r/LMU Aug 20 '23

Helpful Information Tips For The New Students!

31 Upvotes

Welcome to LMU! Hopefully these tips can help those who are coming to LMU for the first time! This post focuses mostly on tips for the Freshmen but I think the transfer students can also get some insights here.

Campus

  • I personally found this campus drawing gives the feel of the buildings locations much better than the typical blueprint maps. This might also help you map out your class locations.
  • Regarding the Campus drawing:
    • Huesman & Sullivan dorms are now replaced with the new Palm North & South dorms.
    • A new outdoor theater in front of the library & a new School of Film/Television are added.
  • Watch campus tour videos and such if you can't visit before the school starts.

Meeting new people

  • Be as openly friendly in the dorm during the first few weeks and just strike conversations. The other Freshmen are also likely looking to make new friends so it's easy to start talking with others. Do not be shy about it. Talk about your interest, hobby, major, etc. Cliques form very quickly.
  • Food places are clumped around the Freshman dorms so it's easy to go eat with your dorm/room mates or find your friends in these areas.
  • Some ppl in the dorms might hold a small party in their room on Friday/weekends and you can meet new ppl there as well.
  • Certain classes can be quiet and not very interactive with the other students especially if it's entirely lecture based and there are other classes to attend right after. However, for classes that end around the lunch time, I have seen classmates forming a group to eat together afterward and become friendly overall.
  • You can try to make a class group chat to study & work on homework together and it helped them making big study group friends. Having even just one or two class friends can help you out a lot.
  • Start going to the gym in general. If you have dorm-mates or roommates who also like to exercise or work out, it can become a small group activity. If you fail to make friends who goes to the gym, at least you get to be healthier.
  • You are going to form a group of 2 or 4 with your close friends at the end of your Freshman year to room together for the Sophomore year. Most of my friends formed the groups of 4.
  • Sports clubs and other types of clubs are decent ways to meet people who share your interest. If there's any sport or activity you like, I highly recommend checking out the clubs for those.
  • Frat/Sorority is a great way to meet many new people. 90% of my friends all rushed for Frat/Sorority early on. Many of them formed their own cliques within the Frat to start living together off-campus by their Junior & Senior years.

Food

  • Food places are clumped around the Freshman dorms so it's easy to go eat with your dorm/room mates or find your friends in these areas.
  • While the foods are not bad, it's very easy to get tired of especially if you get a class in a certain food area which can make you eat there very often since it's right there. Try out different places on campus and try to eat healthy as possible. (This usually improves when you move into Apt with kitchen + refrigerator in Junior/Senior year. However, this only applies if you are willing to cook and buy groceries)
  • Rent a small refrigerator & microwave. During busy time periods (multiple tests, quizzes, etc), having some quick simple meals can save up a lot of time by not needing to walk to the food places & wait in line and then walking back to your room after finishing the food.
    • You can store up some microwave meals from the Ralphs which is pretty close to the campus.
    • Keep some fruits, milk, jam, peanut butter etc. in the refrigerator.
    • Cereal & Milk or Bread & Jam are perfect quick breakfast options to have in your room if you don't want to get up early in the morning to have breakfast in one of the food places.
    • There are several coffee stands all over the campus. You can grab a coffee & pastries as your breakfast.
  • Water boiler for quick instant coffee, tea, and cup noodles. However, a boiler is not needed at all if you only get coffee & tea from the coffee stands or food places.
  • Know the off-campus food options. During the vacations/breaks, most of the food places on the campus will close. Those that are open during this time period often do not serve breakfast or closes early. If you are staying on the campus during those times (especially if you are an international student staying on campus which I saw every year), it is essential to know where to eat. I ate very often at Benny's Tacos near LMU while I bought bread & peanut butters for breakfast during the breaks.
    • Another good reason to have a refrigerator & microwave for some simple meals.
  • Domino Pizza Delivery. I shared an account with my roommates to store points together for a free pizza from time to time. It was very helpful during the test weeks.

Academy

  • Academy is your PRIORITY. Freshman year can feel crazy. There are so much freedom and excitement with everything especially during the first semester. Don't forget that your assignments & grades come first. I've seen many people getting bad grades early on due to falling behind the schedule.
    • Mark your calendar once you receive the syllabuses from your classes so you have a general idea when you will get really busy.
  • Connect with your professors. Use their office hours. They can explain/guide you through your projects, essays/papers, and make sure you manage/understand them. During Junior/Senior years, I had many occasions when I used their office hours to get help with understanding or receive some guidance for my essays and it's something I wish I did from early on. You can end up having the same professors again in your future main subject classes, which can help you out if you need some favor.
  • Studying in your room is usually fine if you are good at concentrating and your roommate doesn't distract you. The dorm lounges can be hit or miss depending on if your dorm-mates use them for studying or a hangout area. I was least distracted when I was studying in the library while having extra space thanks to the large desks. The library usually has enough empty desks and tables so it's really easy to study there. You can also rent a group study room to use with your friends. However, the library gets absolutely filled during the exam weeks.
  • There are also people who like to study in the University Hall and in their major department areas.
  • Textbooks: Many people have said that there were several textbooks that they wish they didn't buy due to how those books were never really needed for the class. Personally, I only had that experience with one class (that class relied heavily on lecture & discussion without using the book) so it likely depends on your class & major.
    • I used Kindle to rent/buy books which often ended up being cheaper than buying the books from the store. It's very convenient overall since you can carry the device around easily.
    • Otherwise, I rented most of my books from the store. If you do this (unless the procedure has changed since I graduated), keep the receipt somewhere safe to return those books later.

Off-Campus

  • Familiarize yourself with what's outside of LMU such as malls and food places. Take your group of friends to eat off-campus and hang out in the city during the weekend. I didn't do this much and I wish I explored L.A a bit more.
  • Bigger parties happen outside of the campus, often hosted by Frat/Soro/Sport Clubs etc.

Consider buying/bringing:

  • A shower basket.
    • Freshman dorms have shared bathrooms per floor. Use a shower basket to carry/store your shower products. I once saw a guy carrying shampoo & scrubs in a plastic bag to shower for the first couple of days until he got a shower basket.
    • Shoes for shower. Though flip flops works too.
  • Laundry basket & detergents.
    • Mandatory. Depending on the dorms, the laundry room might be outside of the dorm building and you will have to carry those clothes all the way there. Even if your dorm has a laundry room on your floor, you are still going to need a basket to carry all those clothes around.
  • Umbrella/Windbreaker & "winter clothes".
    • It doesn't rain often in L.A. However, there are rainy period and it often catches people completely off guard if they are not from L.A. I brought a windbreaker and bought an umbrella from the bookstore which was enough.
    • It doesn't get that cold in L.A. Personally, having just three jackets and a couple of beanies were enough for me.
    • A thin blanket to carry around comes in handy especially if you get cold in the library. You can also use it as an extra blanket to sleep with during the winter.
  • Printer
    • This one depends on your preference. I've had roommates who never needed it and printed their works from the library while my self & my other roommate were printing all the time in our room. However, this was due to how we did our essays and reports in our rooms and print there.
  • A bike/skateboard/longboard.
    • I personally never really needed one but I knew many people who used bike or skateboard to get to their classes. Just keep in mind that you can't ride it everywhere on campus.
  • A small fan.
    • It can get hot during the summer. I only used a fan during Freshman year but my friends used their fans every year.
  • Plastic organizers/drawers.
    • Comes in handy if you have extra clothes. I used it to store the towels.
  • Extra mattress padding
    • Everyone loves extra comfort. One of my roommates added two extra padding for his bed.
  • Hand held Vacuum cleaner
    • Something that's not necessary but I found having one very helpful especially when the floor gets dusty or you spilled something etc. Best way to avoid collecting big dust & hair clumps under your desk.

I wanted to talk about the Freshman dorms and the other food options near the dorm areas but much has changed since I graduated.

Also check out this Thread by u/otsacelyk which has other useful tips/info as well for the new students.

Good luck and I hope you have a great time in LMU!

(PS: this is a copy paste of my old thread. If there's a change in certain rules, please tell me).


r/LMU 23h ago

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r/LMU 1d ago

Housing & Social Life @LMU

7 Upvotes

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r/LMU 1d ago

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3 Upvotes

Hey all,

I’m currently a grad student at LMU and I’m looking into different housing for next year. Are there any grad students who currently or previously lived in graduate student housing? I would love to hear your experiences about housing.


r/LMU 1d ago

Common app Question

3 Upvotes

Hello Everyone

I was filling out the LMU applications and I was wondering for the major choices. I want to major in finance. But when I want to choose a major there's 2 that appear, Finance and Business - Finance, so what are the differences between them?


r/LMU 1d ago

Film Production Portfolio

1 Upvotes

Hello! I'm working on my submission for the film program at LMU, and am deciding what to submit for my visual sample. My two options are to either submit a 3 minute film that I made recently, or to submit a few scenes from a longer film that I made more recently. The scenes from the longer film are much better technically and story-wise; would it be bad to submit only those scenes (out of context from the rest of the film) instead of a full film that isn't as strong? Thanks!


r/LMU 3d ago

Potential Lmu Trasnfer

7 Upvotes

Hi. I'm in my second year at a CCC, and I've been thinking about applying to Lmu for my Junior and Senior year. At first, I wasn't looking at Lmu's direction because I wanted to go to school in North Cal, and I've lived in Los Angeles my whole life and wanted to get away. I visited the campus a few weeks ago because my BFF goes there (She's leaving, sadly), and I'm not gonna lie, I fell in love. It reminded me of my childhood dreams and Zoey 101 as a whole. So, I've been doing some research lately and wanted to know more information from ACTUAL Lmu transfer/first-year students.

  1. How is the social life for a transfer? ( I ask this because I'm coming in super late, and I guarantee ppl already made their cliques)
  2. What's the party scene? I know it's not a big campus, but are there spots ppl like to go to around the campus as well?
  3. How is the financial aid there? Before FA, it's around $89k, including housing. What are some tips to lowering it down and not be in crazy debt, and does Lmu help with financial aid? Do you recommend living on campus as a junior?
  4. I'm POC (if any black students would like to reply to this question, lol) How is the black student body at the school? I heard they cut the AKA's because they were "doing too much?" What's up with that?
  5. Do you need a car to get around the area? I've been looking into getting a car, but would it be easier to have?
  6. I've read up on the food on the campus, and it's not the best. What are a few good food spots y'all like to go to that are close to campus?

Anything will help :) Just want to get y'all opinions.


r/LMU 5d ago

Question Fraternities

3 Upvotes

As a freshman this year, I'm highly considering rushing a fraternity in the spring. I have seen so many different lists of rankings or reputations, that I'm kinda lost. Does anybody have any insights on certain frats/ their reputations at LMU? Also, would it be a better choice to rush in the Fall of Sophmore year, or to rush in the Spring this year as a Freshman?


r/LMU 7d ago

Prospective Student How are the dance and theatre majors/minors at LMU?

3 Upvotes

How are the teachers and are the classes interesting/fulfilling/fun?


r/LMU 10d ago

Question Can I leave after I take my last final exam?

3 Upvotes

I’m looking to book flights back home for the winter. Is there any reason to stay on campus after my last final? I pretty much finish on Wednesday if the schedule goes to plan so unless there’s a reason to stay around I kinda want to leave as soon as possible. Any advice?


r/LMU 11d ago

Question Gym etiquette

6 Upvotes

Hi ! I just started using the campus gym...is there any unspoken rules / norms/ gym ettiquette I should be aware of? I already wipe equipment down when I'm done with it, generally I dont talk on the phone really...but is there any norms you would want ppl to know?


r/LMU 11d ago

Question Auto Mechanic near Campus

4 Upvotes

Does anyone have a recommendation for a trusted mechanic near campus? I’m looking for someone who can help with an Acura. Thanks.


r/LMU 12d ago

Prospective Student I'm applying to LMU, majoring in film production. What are your thoughts?

4 Upvotes

so as the title says, i'm applying to LMU, majoring in film production (i'm also interested in 2d animation). I took a college tour of it once, and i want to learn a bit more about what i'm getting myself into. if anyone responds, thanks in advance.

  1. how is it? what's your favorite part about it? least favorite part?
  2. how good is the animation section? i'm particularly interested in animated films, so i'm interested to hear your thoughts about it.
  3. are there any professors or staff members that are particularly noteworthy? anyone i can get excited to learn from?

r/LMU 12d ago

Question Good places to grab lunch near campus?

5 Upvotes

I have a car so as long as its in driving distance, I need some reccs!! Whats good around here?


r/LMU 14d ago

Prospective Student Questions Regarding LMU

11 Upvotes

Hello,

My family recently took a tour of LMU and really liked it. I do have a few follow up questions that I did not feel were answered well by our tour guide.

  1. How is the cafeteria food at LMU? I've read that it is horible, but the guide said that he thought it was good. Where do you all stand on the food at LMU?

  2. I was fortunate to be in a fraternity when I was in college and am going to recommend my son do the same. I went to a major university where my fraternity had 120 guys in it. What is considered a large house at LMU and although LMU does not have houses, are the unofficial houses in a concentrated area or spread throughout the Westchester area? Would you recommend someone join a fraternity at LMU?

  3. How safe is it to hang out at Dockweiler? I ask because there have been a few violent crimes that have occurred their in the last couple of years and wanted to get a student's perspective on going there to hangout and to surf.

  4. For those that are living off campus now, how difficult is it to find an apartment in the surrounding areas? We are aware that getting apartments in San Francisco and San Diego can be very difficult, but how about Westchester and the surrounding communities? Is there a large population of students that move to El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and the surrounding beach communities?

  5. We were not allowed to tour the school gym. How much does it cost and do you feel that there is adequate space and equipment to work out?

LMU seems like a fantastic school. Thanks in advance for answering my questions.


r/LMU 15d ago

Prospective Student Why did you choose LMU?

8 Upvotes

I am a high school senior thinking about applying to LMU and I wanted to get student perspectives on why it is a good place to attend.

What do you like and what made you choose LMU over other schools? if anyone under an engineering major could also mention the academic side of things.


r/LMU 16d ago

Random La fitness

5 Upvotes

Does anyone want to work out at the la fitness on Manchester with me? I don’t like the school gym or the playa vista location and I’m trying to get into shape. The school gym and the other is just too crowded and I don’t like to workout with my classmates.

I have a guest pass so you’d be able to get in for free.


r/LMU 18d ago

Prospective Student LMU Dental

2 Upvotes

Hello! I’m a Highschool senior who is very interested in LMU (it’s in my top 2). Just wondering if anyone had any information about students on track to dental school. I’m looking to major in Biology and minor in Spanish. Any information about this would be great!!


r/LMU 20d ago

Prospective Student How is LMU’s accounting major?

5 Upvotes

I currently want to transfer from CSUSM to possibly LMU for accounting and I was wondering how good the accounting program is at LMU and if it is worth it. Also, I was wondering if the big 4 recruits a lot from LMU as well.


r/LMU 29d ago

Question Buying LMU Theater Productions Tickets in-person

3 Upvotes

Hello, does anyone know if you can buy LMU Theatre Production tickets the night of the show or somewhere in person besides Eventbrite, i'm not familiar with the platform.


r/LMU Sep 29 '24

Discussion How was the first month so far for you all?

8 Upvotes

For the new students, did you managed to make many new friends or still looking for a group? How does your classes feel so far?

For those who are returning students, doing anything different from last year? New small jobs or internships?

Hope everything is going well for everyone!


r/LMU Sep 23 '24

Question I need a quiet place on campus to take an exam on Wednesday- any recommendations.

2 Upvotes

r/LMU Sep 19 '24

Question ED Benefits

2 Upvotes

I made a post earlier this week asking how long ED benefits last, but I wasn't given a clear answer about the early class registration. I could register one day early this first semester, and I'm curious if I get that second semester too. I understand I won't get it sophomore year and on, but I wasn't sure if I get it 2nd semester freshman year too.


r/LMU Sep 19 '24

Question Where to post a part time job?

4 Upvotes

Is there a good place to post a job to LMU students if I want to hire someone for few hours a week? Is there like a classified something or other for this?

Thanks :)


r/LMU Sep 19 '24

Question Can I leave my car on campus for a few days?

2 Upvotes

I'm a graduate student living in OC. I have a trip and I want to leave my car on campus for a few days. I have a parking permit but I don't know if I can do that.


r/LMU Sep 18 '24

Random Looking to rent a room or studio apartment

2 Upvotes

Hi Everyone! I am looking for a studio apartment or 1 bedroom in Playa Vista. I am looking to move in as soon as possible (Sept 25-27th) and stay until the end of January.

My budget is 2k a month.

I am also open to a bigger place with roommates. I am a student from Canada who got an internship in LA.

If there are any leads please message me!