Planning Trip to UCSF

[coco]

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I need some help planning my trip to UCSF. It's at the end of October, on a Thursday. How easy is it to get around (public transportation). The only cheap tix I'm finding fly into San Jose. Does it matter or is it just as easy to get to SF from San Jose? I'm expecting another email soon about student hosts so that should hopefully clear things up as to where I'm staying. Is it buses, or trams, or trolleys that they use? I'm somewhat confused as to this whole thing, so any advice or tips are welcome 🙂 Thank you!

 

[ygreenst]

It's not that easy to get to SF from San Jose. You would have to take Cal Train and a bus or two, and it will probably take you 1 hour., maybe more. It would be easier for you to fly into Oakland or SFO and take BART (the train that goes into SF). Once you are in SF, it's pretty easy to get around. There are lots of buses and trains to take. The N-train goes to UCSF and you can transfer to it from BART. Anyway, here is a website that's helpful:

http://www.sfmuni.com/cms/mms/home/home50.htm

You can use their trip planning feature. Have fun!

 

[UCLAstudent]

I flew into Oakland when I interviewed last year and BARTed from the airport. It was fun. 😀

 

[StevenRF]

Is everyone flying there? I figured I would enjoy the road trip and take the PCH all the way up from LA just huggin the coast. I wish my civic was a soft top. Still trying to find a hotel though. I emailed them about the student host program and they havn't replied.... Any suggestions. Cheaper the better.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Is everyone flying there? I figured I would enjoy the road trip and take the PCH all the way up from LA just huggin the coast. I wish my civic was a soft top. Still trying to find a hotel though. I emailed them about the student host program and they havn't replied.... Any suggestions. Cheaper the better.

If I lived in LA, I would probably end up driving to SF. Those extra two hours form San Diego is enough to convince me to fly. You sure about the PCH? You're looking at a very long drive, but you probably know that already 🙂

 

[coco]

I'm sure the drive up there is amazing! How fun would that be! I would do that but my family's all overseas until after the interview...and I'm having a hard time finding friends who would be willing to drive up with me since we're halfway through the semester and all.

Are they going to email us about student hosts? My interview is at the end of October, and I have no idea where I'm staying. I'd like to stay there for more than just one day! The interview is all day Thursday so I'll probably fly in on Wednesday and fly back to SD on Friday, but I'd like to stay for longer and go sight-seeing. How long can we stay with student hosts? I was checking out their website for hotels and they're all over my budget...gosh so much to plan.
Steven when's your interview?

 

[doublepeak]

If I lived in LA, I would probably end up driving to SF. Those extra two hours form San Diego is enough to convince me to fly. You sure about the PCH? You're looking at a very long drive, but you probably know that already 🙂

The 5 is definetly quicker and easier...but you don't the views of the coast.

 

[NorCalGirl]

It's not that easy to get to SF from San Jose. You would have to take Cal Train and a bus or two, and it will probably take you 1 hour., maybe more. It would be easier for you to fly into Oakland or SFO and take BART (the train that goes into SF). Once you are in SF, it's pretty easy to get around. There are lots of buses and trains to take. The N-train goes to UCSF and you can transfer to it from BART. Anyway, here is a website that's helpful:

http://www.sfmuni.com/cms/mms/home/home50.htm

You can use their trip planning feature. Have fun!

I'd have to agree with this. Definitely try to fly into Oakland or San Francisco. If you guys can get a student host, that would be the best and cheapest way to go. (Unfortunately, my roommate isn't comfortable with hosting other students so I can't offer! But hopefully some of my classmates are willing to do it) Another thing is that we have a final exam on the last Friday in October so you may or may not have a hard time finding a host for that week when you interview, coco. I don't know how crazy people get during the week of exams! Perhaps there are some 2nd/3rd years who can accomodate you if that's the case.

Good luck with your interviews!

 

[Flopotomist]

OK.. to emphasize what an earlier person said - unless you are going to rent a car (priceline sometimes can get you a car for less than $20) don't fly into San Jose. The most important thing to remember is to mention the name Floptomist during your interview and remind them to send me a secondary followed by an interview lol. Good luck!

 

[spoon]

Flop, you crack me up. I am pulling for you with the UCSF sec.

As for places to stay, I visited SF a couple years ago and stayed at a pretty cheap hostel near Polk street...I want to say in the NE part of the city, near Urban Outfitters. I will try to track down the name but you might want to check that out. Pretty bare obviously but a clean place to stay, cheap, and internet access for a small fee. HAVE FUN!!

 

[coco]

Flop, you crack me up. I am pulling for you with the UCSF sec.

As for places to stay, I visited SF a couple years ago and stayed at a pretty cheap hostel near Polk street...I want to say in the NE part of the city, near Urban Outfitters. I will try to track down the name but you might want to check that out. Pretty bare obviously but a clean place to stay, cheap, and internet access for a small fee. HAVE FUN!!

So I called today and they told me that they don't have student hosts available. they don't have the list or smthg to that effect so I will need to stay at a hotel. Thanks for the recommendations. At this point, any info is helpful! The guy on the phone said the easiest way is to just take a door-to-door shuttle to wherever I'm going so I think I'll stick with that to make things easier on me.