Transfer Student Survival Guide

...good tips for transfer and reentry students!

Download the PDF version of the Transfer Survival Guide. PDF requires the free Adobe Reader. The PDF has not been updated, the Web version is the most current.

WHAT EVERY TRANSFER STUDENT SHOULD KNOW

Welcome to UC Davis! We realize college life isn't new to you, but we would like to help you get familiar with the UC Davis environment. The information collected here is a combination of information we were given and tips we wish we had known. We hope these hints are helpful, and we encourage you to contact us if we've left anything out.

MYTHS

Myths about being a transfer student can make a stressful transition even worse. However, we have good news. The myths are not true! You aren't the only transfer student out there. Start asking around in your classes and you'll see that there are a lot more transfer students than you may think.

The education you received at your previous schools really does prepare you for the course work at Davis. In fact, if you went to a school with small classes (30-40 people), you might have an advantage.

Don't let the huge lecture halls overwhelm you; just think of all those other students as potential study partners and friends.

REENTRY STUDENTS

The majority of Davis students are of traditional college age, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of reentry students out there. Age doesn't make a difference when it comes to studying or to friendships. Still, it's good to have a network of people who share your perspective. A little extra detective work to find them is well worth the effort.

Reentry Student Services

They publish a quarterly newsletter, Reentry Matters, full of useful information. To find out more, contact: 160 South Silo(530) 752-2005

Transfer Student Center

They help transfer students with problem solving, advocacy, and information and referral assistance. To find out more, contact: 160 South Silo(530) 752-2200

The Women's Resource & Research Center

If you are a parent, you may be interested in the Women's Resource & Research Center, as it provides Child Emergency Notification. Located in 113 North Hall, the Women's Resource& Research Center has information about how you can be contacted while you are in a scheduled class if your child develops a sudden health emergency.

Check out: Women's Resource & Research Center
(530) 752-3372.

5 STUDY TIPS

You must know how to study if you made it this far, but here are some tips that may help you at UC Davis.

Form study groups!

Homework will be less frustrating and will take less time. You might even find some free time to have a social life. (Yeah, right!) But, do your own work! Professors and TAs really do read and correct your homework.

Take advantage of the office hours that professors and TAs offer.

Getting one-on-one help can make a difference, and it allows the professor or teaching assistant a chance to put a face to your name.

Where are the best places to study?

Here are of some favorite places to study. Refer to the map on page 11 (pdf version).

1. Physical Sciences Library (the glass room on the second floor is great for a group study)
2. John D. Kemper Hall lobby
3. Bainer lobby (it also has bulletin boards for all of the engineering clubs)
4. Shields Library

SHIELDS LIBRARY

At first, Shields Library may seem overwhelming. If you take the time to become familiar with the library, the available services will be great resources. Important services in the library include the I. T. Express, the Reserves Desk, and MELVYL.

At I. T. Express, you can get your free student e-mail account and some software, like Netscape and Eudora. Copies of old tests or other class materials are available. I. T. Express is located on the first floor of Shields on the right-hand side, as you enter. Go visit I. T. Express to learn more about the services it provides.

The Reserves Desk is another resource for old tests and other class materials. The books and materials on reserve can be checked out for only limited periods of time. The Reserves Desk is located on the first floor of Shields in the right-hand corner, in the back (past the Copy Center).

The books, magazines, journals, etc. in Shields Library are NOT organized according to the Dewey Decimal System we learned in elementary school. They are organized according to the Library of Congress classification system.

The library has a computer system called MELVYL instead of a card catalog. LEARN HOW TO USE MELVYL! The libraries on campus contain overwhelming amounts of information about any subject you might have to research. If you don't know how to use MELVYL you won't know where to find that information. Don't be shy about asking the library staff for help. They are friendly and very willing to answer your questions.

Shields Library is also a quiet place to study, with reading rooms, group study rooms, and lots of small places to hide and study (or nap) by yourself. Most of the group study and reading rooms are located on the second floor on the west side. For more peace and quiet, we recommend you go to a higher floor (try the fourth).

A final detail about Shields: Many students have the dubious pleasure of lugging around fifty pounds of books every day. To save your back, stash your belongings in the lockers on the first floor behind the Reserves Desk (for a quarter, of course).

COMPUTERS

The best place to take your computer questions is I. T. Express - the same place you get your e-mail account. You will need your e-mail log-in name and your password to use most of the computer labs on campus, so do not procrastinate about opening an account. UC Davis provides free access to the internet for students using their own computers. To take advantage of this service, you will need to purchase a set-up disk. For information call 754-4357 or check the IT-Express Web site

For complete information about all things related to computers, visit the Computer Ownership Web site This site should answer all of your questions from how to choose a computer to how to maintain it.

Computer labs may be set up especially for your use, depending on your major. Even if you do have your own computer, you may find that you need to use these labs because your classes may require some unusual or expensive software. Find out about these labs. Even if you have other alternatives, doing homework on these computers will give you the opportunity to get to know others in your major and to form informal study groups. Seniors and grad students may also be there and they can be very helpful.

Spending time on the Web and going back and forth between school and home computers will increase the risk of contracting computer viruses. Invest in some sort of virus scanning software and back up assignments that involve a large investment of time. Unfortunately, computer glitches will rarely be accepted as valid reasons for late work.

Regardless of what field you are going into, computer skills are a must - and they look good on a resume. If you need help, there is an Information Technology Self-Paced Learning Lab located in the Media Distribution Lab, 1101 Hart Hall, 754-8091, e-mail learnit@ucdavis.edu or check out: Self-Paced Learning Lab

Strive to learn as much as you can. Go beyond just what is needed to complete a given assignment. In the long run, it will be time well invested.

ADVISERS

Most departments offer both a faculty adviser and a departmental staff adviser. You may have already met your departmental adviser when you chose your classes. The faculty and the staff advisers each provide you with different services. These services are listed below.

Both advisers are helpful, but remember they have different types of knowledge to offer you. Also, research classes by asking other students about their experiences. They will have the best recommendations about instructors and course material. Advice from another student might convince you to take a class at a less-than-perfect time if the instructor is really good.

The Departmental Staff Adviser will

• help you complete paperwork and ensure that you meet all graduation requirements.
• know which classes and how many units transferred from your previous school(s).

The Faculty Adviser will

• be knowledgeable about the connections between classes and the content of classes.
• give you advice on the sequence of classes you should take, with more emphasis on the actual content of classes than on the simple prerequisites for them.
• advise you on classes that might be most beneficial for the specialty you choose in your major.

INTERNSHIP AND CAREER CENTER

EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ANYTHING YET, STOP AND READ THIS !!!!!!

The Internship and Career Center (ICC for short) is one of the most important places to visit on campus. The ICC is located on the second floor of South Hall. The ICC provides the following services (and much, much more):

• coordinator who is specifically knowledgeable about the needs of engineering and physical science students.
• tips and advice on writing a resume; and cover letter.
• schedules of company information meetings, on-campus interviews, and career fairs.
• bulletin boards and binders full of career, co-op, and internship listings.
• opportunities to send companies information about yourself.
• opportunities to file recommendation letters years before you might need them, if you get to know a professor or employer who will write a good letter about your achievements early in your school career.
• extremely helpful and friendly staff that includes students you might see in your classes.
• a semi-annual Career Faire in October and January.

GO EARLY! Make it a priority to visit the ICC as soon as possible during fall quarter. Many companies start looking for students to fill summer internships in the fall and winter; most positions are filled by the beginning of spring quarter. Lastly, read The Aggie because many of the information meetings, on-campus interviews, and career fairs are listed in the ICC ads. Attending these activities is vital because networking skills are invaluable and you might make a contact that will help you get that coveted job when you are ready.
Call 752-2855 or check out: Internship and Career Center

OTHER ACTIVITIES

If classes don't keep you busy enough, then be sure to check out all the activities going on around the campus. There are over three hundred student clubs on campus. Check out the engineering club or society for your major, as well as those for special groups, such as the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). All engineering club information can be found at the magazine/pamphlet boxes in the John D. Kemper Hall lobby.

Joining a club is an easy way to meet people with interests similar to yours and is a great way to learn about extracurricular projects. The projects are a hands-on learning experience that will not only be a lot of fun, but will also look good on your resume. Some of the projects on campus are the Future Car, Micromouse, the Human-Powered Vehicle, and the Concrete Canoe. Don't be afraid just to walk up to people in the design labs and ask about what they are doing. Usually they will love telling you all about their project.

TRANSPORTATION

How do you plan to get around Davis? Obviously, the most usual way to travel is by bicycle. If you are planning to buy a bike, you might want to look at the bike auction that occurs early in the year. Also, remember to get a bike license and a secure lock if you plan to ride around campus. Don't forget to get fenders on your bike; otherwise, you could end up with the "freshman stripe."

If you are a commuter, and plan to drive to school every day, then you'll need to buy a parking permit. Make sure to keep the location of your classes in mind when choosing the parking lot you will use. You might end up walking across campus if you don't plan carefully.

Another way to get on campus is the bus line. This is extremely convenient because the buses run every half-hour until 6:00 p.m., and every hour after that until after midnight. This service is free to all UC Davis undergraduates, and the buses have great air-conditioning and heating. If you don't already have a schedule, the schedules are located at most of the bus terminals on campus and throughout town.
While you are here in Davis, you may want to take a vacation or just a quick trip home. The Sacramento airport is nearby, and there is an Amtrak station downtown. There are buses and other low-cost or free services that can get you where you want to go.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT...

The following quotations offer advice from previous UC Davis transfer students. Their comments are responses to the question, "What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first transferred to UC Davis?"

• "Don't count on your counselors for everything. Use them as a resource and do your own legwork."
• "Invest in a UC Davis Date-Book. This academic calendar is avail-able at the bookstore; it is a convenient little reminder of dates, such as when to pick up the next quarter's class schedule and when to worry about RSVP appointments along with other things that are easy to lose track of during the quarter."
• "Get in the habit of reading The Aggie. The school paper is available everywhere and reading it is a good way to feel connected. Otherwise, Davis feels like such a big place."
• "Opening an e-mail account should be at the top of your list of things to do. E-mail is a convenient way to communicate with professors, TAs, and classmates."
• "If you aren't used to the quarter system, do not wait until the third week of the quarter to open your books because you will be in the middle of the first set of midterms by that time!"

GOOD LUCK!

We realize all this information is overwhelming! Once school starts, you might have specific questions or concerns, so keep this booklet close by. We hope the information and advice makes your transition to UC Davis go more smoothly.

Our last words of wisdom are to GET INVOLVED! Participation in campus activities that interest you is the best way to meet people and turn strangers into friends.

We wish you the best of luck during your first few weeks at Davis, and in the years to come.

STUDY SPOTS AND LOCATIONS TO KNOW

On the next page is a simplified map of UC Davis (on the PDF version only) and surrounding areas. We've marked a few locations of which you might want to be aware.
The study locations we listed -

1. John D. Kemper (formerly Engineering II) Hall Lobby
2. Bainer Lobby
3. Physical Sciences Library
4. Shields Library
5. ICC at South Hall
6. Off Campus Books (Shop where class notes, homework solutions, and readers are found) On the corner of 2nd St. and University Ave.
7. Navins Copy Shop, 231 3rd St.
8. The Silo Bookstore (There you will find engineering t-shirts, the Engineering Bulletin, etc.) It's located in the Silo compound.
9. The UC Davis Bookstore