University of California--Davis
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- Biking. 'Nuff said.
- Science. Seriously, I mean business. I've got science programs in every single one of my colleges.
- Sustainability. Bike racks everywhere? Recycling and compost bins at every corner? Specialty parking spots for energy-efficient vehicles? Check, check, and check.
- School spirit. I'm home to the Aggie Pack, the nation's largest school spirit organization, and the Cal-Aggie Marching Band-uh.
- Clubbing. (Not that kind of clubbing.) I have 500+ student organizations, so no matter what you're into, it's easy to get involved.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- My bike. I don't know how I'd live without it.
- A fender for the back wheel. Avoid the Freshman Stripe.
- Reusable bag. You never know when you'll stumble upon a farmer's market or a totally rad thrift shop.
- Coffee. The CoHo is practically my second home.
- My I.D. card. It's basically my key to everything—my dorm, the dining hall, the buses…
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- Have I mentioned bikes yet? Well, you can't blame me. After all, I'm home to the US Bicycling Hall of Fame.
- I love animals. In fact, I'm one of the few universities that offers a degree in animal science, with tons of hands-on (and hands-in) experience. I'm also home to one of the highest-ranking vet schools in the country.
- You may have heard of a little thing called the Pepper Spray Incident. My students may be friendly, but we aren't afraid to stand up (or sit down) for what we believe in.
- Picnic Day. Don't be fooled. It's much less tame than it sounds. Still, the nitrogen ice cream and chemistry magic show are pretty cool. And honestly, who doesn't love a good wiener dog race?
- Cows. I've got lots of 'em.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
I'm probably at my apartment cooking dinner with produce from the Farmer's Market. Sometimes, I'll go see an a cappella or improv show on campus. If nothing else, I'll go with my friends to play hide-and-seek in the Death Star.
Favorite Hangouts:
- Memorial Union on campus, either getting a quick cup of coffee or napping—er, studying—on the quad.
- Downtown, usually debating whether to eat at Burgers & Brew, Ali Baba, or Jusco's all-you-can-eat sushi buffet for the millionth time.
- The twenty-four hour study room in Shields Library
- The Arboretum
Quirks:
- I'm on the quarter system, which means fast-paced classes and lots of midterms. On the upside, you get to take a wider range of interesting courses (like Human Sexuality and Intro to Wine-Making). Plus, if you sign up for a surprisingly dull class, it's over before you know it.
- The Tipsy Taxi offers rides home Thursday through Saturday nights for those over-twenty-oners who have imbibed a tad too much. Safety first.
- Speaking of which—ever heard of bike cops? Yeah, they exist. My advice: Get a bike light and don't give them any lip.
- My downtown is pretty sweet. I've got independent bookstores, music shops, movie theaters, froyo joints, and more restaurants than you can shake a chopstick at.
- Every May, I host this thing called Whole Earth Festival, which is pretty groovy. Peace necklaces, original artwork, and tie-dye shirts? What can I say—I'm a hippie at heart.
Famous Alumni:
- Dian Fossey, zoologist and Queen of the Gorillas
- Martin Yan, chef and food writer
- Kimberly Guilfoyle, television host and personality
- Tracy Caldwell Dyson, NASA astronaut
- Stephen Robinson, another NASA astronaut