<p>Okay, well I've really been looking into San Diego State University, as it is the only CSU school I considered. </p>
<p>It has everything I want in a school. I love the city of San Diego, the beaches are amazing, the weather is always an absolutely perfect 70 degrees, the campus is beautiful, there is a strong Greek scene, and it was rated the #5 party school. Also the cost of attendance is very inexpensive. And perhaps the most important thing...I could attend most of the San Diego Chargers home games!!</p>
<p>However, while I may be having an amazing time (at a great price), I still find myself at a 4th tier school with major overcrowding and severely impacted programs. Also the graduation rates are terrible as well. </p>
<p>I will also have the University of Portland as an option, as I received a $40,000 scholarship. UP has a friendly student body, a strong sense of community, amazing soccer, and it will definitely provide me with a great and personalized education. Also, I really don't have any specific problems with the school...except I like SDSU more.</p>
<p>So as much as I like SDSU, I'm worried the negatives may outweigh the positives...and since I have UP as an option, I'm unsure if SDSU is really the best option.</p>
<p>Are you serious about your education? In the end, it really depends on your goal. I personally feel that if you got a $40k scholarship, you are a good student. The brightest students will think that it’s really the education that matters most and social life only comes 2nd (but it is still important).</p>
<p>Some of my friends have turned rotten because they went to a party school, let me tell you that. Peer pressure, parties, can change a student’s life forever, if the student loses control. It has happened. 4.0s in High school turn into 2.5s in college, simply because they are living a different life, different environment, pressure, etc. But those are the weak ones. How strong are you? </p>
<p>There are always transfer options if nothing works out</p>
<p>What are you looking for in college? If it’s the weather, the sports and the booze, your choice is clear. If education counts too, maybe you should reconsider.</p>
<p>You will be able to live in San Diego after you graduate; you’ll get the beaches, weather, Chargers and city then. You’ll miss out on the #5 party scene, but, as you said, you will get a strong community at UP. There might be a party or two at UP as well.</p>
<p>In return for postponing San Diego for four years, you can get an outstanding education at UP.</p>
<p>I’ll get 10k/year for 4 years. And also UP meets 89% of need, so when you combine that with my scholarship and my college account, UP should be very inexpensive. </p>
<p>But yeah I know UP is fun too, and that is why I can’t decide. UP sounds great, but I still like SDSU better, even though I know UP is probably better for me.</p>
<p>That’s another thing…I’m not a huge fan of hippies/environmentalists, so I’m not sure if UP has the atmosphere I’m looking for.</p>
<p>"That’s another thing…I’m not a huge fan of hippies/environmentalists, so I’m not sure if UP has the atmosphere I’m looking "</p>
<p>UP’s not a dirty hippy school. Another portland lac shares that title. UP’s more nicely dressed I believe. </p>
<p>Portland and SD are both beautiful cities, I could easily live either place. I would expand your list to include distance home, activities, etc.. The oregon coast is very cool, but without a wetsuit, you aren’t going to swim in it as you would SD. </p>
<p>Hey just curious. Does Junior Seau still have his resturant in SD?</p>
<p>So SOCal18
So what happened to Pepperdine?<br>
UP and SD state university are two totally diferent paths. You really need to truly figure out what you want and the environment that will be best for you.</p>
<p>Also, I am assuming that cost of attendance at UP runs somewhere around $40,000 a year…$10,000/year scholarship is nice…but will the rest be in the form of loans? That is $120,000 in loans over 4 years. If they are giving grants and loans, that would be better. They have already advised you of your scholarship? Did you get ED?</p>
<p>Also keep in mind, that san diego stateis a high demand school right now. It was the only school that turned my D down and we considered it a safety school! Additionally, getting classes is an issue and may delay graduation unless you are really on top of it and get lucky.</p>
<p>Anyway, hopefully you are looking at a few more options too. Good luck!</p>
<p>Yeah I applied to 7 schools (Pepperdine is one of them), so I have more options, but I can almost guarantee these will be my two cheapest options. </p>
<p>Anyways, The scholarship will cover the cost of housing, dining, and books. My college account will cover my personal and travel expenses. So all that is left is tuition, which runs around 25k. And with UP’s average grant of 14k, summer jobs, outside scholarships, and whatever my parents can pay, I should graduate with very little debt. </p>
<p>And I applied in September with their priority application. They emailed it to people who expressed interest in the school, and they promised to respond within 2 weeks. I found out the scholarship a few weeks later.</p>
<p>And yeah I’m kind of worried about SDSU. I mean statistically it should be a safety, but with a record 63,000 applications that could lead to a rejection.</p>
<p>I really don’t know which school I like better. I feel I would have a great time at SDSU, and I would get a great education, but there is a chance I may graduate in 5 years due to their overcrowding and impacted programs. And UP sounds nice and a safer bet academically, but I run the risk of not having the experience/social life I was looking for.</p>
<p>And while I’m still waiting on 4 schools, I know these will be my most affordable options, so I definitely want to make sure I give them a good look.</p>
<p>SoCal, I hate to sound like a broken record, but you really ought to come to Portland and visit! Then you can decide if UP (and Portland) is right for you. You’re not going to find a lot of hippie/granola types at UP, so don’t worry about that.</p>
<p>Yeah I know. I most likely will go in April when accepted students can do an overnight visit in the dorms. But the thing is…I don’t really have any problems with UP. It’s a nice school, but I think I’m always going to prefer SDSU.</p>
<p>SDSU has everything I want, but I’m just worried the impaction may lead to a delayed graduation. And I don’t know if SDSU has the connections and career services to help me with internships and my future career.</p>
<p>I mean if SDSU was my only option, I would do my best, and hope I would have some great opportunities after graduation. But since I have UP as an option, I’m not sure if SDSU is the way to go.</p>
<p>Opie, they don’t wear flannel in Portland anymore- haven’t you heard grunge is so 90s- they’ve moved on, although you will still see white guys with dreads and even 1ft long mohawks ;)</p>
<p>I would plan on living off campus at UCSD after freshman year. You can live with who you want- still participate in campus activities, eat better food & enjoy the area.</p>
<p>UP is actually away from the city core & it is a PITA to get into Portland if you don’t have a car. I have also heard that, that first year scholarship, is changed to loans for subsequent years. If you are expecting and enjoy San Diego weather- Portlands, could be very depressing- grey skies for 5 or 6 months can really wear on you.
Dont get me wrong, my daughter attended school in Portland and still lives there- I think it is a great city, but if SanDiego is your first choice & it is affordable- I think that it is a large enough school that you can find your niche</p>
<p>I was thinking of university of SD actually
BUt I checked on US news website and SDSU actually has a decent graduation rate for a school of its size- 57% which is above predicted so that earns it extra points</p>
<p>Their acceptance rate also isn’t as high as I would expect for a “4th tier” school- less than 50%.</p>
<p>Where my older daughter attended- the grad rate was only 75% and that was a schmancy private school of less than 2000.</p>
<p>I dont know your field of interest or where you want to work after graduation- so I can’t advise you on academics.</p>
<p>SoCal - as the father of a SDSU student, a few observations: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>SDSU is “Fourth Tier” primarily because under California state education policies CSU’s like SDSU aren’t supposed to give out doctorates, only bachelors and masters degrees. That means that SDSU’s doctoral programs are all co-sponsored with a UC or other university. That skews SDSU statistically for USNews ranking purposes for a variety of reasons. (SDSU is the only CSU which is even ranked as a National University - the others are all ranked as “Regional” masters-level colleges) If you look at SDSU’s peer review scores you’ll see that its academic reputation is more akin to that of a second tier school. As with most schools, it depends a lot on which program you’re in - for example, SDSU’s International Business major is ranked in the top 20 undergraduate programs in the nation in that field.</p></li>
<li><p>You can graduate on time if you want to. The most recent four year graduation rate is 24%. You may have to take a class at a time you would not like, or from a professor who is not your first choice. Getting a head start with AP classes or a summer course or two at a community college can be a big help. Generally, the impacted programs just require higher grades in your first two years to qualify to declare the major as a junior. Late graduation is generally due to factors other than overcrowding or impaction. Which leads to:</p></li>
<li><p>Yes, there are lots of distractions at SDSU. I suppose there are everywhere, but to a certain extent the amount of slacking off at a given school can be exacerbated by a campus culture. SDSU’s administration has been fighting the “party school” mentality, but there’s no denying that the reality is still there. And as a big public university, there isn’t anyone there holding your hand. If you screw up, they’ll let you fail. If you work hard you can get a great education there at a bargain price. It’s pretty much all up to you.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>“Opie, they don’t wear flannel in Portland anymore-”</p>
<p>I do when I’m down there Their indoor LAX team is the Lumberjacks. With the LumberJills dancers… </p>
<p>I’m talking the 70’s when a tall red headed grateful dead head led the portland trailblazers to an NBA championship. Where Maruice Lucas’s glare would frighten Chuck Norris.. That’s portland. </p>
<p>I would just like to say thanks for all of your help. </p>
<p>I checked out SDSU’s business program and it seems very reputable. Also the business program’s career services is pretty strong as well, and there were some great companies on their list of recruiters. They also have some great business associated clubs.</p>
<p>And about the impaction and overcrowding, I realized that if 30% can graduate in 4 years, I’m confident that I can too. And if not…one extra year of fun at SDSU won’t kill me. </p>
<p>Thanks for the help. UP is a great school, and if I happen to get rejected from SDSU, I’m just glad to know UP will still be an option.</p>
Their indoor LAX team is the Lumberjacks. With the LumberJills dancers… 
</p>