USD - What You Really Want To Know

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of San Diego
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<p>The first time my mom and I drove through gates and onto the beautiful campus of USD, she knew it was where I belonged. I was less sure to say the least, I wanted to go to a school with more name recognition and was given that opportunity at several Top 50 schools for a fraction USD’s tuition. But she saw in USD and in the other schools what I didn’t; they were enormous public institutions that would not offer me half of what USD has the ability to give its students. She wasn’t wrong, and I am eternally grateful for the motivation, direction, and confidence she has given me (without even once making my feel guilty that she has to bust her you know what to make that payment every month for the last four years) to get to the place I am in my life and at USD. So listen to your parents, they know you better than you think. With that being said…I’d love to tell you want I wished someone had told me when I in high school searching this site looking for some insight into my options.</p>

<p>At USD you will be on a first name basis with every professor you encounter, you will be safe (as we saw at VT, this is not always a given), you will be handed opportunities many wait a lifetime for. Opportunities to co-publish work with professors who dominate their fields, to sit in classes of 10 – 35 at most, to take part in more mind-broadening extracurricular activities than you can imagine, to go to the beach or the gym between classes, and to call your professors on their cell phones at any time, even with last minute questions minutes before midterms. It sounds lofty, but it’s all part of the deal. However, with this comes temptation and a dark side…</p>

<p>The streets are lined with beemers and benz, its always sunny and a temperate 70 degrees, and the grounds are littered with palm trees and breathtaking ocean views; but don’t be fooled, know what you’re getting into...its glamorous but it also contains the most self-absorbed group of individuals you will ever encounter. USD is devoid of diversity; which produces an environment suffocated with conformity, and as a result the desire to be “that guy” or “that girl” drives people to do things that are nothing short of revolting and bazaar. Egos run rampant and many are so eager for attention and recognition the means by which they attain these aspirations are never considered; so be prepared to be taken as the casualty of the shallow ambitions of others. </p>

<p>Although people who place more stock in morals and values than mere appearances are few and far between, there are those remarkable few, the ones who make it all worthwhile. The people you come to college to meet, those friends you can count on the fingers of one hand, the one’s who you feel blessed to have in your life, the friends who make you a better person by simply being themselves, those people you can’t believe you ever lived without.</p>

<p>With everything taken into account there is nowhere else I’d rather be. For more reasons than I can recite, at the end of the day, I harbor adoration and pride for all that is USD. While at USD you feel as though you are a part of something great, they say it’s a place of promise, and I most definitely concur. After everything I’ve seen and been through here, I’m considering staying an extra semester (triple major); and all things considered, I don’t regret a minute of it.</p>

<p>So run on the beach, treasure the time you have just sitting in your dorm, wishing you lived at the beach or had a car, talking about nothing, knowing that you’ll be up all night doing the work for your 8 a.m. class, go to the greek events even though you like to think of yourself as too anti-establishment to care, see and be seen, go to Mass on Sundays even if your not Catholic, it will keep you grounded and will not allow you to forget who you are and who you want to become, and spend at least sometime in the library (especially the “Harry Potter” room) because this experience will be gone before you ever realized it started; but the memories you create here will stay with you forever. You’ll be saying “remember when” by your sophomore year, and though “remember when” is the lowest form of conversation, you won’t care, because the 45 grand you pay each year seems like nothing in comparison to what you have received in return: an education unlike any other, an education so complete you feel as though you could be dropped in the middle of anywhere in this country and know you’re prepared. </p>

<p>You have been offered an opportunity few will ever know, and the magnitude of which will take a lifetime to truly appreciate…like most things in life, college is what you make it…I dare you to make the most of it.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the post. USD is one of the schools I plan to apply to next year, and it's great to hear that you think USD is so incredible. I can't wait to visit the school. It sounds amazing!!</p>

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<p>Sounds like a dream come true. USD is my first choice. I have just been denied by all of the UCs and now have all of my eggs in the USD basket. If i dont get in I will be crushed. Do you know how hard they are on transfer applications???</p>

<p>I just need the opportunity to prove myself. Just one chance and I will take it and run and never look back. I hope USD gives me that opportunity. I will donate tons of money to them as an Alumni because i will owe them everything.. They are all I have left. College is a privliege and no one knows that better than myself.</p>

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<p>I'm not sure how tough they are with transfer admissions, but I heard that it's not as hard getting in as a transfer than it is as a freshman. Good luck!</p>

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<p>You seem to really have enjoyed USD. I am considering applying there but I am a biochem major who is looking to go to dental school.. What does USD have to offer for their sciences and do they offer research? I visited San Diego over spring break and absolutely loved it. How big of a campus IS USD? Is it something where you get to know most of the people or where you are meeting new people all the time?</p>

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<p>I visited the campus last month and... its relatively small. You can get anywhere, walking, 10-15 mins at the most if you are slow. As for meeting new people each time you walk... im sure you would, and if you somehow keep running into the same people, you can always change your route :D</p>

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<p>wow USD sounds like a great place. it is at the top of my list of colleges to apply to. After reading this post, it just makes me want to go there even more.</p>

<p>but..
what major are they know for?</p>

<p>is there law school any good?</p>

<p>just wondering (:</p>

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<p>USD is probably most known for business (#46th ranked undergrad business school). There are also many other solid programs. The Law School is very good as well.</p>

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<p>History?? They seem to offer some awesome classes in that department and they strike me as trying to build that progam up. Im very excited to possibly be a part.</p>

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<p>I am finishing up triple major in business admin, real estate, and history. All are fantastic.</p>