University of San Diego Top Questions

Location, focus, available majors, classroom size. For me, I chose to go to school in San Diego becuase I am originally from Los Angeles. By going to San Diego, I was able to be close to my parents becuase they live an hour and a half away, yet at the same time I am far enough away that I am not obligated to see them all the time. It allows me personal freedom, space, and allows me to develop into a man in my own way. San Diego has perfect weather all year long and has many beaches, all things I wanted to enjoy year long. I also chose USD because it has a great liberal arts program as well as a phenominal business program. I also chose USD becuase it has small classroom sizes where it is easier to interact with classmates as well as the professors who make themselves available far more often then if they were lecturing in front of a auditorium sized class.

Finding the perfect college can be stressful. Since nothing is perfect, a student should pick a college that best fits their personality and needs. It is easy to get facts online about each school but actually visiting the school in person is what really tells you whether or not a school is for you. Many schools provide great tours where the tour guides are real students attending the college. The University of San Diego, in particular, has an overnight orientation where prospective students are allowed to spend the night in a dorm room with a current student. This is what drove me to choose USD. The people were great and I even got to sit in on a class to make sure I was comfortable! The school is a big part about creating a happy college experience but for the most part it is all about what the student makes of it. Students should be willing to become involved in clubs, fraternities/sororites, etc. This way you can make new friends and have the time of your life! College is an amazing, life-changing experience. Stay true to yourself and your needs so you never regret anything in the furture!

As I reflect back on my college experience, I cannot remember a single moment where I was sure of what I wanted to do. I was proactive in seeking oppurtunities that expanded my horizon and opened my eyes to different cultural and professional experiences. This was crucial in shaping not only my academic path, but also in motivating and driving my commitment to excel and succeed. For all parents and students searching for an institution that is right for them, I would encourage them to look for a school that is highly invloved in there local articstic and professional communities. The institutions that push their students to take advantage of study abroad programs, internships and on campus political clubs create an environment where the acedemics become real to the students and the maturity level in the classrooms reaches hieghts that far surpass those at other universities. In my years as a college student, I have obtained a California Investment license, opened a company in Costa Rica where I lived and worked for a year, and intern at a law office. All of these experiences fufilled my years at college and inspired me to attend law school.

Start dreaming about your ideal college and right down exactly what you want in a school. Then, begin visiting schools early and see how well they match up to your dream school. Then, begin searching out and applying for scholarships early so that even if your dream school is out of your family's price range, you can still make it happen for yourself. When you have finally decided which school you want to attend, be ready for lots of fun, friends, and excitement. Don't be afraid of being homesick, its natural and there are plenty of people at your school to help you. Don't be afraid to ask for help, we all need it at some point and that's what your professors and advisors and counselors are for. Enjoy every day! You'll meet lots of life-long friends and join new activities or continue old activities and you will soon find that your mind is full of knowledge of a range of subjects. College is where your life and your independence truly begin. Embrace and enjoy it.

To find the right college, I suggest going to visit the campus and really just going with your gut feelings. Observe the people on campus, their interactions, the facilities, and envision yourself on the campus. If you can see yourself there, and have a good feeling about it, then you probably will fit in. As soon as you step on a campus, you will get a feeling as to whether or not you will fit in and/or enjoy going there for the next 2-4 years. In terms of making the most out of your experience, simply get involved from the get go. As soon as you get on campus and start classes, start talking to people and seeing where you can get involved, whether a club, joining the Associated Students, looking into Greek Life, etc. The more you do to put yourself out there and get involved, the more you will feel a part of your campus community and will feel fulfilled by your college experience. I am in my fourth year of college, and it truly has been the best experience of my life because I took every opportunity presented to me and put myself out there.

GET INVOLVED, STAY INVOLVED, & BE PROACTIVE

Concentrate on the atmosphere you think you'll find yourself most comfortable in, but also consider future job prospects and their connections with and location to the school.

The most important thing to consider when choosing a college is the atmosphere. Second is the academics. If a student does not like the atmosphere at a particular school, they will be unhappy while they are attending that school. I think that it is absolutely crucial to visit the campus before committing to anything. While tours are helpful, I think that it is more important for the student to spend some time on campus, observing current students, in order for them to determine whether the school is the right fit for them. When I was deciding between two schools, I ultimately chose my current school, USD, because of the warmth I felt from both the faculty and the students while I was visiting the campus. I immediately knew that I would be happy attending USD, which is ultimately what should matter most. While I understand that not every student will immediately feel connected to a particular school, it is important for students to observe the student body and their daily lives and habits, in order to determine whether they would be happy attending that school, living a life like the students observed.

When searching for the right college, you need to ask yourself a few questions. First, why are you going to college? Are you going to college just to get a degree or are you going so that you can learn more about what you are interested in? If you just want a degree, then choose a large, state school. If you want to learn as much as possible, choose a small, private school. It will be worth the tuition, trust me. Visit a few colleges to get the feel of the atmosphere before you choose a specific one. Once in college, participate in campus-wide activities! You only have four years, so do as much as you can in those four years. Play a sport or join a club. Make sure to focus on your studies, but don't let your studies control your life. Always make time to do other things and get involved in the campus community.

Make sure you check out MANY different school so that you can get a feel for what kind of school you are looking for. Then, try to hone in on no more than 10 school and visit all of them. Make sure to keep a journal or write notes about the school because they will all get jumbled in your head. Next, try to do an overnight visit to the schools that you are seriously thinking about attending. Talk to the students and faculty at the schools that you may attend. Then, talk to friends and family and seriously think about what school you want to attend out of the ones that accepted you.