<p>Hey guys!</p>
<p>I am a second semester freshman transfer to USD! So, I can answer all kinds of questions, just shoot!</p>
<p>dconfused- is USD a bike campus? Or is San Diego at all bike friendly? I plan on going to medical school after my undergrad and want to work at a hospital throughout my undergrad, is a car at all necessary to reach the hospitals in san diego?</p>
<p>Hi. My son is deciding between USD and LMU. The atmosphere at visit day was great and fun. I’m just wondering if it is like that on all weekends or if it gets deserted. there were people near the gym and milling about. Also, we were quite impressed with the speeches by the staff and felt they told us everything we wanted to hear. Is the mentor (advisor) program as good as it sounded? Do they really walk you through the first year closely and does everyone attend those get togethers? Is it a pain using more than one card for the meals and dollars, etc.?</p>
<p>caliemi16: USD is up on a hill, so as a result the campus has an abundance or stairs, making it not ideal for a bike. Skateboarding is much more popular hear for getting around campus! In general, San Diego is not a very bike friendly. </p>
<p>Additionally, unfortunately I am not very well versed in public transportation in San Diego. I have a car on campus, which I would recommend. However, USD has an old town tram which takes you right down to the trolly. From the trolly you can get all over San Diego. </p>
<p>[SDMTS</a> - Trolley Information](<a href=“http://www.sdmts.com/trolley/trolley.asp]SDMTS”>Trolley | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System)</p>
<p>gosimoes: LMU and USD ar both great schools! I definitely feel like it always has that fun vibe. For the most part everyone stays on campus, it does not get deserted. I live about 2 hours from here and head home about once a month. I will say that on breaks, such as spring break, it is a pain to be on campus because it becomes very empty very fast. That is the only time that happens though. </p>
<p>I transferred here from a larger school and i definitely feel like I get much more personal attention. My professors are always willing to work with me and meet me whenever I need to! Additionally, instead of just choosing a general advisor, you get someone who specializes in what interests you.</p>
<p>For example, as a history major, my advisor is a faculty member who specializes in classical (Roman) history as that is the area of my interest. </p>
<p>As for the meals, they are all on the same card, just different categories. As for whether it is a pain, it really depends on the person. The meals are used for dinner, and the dining dollars are used for lunch and breakfast. </p>
<p>It’s pretty easy and that part of the system is fine, but USD students often complain about having not enough dining dollars, and to many meals. The simple fix to this is to get a smaller meal plan, and put campus cash on your sons card. The problem is that it takes a few weeks to realize this, and by then the date to change your meal plan has passed.</p>
<p>Feel free to ask anything!</p>
<p>Thanks so much! I will definitely let you know if we have any more questions!</p>
<p>Good luck to your son!</p>
<p>Hi dconfused, thanks for making this thread!! I am currently choosing between USD and State, and my main obstacle is money, I only received loans and a small grant while on the other hand if I go to State it would be extremely easy for me to cover the fees, so I was basically wondering how you are paying for the school ( loans, scholarships, etc.) and if you think that it’s worth it based on your experience so far? Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey stillWaitingg! I am fortunate enough that my parents are covering a good portion of my tuition, I also have some outside scholarships. In the end, I will end up with about 7000 a year in loans. SDSU was not the right fit for me. I love the atmosphere at USD much more than I would have liked state.
As much as I love it here, I get that money can be an object, as to worth it… I think that it depends on what your major is, and what you plans are. I love it here, and would not go anywhere else!</p>
<p>Thanks for replying, I have a few more questions. Where did you transfer from? And was it a public or private? Also what are the student generally like at USD, and I know they are trying to improve their diversity, but can you actually SEE a diverse student body?</p>
<p>Hey stillWaitingg! I transferred from Purdue, which is a large public school in the midwest. Basically the exact opposite! As a California Girl, born and raised, it was not the right fit for me.</p>
<p>I get much more personal attention here than I did there. Like I said above, " as a history major, my advisor is a faculty member who specializes in classical (Roman) history as that is the area of my interest." At Purdue, it was one of two history advisors who advised hundreds of students. Mine was chosen based on the fact the my last name was in the first half of the alphabet.</p>
<p>USD is trying to improve their diversity, but you can’t visually see a diverse student body. However, I will say that the student body is generally very accepting of diverse backgrounds, religions, and lifestyles.</p>
<p>Hey! I’m currently choosing between USD and Notre Dame (I’m a Midwestern girl). I’ve done overnights at both schools, and I’ve really liked certain aspects of both of them. At USD, I loved the classroom environment, the location, the personal attention students seem to get and the opportunities for studying abroad. One thing that really struck me, though, is that the kids just don’t seem to care very much about academics. Furthermore, most of the kids I encountered couldn’t articulate themselves at all. Everything was “well, I like think that the main character like didn’t really care about his girlfriend”. Is that an accurate characterization of the student body? And what are he kids in the honors program like? Thanks for listening to our concerns!</p>
<p>Hey riley727! As to the articulation… it’s a southern california thing. We all tend to slip into it occasionally. We add way to many likes, however, it is something I have worked on the past year! Try not to equate it with a lack of intelligence. Most of us can turn it off and on!</p>
<p>Study abroad is a huge thing hear! Almost everyone studies abroad, I think I heard it was somewhere around 80%! There are amazing opportunities for study abroad. </p>
<p>The student definetley care about their academics here. I am not sure what made you belive otherwise. if you can tell me, perhaps then I will understand what you are referring too. There are students here and there who are just here on daddy’s money etc, but you will find that at every school. For the most part i feel I am surrounded by hard working individuals!</p>
<p>As to the honors program, I have a few friends who are involved with it, I myself am not. If you have particular questions I can answer them or ask them, but I am not exactly sur what you mean… They are fun students just like the rest of us! </p>
<p>Everyone feel free to ask anything! I love helping out!</p>
<p>With the academics, I mean that I always put academics before social life. Do most students have similar mentalities? And as far as the honors program goes, I’ve just been wondering what it’s like- whether kids involved in the program manage to strike a balance between school and social life, whether they feel challenged, and whether they tend to join or avoid Greek life. I’ve never actually been able to speak to someone in the honors program, and the web site doesn’t answer the questions I have to any great extent…</p>
<p>“With the academics, I mean that I always put academics before social life. Do most students have similar mentalities?” </p>
<p>I feel that everyone generally put’s academics first. They realize this is college, you’re here to learn, and you’re spending a lot of money to be here. That said, this is college, and social life is important. Now whether that means you’re going to head to open mic nights at aromas, or party down in missions beach is up to you. USD is a great school, and just to get in here you have to be someone who worked hard in high school. </p>
<p>“As far as the honors program goes, I’ve just been wondering what it’s like- whether kids involved in the program manage to strike a balance between school and social life, whether they feel challenged, and whether they tend to join or avoid Greek life.” </p>
<p>From what I have been told by my friends, they enjoy the honors classes, but it is not something which takes over their life. They are able to have a social life just as easily as everyone else. </p>
<p>Greek Life is completely random here. It is not at all essential in order to have a good time, have an active social life, or go to any parties of that is your thing. The fact that there are not houses on campus makes it a lot less cliquey than it is at some other schools. There is not any pressure to join greek life, it is just something and a great way to meet more people! Another nice thing is that USD has spring rush, so you can spend your first semester getting acclimated and making friends before deciding is greek life is for you! </p>
<p>If you have any more specific questions about the honors program I would be happy to answer them. (Whether I can with my own knowledge or asking a friend!)</p>
<p>Do you know anything about the business program? I know it’s highly ranked, but I’m wondering what kind of an experience it will be. And socially, how hard would you say it would be to adjust coming from a cold northern state and not knowing anybody? Are students outgoing or more cliquey/elitist?</p>
<p>“Do you know anything about the business program? I know it’s highly ranked, but I’m wondering what kind of an experience it will be.” </p>
<p>The business program is difficult, and it has a lot of requirements. However, that is what makes it such a fantastic program. There are many opportunities, and internships. There are also many speakers and other resources. I would say it will be difficult, but worth it. I have a good friend who is a junior in the program, and she believes that the resources and reputation of USD are exceptional, and so she knows working hard is setting he rup for graduation. </p>
<p>“And socially, how hard would you say it would be to adjust coming from a cold northern state and not knowing anybody?”</p>
<p>What you have to remember is that everyone comes here not knowing anyone, or at least not knowing many people. Everyone is in the same boat, and is trying to find their place.</p>
<p>My high school usually sent two or three people here every year, however none of those people were the kind of people I had spent time with outside of school. You learn to adjust, to remember to try hard to meet people right away when you arrive!</p>
<p>“Are students outgoing or more cliquey/elitist?”</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say people here are elitist, however they are cliquey to an extent. That being said, at the same time they are all really friendly. You just need to join some clubs, and find your place!</p>
<p>I also wanted to say that I highly suggest you all visit if you haven’t! Additionally, if you visit i would be happy to meet up with anyone for coffee and show you around campus a bit!</p>
<p>oh, one more! where does USD tend to fall on the political spectrum? are the professors clearly biased in one direction? does that affect how they evaluate students?</p>
<p>dconfused- this may sound like a shallow question but how is the food? Do they have fresh fruit in the dining halls? Also, are the workout facilities nice, and do they offer classes for students to take like yoga and pilates?</p>