Other Fun Things to Do in College Besides Studying and Class!

HEY!

So I realize that when most people come to college it is so that they can study hard in order to go to a good Med School, Grad School, Law School etc. Although studying and learning is a lot of fun, I'm going to blog about some other activities and options that you can add to your college experience. UCSD is gigantic--not only with the thousands of students but also the size. However, what I love most about UCSD is that it is filled with endless opportunities for you to find your niche whether it is active outdoor activities or more quiet relaxing indoor activities. There are so many student organizations so here a couple of the hundreds of things to do on campus besides studying in Geisel for the next two years :)

Take Advantage of Outback Adventures
First off, San Diego as a city is fairly close to many popular "tourist" spots. Besides the fact that it is possible to visit the LA area, Las Vegas, and Mexico by car, UCSD is close to the beach and popular camping spots. Outback Adventures is a program at UCSD that caters to the people that LOVE the outdoors and an active lifestyle. Outback Adventures has trips that you can sign up for from a relaxing kayaking trip under the moonlight at Mission Bay to Horseback Riding in Baja. Outback Adventures also opened a Surf Shop on the edge of Price Center this year where you can buy wetsuits, rent surfboards etc. Don't feel like leaving the UCSD campus but want a thrill? UCSD also has its own challenge course and rock climbing center close to Warren College :)

Recreation Classes
Ok, so what if you like to stay active in college but think that rock climbing or sea kayaking is a little too intense? Join a recreation class! Want to learn how to do a back flip or maybe try something new like fencing? What about learning to Go Go Dance so that you have some moves for Warren SemiFormal??? The recreation guide is 50 pages of different classes such as surfing, gymnastics, dancing, safety, and even games for fun such as billiards! And of course, there is always RIMAC which has gym equipment and courts.

Craft Center
So maybe you don't really like too much physical activity. There is a Craft Center located close to Muir's Main Gym where you can sign up for classes for Ceramics, Glass Blowing, Jewelry making etc. Sometimes they offer a day class that's about two hours on the weekend to show you how to make a crafty Valentine's gift etc.

Go Greek!
So this year I joined the Greek system. Not only does it provide you with a network of friends, but it is always filled with activities and things to do to get involved. Down below on the blog page there is a more detailed blog about the Greek System if you are interested :) But basically, once I joined the Greek System if I wasn't attending meeting, there was volunteering opportunities, social events, as well as study times throughout the week with my sisters. Furthermore, there are many many different Greek "groups." There is of course the Panhellenic and IFC which are known as the "social" Greek sororities and fraternities, however there is also the Multicultual Greek Council, Volunteering Sororities/Fraternities, and Academic Sororities/Fratenrities. So definately check out the different types if you're thinking of rushing!

Join a Club!
Welcome Week is the best way to get introduced to almost all the clubs on campus. There are breakdancing clubs, volunteering clubs, robotics clubs, surfers and snowboarders clubs, poetry clubs etc. Definately check out the fair during welcome week to get flyers and sign up for information. My recommendation is to bring a bag and just grab flyers and freebies from all of the booths that look interesting and then go through them later because it does get extremely crowded! There are also sports club, so if you want to play a sport competitively, but not to the extent of joining UCSD's sport team. Clubs are a great way to stay in shape, keep up your skills, as well as participate in competitive play.

Get a job!
Extra money in college is also great for those random shopping splurges. What better way than to apply for on campus jobs such as working at the UCSD bookstore, Geisel, or at Price Center? Most of the stores on campus have many student workers with flexible hours and since the jobs are on campus it is easy to go from class to work and then study at the library after work. If you check out Port Triton, it is where most UCSD students look for jobs, not only at UCSD but all over San Diego and beyond!

Take Advantage of that little circular sticker on your student ID called a BUS STICKER!
Driving a car is of course very convenient, but if you want a trip downtown or to the beach, parking is sometimes a pain. Luckily for UCSD students, we have a bus sticker which allows us to take some of the most popular routes to the mall, beach, or downtown FREE of charge! My freshman year, a group of my suitemates and I took the bus to La Jolla Shores and studied at the SIO library for our finals and then relaxed at the beach afterwards.

Attend UCSD events (even if it may not be put on by your college)
Each of the six colleges at UCSD puts on numerous events every year. For example, Sixth College hosts it Chocolate Festival where there are different booths with games and prizes that all involve chocolate. There is also gigantic fondue fountain to dip delicious treats in. Muir has Muirstock every year where bands come and play and there are tattoo artists and bag decorating etc. So even though you might be a Warren student, take advantage of all these activities as well because they're all free and a lot of fun! Of course, every college also has formals throughout the year as well :) However, if you do not make it out to the smaller events, the two biggest events that I recommend attending is Sungod and the Back to School Dance! These two events are probably the two biggest events of the year so definately check them out!

I could probably go on and on about more things to do at UCSD, but here's a start. My final advice would be think about what you would like to try or do while you're at UCSD. Once you figured that out, then explore all the different possibilities. If you have any questions feel free to contact me or any of the orientation leaders because I'm sue everyone has something that they're involved in and eager to share!

Sincerely,
Zaneta Cha
Group 10
Can't wait to see all of you at Orientation!!!! :)