Congratulations on becoming a UC Davis student! We can’t wait to meet you. We know that there is a ton of information for you to take in about UC Davis, from classes to campus life. In this blog series, we’re going to give you the run-down on everything about living and eating on campus so you can get the most out of your time here. To start us off, let’s talk about what to expect at the residence halls, including the basics, furniture, packing list, roommates and tips. 

UC Davis Residence Halls 101

First things first, let’s cover the basics about our residence halls. UC Davis has three residence halls—Segundo, Tercero and Cuarto. Each residence hall has a dining commons, market and services center where you can find an area service desk, residential academic center, area mailboxes and study space. You have access to all dining commons and markets on campus, so you can visit all locations depending on the menu, where you’re taking classes or visiting friends. Most rooms include extra-long (80-inch) twin beds and a microfridge.

Segundo Fun Facts:

• 14 residence halls
• 1,600 residents call Segundo home
• Located in the northwest corner of central campus
• Adjacent to the Activities and Recreation Center (The ARC)

Tercero Fun Facts:

• 15 residence halls
• 3,500 residents call Tercero home
• Located in the southwest corner of the central campus
• Adjacent to the Arboretum’s many trails

Cuarto Fun Facts:

• 3 residence halls
• 1,400 residents call Cuarto home
• Located in the northwest corner of campus
• Private outdoor courtyards

To find out more information about your specific residence hall, including room dimensions, laundry facilities, bathrooms, mailbox locations and more, head on over to our Residence Halls page and click on your residence hall.

Now for the million-dollar question: what should you pack? Check out this extensive list of what to bring (and what not to bring).

How to Live with Roommates

Moving into a residence hall is an exciting time and an opportunity to make friends and meet new people. Some of the people you meet in college may end up being lifelong friends. However, living with people, especially if it is the first time you have had to share your space, can come with some tricky situations you may need to navigate. Here are our tips for how to live peacefully and happily with your future roommate(s).

1. Start with Communication

Talk, talk, and talk some more. Communication is key in all relationships, especially housing ones. Here are some ways you can start on the right foot or improve existing communication:

• Get to know each other! Start by learning about who you will be living with. It’s okay to be nervous, especially if this is your first time sharing your space. Break the ice by talking about your majors, your hometown or your favorite musician, book, or TV show.
• Exchange information. If everyone is interested, start a group chat where you can talk about your day, if you’ll get home late or why there is a two-week-old pizza in the fridge.
• Discuss healthy boundaries. Talk about what you are each comfortable or uncomfortable with, along with any preferences and routines
• Keep the communication going. Once you’ve laid the groundwork for getting to know each other, it’s important to put the work in throughout the rest of the school year. 

2. Compromises for the Win

Maintaining a healthy relationship with your roommate(s) is all about compromises. Sticking with an all-or-nothing mentality could put some strain on sticky situations. Meeting someone halfway can go a long way and open doors to better communication for any other issues that arise in the future

3. Hold Space for Issues

When living with another person, issues aren’t a matter of if but of when. Even the most perfect relationship will have some bumps along the way, especially if tight quarters are involved. When an issue does arise, talk about it. Make some time to discuss it properly, so a snowball effect doesn’t occur. 

4. Have fun!

Living with others is a great way to meet people and make lifelong friends. Get a meal together, explore campus, go for a midnight walk, study together or do some shenanigans that will make for a great memory and story. We can’t wait for you to have an amazing year. 

Tips for Navigating Residence Halls

1. Get to know your RAs and RDs

Who are RAs and RDs? RAs (Resident Assistants) are student staff who will live on your floor of the residence hall. RDs (Residence Directors) are professional staff in your building. They hold office hours and can help you with a variety of situations. Your RAs and RDs are a great resource and are here to help you throughout the year with everything from roommate conflicts to any questions you may have. RAs will meet with you shortly after moove-in to connect you with resources and talk about upcoming events.

2. Know what to do in case of an emergency

Lose your key card? Did the fire alarm go off? Need to make a report? It’s important to know what to do in case of any emergency. Your area service desk will have a lot of important information, along with your RDs. 

3. Learn the layout

Explore where you will be living. Find out where the laundry room is, pick out a favorite armchair in the shared space, determine your favorite route or learn which window has the best view. 

Next Up

We hope you were able to learn a bit about your new home and get some of your questions answered! If you have any further questions, send us a message at reaching@ucdavis.edu, and we’ll be happy to chat. Next up in our blog series is What You Should Know About the Dining Commons. Look for it in the next issue of the Aggie Reader, and in the meantime, enjoy your summer!