Heading Back to Campus? Here are Some Tips
to Help You Get the School Year Off to the Right Start

By Christine Clark | Sept. 24, 2007

Why Students Should Get Involved During Welcome Week
More than 100 Welcome Week activities are planned for an estimated 4,100 incoming freshmen and 1,650 new transfer students as they arrive on the UC San Diego campus Sept. 22-26 prior to the start of classes Sept. 27. This week is an important time for students to learn about campus activities and get involved in student organizations, according to Emily Marx, director of the Center for Student Involvement.

Welcome Week activities officially start at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 23 on the Sun God Lawn with New Student Convocation. There are more than 400 student organizations on campus and many of them will have information tables on library walk to recruit new members during Welcome Week. This is an excellent time to survey potential involvement opportunities, Marx said.

Marx recommends that students take the opportunity to talk with student organization leaders on library walk and talk with other students about their involvement and look for flyers and posters around campus.

Back to School Shopping on UCSD’s Campus
Before students hit the books this fall, they’ll have to hit the stores to look for the best back-to-school sales, but students at UC San Diego don’t have to go far to find them.

There are plenty of convenient shopping destinations on campus that offer discounts at the beginning of fall quarter, including the UCSD Bookstore, Muir Surf Shop and Groundworks Bookstore.

UCSD Bookstore
Student can expect to find some great deals in the UCSD bookstore this fall. There is a wide selection of UCSD-related clothing and merchandise at the bookstore and it has plenty of back-to-school essentials, such as a Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary or a medical dictionary. Students can buy best-selling novels at 25 percent off and they can find UCSD hats, mugs and folders on sale. In addition, there will be special back-to-school displays featuring the some of the hottest items this season. And if students need a caffeine boost while shopping, they can grab a cup of coffee at the new bookstore café, Perks.

Muir Surf Shop
The Muir Surf Shop is located in Muir College near the Muir Woods Coffee Shop. The store sells some of the most popular surfer clothing brands, such as Billabong, Lost and Rip Curl. It also carries original designs and surf and skate boards.

The shop, which first opened its doors two years ago, always has a sale at the beginning and end of the year, says Matt Goldstone, the Muir Surf Shop co-owner said. A majority of the merchandise at the shop is on sale at 15 percent off during the
back-to-school season, according to Goldstone. The store will also have a $10 discount on skateboards and a $25 discount on surfboards. Items from the Muir Surf Shop are also available online.

Groundwork Bookstore
Groundwork Bookstore, located in the student center on campus, is a collective bookstore that sells books on gender, politics and ethnicity. In addition, the shop also carries some jewelry and clothing items, such as beanies and scarves. Groundwork will offer back-to-school discounts on the majority of their books and most of the items will be up to 40 percent off, according to Rosie Escamilla, Groundwork staff member.