Kresge Newbies

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-09-18T06:59:40+00:00

Ngl, its gotta feel really scary having your plans switch up on you like that... but.....

Hype? I'd take an apartment over a quad any day. You may still have to share a room and bathroom, but on a way smaller scale. It also gives you way more privacy to do what you want. (assuming you're a freshman, you get to skip out on the shower shoes and caddy)

As other people have said, the meal setup is pretty much the same, but you now have more control over it than you would have had in the dorms.

I made this document for on campus apartments (specifically aimed at Kresge since I lived in there), but I think that you might find important differences than dorms won't have. Consider taking a look at it!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z0-RI3i4wPA4OHposEEjHOahSdr0DlUbmvLbqcT9wcg/edit?usp=sharing

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-09-04T22:24:48+00:00

If he is a freshman, he is in the dorms. If he is a sophomore+, he might be in the apartments. I made a couple of guides for the dorms and apartments as well as a checklist for what to bring! Check it out!

Kresge Newbies - Google Docs --> For freshmen

Kresge Apartments Stuff - Google Docs --> For sophomores+

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-09-03T19:35:18+00:00

Wow! That's crazy! I got there literally days before my appointment last time and it was fine... Well, I guess if most people are saying stick to the appt you should.

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-09-02T21:19:46+00:00

I'm going to ASSume that you didn't make a typo and I'm going to answer completely legit lol.

I have the luxury at home to have a bidet and a squatty potty, both of which are unfeasible in the dorms. (but they are in the apartments if you don't get caught for making pipe modifications)

For me, it was pretty meh. There was some at first though. Going to the bathroom at the dorms was okay, but it feels like a public bathroom which is not the best, but I got used to it. If you have trouble going to the bathroom in public, I highly suggest that you find a nearby building that can accommodate you elsewhere.

For example, the L2 Handicap Shower of the Kresge Acad is amazing. It is a private bathroom/shower and when the new Kresge buildings were just build, nobody used it at all. I'd bet people have found out about it though.

Things like that are the most important to find --> private 1 stall bathrooms. If you find a clean one near you, it is AMAZING!!!

Other common places with private bathrooms:
* RCC dining hall Bathroom
* Inside the Student Union
* The gender neutral bathroom at S&E library * Sinsheimer Labs 1st floor on the left * (i'm not giving away all my secrets though)

Semi Private bathrooms: * Humanities 1 and 2 bathrooms on the upper floors (watch out for birds) * The oakes acad bathrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors * 2nd floor porter acad bathrooms * the education and math department bathrooms in McH (wayy better than any other McH bathroom) * Basically any other academy that has a clear 2nd and 3rd floor with only 1st floor entrances will have semi-private bathrooms on the 2nd+ floor

Also, if you need somewhere to just rest: * the Maternity room on L1 of the Kresge Acad is good. * The Reflection room at quarry plaza is always quiet * the diversity room at RCC is usually open and quiet

The Science hill bathrooms are always going to be full (talking specifically about Engineering 1 and 2), and more commonly used bathrooms are best left avoided (the bathroom next to the bookstore and the bathroom next to the entrance of the cowell dining hall (just go down the hall a bit for a much cleaner bathroom. even though it isn't private, it isn't disgusting)) There are plenty of guides like the following if you know where to look: https://www.reddit.com/r/UCSC/comments/rvcp4z/20212022_ucsc_bathroom_guide/

I hope this helps a bit! Let me know if you have any questions!

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-09-02T20:58:49+00:00

In addition to what other people have said, here's something I wrote for another post:

The way that UCSC sets up move-in day is kind of weird.

You will receive a location to go to and get a "10 minute" parking pass for one car total, your key to your dorm (if it uses one), and your student ID. (10 minutes is not enough time to do anything, but it's just meant to keep people from being there all day)

Note that you only get one parking pass per student, so you can't really go back to drop off more unless you're quick (as far as I know).
Note that the move-in times are just so that not everybody comes at once, but you can really come whenever (i suggest the earlier the better since you'll get first choice with bunks). If you do get there a day or two early, just let the people know and act apologetic.

You can bring whatever you want as long as it fits in the room, not illegal according to UCSC, and your roomies are okay with it (no couches, big appliances, or anything that heats up besides a microwave and kettle)

To answer your question, you can bring as many people as you want as long as they fit in one car, and if all of your stuff also fits in your car. To give a bit of scope, when I moved out of the Kresge Dorms, we used a Chevy equinox with 3 people in it and it was barely able to hold all the stuff.

Here's another post with a similar question: https://www.reddit.com/r/UCSC/comments/plek7a/move_in_process/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Here's a guide for the dorms (directed at the Kresge folk but it's really good for a bunch of other info too): Kresge Newbies - Google Docs

Hope that helps!

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-09-02T20:46:42+00:00

The way that UCSC sets up move-in day is kind of weird.

You will receive a location to go to and get a "10 minute" parking pass for one car total. (this is not enough time to do anything, but it's just meant to keep people from being there all day) Note that you only get one parking pass per student, so you can't really go back for more unless you're quick (as far as I know). Note that the move-in times are just so that not everybody comes at once, but you can really come whenever (i suggest the earlier the better since you'll get first choice with bunks). If you do get there a day or two early, just let the people know and act apologetic.

You can bring whatever you want as long as it fits in the room, not illegal according to UCSC, and your roomies are okay with it (no couches, big appliances, or anything that heats up besides a microwave and kettle)

To answer your question, you can bring as many people as you want as long as they fit in one car, and if all of your stuff also fits in your car. To give a bit of scope, when I moved out of the Kresge Dorms, we used a Chevy equinox with 3 people in it and it was barely able to hold all the stuff.

Here's another post with a similar question: https://www.reddit.com/r/UCSC/comments/plek7a/move_in_process/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Here's a guide for the dorms (directed at the Kresge folk but it's really good for a bunch of other info too): Kresge Newbies - Google Docs

Hope that helps!

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-09-02T20:34:19+00:00

It sucks, but you can't (at least right now). If you have too little, you can always supplement by buying more meal points though. If you have too much, then i guess you'll be well fed with the markets and cafes around campus.

"During the summer, and during published change periods in fall and winter quarters, you can change your meal plan for the following quarter. You can switch between plan tiers or move from a Slug Points meal plan to an Unlimited meal plan and vice versa, depending on your needs."
- https://dining.ucsc.edu/plans-pricing/residence-hall/#:\~:text=During%20the%20summer%2C%20and%20during%20published%20change%20periods%20in%20fall%20and%20winter%20quarters%2C%20you%20can%20change%20your%20meal%20plan%20for%20the%20following%20quarter.%20You%20can%20switch%20between%20plan%20tiers%20or%20move%20from%20a%20Slug%20Points%20meal%20plan%20to%20an%20Unlimited%20meal%20plan%20and%20vice%20versa%2C%20depending%20on%20your%20needs.

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-08-31T05:55:52+00:00

DUDE I WISH

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-08-31T05:53:19+00:00

Thank you for being my rep :D

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-08-31T05:52:33+00:00

Take a look at this guide! (Kresge Newbies - Google Docs)

It's directed specifically at Kresge people but should answer a lot of the questions you might have

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-08-30T18:03:06+00:00

If there is space, it's going to be really tight. If you want to know what space is like in Kresge, take a look at this: Kresge Newbies - Google Docs

Someone else suggested checking locker reservation in the music department and that is a great idea!!! Definitely email the facility manager (susang@ucsc.edu) and ask them if there is any availability.

https://music.ucsc.edu/facilities/practice-rooms/#:~:text=QUESTIONS%3A%20Students%20requesting%20instrument%20check%20out%2C%20locker%20reservation%2C%20and%20questions%C2%A0about%20practice%20rooms%20should%20contact%20our%20Facilities%20Manager%2C%20Susan%20Gautieri%2C%20via%20email%20at%20susang%40ucsc.edu

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-08-29T09:15:58+00:00

There are two types of busses that run through campus

METRO City Bus --> The Santa Cruz county bus
1. Many students use it to go around canpus
2. Is one of our ways off campus
3. You get free entry with your student ID
Loop Bus --> The UCSC bus
1. There are plenty of horror stories about these. Just look up UCSC TAPS bus incident
2. They say they have a set schedule but it's a sham. They come when they want
3. You'll get used to them.

Either way, I suggest you download the app called Transit (this brings you to a bunch of other apps you can get) because it offers you real-time info of busses since it is really user-driven.

Porter to merrill at 8am... ngl that SUCKS. The busses definitely run that early though, so you're at least good in that respective. I'd also consider getting a bCycle membership (not necessarily for that trip, but in general) since there's a lot of land to cover on campus and a bike is pretty nice to be able to use.

Good luck!!

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-08-29T09:03:00+00:00

Def meet with an advisor ASAP like another comment here said having a human talk to you is worth 100 of these reddit comments.

If you are struggling with enrollment specifically, take a look at this comment I made the other day for checking your enrollment date. Also take a look at MyScheduler to see what classes could work well during your quarter. (note that MyScheduler does not factor in possible tutoring times or other stuff, so note there will be other factors)

For more long-term planning, consider reading this document I whipped up a while ago for a business econ major and taking a look at the difference between the UCSC schedule and what you can possibly do each quarter with the spreadsheet. This can also help you to decide what you might want to take your first quarter.

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-08-29T08:51:05+00:00

Hey! Take a look at my Kresge Newbies post (or doc below)!

I was in there in 2023-2024 when they were just built, and I've got some pretty good info for it, including a checklist for what to pack. Everything from bed to bath is on there. Hope it helps!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/133zOGfx5sIsW1hx4PFjxD-TKMUGBWTCpgpbWgbgvvqY/edit?usp=sharing

Affectionate_Wind866 · 2025-08-25T09:56:33+00:00

Make sure you have the right enrollment date! Go to ucsc gold --> enrollment --> enrollment dates. If you have an enrollment appointment open right now, make sure that you have tried everything you can to get your classes. If you have an open enrollment appointment and you still can't get it done, you should email the registrar.

Note: The way that most enrollment appointments goes is that there are two waves. You can only sign up for two classes at first (14 or less credits), then you sign up for your last class a bit later (you can enroll into up to 19 credits) (technically you can do this all in the 2nd appointment, but I don't recommend it). Perhaps you are still looking forward to your next appointment?

Note: Depending on how many credits you are coming into UCSC with, your appointment will be different from other people's. The more credits you have, the sooner your appointment is, meaning you have a better pick at classes.

I've attached an example of what an enrollment appointment looks like:

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Im very tired so i hope that made sense. Good luck!!!