<p>So, the other day I was having lunch with a dear friend of mine. I shared with her that Muppetson was interested in applying to the University of San Diego. She replied, "That's in a terrible part of town! You don't want him to go there." I was surprised. We used to live outside San Diego 20 years (oh my gosh that long....really?) ago. I don't remember the area being bad? We are now on the east coast, so no way to check it out ourselves until after the admission process. Does anyone know anything about the area around the University? Lots of crime? Homelessness? Where do the students live? Is it safe to walk around campus (and off campus). Is there shopping close by and is that safe? Anything else I should know about San Diego (both the town and the University)
Thanks,
Muppetmom</p>
<p>Hmmm. We just dropped my daughter off there two and a half weeks ago! Though I’m certainly not an expert on SD (there are many parents here who do know the area well), the surrounding area did NOT look sketchy. The campus itself is quite insular, that is, it’s really up on that hill all by itself. And it’s not large. Students walking around on campus can feel quite safe, because it really seems like it’s a little USD bubble. My daughter has gone off campus several times-- beach, Old Town,beach, grocery store (two minutes away), shopping, beach!, via shuttle, private car and Zip Car and has made no mention of feeling like she was in a bad area. I do not think she’s been walking around the bottom of the hill, but I’m not sure why she would need to. I saw no homeless people in that area. Across the road from campus at the top of the hill is a large upscale apartment complex (probably filled with USD students) and there’s only cliff and bluff on one side of campus. Only at the very bottom of the hill is there a commercial area, and it really didn’t look creepy. That’s my take. Maybe a real San Diegan (?) will chime in. </p>
<p>And-- my daughter is loving USD. Loving it. She last posted a photo on FB of a baseball cap that says, “We live where you Spring Break”. She was, of course, at the beach.</p>
<p>Our daughter applied to and was accepted at USD. The campus is in a city, and like any urban campus, students need to have some city sense. The campus itself if very safe, good security presence at all times. Getting around the campus should not be an issue…but you know…college students need to be careful even in what they think are “safe” locations. </p>
<p>We loved the location of USD (our kid went to Santa Clara which abuts San Jose…again…a very safe campus…but in an urban location). The school is fine.</p>
<p>Some people grimmaced when we said our son was going to Boston University. Yep…that’s in a city too…and yes, you gotta have that city sense.</p>
<p>Maybe your friend thought you said “USC”–which is in a sketchy part of town…</p>
<p>I live in San Diego and the area around USD is not a bad part of town. I have to agree with ellemenope that maybe your friend thought you said USC.</p>
<p>Thanks, All!<br>
I don’t think my friend mixed up USC and USD. My D10 applied to USC (and I know that area is not so good). But, more importantly, my friend was one of my best friends before we moved to San Diego and stayed friends while we were out there and after we came home. I think she knows that San Diego (the city) is what we were talking about. </p>
<p>It’s very confusing that she has this impression. On paper, USD looks like a good fit for Muppetson. He is city savvy (as much as an uber-suburban boy who has traveled quite a bit can be). He is good in NYC, Boston, DC, Rome, Paris… I would think San Diego wouldn’t much different. I wish I could just pack up and take him to check it out myself. I loved San Diego while we lived there. I truly hope that it hasn’t changed that much…I just wish I knew more.</p>
<p>Well, I think enough people have told you that the area around there is not a ghetto or crime scene! Maybe she thought you meant UCSD or SDSU? People are ALWAYS mixing them all up.</p>
<p>I’ve never thought of that area as a bad part of San Diego. USD is just on the east side of I-5 from Mission Bay/Sea World (less than a mile from Mission Bay as the crow flies). There are plenty of nice, expensive homes (including over $1M) adjacent to campus between it and Mission Bay. There are also more modest homes not far from USD to the south and east of it. Not far south is a golf course and less than a mile to the SE is a major regional mall that’s frequented by people all over the county.</p>
<p>I think you should google street view the area around there where you can see there are some very nice homes in the area as well as some more modest homes. It’ll give you somewhat of a feel for the area.</p>
<p>If you have a chance, visit the campus and the area around the campus as well as other nearby areas your S will likely love including Mission Bay, the beach, Old Town, the beach, Downtown, the beach, etc.</p>
<p>UCSD is in a very upscale part of town (La Jolla) and SDSU is sort of on the other side of the freeway (I-8) from USD. And yes, people are always mixing up the 3 of these.</p>
<p>Maybe you should ask your friend for some specifics as to why she said what she did.</p>
<p>I don’t live in the area, but I’ve been to the USD campus and I thought the area was fine. The campus itself is nice with attractive mission-style architecture and a gorgeous Catholic church on campus.</p>
<p>SDSU is in a little rougher neighborhood IMO but still not bad. UCSD is in upscale La Jolla - overlooking the ocean with lots of multi-million dollar homes nearby.</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>I’m imagining your friend is talking about the neighborhood that is just to the east of USD, Linda Vista. It has been known to have gangs and is a fairy poor neighborhood. USD runs along Linda Vista Rd. and if one travels east about a mile, you will begin to drive through the main drag of Linda Vista. But honestly, as long as you’re not wandering around deep in the neighborhoods at night, a student is perfectly safe at USD. Furthermore, one of the most exclusive private schools, Francis Parker, is just down the street from USD on Linda Vista Rd., so it really is no big deal.</p>
<p>As Jaylynn says, USD is a bubble. I’ve been going weekly for about 6 years as both my older children have been involved in the symphony, (it has a different name now but still rehearses there) and I have to say that USD is ideally located with gorgeous views of Mission Bay and the ocean.</p>
<p>It does seem to be a place where beautiful, tan people congregate. :-)</p>
<p>I really beg to differ with your friend.</p>
<p>I am a native San Diegan, as is my husband and his parents. We live in North County. I was admitted to USD and took the public bus there 30 years ago. The area has not changed that much and I would take the public bus there again now.</p>
<p>They’ve remodeled the area for better; the land across the street used to be University High school. I’ve driven to that area, a lot, because my kids like going to the humane society which is down the hill from the university, as well as to Fashion Valley. </p>
<p>Fashion Valley has a Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Apple, and Nordstrom. The Bloomingdale’s is the only one in the county as is the Container Store. It’s still a pretty upscale shopping mall which, unfortunately my daughter shops at all of the time because of the Cheesecake Factory lunches! Also, less than two minutes away is Old Town, so is she saying that the State Historic Park, with all of those tourists and rangers there, is in a bad area??</p>
<p>The only other area somewhat near there is Linda Vista, and that’s a family community, east of the university, that has been significantly remodeled (-good food there). </p>
<p>The “homeless areas” are east of downtown san diego, but there are a bunch of new programs coming into that area that are helping. I work in that area, at Fr. Joe’s Village.</p>
<p>Was your friend smoking crack? Why would she cause you to worry? </p>
<p>Now ** USC ** is in the middle of Watts, an extremely dangerous neighborhood in LA; I suspect she was thinking of that. My youngest sister went there. They do try to insulate their students at USC and have had local businesses remodel that area. somewhat.</p>
<p>Let’s not start any new rumors! USC is NOT in Watts; it is 10 miles away from Watts. USC is about 2 miles from the Ritz Carlton at the LA Live Complex, if anyone wants to check out the area for her/ himself.</p>
<p>I am also a SD North County native and have been to USD MANY times for various occasions… my niece was married in their chapel. It is anything but a sketchy neighborhood… in fact the opposite. It has one of the best views of the pacific ocean anywhere… I mean where else, except maybe Pepperdine, do the dorm rooms have panoramic views of the ocean…OMG… it is stunning!! There are all kinds of cool urban neighborhoods close by and downtown is also very close. If we didn’t live here my kids would be applying. SD is one of the best places on earth to spend your college years. But be careful Muppetmom… he may never return home again. I say, have your son GO FOR IT!! Trust me… he will be in love with the school and the city.</p>
<p>There really aren’t any truly bad parts of SD. So either UCSD or USD should be copacetic.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I am glad to know that USD is in a nice section of town. That is what I thought originally. I think my friend may be mixing up SDSU. She said something about her Sis-in-law being concerned about the area while they were visiting. My friend loves my kids like they were her own, so she spoke up about her concern. I will let her know (very gently) that she is mistaken and not to worry. Now, let’s just hope that they will accept Muppetson!</p>
<p>USD is beautiful. Your friend is confused.</p>