Financial Wellness Services at UC San Diego

UC San Diego offers a variety of services to help you pay for college. Financial wellness is a key part of the 8 dimensions of wellness.

Financial Aid Office

• Budgets and Cost of Attendance

• UCSD's estimated budgets include all educational costs: registration fees, non-resident tuition, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and a health care insurance fee (or health care allowance).

• Your estimated budget helps you and the Financial Aid Office determine approximately how much money you need to attend UCSD, and how much financial aid you need to meet that goal. Your actual costs may differ.

• Applying for Financial Aid

• Financial aid timelines, basics for applying, fees and costs and other important information to help you apply for financial aid.

• Undergraduate Scholarships

• Scholarships are gift aid, money you don't have to repay. Scholarships are awarded for academic merit only, or merit and additional criteria such as major of interest, leadership, or financial need. Find out how scholarships can help cover your undergraduate education costs.

• Undergraduate Grants

• Grants are gift aid, money you don't have to repay. Grant awards are based on financial need. You may be eligible for three types of grants: Federal, State, and University (UC).

• Undergraduate Loans

• Loans are funds that you must repay with interest under varying terms and conditions. Borrowing is a serious responsibility and can affect your future credit rating.

Student Business Services

• Billing and Payment Help for Students

• See these step-by-step guides to help you understand and pay your bill.

• Ways to Pay Your Bill

• Find resources about making payments.

• Direct Deposit

• Think green, be green, and get your green faster! Setting up a direct bank deposit account is strongly encouraged. It's the fastest, most secure, and environmentally friendly way to receive your financial aid and refunds. Sign up for direct deposit
• Tips and Tricks from James Myers, Director of Student Business Services
  • How to Balance your Checkbook (pdf)
  • Budgeting Your Funds (pdf)
    
  • Do's and Do Not's of Credit Cards (pdf)

Social & Occupational Wellness: Networking

You have probably heard the saying, “it’s not about what you know…it’s about who you know.” While what you learn in classes is a very important part of your undergraduate experience, networking has many benefits that reach way beyond the classroom and, most notably, into your future career.

UC San Diego offers so many networking opportunities that it is hard not to take advantage of them. Let’s start with orientation. During my freshman year, one of my colleagues (an Environmental Science major) took the initiative to talk to and thank a faculty member (from Scripps Institute of Oceanography) who did a presentation during orientation. Two years later, my colleague was looking for an internship and she decided to email the faculty member she first met at orientation to ask for recommendations. The faculty member was able to set her up with an amazing research opportunity at Scripps Institute, which then helped her find a full-time job after graduation.


While orientation is a great place to start for networking, there are many other ways to make connections during college – consider your roommates, teammates, organization members, internship supervisors, professors, and staff.

After graduation, I decided to start a surfing school, which would raise money to save acres of rainforest in Costa Rica. Starting a company from scratch, without any prior business or marketing classes, was tough. However, I was able to get support and advice from a few of my connections from my time spent at UC San Diego. My internship supervisor had owned a surfing school in the past – he helped me with ideas about how to run a company and what to offer. A friend of mine, who I had met from an organization, offered to help do all of my PR/marketing work pro-bono to help my company and build her resume. At an alumni association event, I met a UCSD Alumni who started his own company. He helped me with all of the paperwork, insurance, and tax forms.

Every event that you attend and opportunity that you take advantage of, you should try to make at least three contacts (get business cards or write down the person’s contact information). The best thing you can do after that is to follow-up with the person with an email (“It was great meeting you...”) so that they have your contact information. You never know - your roommate, colleague, or professor could set you up with the internship or career of your dreams.

For more about networking, check out my recently finished book: Graduating with Confidence: A Guide to Making the Most of Your College Experience.

-Torrey Trust
UCSD Alum ‘07

Emotional Wellness

def. Optimism, trust, self-esteem, self-acceptance, self-confidence, self-control satisfying relationships, and an ability to share feeling.

A Person Who Is Emotionally Well
* Manages stress effectively
* Is able to cope with negative feelings in healthy ways
* Maintains a sense of humor
* Focuses on solutions to problem and maintains a sense of perspective
* Has social support from friends and/or family
* Recognizes emotions and responds effectively
* Has an outlet (music or hobby)
* Gets adequate rest and relaxation
* Has a sense of self acceptance

Emotional Wellness Programs at UC San Diego

Counseling and Psychological Services
* Stress Management 101 Workshop
* Mindful Relaxation
* Peace of Mind Workshop

Recreation
*Massage Class
Circulatory massage provides relaxation and tranquility from the stress and tension of long hours spent at a desk or high pressured days. Massage is one of the most ancient of the healing arts and can enhance your general health and well-being. Various massage techniques will be covered during the course and the students will practice on each other.

*Intro to Meditation
Whether or not you have ever meditated, you may enjoy this sampling of meditation techniques guiding you to the blissful silence behind thoughts. Seated, standing, lying down and moving meditation techniques will be covered. Participants will learn to progress from form meditation to subtle meditation to fine meditation and finally to formless meditation. Experience the meditator, the subject of meditation and the process of meditation becoming one.

Learn more about emotional wellness

Welcome new students!

Welcome to the LiveWell UC San Diego Orientation blog!

LiveWell UC San Diego supports students in achieving a more balanced and healthy lifestyle in the areas of intellectual, physical, occupational, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental wellness.

Learn how to improve your overall well-being, while also discovering important resources at UC San Diego on this blog. Keep checking back for tips, advice, and information from students and staff.