<p>Adultparentmom,</p>
<p>Congrats! I am glad she enjoyed the visit and is choosing USD. I don't think she will be disappointed!</p>
<p>Michelle</p>
<p>kbeez- yes, we were also there on Sunday 4/20. Since it was a Sunday, there were not many students up on campus. I did see some girls walking when I went to mass before the event, who looked to be that blonde, rich "stereo type". But, our student tour guide was not, nor were the other tour guides I saw. The few kids I saw around were quite a mix, though it does not seem really diverse ethniticity wise. As I looked around at the kids and parents attending the Admitted Students event, I did not see that blonde stereo type at all. I saw a lot of different types, and a lot of wholesome "normal" (whatever that is!!) looking kids. And many of those who were there will in fact be the class next year, so that made me feel good.</p>
<p>We went down to "the valley" to visit a neighbor who is a Freshman and living in Missions B, and got to see his room. I was disappointed in the dorm rooms we saw, and wish they would have showed us more dorm rooms on the tour. Also wish we could have seen some classrooms and met some of the teachers. </p>
<p>Overall, it is a beautiful place - and the sun and beauty of it all just make you feel good. I was very, very impressed with the president and some of the things she had to say, as well as with the Admission Director and Financial Aid Director who gave the parent presentations. It really seems like they have their act together.</p>
<p>My daughter says this is where she is going, but does not want to send in the deposit yet, or any NOs to the other schools just yet. Think she does not want to be rushed into it, which is fine.</p>
<p>Overall, I feel very positive about the school. Just have some general concerns about the "culture" of Southern California - the rich blonde thing, how everyone drives far away to do things, the off campus party and weekend scene down at the beach, etc. But, to tell you the truth, most of the schools we have looked at have the same issues. It is just a different generation from when I went to school and we stayed on campus to do everything and had a blast.</p>
<p>I am very happy with her decision, but have become an old "worry wart"!</p>
<p>I agree about the normal looking kids on the tour and my cousin and i prowled dorm floors for quite a while b/c she wanted to see where I might live for the next four yrs.</p>
<p>tdanielle - tell us what dorms you saw, and what the rooms were like - would love to know. what would be your prefence for next year?</p>
<p>we saw a building (forget which one) in Missions B, first floor. Double room, no bathroom or sink. Room was kinda small, but very good size closet (for a dorm!) and dresser. Did not get to see the bathroom, it was a male floor. It seemed kinda run down to me, but it was a male floor, so maybe that is why. Did not get to see if there were any study lounges, community kitchen or anything like that. We stopped in Missions cafe for a snack, which was nice, small, but good assortment of food, and of course, very conveinant.</p>
<p>Then, of course, we saw the room in Camino that is the staged model room on the tour. Also kind of small, but there was some charm to the building. Did not see the bathrooms.</p>
<p>All of the Missions buildings have a big common area near the laundry facility - it is at the Missions Crossroads. </p>
<p>Maher is supposed to be the most social of the dorms that freshmen can stay in.</p>
<p>Missions A has a common room with a couple of couches and a table for hanging out with friends on each floor. They each have a traditional size closet with a locking hinge, so you can lock valuables. Each floor of Missions A has a shared bathroom for EACH of the two rooms, with two sinks and would be shared by 4 people. Each floor has two bathrooms, and each floor has 8-10 residents. I have only seen the guys floors for Missions A, I am sure the girls floors have much, much more charm.</p>
<p>Hey, so I joined the group on facebook for freshman who are going to USD next year (which has about 300+ people in it). Everyone is talking about the mission building for rooming. It seems the best dorms socially are
1. Mission A
2. Maher
3. Mission B</p>
<p>I'm going for Mission A :)</p>
<p>We saw Missions A girls room. Eight girls, rooms were loaded with girly stuff, pink, and clothes everywhere. Looked like a girls room at home, really decorated. Founders Hall has the johnny squares, sinks that are issued to you exclusively and you may keep your things in the cabinet so you don't have to carry everything down the hall. The sinks are behind curtains for privacy. The showers have locking doors and a bench inside, so the girls can have privacy and sit to get dressed. The building is right near the library. I spoke to a student who lives in Founders and she said it is great because they clean the bathrooms for the students daily. Maher and Missions A the students are on their own. Getting eight females (Missions A) to cooperate on cleaning duties would be interesting! Missions B is traditional bathroom down the hall, and the staff cleans it for the students.</p>
<p>Missions are a walk uphill to campus, Founders and Maher are right on campus. Interesting choices. Not having to clean bathrooms could be really nice.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure Founders hall is alll girls only...</p>
<p>On the tour the person pointed out the Missions building, they weren't that far, just a short walk... considering the campus isn't that big anyways. </p>
<p>Community bathrooms don't sound too fun... eek, that's the good thing about Maher.</p>
<p>Yes, Founders is girls only and Camino is guys. My daughter doesn't like the community bathrooms either, but they really are the traditional dorm experience and the fact that you get your own sink where you can dry your hair and leave everything there, and the fact that the showers actually lock and have a bench , should make it not too bad, if you should get put in them.</p>
<p>At least you don't have to clean them, or listen to your roomies in the bathroom, while you are trying to sleep or study! The location on campus is good, too. (Just looking at the bright side in case some of you are put there.) Some actually request these dorms!</p>
<p>My DD was closed out of Maher (her 1st choice) and chose Founders over Missions primarily for the location on the main part of campus! She has loved it!</p>
<p>IM GOING TO USD!!!! yayyyyy happy Danielle :)</p>
<p>Sorry BayAreaCAMom this is coming waaaay late I have no idea what building I was in but the dorms all had killllllller views talk about beautiful and we went up to the roof (hehe rebels already!) and oh my goodness, amazing. The dorms as we saw them were dorms(ie smallish with the necessities) but wow incredibly ta****lly designed and very comfy</p>
<p>^^^^ taste fully....I have no idea what it thought I was trying to say</p>
<p>That is great Danielle! Good luck in beautiful San Diego.</p>
<p>danielle...I have seen your posts on the Santa Clara and Saint Mary's forums as well. What made you choose USD? My DDs have discarded it because of the same things bayareamom pointed out but I think they shold take another look.</p>
<p>Lol I have spent most of this year between SCU and SMC but then it came down to SMC and USD (waitlisted for SCU, USD just sounded like a cool school to apply to) and saint marys is an incredible school with wonderful, wholesome people but it felt like I would be continuing highschool and not challenging myself. Yes, there are many skinny blonds at USD but san diego is huge and there are good, positive, loving and profound people everywhere, just like there will be those who are negative, demeaning and conceited. San Diego is quite the city and I will find people like me who are all about loving the world and saving the children (yep, undercover hippie) and while I am not blond from a bottle, I happen to be an attractive and unique indiviual and if the barbies and kellys want to hate, thats not as big a deal as I had originally imagined it to be. The hardest part is at SMC I would have been 45 minutes-1hr from my family as well as all six of my best friends (they are all staying very close at sf state, sonoma state, UCD, and various community colleges) but we made a deal to so Christmas in sf (because its AMAZING), spring break in sd and memorial in davis hehe.</p>
<p>Tdanielle,</p>
<p>My older son goes to USD. Loves it. My younger son just got into USD, Chapman, St. Marys and finally, LMU (after a long and protracted wait). He is attending Chapman, and considered Saint Mary's but felt, much like you, that it was a bit too serene for him. USD (amazing school) lost points because sibling is there, and he wanted to go his "own way".</p>
<p>Stereotypes are tough to break. San Diego is a terrific place and I don't think it is fair to judge the whole school based on the perception of what people look like! Lots of schools get pegged with stereotypes - Santa Cruz is for hippies, Humboldt is for stoners, etc. There may be some, but it doesn't reflect the campus as a whole.</p>
<p>Go and be happy. You will enjoy your time as a Torero! Plus, they have the coolest looking mascot, ever!</p>
<p>Michelle</p>
<p>yay USD! yeah i don't even care about the stereo types, "Don't judge a book by its cover"
some of my friends go there and they said some of the most genuine people they have ever met attend there and they wouldn't trade the experience for anything. :)</p>
<p>Thanks tdanielle! I think I will try to get them to take another look. We will be on a college visit trip in Southern California this summer and maybe I can hijack the trip and take it a little further So. I will encourage them to read this thread and the others focused on USD.</p>
<p>Hehehe sorry I preached at you guys!!!! lol I had reached a revelation and needed to share it. My bro goes to santa cruz and is quite antihippie so I totally get u on the stereotypes! Thank kyou for your post littlegreenmom it made me happy. I still dont know what in the world a torero is beyond that it is the schools mascot lolol! Historymom, I break the stereotype: Im white but by no means blond (been there, done that...not that great) and clothes are fun and the reason that I always seem to be decked out is becaue my awesome, posh Mommy dresses me when I wanna look cute (talk about a fabulous woman!) and I dont think Im snouty lol I love everyone I promise!</p>