we understand…

Moving to a new big city can mean many new opportunities, but let’s pump the breaks and narrow down the logistics of how to make the most out of your freshman year experience. From which places to go, to what interesting things you’ll find at the bus stop, we understand that some of this experience can be overwhelming, and that’s excluding the new homework load. As two sophomores who have experienced a thing or two, let us serve as your older sisters with a bit more niche knowledge about the whereabouts of your new home in San Francisco.

How to be the Navigator

There are many methods to lasso-ing down the next Muni(yeehaw!), but the app we recommend is “Transit”. That green app with the little squiggle has saved us from many long uphill walks home. This helpful tool will share a map of how to get exactly where you are planning to travel, including the time allotted for walking to and from each bus stop. Not to assume, but I don’t think your hometown has a muni system, right? Don’t fret, this system is one that does not take long to get used to. 

Another tip that will make you a Muni expert is knowing the bus lines closest to you. The buses that run closest to campus are the five (closer to freshmen housing), and the thirty-one near Lone Mountain.  As for other bus lines, the thirty-three can be reliable when headed to Haight/Castro, but may take 20 years to get there; however, at least you get a lovely picnic table on the corner of GGP to wait at! The beauty of these bus stops is that there is so much life compacted between the cables. The forty-three can take you to Chestnut Street with views of the Golden Gate Bridge on the way, or the five can take you from Ocean Beach all the way to the ferry building. We know, these seem like a lot of numbers to memorize, but the beauty of USF’s bus routes is that with these core stops in mind and plenty of practicing, the world is your oyster! Opt to be the friend who looks up the route home and know that it will drop you off riiiiiight in front of your dorm. Though we encourage you to take advantage of the whole students-ride-free muni (you never want the ride to cost more than your plans) remember you can always opt for Uber. If the night ever brings you to that decision, make sure you have a travel buddy to accompany you (and SPLIT that Uber, we are still broke college students!)

No Mini Skirts? 

We are painfully aware that the idea of a “college party” warrants a frat house, but living in the middle of San Francisco means that the party life has drifted to our local bars and traveling DJ nights at popular venues. I see the different 18+ clubs on a scale of fun and worth the price to “I'm actually shocked we made it out of there alive.” Using this scale, we would like to be very clear and rank Origin Boutique at the bottom. If you are craving a fun-themed night with consistently good music, but you want to be home by 11 pm, DNA Lounge is the place to go. If you’re more for the clubbing vibes with strobe lights, beats — and if you’re lucky, you could get in for free —Club X is where to go. Occasionally popular concert venues will host themed nights or even collaborations with other local universities, these can be fun depending on the vibe set or group you go with. Though we advise you now, never spend more than $20 on a QR code for entry, we’ve all been there where we have to rip off the bandaid and purchase the last-minute ticket fee. 

PS: Get comfortable with your local ER or Urgent Care, you never know when you’ll need it/ you may be going at least once.

Have you been wondering why you and your roommate are having a hard time connecting? Do they wake up at the crack of dawn while you’re still recovering from the night before? Or worse, maybe the roommate comes with a no-return partner and suddenly you’re in a triple? What we have learned best in our first year was to set boundaries RIGHT away, and don’t be afraid to be direct. You don’t want it to be December and you finally find the guts to share that they can be too loud sometimes.

When you create boundaries, you establish an understanding of how you can feel comfortable in this new space. We all know that living away from home for the first time can feel like a fish out of water, but your roommate is a fish too! If creating a bond between you and your roommate isn’t an issue for you, remember the benefits that come with having two people in one space, sharing is caring! Even if it’s just the paper towels or plates from Target in the back of your closet, letting your roommate know that you are willing to trust them with your personal items or a bought item together is a way to create trust between each other. Also a needed reminder, your roommate may not be your instant best friend or designated dining hall partner, and that’s ok!

During your time here, you are gonna establish relationships with people that you might not even know yet, and it does not have to be the person that sleeps ten feet away from you. It is a new experience for everybody. Remember you are only a freshman once, and your roommate may be a core part of that, for better or for worse. So please, ask if they would like to share your paper towels. 

Escapes

Do you ever just feel like leaving? Well when you do, as did I freshman year, there are so many magical places in the Bay Area you can escape to. One of my favorite adventures is a $7 ferry ride over to Tiburon or Sausalito. Where the skies are finally blue, and you have a beautiful view of the city, the vibrant sailboat life and insane food will make you the bay even more. Have a quick bite at the Tiburon Tavern or Barrel House Tavern. Down the road from these places, there is the infamous Mt. Tamalpais where you can have a picnic, or get that Instagram story! 

Cruising up the mountain you can witness amazing sunsets and the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you’re feeling a spontaneous trip, the many surrounding cities in the bay are also great escapes. An hour north of San Francisco is wine country Napa which has long vineyards and great eats (a writer of this may be from there <3); In terms of coastal getaways, Half Peek Bay is a great choice for a day trip that only takes 45 minutes to get to, talk about having Lake Como at home!

Your New Abode

Sometimes it is difficult to settle into college; living in a dorm can be different and not for everyone. In adjusting into your new college life you need a way to make it feel like home. Here’s some tips on how to transition in. Step One: make your new, maybe shared, space personal to oneself. Go nuts on Pinterest, find what will make you feel excited to come back after a long day of those too-early-classes. Bringing photos of home or posters of artists or even that record player that you played once, into your place helps construct this homey feel. It could help transform those awkward white walls and sounds of construction into a place of peace and tranquility, which is important to have especially when you need to just take a break during finals week. Step Two: Know your city. The best part about getting to experience college at USF is the fact that you are in the city of San Francisco. This city has so many communities and great offerings, you just need to explore its beauty. And the more you explore the city the more it will feel like home. Next thing you know you’ll be telling your parents “I can't wait to go home” (they won’t like it though). And finally the last step: do whatever you want. You will only be 18 years old in college once, it’s time to make those dumb decisions and stay up all night, even with those morning classes, because you may never get to be this stupid again. 

Catch ya later!

Credits:

Photography: May-ya Nguyen

Models: Kailey Wilkens, Sophie Dubray

Photo Editing: May-ya Nguyen and Kailey Wilkens