May 2004

Year ahead brings academic, lifestyle changes

	Freshman Vivian Nguyen, left, looks to senior Megan Rogers, a peer adviser in the College of Letters and Science, for advice about her major. (Debbie Aldridge/UC Davis)

As the school year comes to a close, you may be wondering what lies ahead for your student as he or she moves from one academic year to the next.

The changes will likely be both exciting and challenging. Having an idea of what to expect can help ease the transition.

More independence, greater responsibility

For current freshmen, the year ahead will be marked by growing independence and with it a host of new responsibilities. Most freshmen are now looking for or have already secured off-campus housing and roommates for the coming academic year. It's a big change from the sheltered life of home or the structured atmosphere of the residence hall.

"The academic transition from freshman to sophomore is less dramatic than the transition in the student's personal life," says Fred Wood, associate dean of undergraduate education and advising for the College of Letters and Science.

He says now is the time to talk to your freshman student about managing his or her funds -- from budgeting to paying bills on time to making clear arrangements with roommates about who will pay what expenses.

	Fred Wood, associate dean

Off-campus living also brings with it a need for transportation. Second-year students may purchase parking permits for campus, but they should consider whether the flexibility of driving to campus is worth the price. The two permits available to students cost $70 or $121 for each quarter this academic year, for example. The Unitrans bus system offers a less expensive option for undergraduates, who, because their fees help support the service, use it for free. And, of course, biking remains an excellent and inexpensive way to get around the campus and the city.

Time for exploration, commitment to major

Wood says sophomore year is also a time to research opportunities like the Education Abroad Program or the UC Davis Washington Center, which enables students to earn units while interning in Washington, D.C.

Students must declare a major, Wood says, by the time they complete 90 course units, which generally occurs by the end of the sophomore year. "If the student hasn't settled into a major, now is usually the time for that," he says of the second academic year.

From sophomore to junior

Changes in the step up from sophomore to junior tend to be more academic in nature as students begin taking smaller, more in-depth classes in their declared majors.

For many students, delving deeper into their academic topic of choice can be very rewarding. "In a lot of ways, the classes become easier, because you find them more interesting and they are a lot more narrowly focused," says Megan Rogers, a senior who is majoring in both political science and economics.

Wood says students in their junior year should also consider taking advantage of opportunities outside of class, like internships, summer employment and networking -- whether for careers or for graduate school.

Focusing on a career

Robert Gill, a junior majoring in both sociology and African American and African studies, says while freshmen and sophomores spend much of their time trying to complete their basic courses, juniors begin to consider their future. "This year you are much more focused on your career and making up your mind about what you want to do," he says.

Students say by their junior year, many of their classmates are comfortable in their surroundings and with their studies and can turn their attention to other opportunities on campus and off. "Once you jump into your junior year, you become a lot more interested in other things the campus has to offer," Rogers says.

Gill advises students to remember that classroom learning isn't all that university life is about. "A lot of students spend a lot of time worrying about classes, but college is so much more than that," he says.

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