[yellow_munky]

OMG, there is a UCI thread. lol. I didn't know one existed.

Anyway, I am attending to UCI for the very first time this fall. I am slightly nervous since this is my first time that I will be dorming.

I have a few questions about UCI.

1. Does anybody use workstudy? If so, how is it?

2. Where do you buy your textbooks? I heard that the college bookstore's textbooks are really expensive and that it is better to buy it online. I might be planning to go buy my textbooks on September 5th since I have a transfer orientation that day (I am transferring from PCC ) and I have already pay for my classes.

3. Did anybody bought that set from the catalog? The one where you can get the set for pillow, bed sheets, blanket, etc one. I am talking about the one that cost $200. If so, is it worth it?

4. Anybody here a transfer student and attending the transfer orientation thing on September 5th? Or am I the only one? ^^;;

5. Lastly, anybody here a history major?

[tsukemene123]

1. I have friends who do workstudy; it's okay.

2. You can find your books really cheap on Amazon and half.com, but support the UCI bookstore!!! Also, the bookstore has a thing called Textbook Buyback where at the end of every quarter you can return your textbook and get some cash back for it.

3. I always get my sheets from Target. They are cute and come in a lot of different colors. My roommate bought the set when we were freshmen and it was the same as mine but more expensive.

Can't help with 4 and 5, but there are a lot of transfer students here...

[wisawisa]

2. Where do you buy your textbooks? I heard that the college bookstore's textbooks are really expensive and that it is better to buy it online. I might be planning to go buy my textbooks on September 5th since I have a transfer orientation that day (I am transferring from PCC ) and I have already pay for my classes.

3. Did anybody bought that set from the catalog? The one where you can get the set form pillow, bed sheets, blanket, etc one. I am talking about the one that cost $200. If so, is it worth it?

Some textbooks are cheaper online (IE Amazon, half.com) while others, particularly the ones edited specifically for the school/course, might be cheaper at the UCI bookstore. Some professors compile the material into consolidated books in order to save the students from having to buy several for just a single course.

I ordered the sheet set my freshman year. I believe the beds for the dorms (Middle Earth; I don't know about Mesa) are slightly longer than your average twin size bed, so beware of that if you decide to buy the sheets elsewhere. I didn't think it was worth the price tag.

[yellow_munky]

1. I have friends who do workstudy; it's okay.

2. You can find your books really cheap on Amazon and half.com, but support the UCI bookstore!!! Also, the bookstore has a thing called Textbook Buyback where at the end of every quarter you can return your textbook and get some cash back for it.

3. I always get my sheets from Target. They are cute and come in a lot of different colors. My roommate bought the set when we were freshmen and it was the same as mine but more expensive.

Can't help with 4 and 5, but there are a lot of transfer students here...

Oh that is good then. I am planning to buy some of those bedroom stuff at a outlet since I am going to palm spring with my uncle in a few days.

Support UCI bookstore? lol, I will , but I heard that they overprice the textbooks. ^^;;

Some textbooks are cheaper online (IE Amazon, half.com) while others, particularly the ones edited specifically for the school/course, might be cheaper at the UCI bookstore. Some professors compile the material into consolidated books in order to save the students from having to buy several for just a single course.

I ordered the sheet set my freshman year. I believe the beds for the dorms (Middle Earth; I don't know about Mesa) are slightly longer than your average twin size bed, so beware of that if you decide to buy the sheets elsewhere. I didn't think it was worth the price tag.

That is what I heard about the textbooks too. I also heard that it is better to buy your textbooks in your first week in the semester rather than before, but I am planning to buy before my classes start. Bad or good idea?? I just hate doing everything late. I like to buy and do things ahead of time.

Since the sheets are longer, do you think I can use the queen size instead? They are only slightly bigger

[tsukemene123]

It depends on your classes. Some classes tell you to buy a textbook but the test are lecture-based so you end up wasting $100+. -__-

Also, regarding the sheets, queen is waaaay to big. Dorm beds are extra long twin. If you go to Target, there are TONNNSSS of XLT sheets because they carry a lot of college supplies in August/September.

[t1ffiexp]

That is what I heard about the textbooks too. I also heard that it is better to buy your textbooks in your first week in the semester rather than before, but I am planning to buy before my classes start. Bad or good idea?? I just hate doing everything late. I like to buy and do things ahead of time.

Since the sheets are longer, do you think I can use the queen size instead? They are only slightly bigger

It depends on you and your classes. Some professors have required books, but barely even use it. There's also students who buy books and will never read it. What classes are you taking?

Queen is definitely too big. The beds are twin xl. A queen would be too large horizontally and the same length as a regular twin bed.. I would just buy twin xl sheets and a regular twin comforter or something.

You can sell your books back to the bookstore if you want, but you can make a lot more money when you sell it to other students directly (advertised via facebook marketplace and anteaterforum). The bookstore DOES give you cash back, but it won't be as much as you would be able to get when you sell it to someone else.

I've had some books that actually cost more on Amazon and Half than in the bookstore.. which is pretty ridiculous. The thing I don't like about Half.com is that I'm sometimes paranoid I won't get my books in time, or if the seller lied about the book's condition, or if it's a different ISBN. If you want another option for books, Textmania is across the street from school in the University Town Center and sells textbooks at a lower price than the bookstore.. but I've never been there so I can't really elaborate on that.

[yellow_munky]

It depends on you and your classes. Some professors have required books, but barely even use it. There's also students who buy books and will never read it. What classes are you taking?

Queen is definitely too big. The beds are twin xl. A queen would be too large horizontally and the same length as a regular twin bed.. I would just buy twin xl sheets and a regular twin comforter or something.

You can sell your books back to the bookstore if you want, but you can make a lot more money when you sell it to other students directly (advertised via facebook marketplace and anteaterforum). The bookstore DOES give you cash back, but it won't be as much as you would be able to get when you sell it to someone else.

I've had some books that actually cost more on Amazon and Half than in the bookstore.. which is pretty ridiculous. The thing I don't like about Half.com is that I'm sometimes paranoid I won't get my books in time, or if the seller lied about the book's condition, or if it's a different ISBN. If you want another option for books, Textmania is across the street from school in the University Town Center and sells textbooks at a lower price than the bookstore.. but I've never been there so I can't really elaborate on that.

I am taking French 2, Philosophy 1, and History 116A

For the sheets, I am just worry that I won't be able to find the twin xl. Are they easy to find in stores because I have never shop for bed sheets before. ^^;;

I was paranoid as well when I once bought two textbooks from amazon. Luckily they arrived before school started.

[forevernever]

I am taking French 2, Philosophy 1, and History 116A

For the sheets, I am just worry that I won't be able to find the twin xl. Are they easy to find in stores because I have never shop for bed sheets before. ^^;;

I was paranoid as well when I once bought two textbooks from amazon. Luckily they arrived before school started.

Twin XL is REALLY easy to find - trust me. Most, if not all stores that sell sheets are selling them right now - they probably have a section dedicated to college stuff.
I believe Target has a whole "dorm room in a set" where you get comforter, sheets, pillowcase, & some towels; that's what I bought.

AHHH. I really hate how we don't find out our roommates & stuff until late D: I got an email the other day saying we'll get it mid-September. That's ... almost when school starts. I've been worried about the textbook situation too. I think my Bio book is the same one I used in high school though, LOL. Should I be waiting until the first day of class/after the first day of class to buy books? Hum Core is a class where I'll definitely need a book, yeah?

[tsukemene123]

HumCore is a class where you will need around ten books over the course of the year.

[MiZzY_JeN_x3]

wow. i didn't know there was a UCI thread.

i'm an incoming freshman.

is welcome week fun? or boring? is there a point in going?

[t1ffiexp]

Twin XL is REALLY easy to find - trust me. Most, if not all stores that sell sheets are selling them right now - they probably have a section dedicated to college stuff.
I believe Target has a whole "dorm room in a set" where you get comforter, sheets, pillowcase, & some towels; that's what I bought.

AHHH. I really hate how we don't find out our roommates & stuff until late D: I got an email the other day saying we'll get it mid-September. That's ... almost when school starts. I've been worried about the textbook situation too. I think my Bio book is the same one I used in high school though, LOL. Should I be waiting until the first day of class/after the first day of class to buy books? Hum Core is a class where I'll definitely need a book, yeah?

You definitely need to get the books for Hum Core, lol. Are you taking Bio 93? UCI has their own edition of the textbook, so you have no other chance than to buy it at the bookstore.

wow. i didn't know there was a UCI thread.

i'm an incoming freshman.

is welcome week fun? or boring? is there a point in going?

Welcome week is.. okay. haha. It's basically when everyone starts to bond. You get to go to the club fair to see what kind of student groups are on campus (plus there's free food!) But yeah. Use welcome week to get used to the college atmosphere and UCI's campus. I didn't want to go with my hall to look for my classes so I just went with a couple friends and found people getting lost with us looking for the right buildings. For some reason, we had the hardest time finding Steinhaus O_o

[MiZzY_JeN_x3]

^ thanks!
how do you know what books you are supposed to buy for the class?

[hungrycollegeboy]

^ You either wait for the first day of class then buy it, or you check out the books you have to buy at the bookstore's online page.

[MiZzY_JeN_x3]

^ thank you!
i'll ask more questions later when i think of them

[tsukemene123]

wow. i didn't know there was a UCI thread.

i'm an incoming freshman.

is welcome week fun? or boring? is there a point in going?

Welcome week is a little overwhelming when you're a freshman because you don't know what to do or where to go or which events to attend, but it's overall pretty fun. Go to a lot of club meetings; those are the best--they treat incoming freshman like royalty, with free food and games. The clubbing events are usually pretty awesome too; try to go to LTD's.

[MiZzY_JeN_x3]

^ okay! thanks so much for the advice!! ^^

what are sororities like at UCI?

love your banner with GD!! it is him right?

[forevernever]

You definitely need to get the books for Hum Core, lol. Are you taking Bio 93? UCI has their own edition of the textbook, so you have no other chance than to buy it at the bookstore.

Ew, D: Yeah, I'm taking Bio 93. Joy. I kinda figured with all I've heard about Hum Core that the books are must.
I'm still in that kind of -ohmygoshcollegeO_O!- stage right now, so everything is overwhelming.
I didn't realize how much of a 'dance' school UCI was until SPOP. Like, I knew Kaba is there, but wow - so much dance! [& I have no idea if that sentence made sense ... it's kinda late]

Welcome week is a little overwhelming when you're a freshman because you don't know what to do or where to go or which events to attend, but it's overall pretty fun. Go to a lot of club meetings; those are the best--they treat incoming freshman like royalty, with free food and games. The clubbing events are usually pretty awesome too; try to go to LTD's.

Free food & games always seems good to me. I'll be sure to take advantage of that x:

On a separate note, how is transportation? For those without cars, it's mostly the bus system, yeah?

For those of you in the Bay Area: How often did you visit home? I was talking to one of the students, and he said basically three times during the school yeah - Thanksgiving, Christmas & spring break.

[tsukemene123]

Free food & games always seems good to me. I'll be sure to take advantage of that x:

On a separate note, how is transportation? For those without cars, it's mostly the bus system, yeah?

For those of you in the Bay Area: How often did you visit home? I was talking to one of the students, and he said basically three times during the school yeah - Thanksgiving, Christmas & spring break.

Hmm... It's difficult to get around without a car, but if you're dorming in Mesa, UTC is less than five minutes away (there's a lot of restaurants there like Cha for Tea, Lee's Sandwiches, Z Pizza, Le Dip ...). The shuttle system is okay, but only if you need to go between the ARC, VDC, Arroyo Vista, campus, Albertson's, or Mesa Court. It doesn't really take you anywhere else. You'll probably find friends with cars--that's half the battle. Then you just have to convince them to adventure with you, haha.

I visited home every break and then I also went home a few extra weekends, for one of my friend's birthdays, for a random weekend in toward the beginning of the year, and for a random weekend toward the end of the year. It's not too expensive if you buy your tickets ahead of time. Like, waaaaaaaaaay ahead of time. My mom bought my plane tickets home for winter break when I first got to UCI in fall quarter, haha.

[motoway065]

Since people are talking about buying textbooks..here's my experience.

First quarter of school, I bought all my books like on the first day of the quarter at the uci bookstore and it was pretty expensive with all the humcore books O__O Later, I learned to buy books from other people, go to Textmania which I did a lot (it's a bit cheaper than the bookstore and you can return within a certain date they tell you. I used U-loop and facebook a lot to sell my books to other people. Last week I think..I sold all my humcore books (16 total) via facebook and its definitely worth it..way better than selling it back to the uci bookstore. If you have any questions, feel free to ask =)

[hungrycollegeboy]

For those of you in the Bay Area: How often did you visit home? I was talking to one of the students, and he said basically three times during the school yeah - Thanksgiving, Christmas & spring break.

yea it's basically 3 times during the school year, although you only get 4 days off for thnxsgiving......