University of California-Davis Top Questions

UC Davis is in the ideal location. Situated right next to Sacramento provides students the ability to live in a small, safe town, yet intern in the most politically dynamic place in the state. Although small towns don't appeal to everyone, living in Davis often feels like being in a larger town due to the size of the campus. UC Davis boasts the largest campus in the UC system as well as being known for its cutting edge medical research, advancement in agriculture, and politically active students and faculty. In fact, the most controversial subject to reach the UC Davis campus has to do with politics. Due to prospective budget cuts and increases in tuition, students and faculty have united and have begun protesting against these issues. I think this just exemplifies how much the students and faculty care about the school.

UC Davis is in the ideal location. Situated right next to Sacramento provides students the ability to live in a small, safe town, yet intern in the most politically dynamic place in the state. Although small towns don't appeal to everyone, living in Davis often feels like being in a larger town due to the size of the campus. UC Davis boasts the largest campus in the UC system as well as being known for its cutting edge medical research, advancement in agriculture, and politically active students and faculty. In fact, the most controversial subject to reach the UC Davis campus has to do with politics. Due to prospective budget cuts and increases in tuition, students and faculty have united and have begun protesting against these issues. I think this just exemplifies how much the students and faculty care about the school.

Whether you are looking for a big party scene, or somewhere quiet to study, or huge open spaces to play sports, or building to do research in, UC Davis has it all. When I tell people that I go to UC Davis, they sometimes assume that I study cows all day and don't ever have fun, but that couldn't be farther from the truth! As a member of a fraternity as well as an active member on campus by previously working for Aggie Pack (the student spirit organization) and having jobs on campus, I have so much fun outside of the classroom as well as in it. Because UC Davis is located in a small town about 1 hour from San Francisco and 20 minutes from Sacramento, Davis is the quintessential college town. By that I mean that with out the city of Davis, UC Davis couldn't exist and without UC Davis, the city of Davis couldn't exist either. It is a perfect symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties. The students get to experience a town, specifically downtown, that caters to them while the city gets the business from the students as well as energy that the students bring (especially in the fall and spring quarters).

UCDavis is a place for opportunities. I moved from a US territory 3500miles away just to come here. Though I left everything behind, I do not regret it because I have been given a top notch education and many research and performance opportunities(I am a Neurobiology and Theatre Major). UCD has changed my life, for the better.

The best thing about UC Davis is the overall school spirit and connection with others you feel on the campus and in the town. In a city of 60,000, over half are associated with the university. Davis defines the word community.

UC Davis is HUGE. You get used to it, though! After you have ridden your bike just about everywhere, things start to seem closer together so it makes it more confortable. When I tell people I do to UC Davis, they say congradulations because they know it is intense (or so they've heard) and that many people have done and continue to do great things at the University. I also get a lot of "Oh so you're not too far from home, right?" PSH! I am the PERFECT distance away. Not too close, not too far. Who cares if it's more widely known for it's medical achievements, there are plentyyyy of other things to study :) On campus, I spend most of my time at the CoHo which is short for Coffee House. Besides the fact that they have food, it's fun running into people you've met the weekend before ;) haha.. Another food/study place is the Silo. Named for it's figure, there are plenty of places to get food, and lots of room for studying or chatting in between classes or meeting up with friends to get a Crepe! Most recently, someone was though to have a bomb on campus! I think they exaggerated things but my friends from that dorm area had to sleep in the recreation hall ALL night. Some had papers due the next day and they were allowed extensions because of the tragedy or being locked out of the dorms. School pride! Are you kidding? I only know ONE person who doesn't like it there and that's only because his girlfriend goes to SB and he wants to be with her. I think he's coming around, though. We have Aggie Fridays where students only wear AggiePack shirts (Given free! at the first football game you attend) to show school spirit! Also, the AggiePack is the largest student-run student cheering section in the WORLD! (JK I don't really know) But they give out free food at games, throw beads into the crowd, and even candybars and coupons for local food venues! I have no opinion of the administration, just that they want all the feedback they can get, and send out a campus-wide survey. I should learn more about that. I'm glad they accepted me, though! <3 I will always remember my first roommate and how I hated her so. Luckily! She moved out before Winter Quarter ended, and Spring was awesome with a new roommate of a less-uptight mindset. You become really close with hall-mates. We all used to just go over to the neighbors' whenever, and walk right in. (We had suite-configurations) and no one minded because the visitors mattered to them. Also, bonds are extremely tight when you stay up ALL NIGHT writing a paper with someone! You soon begin to try and take classes together, go to parties together, etc. It's awesome. PS: Obviously, I love people :) Some student complaints are that the freshmen have the latest "pass time" in which they choose their classes. If you go to summer orientation, this willbe solved. All you have to remember to do is WAKE UP EARLY! AND TAKE ALL PLACEMENT EXAMS! lol. I missed my pass time and registered later than everyone else. Another complaint is about the food. I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THIS ONE!?!?!? I LOVE THE FOOD! We have one of the best dining hall facilities in California. It's just that people complain about the monotony of it all. DON'T WORRY! There are PLENTYYYYYYYY of awesome local restaurants AND chains like In N Out! <3333 Lot's of late night trips there :) I want everyone I know to come to Davis and have as much fun and I am having.

This campus is definitely the life blood of the city of Davis. UC Davis has a variety of activities that students can partake in but it does not seem to take into account that most students are under pressure from the 10 week schedule most of the time. For a research campus it is not completely wireless accessible, which is bothersome at times. I bike everywhere so I am fairly familiar with the campus structure, more so than students that tend to keep to their campus of specialization. The administration is as helpful as the students who utilize their services but would be even more helpful and resource filled if more students took advantage of such services.

Classes are big. That's annoying, especially if you are the kind of person that needs professor-student interaction. Also, the undergrad discussion sections are pretty deadbeat--it's hard to find anyone who cares enough to participate in a legitimate discussion. It's a good school though. I am enjoying it, and there are awesome people if you connect with the right crowd. The town is perfect, a cute downtown but practical and spread out outskirts, with only 2 hrs to san fran or tahoe. Best place to be! But not if you're a city person. Be comfortable with open spaces.

I love that Davis has a somewhat small-town feel, less urban and quiet. No that there aren't any parties, because there are a lot, just that you can have quiet time and relax without feeling too threatened.

It's a college town. Everything in the town is centered around the campus, which is great because college students college everything! I love the bikes too because I dont' need a car!