Although getting ready for college is a fun and exciting experience, it is undeniably also a very stressful one. In light of UCLA's class of 2023 results being released next month, here are five top tips for incoming baby bruins!
1. TRY OUT STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
A great way to explore your interests and make friends with similar interests is to join student organizations at UCLA. Joining a team, a club or an organization not only helps foster your personal growth but also makes you part of a community of people who also have similar interests and passions. Every year UCLA has an activities fair in the Royce Quad, so checking out booths and signing up on email lists isn't a bad idea.
2. CONSIDER JOINING FRAT OR SRAT LIFE
With UCLA having over 30,000 undergrads, it's easy to get lost in the crowd. I was definitely one of those freshmen who had a hard time making friends as I was living in a very antisocial dorm and was an international student. Although I had joined a couple of clubs, I felt as though I wanted something that required more commitment and would provide more of a bonding experience. This is why Omega Sis, a mentorship program conducted by an Asian interest fraternity, was the highlight of my college experience so far. I was overjoyed at becoming part of a community and I'm very happy to say that I've made life long friends through this program.
3. APPLY TO INTERNSHIPS ASAP
Although it may seem very overwhelming, it's never too early to apply for summer internships. In fact, the majority of internships at large firms close at the beginning of winter quarter which is why freshmen should begin looking for internships in the middle of fall quarter. From my personal experience, it is easier as a freshmen to get an internship through activities fairs as it's easier to make a personable impression rather than being an applicant on a piece of paper.
4. CHOOSE YOUR ROOMATES AND CHOOSE A HALL
Another point that I would like to strongly emphasize is that your roommates and your dorm can either make or break your freshmen experience. Unfortunately for me, it was the latter. I was too busy enjoying the hard earned freedom after high school to be bothered to look for roommates and housing options. This resulted in a year of living in the most antisocial dorm on campus, Hitch Suites, and with suite mates who I did not bond with. Learning from this mistake, I chose my roommate and am currently living in a very social hall for my sophomore year and I can safely say that this enhanced my college experience.
5. RESEARCH CLASSES USING BRUINWALK
Unlike high school where normally tests and subjects are pretty similar between different teachers, in college classes differ greatly between professor to professor. Fortunately for us, Bruinwalk shows reviews of professors, classes, and grade distributions so that students can make an informed decision when choosing a class.
