Housing & College Experience After Transferring

mikemac
Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:36:30 +0000

My advice would be to spend your 1st year in U-owned housing. Each UC campus accepts several thousand transfer students every Fall, so most campuses (if not all, but I’m not sure on that) have set aside areas of student housing for transfers. That way you’re not living among a bunch of frosh, you get to meet fellow xfer students, etc. Furthermore you will have an RA living right there to help answer questions, the dorm will host xfer-student orientations and other events.

By living in a dorm you will be as close to campus as you can get, having meals prepared for you, laundry and other facilities right in the dorm, etc. Dorms are not cheap, though, and many students find they save money in apartments. An apartment can be quieter, although the flip side is you are more isolated from meeting fellow students than you’d be in dorms or other U-owned housing. It is easier to find roomates when you’re already a student; typically people decide in the spring to get an apartment and find one. Check with the housing office to find out what they can do to help you match up with a group of people needing one more person if that’s the way you decide to go.

As far as meeting people, no doubt it is easier as a frosh when everyone is new and looking to build a circle of friends. Its not impossible to meet new people; dorms help, joining clubs and playing sports is a great idea, often there will be rec classes of other kinds that may interest you, etc. So you can do it, but its going to take placing yourself out there and trying.