New Student Guide

Getting into UC Davis was hard enough, but actually living here? Man, that can be tough. Here's some resources to get you started in Davis.

Your first priority is finding a place to live, as housing fills up quickly. The later you start looking, the faster your options disappear. There isn't a lot of graduate student housing on campus, so waiting lists fill up early — March is not uncommon for Primero Grove. Most likely, you're probably going to need to find some off-campus housing.

If you have a chance to visit before you move to Davis, be sure to ask other graduate students in the department about sharing an apartment. It's a good way to get to know people before you move in. You may end up having to go it alone, but there are a lot of options in the City of Davis. Davis Wiki will get you started with pages on all of the Apartments, Cooperative Housing, and On-Campus Co-ops where you can reside.

Most leases in Davis run for a full year, September through August, with a few more August through September. Be wary of property owners who do not use the Davis Model Lease, which was established through discussions between apartment owners and student government officials more than 20 years ago. The Model Lease offers more protections for renters, though it does require us to rent all year.

Places to live are still much cheaper in Woodland (10 miles away, not too bad), Dixon (10 miles away, nice but few places), Winters (15 miles away, middle of nowhere podunk), and West Sacramento (15 miles away, you don't want to live here unless you can find a house South of Highway 50). You'd also have to buy a somewhat expensive parking permit from TAPS. Different areas of Davis have their own feel — West Davis, East Davis and South Davis generally have newer and better apartments, but are further from campus.

See Davis Wiki's Rental Housing Guide for more information.

This wiki has a Room and Rental Ads page where you can find other grads to live with. ASUCD's Community Housing Listing has many listings for tenants, which will be vital if you start looking late.

This entry is a seed, a starting point for writing a full entry. You can help GSA Wiki by expanding it! Just click the "Edit" button.

Hints for New Students

1. Contact your department
   

1. Get in touch with your department early and often
   

2. They have specific information for their students
   

3. Attend all student orientations
   

4. Attend the TA Orientation
   

2. Get settled in Davis
   

1. Start looking for housing as soon as you know you are coming to Davis
   

2. Find roommates! Check the GSA Classifieds.
   

3. Research your campus transportation options. There’s usually a bike auction early in the Fall quarter
   

3. Familiarize yourself with the Davis Campus
   

1. Check out the Campus V-Tour
   

2. Go on a walking tour
   

3. Get a city map
   

4. Don’t do it alone
   

1. Attend student orientations to get to know other students
   

2. Find a good mentor

Frequently Asked Questions from New Students.

Q: Do I need to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?

A: Graduate Students are required to file a FAFSA every year. If you don’t file, you will not be able to collect financial aid and will probably be hassled by your department. So, go to the FAFSA site now!

Q: When will I receive my first paycheck?

A: In general, most new graduate students receive their first paycheck from a Teaching Assistantship (TA) or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) position in early November. This means you must carefully plan out your budget for September and October. Follow this to look into a paycheck advance from Financial Aid.

Q: Am I automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)?

A: Yes, SHIP coverage starts with the beginning of Fall quarter. For more information, see our Health Services page. Be aware that dependents of students are no longer eligible for health insurance through SHIP. Also, if you have comparable private health insurance, you may choose to waive SHIP coverage. Go here for more information on SHIP waiver deadlines.

Q: What are my options for housing at UC Davis?

A: See our Housing Issues page for more information on your options.

Q: Can graduate students use the UNITRANS bus system?

A: Graduate students don’t get free rides on Unitrans. For more info, see our Transportation page.

Q: I am having a hard time adapting to my new life as a graduate student. Where can I get help?

A: Counseling and Psychological Services offers several options to help students. See their website for more information.