Current USD Student: Anyone have questions?

<p>I would say USD would be a low reach. But, in order to make a more informed decision I wanted to ask a few questions… </p>

<ol>
<li>What is your class rank? (percentage, aprox or anything)</li>
<li>How rigorous is your class schedule in comparison to what your school offers? You said you took an honors and an AP but is that all your school offers or does it offer many?</li>
</ol>

<p>Overall I would say that if you write a good essay and have excellent recommendations you have an okay shot.</p>

<p>My class rank is in the top half, about 40th percentile. Our school offers 4 Ap classes including the ap us history I am taking. And honors for all math, English, history, and science classes. Any recommendations to improve my chances.</p>

<p>An important factor at USD is the rigor of your academic record. Take the most rigorous schedule your school allows, and that you are capable of. Aim high on your act’s, and make sure to play of your EC’s if possible in your essay. Good luck!</p>

<p>If you need or want merit money to attend, you should try to get those stats up. I only saw a few scholarship offers listed on here with ACT scores in upper 20’s and GPA > 3.5. You have great ECs to help though. I’d take ya but I don’t work there. :slight_smile:
Prepare for that next ACT and consider taking the SAT.</p>

<p>Thanks guys. And next year I’m doing an Ap independent study on American politics. Would an interview help my chances, and how do those work? Do u just sign up?</p>

<p>I have no idea how it works, I did not do it… I would say everything helps a little bit…</p>

<p>Hey
so i was actually just touring USD today and forgot to get my tour guides email so im really glad i found this post on CC. ha. Anyways i am applying as a transfer student and was curious what you knew about how aid works? Considering the other schools ive gotten into and the scholarships ive gotten i would hope for something fairly sizeable but from the website i am concerned about the likelihood of being offered a large merit based scholarship. To explain a little more, i have a FAFSA EFC of 99k so i wont get any need based aid. However my parents are only willing to pay the equilivant amount of my tutition that they pay at my current school (where i got large merit scholarships). So theres a sizeable gap. </p>

<p>Rambling explanation aside, got any idea on what i can hope for? (I am of course assuming ill get in)</p>

<p>Well… you can get loans but with that EFC you will not get any aid, and merit is not given for transfers. I have been having issues with this same situation.</p>

<p>is it true that USD is like high school all over again?</p>

<p>do you think the price is worth the debt as a current student? As in do the academics and name recognition prove their worth after graduation?</p>

<p>do they post the decision under the application status box right away or do they send you an email or just regular mail? and which one is first?</p>

<p>I was looking at the housing rates on the website and I was wondering if the rates are per year or are they per semester?</p>

<p>is it true that USD is like high school all over again? </p>

<p>I guess this depends on what you mean. USD is pretty cliquey, but that said everyone is really friendly. High school is different for everyone, so what parts are you worried about?</p>

<p>Do you think the price is worth the debt as a current student? As in do the academics and name recognition prove their worth after graduation?</p>

<p>I personally think the debt is worth it. However, everyone looks for something different. i transferred from a large state school where my classes were taught by TA’s, and were about 80 people per class. At USD all my teachers are the actual professors. My largest class had something like 30 students. </p>

<p>At the State school my advisor was chosen based on my last name and major. At USD my advisor is a member of the faculty. I choose the member of the faculty I want based on my particular interests. For example. As a history major I chose the advisor who specialized in classics as that was my interest.</p>

<p>USD does have name recognition and is an excellent school, but try to remember life is about the journey, not just the destination. </p>

<p>Do they post the decision under the application status box right away or do they send you an email or just regular mail? and which one is first?</p>

<p>I got my letter in the mail the same day that my application status was updated online. I am not sure which one was first but I was checking everyday.</p>

<p>I was looking at the housing rates on the website and I was wondering if the rates are per year or are they per semester?</p>

<p>Without looking I can say that housing is around 1000 a month. It is definitely costly.</p>

<p>How would you describe the feel of usd, like is it laid back or more preppy. Also are the people there competitive with each other or do they help each other?</p>

<p>Hey HolyBatman, </p>

<p>USD feels like a California school. It has that laid back California vibe while still having a bit of fact pace vibrant campus. </p>

<p>The people don’t tend to be very competitive, but I would suggest finding your study groups in each class early on because people tend to find their groups and then become a bit cliquey. This isn’t all on purpose though, generally they split up all the work early on and then just don’t want to make things unequal or mess things up.</p>

<p>Anyways, back on topic. USD is laid back, but everyone still really cares about academics. Unlike some state schools you don’t have the football players who are just skating by.</p>

<p>Thanks for all of the posts! They have been super helpful! I have about $100,000 saved up and I don’t want to accrue too much debt because of college tuition. So what are my odds of getting direct aid/work options from the school? My personal info follows:
3.6 GPA
30 ACT
Assistant editor of my newspaper; literally the best in the nation
Track
Debate
Trombone
Volunteer
High school intern on political campaign for Congressman
Leader in school (one of 100 selected in 2,000 student school)
Top 17% in grade
NHS
SNHS
President of politics club</p>

<p>How hard is it to get into the honors program?</p>

<p>Can you tell me about the Peace major (or something of that nature).</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>What meal plan do you recommend? And can you explain dining dollars to me? How many of those doohickeys should I get?</p>

<p>Ive posted this before but here it is again</p>

<p>Here is the problem with meal plans, they are separated into a few parts. While this is all on your student Id, they are used differently. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Meals
The number of meals you have is the number of your plan ie. 135, 105 etc. These meals can only be used for dinners and brunch. It is extremely common to have a ton of these left over. For example, I currently have 65 left, and my roommate has 77. </p></li>
<li><p>Dining Dollars
These are purchased with your meal plan and are a part of it. They are used for breakfast and lunch. These can be used anywhere on campus and in Tu mercado the store on campus for certain items only.</p></li>
<li><p>Campus Cash
These are almost the exact same thing as dining dollars except they are not purchased with your meal plan and can be used for anything in the store along with things such as on campus printing.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>My suggestions? Buy the 105 meal plan, the smallest one. You will likely run out of dining dollars (my roommate is down to 24, and I have 75), but these can be supplemented with campus cash. You can not get a smaller meal plan, but you can increase it! Next year I will be getting a smaller meal plan, and using the money I save from that to buy campus cash!</p>

<p>For freshmen there are two general areas for housing</p>

<ol>
<li>Up on on the campus “main strip”</li>
<li>Down in the Valley</li>
</ol>

<p>When you are trying to pick your housing the first thing you may want to look at the two areas as they both have pros and cons.</p>

<ol>
<li>Up on the Campus main strip
Pros
Close to Class (you can role out of bed and walk downstairs)
You are close to many dining options</li>
</ol>

<p>Cons
You don’t really “get away”, what I mean by this is you are always up on campus and don’t ever really leave it</p>

<p>The Valley
Pros
No triples
Missiosn cafe (they are open all day and until about 11)
The Gym is in the Valley
You get to get away</p>

<p>Cons
longer walk to campus
Longer walk to everything actually</p>

<p>Up on campus options
Camino/founders
Maher</p>

<p>In the Valley
Missions A
Missions B</p>

<p>First of all I would like to suggest that you do not pick a choice because it is coed or vice versa. It really makes no difference. In the buildings which are coed you cannot get onto the floor/side of the floor of the opposite sex without being let in the door, and in the ones which are there is a bridge where you can get in. If someone lets you in the door. Anyways, like I said, the fact that it is coed alone will not make a noticeable difference, just what aspects that brings out will. Onward…</p>

<p>Founders/Camino: These are the only NOT coed housing options. They are mainly triples (I think) To be honest, most people I know hated founders. But, I know a lot of guys in Camino and they love it. Camino guys tend to form a sort of fraternity and all get to know each other. It is on campus and pretty close to almost everything. The downside is that the rooms are on the smaller size.</p>

<p>Maher: This is another very popular housing choice. These are almost exclusively triples, but they are also nice size rooms with private bathrooms. Aromas is attached, and is open pretty late. The downside is that you have to clean the bathroom yourself.</p>

<p>The Valley
Missions A: This is a very popular choice. The rooms are sweet style and are all doubles and singles. Each floor has 8 students in either doubles or singles and has 2 bathrooms. Again these bathrooms must be cleaned by the residents. The rooms are also nice sized. The only real downside here is cleaning bathrooms yourself, and being kinda far from main campus.</p>

<p>Missions B
Missions B offers traditional housing with bathrooms down the hall. The rooms are large, and the bathrooms are cleaned for you. However, you have two bathrooms with two showers and two stalls for about 30 people. This is also a very social dorm.</p>

<p>Thanks for all of the posts! They have been super helpful! I have about $100,000 saved up and I don’t want to accrue too much debt because of college tuition. </p>

<p>So what are my odds of getting direct aid/work options from the school?
Honestly, this is hard for me to know. However, I would hazard a guess that you will receive some merit aid.</p>

<p>How hard is it to get into the honors program?
The honors program is competitive. If you do not get in, then you can just wait and apply at the end of the semester as long as you have a certain gpa.</p>

<p>Can you tell me about the Peace major (or something of that nature).
The Peace and justice studies program is a minor offered at USD. This is from the website:
The minor in Peace and Justice Studies seeks to advance the goals of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. Through its programs, the Institute seeks to establish harmony, safety, and hope in a context of mutual respect and fairness in international, national, and local communities. In honoring this mission, the Peace and Justice Studies minor will creatively promote conflict resolution, non-violence, and cross cultural harmony, by introducing students to an integrated, multi-disciplinary program. The minor consists of 18 units, divided among a lower division prerequisite (3 units), upper division distribution requirements (12 units), and a capstone seminar (3 units). Students are required to meet with the Program Coordinator (Dr. Kathryn Statler) to plan a program of study for the minor</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>How popular are sports there? Do a lot of people play or go see the games? Are athletes looked down on as not as smart as everyone else?</p>