Hi! I'm Sara, a junior Business Economics major. I moved from Abu Dhabi to San Diego without ever having visited the U.S. before, knowing pretty much no one, and somehow this campus turned into home faster than I expected. I love getting involved — between Women in Business, the Product Management Club, and my work with Therva Culinary (a UCSD startup), there's always something going on. When I do get a free night, you'll usually find me on a beach walk with a drink, catching up with friends and family, or doing a sunset swim followed by shopping and dinner at UTC — an easy trolley or bus ride away. I've found more hidden gems than I can count, but my two must-knows that most people never find are the tables at Franklin Antonio Hall for the best lighting and coziest quiet vibes, and the Marshall study rooms for the best high-rise views. When I want beach vibes I head to Pinpoint Café, and for total-focus studying, the Sixth College terrace and study rooms are always empty and perfect for it. I'd be happy to show you around and give you the honest scoop on what life here is actually like — including the real, no-fluff truth about rush and Greek life at UCSD. I went through rush last year, ended up dropping, and I'm going through it again this year with a much clearer picture than I had going in. Come with lots of questions — the more, the better!

Hometown

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Major(s)

Business Economics

Clubs, organizations & involvement

I work for a startup out of UCSD, Therva Culinary I am also a member of Women in Business I also was a part of PMC, Project Management Club at UCSD

Describe your college experience

I have had a great college experience at UCSD so far! It was definitely a hard transition for me as an international student, moving across the world away from all my family and friends to a country I had never even visited till I moved into my dorm! But I was lucky to find a place I soon fell in love with, I had great roomates and a great dorm and found all my professors and classes to be challenging but not too overwhelming at the same time. I am so grateful for everything UCSD has to offer, I found myself always busy, whether with clubs, speaker events, taking up beginner gymnastics, going to both finance and craft workshops or exploring San Diego!

Tip for future students

My biggest tip for future students is to spend lots of time planning your courses each quarter! Making sure you are honest with yourself about when you work best, looking at what classes you need the most first by thinking and looking ahead to common prerequisites for upcoming upper division coursework, mainly math in most cases, and getting ahead on it!

Favorite class

My favorite class so far has been MGT45 - Introduction to Accounting. The amazing professor, organized structure, and provided practice and case studies made accounting feel fun and exciting rather then confusing, daunting, monotonous and rather boring which is what lots of students first expect! Would highly recommend the class as someone that was dreading it at first!

Career goals

I hope to work in corporate America for sometime somewhere in finance, or consulting before doing something of my own down the line! I have always loved entrepreneurship and dream of starting my own business one day! I have gotten great experience at a startup through UCSD which has taught me a lot, given me hands on experience in the space and further motivated me to follow this dream!

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal way to spend a free night as a busy college student in San Diego is honestly just heading down to the beach for a long walk with a drink, calling everyone back home, or heading for a sunset swim followed by a night out, or shopping and dinner at our nearby mall UTC easily accessible by trolly or bus!

High school or secondary school

Raha International School

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite spot on campus is the cafe at Gliderport, perfect to study as there is a table and comfortable chairs with the most stunning views of paragliders above the ocean! I loved to walk there after my classes at Rady School of Management and complete any homework and study, and then enjoy the sunset and sometimes head down to the ocean for a short swim! It had it all! I love finding the best spots across campus and have found 1 too many! Also love Franklin Antonio Hall tables for the best lighting and cozy quiet vibes, Marshall study rooms for the best high rise views, Pinpoint cafe for beach days, Sixth terrace and study rooms that nobody is ever using for quiet indoor independent study!