Freshmen Tips for Fall 2026
Welcome to campus class of 2030! Hey, my name is Dylan and I graduated from college (officially) in 2024. I spent five years as an undergraduate at UCSB, where I got the opportunity to learn a ton of cool things (I studied electrical engineering), make lifelong friends, and experience moments that I still cherish to this day. I want you to have the same transformative experience that I did, so here are 3 tips that can help give you a jumpstart to your next few years as a Gaucho!
Touch grass! Stop doomscrolling. You got into one of the most beautiful campuses in California. Walk down to Campus Point and stare at the ocean for a bit. Walk down the streets of IV and grab a Blenders or some boba from Kaiju (Phresh Tea). Better yet, invite someone to come explore with you. It could be a friend, a roommate, or someone you just met!
Get an “old/jank-looking” bike. Emphasis on the “looking” part; it still has to be functional. You don’t want it to break down when you are running late for class. But you don’t want it to look so pristine that the local bike thief gets their hands on it. Having a bike allows you to get to places at least 3x quicker, with half the effort of walking. Meaning that you can go further, and spend more time at the places you want to be. In terms of bike locks, get a U-lock and combo it with a cable lock. That kept my bike safe all 5 years!
Find friends and community that you enjoy and trust! I joined a Christian club on campus called acts2fellowship during my freshman year. There, I got to make friends who I still stay in touch with and hang out with to this day! It’s so important to have a support system in college, so go find a group of friends that love you, challenge you, and push you to grow!
I know that these tips can sound a bit generic/cliche. As you are reading this, you might be saying, “duh, these are so obvious”. So, if you want more niche tips, such as a list of the best bathrooms on campus, the best study spots, or the best food deals in IV, come find me on campus. I still help out with my church community, acts2fellowship, every week to put on fun events that I got to experience during my time in college.
Dylan Chan (c/o 2023) graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He enjoys ! He is currently serving as a mentor for the class of 2029 at acts2fellowship SB.