionately assured by my friends, lies at Art of Espresso, a permanently-stationed cart on the other side of Mandeville Hall (at the Nobel/Arriba shuttle stop). All of the above locations also serve tea, bagels, pastries, and a variety of other delicious things.

And then there are the off-campus options that are mere minutes away, and easily-accessible via shuttle so you don’t have to give up your parking spot: BJs, Islands, El Torito, Rock Bottom Brewery, TGIF, and more are practically at the tips of your toes.

And that’s all the food I’ve found so far - to reward you for getting to the end of this entry, I’ll let you in on a little secret that few know: Every Wednesday, a group of local monks come to school and set up shop in the Old Student Center (above the Co-Op), toting giant tubs filled with crazy delicious curry, rice, and assorted Indian food, most of it vegan and all of it incredible. For the price of a single meal anywhere else, they’ll permit you to fill up a Tupperware container and nosh for days. You’re welcome.

Now get out there and eat! – I mean, learn!

Adam Powers
Transfer Orientation Group #3

Hello All!

Congratulations on getting into UCSD it took a lot of hard work to get here....and I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there's much more to come. College is a whole lot of fun!..... and so is studying in Geisel.... sometimes.

College is such an interesting time in life and UCSD provides an awesome experience. The big campus can be intimidating but it provides so many unique opportunities that you can find so many new environments to grow and explore your interests in. The most important thing about UCSD is to experience new things, and let yourself experience them. Don't get too wraped up in grades and homework and miss out on the rest of the UCSD experience. Take classes that interest you and seem challenging in the right ways. Don't just view college as something to check off of your list, see it is an experience that is going to guide you and define who you are for the rest of your life! Also do not be afraid to change, life and college is about growing and evolving.

Here are my top three things that I think every UCSD/Warren student should do:
1. spend time in Earl's (the place and market in Warren).... it has a good friendly environment and one of the best places to bring a date ;), take a romantic stroll down aisle 13b.
2. Spend time in geisel, it is fun and FUNctional... and I think it was used to represent a spaceship in some sci-fi thriller.
3. Smile at people, if you are nice to people 9 times out of 10 people will be nice back!

Looking forward to meeting you all!
-Jordan Dalton

So tell me, what do I do when I get to campus?

Hello fellow Warren Students!

The big day is upon us. Excited? Well I sure hope so! You might be wondering “What on Earth am I going to do when I get to campus?” I’m here to answer that very question. Sure, you can sit at home, chill, and maybe watch some T.V. OR you can explore the campus and/or the San Diego area.

First on our list of fun stuff is (the reason to you picked UCSD-other than the amazing academics and wonderful people) THE BEACH. We have lots of beaches nearby seeing as we have a little place called the Pacific Ocean right next door. The closest and easily accessible beach is either La Jolla Shores or Blacks Beach. To get to La Jolla Shores you can either hop on the MTS 30 (S) Bus from Gilman St. However, if you are feeling adventurous you can walk by following this path highlighted in orange
to get to Blacks Beach follow the path in red (it's quiet the trek, so be warned)

both paths start from the main Library on campus (Geisel)

You can reach La Jolla Shores from Blacks, but you might get a little wet.

In addition to our fabulous beaches, we have. A movie theater on campus that plays movies for only $3, a little shopping area near campus (take the SUPER loop bus 201/202) that has a Ralphs, Trader Joes, and much more. There's always something to do on campus. If, by chance, you can't find something to do take a look at our Campus Organizations.

There's also the ENTIRE city of San Diego for you to explore. Some of the things to do in town: Laser Tag, Museum of Modern Art, Extraordinary Desserts (great place for dates =D), Little Italy, THE AIRPORT (just kidding), Balboa Park, Zoo (Lions and Tigers and Bears), Wild Animal Park (oh My!), Lego Land (a little kiddy, but always a classic), Sea World, and of course In-N-Out. The list goes on and on.

During your time at UCSD you won't be without things to do. In fact, you'll have so much to do you might have trouble finishing it all.

-Kunal Shah
Transfer Group #4

Getting Around UC San Diego!

Hi everyone,

If you have visited campus, one thing that you might have noticed is that in addition to being beautiful, UC San Diego is huge! So the big question is...how are you going to get around campus? There are many ways to get from place to place, and you will be able to find something that works for you.

First of all, you can walk from class to class. I have walked to classes 99% of the time and it has worked very well for me. You can make it from one side of main campus to the other in 20 or so minutes if you power walk (and not a whole lot longer if you walk at a more reasonable pace). For suggested routes from place to place, check out this map, which I have found to be quite handy and which my own Orientation Leader shared with me. As you become familiar with campus, you will discover many shortcuts and alternative routes that will shave off minutes in your commute. Walking is a good way to appreciate how gorgeous our campus is, so if you choose to get around via a different method, still try take a walk now and then. Also, if you have mobility issues, you can look into ADA transport, which will help you get around campus, free of charge.

If you are not as fond of walking as am I and would prefer to bike, you will find that you have a lot of company at UC San Diego! Bikes and bike racks are everywhere on campus, and we even have a bike shop located in the Old Student Services Center. Biking will significantly reduce travel time and can therefore be very handy when you have back-to-back classes. Be sure only to bike and secure bicycles in approved areas, and ALWAYS lock your bike, even if you are just leaving it for a minute! You do not want to receive a ticket, nor do you want your bike to be stolen or impounded.

In addition to bikes, many people choose to skateboard, or longboard in particular, and Razor scooters are also rather popular. These have an advantage over bikes in that you can take them right into class and spare yourself the time that it takes to lock up a bike. Every now and then you will even see someone on a powered scooter, a tandem bike, or a unicycle zipping around campus, so as you can see there are many ways for you to get around on wheels.

In addition to these methods of transportation, UC San Diego has a wonderful shuttle system that has stops at a variety of locations both on and off campus. The Campus Loop shuttle stops all over campus and has buses that run both clockwise and counterclockwise. Other shuttles include, but are NOT limited to, the SIO shuttle, which runs from upper campus to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the East/Regents shuttle, which transports you to several parking lots from Price Center, and the holiday airport shuttle (reserve in advance!). Be sure to visit the website for maps and details on these shuttles, and note that shuttle schedules may change on holidays. Also, if you frequent the shuttles, be sure to check out ucsdbus.com, which features both a live tracking map and a feature that tells you when each shuttle will arrive at the stop that you select. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, downloading the UC San Diego app will allow you to track the shuttles on the go.

Lastly, a discussion of transportation at UC San Diego would not be complete without mentioning the free UC San Diego Bus Zone! Once you go to the parking office and get a sticker for your ID card, just show your ID when you board the bus and you can ride these popular routes for free, courtesy of the university. If the Bus Zone will not get you where you need to be, there are many other methods of public transportation available; however, they are not free.

This ought to give you a good idea of how you can get around campus, yet I am sure that more options exist. Feel free to post a comment if you have any questions, or if you have more ideas for the best ways to get from place to place!

See you around campus!
Rachel
Transfer Orientation Group #5