Winter quarter is right around the corner, which means that I survived my first quarter at UCLA. Congratulate me because it was a little rocky. New place. New job. New people. I’m definitely looking forward to next quarter. This time I’ll know what’s going on most of the time. The only thing I’m looking forward to more than winter quarter is winter break when I’ll have a month to relax and recover. In the end, Fall quarter really wasn’t that bad, which is why I’ve compiled a list of things I’ve learned and will definitely use for the next four years. So here they are:

Academia-wise

• Education is your first priority despite your peers. I’ve noticed that many people are extremely concerned with being social and making lots of friends. Its good to make connections, BUT school comes first!
• Don’t compare your learning abilities to someone else’s. Everyone learns differently and some people can just pick up information quicker and more easily. Just realize that the way you learn is unique and specific to you.

Miscellaneous

• Don’t expect to be best friends with your roommates. I can’t tell you how many times I ignored this statement and I thought, “It would be so cool to live with your best friend. I hope we become best friends”. If you do become best friends, that is awesome. If not, no worries.
• Do put money on your bruin card so that you can easily buy things that you need without having to carry your wallet. Trips down to the student store to get cough drops are so much quicker this way.
• Do try to get a job within your first quarter but don’t worry about working 20 hours a week. On average I worked 7 hours a week and that was somewhat difficult. Definitely keep in mind that besides attending lectures, discussion, and office hours, you must set aside time to study.
• Do join clubs so that your schedule doesn’t get too boring. Without clubs this quarter my day was usually as follows: class, dorm, lunch, class, dorm, work, dinner, dorm, study, sleep.
• Do invite friends over to hang out and relax. Many students are into going out and having fun, which is great and necessary, but sometimes its just good to invite friends over to lounge, talk, and read magazines. This is when you get to know your new friends the most.

I have learned so much during the past twelve weeks. It’s seriously unbelievable. I’d say the most important thing I learned was to just relax and take everything in, because I’ll never be in this place in my life ever again. Also, I hope all of you who have recently applied to UCLA are looking forward to your freshman year.