San Diego State University Visit Report by thatgirltoo

Visit Activities:

Admissions Interview: No - I don't believe SDSU gives admissions interviews, at least not to transfer students.

Information Session: Yes - There was an hour long info session with a movie about the school and housing, plus info re how to apply, qualifications necessary, financial aid, etc.

Campus Tour: Yes - SDSU offers two tours each day, I joined the 1pm tour. We mostly toured the outside of facilities, but were shown the rec center interior and a brief walk into and out of the Love Library.

Classroom Visit: No - I didn't visit a classroom, but I did walk through Storm Hall and peaked into the empty classrooms. Most looked like they would accommodate 40-45 students.

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Campus:

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All of the students that I spoke to were friendly and helpful.

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I'm a non-traditional student, and although the staff members are very friendly, almost all of them have initially treated me as though I'm not the student, but rather the parent.

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Whoever designed this campus planned well. From the mission-style original buildings to the 1970s modernist architecture, it all looks good together. Lots of flowers, trees = lovely.

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For a State school in a state with a budget crisis, the buildings I saw are all in good repair and very clean.

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I didn't have time to tour the dorms.

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Granted, I was there during the day and didn't go off campus too far, but I felt very safe on campus. They have "blue lights" throughout the campus for campus police assistance.

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The campus is lovely. For having ~34,000 students, it is surprisingly quiet and peaceful. The landscape and architecture mesh well. The students seem very friendly. Weather is great too.

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Off-Campus:

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I cannot comment fairly here, since I didn't go very far off-campus, but it seems very suburban to me without a lot of amenities around.

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I've visited San Diego in the past and it is a cute city. It has great weather year-round, is manageable while still being in SoCal; feels a bit suburban to me, but still has small boutiques, caf

Campus Visit Notes for San Diego State University

Visit Description:

To expand on my experience as a non-traditional student: most of the students on campus seemed very young, which of course I expect since they are traditional-aged students. However, in comparison to some other campuses that I've visited, they seemed a lot "younger" somehow. I don't think I would have a problem with that, ultimately, but this may explain why, when I met two of the administrators in person, they first assumed that I was a parent of a student or perhaps a grad student. I am just barely old enough to have a child starting college next year, but I do not think I look my age... I have not experienced this reaction on other college campuses, even on one other campus that also felt "young." On the other hand, the students I spoke to, including the sophomore tour guide, seemed very supportive of my decision to finish my BA no matter my age. I do know that there are older students at SDSU, but I wish they would open a transfer/re-entry student center or something to make us feel a bit more welcome.

I was unable to meet the undergrad adviser for my major since almost the entire Geography department was away at the AAG conference, but she has been very friendly, helpful, and responsive to my emailed questions, even before I knew I had been admitted. Actually, this started before I had even applied, when I asked her specifics about the pre-req requirements so that I would know which classes to take at my community college this spring.

Since I had visited San Diego in the past, I simply flew in and out in one day to visit the campus. I like the new trolley lines, which are very handy and convenient. How brilliant that the city and school decided to open a trolley station right on campus! When I think of SoCal, I think of "car culture," but I don't believe it would be a problem not having a car in San Diego. It would be nice if the city extended the trolley directly to the airport, though.

Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:

I ate lunch at one of the food courts, it really reminded me of mall food courts. Food was OK, but it was expensive in my opinion. I don't know about off-campus dining options.

Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):

The trolley takes students to Old Town and a transfer will take them to the Gaslamp district or downtown. Balboa Park is great, as is the beach. There are lots of things to do in San Diego.