Hi - My daughter is contemplating applying to USD as a Sophomore transfer. I’m assuming since it’s almost July they would only be accepting for Winter/Spring. Correct me if that’s wrong.
Does anyone have a guess at what acceptance rate is for transfer students? She has a 3.95 coming from a Flagship University in New England. She wants to come back to California (which is home) since she wants to be a teacher and going to school here makes it easier to get a CA credential.
I’m looking for any input on what USD is like for transfers? Is it hard to meet other students? Some schools have programs, events, housing specifically directed at transfer students. Does USD?
Talk to me about the religious atmosphere/culture. My daughter is not religious and is unsure if being in a religious environment would feel comfortable, but I know not all religious schools have an overall religious culture even though it’s part of their mission. As an example, she firmly believes in things like women’s reproductive rights and is an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Would she find herself to be in the minority at USD?
Talk to me about religious requirements – including classes, attendance at church or other religious participation.
Housing - How do transfers find housing? Is there anything on campus? I assume like most colleges, USD is over-enrolled, but correct me if that’s wrong.
Tell me anything else I should know about transferring. Thank you!
Just curious is she looking at Cal State schools or non religious like UOP ?
Hopefully someone writes back but LMU says
LMU is institutionally committed to Roman Catholicism and takes its fundamental inspiration from the combined heritage of the Jesuits, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.
In 2013 they did not include abortion in health care plans. Don’t know about today. But it shows beliefs - at least historically.
I imagine the schools can tell u about housing and chapel requirements (I believe none). I know two religious classes are required.
Sadly she’s looking at tranfering Sophomore year and the Cal States that she’d want to go to only accept transfers Junior year. All UCs except 2 only accept transfers Junior year. She has looked at them but wasn’t impressed by different aspects of those schools. As California residents, we’d much prefer the UC or Cal State options as they are fantastic schools and many times less expensive, but we support her need to transfer Sophomore year vs. waiting until Junior year.
I should have mentioned size, but I’ll go back and edit that. She would like to be in a school with at least 7K+ students. UoP is 3800 and that just is too small.
That’s a great idea to look into the health care plan. How did you track that down?
When I talked to the Transfer Admissions rep at LMU he assured me that while the school is Jesuit, only 50% of the students are Catholic. When I asked more, he said that faith isn’t the driving component in everyday student life. There are requirements to take a few classes, it seemed like there were choices that would be palatable. It’s hard to blindly believe the Admissions (Marketing) rep for any school, which is why I’m trying to get unbiased feedback on both USD and LMU.
Of course it would be her! I’m just doing some behind-the-scenes research to form my own opinions. Thanks for the lead on the student ambassadors. However, I think it’s unlikely that a student (or anyone) who works for the school would tell me if, for instance, the school isn’t LGBTQ friendly or is not supportive of women’s reproductive rights. Regardless, I’ll pass the Student Ambassador idea along to her.
USD is a Catholic school so I don’t think you’re going to find it outwardly pro choice.
I believe the campus is considered pretty moderate but isn’t going to attract a large progressive student body. There are going to be crosses and priests occasionally on campus. Hopefully this wouldn’t be a surprise.
There are obviously many other colleges in California that are thought of as more liberal. Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount are also Catholic (there will still be crosses) but Jesuits tend to be more liberal.
Good points. I keep thinking I must be missing something trying to find schools that accept Sophomore transfers, have 7K-ish+ students, and aren’t overly religious. From what I’ve seen, that leaves her with Chapman and LMU in CA, Boulder and Denver in CO, and Oregon State and UofO in OR. Side note: She really wants to stay West of CO, after having spent the year in Vermont. The cost of flights and the 12+ hour travel days (assuming no flight delays), and the continuous cloud cover made her realize that sunshine is more important to her than she realized. (I realize OR is also overcast a lot.) Finally, yes there are plenty of other states than those three, but she would like to be in states that affirm women’s reproductive rights and also those of the LGBTQ community, so that is a self-imposed limitation.
Could she transfer to a cc or hang one more year at UVM to make it clean at two years ? ? Maybe she can go abroad in the spring to reduce her on campus time ?
Or graduate in another major and do a Teach for America type thing where you can be set up to complete your certification later ?
I’m looking at ‘off campuses’- I know it’s not her thing but like San Marcos, San Bernardino,Bakersfield that seem to take 2nd year but don’t have education it seems.
Has she called these schools to see if they are still taking fall transfers? That’s the next step and ASAP. If they aren’t, what is she going to do for the semester?
I would consider USD too, based on your other thread. Is U Utah too big?
Yes, they said they are accepting for Fall. The current plan is to go back to Vermont, but the background though is that if she’s at the point where she knows she wants to transfer after Fall, then if a school she likes accepts her for Fall, she should consider it. Since it looks like the school choices are limited for Sophomore year, the other option is to come home and do a year of Gen Eds at community college. It’s not ideal because we all want her to have the college experience, but it is an option.
I think my previous post and yours came through at the same time. This is why U Utah isn’t an option. She isn’t putting restrictions on the upper size limits, she just wants to be above 7K-ish.
Finally, yes there are plenty of other states than those three, but she would like to be in states that affirm women’s reproductive rights and also those of the LGBTQ community, so that is a self-imposed limitation.
I hadn’t thought about a semester abroad. That’s a great idea.
Transferring to the local cc is a possibility but we all really wanted her to have a college experience. Community colleges are commuter schools, as are the
less-popular Cal States (including those you mentioned) that accept Sophomores.
Now that I’ve learned that some schools have Math majors with an emphasis in Secondary Education, she doesn’t need an Education-specific program.
You can even go abroad through another school’s program. Many are the same - like UVM and SDSU (as an example) likely share affiliates.
If it’s school led, she could see if the desired transfer one has one open to other students. If so she could get an early start - as long as UVM approves.
For a semester it’s less likely you’d be in a faculty led. That’s more summer or spring break. My daughter is going on one through a different school this summer.
But if they are physically putting you in a school abroad, you can definitely find commonality in UVM and the new school. And run the course schedule by the new school.
At least saves one semester.
Sorry about the flights. Vermont is tough. Montreal not easy and Boston a bit far (for non stops).
We tried to warn her about how difficult the long travel day would be, but some things you can’t understand until you experience them. If that were the only thing that wasn’t working for her, it would be a minor annoyance. But there are other things that make her realize it’s just not the right place for her.
The one thing I would hesitate about with a semester abroad is that because her advisor put her in 4 Education classes Freshman year, and based on the systems the colleges use, those 4 don’t transfer, she’s behind on her Gen Eds. That will make some transfers difficult. It would make the UCs or Cal States not possible at all since she wouldn’t meet the basic requirements for Juniors. Our current thinking if she goes back to UVM for Fall, or wherever she is, she needs to bulk up on the Gen Eds and drop all of her Education courses (which is a real bummer because they are so interesting, but they don’t transfer anywhere).
I wonder if semester abroad programs include Gen Eds or are they only elective type courses? I’ll start researching them.
She thought she wanted UVM and she went. She’s willing to take risks. And that is a great thing. And she has the foresight to know, I made a mistake. Let’s fix it.
No one truly knows on day one if a school will work. But she took her shot and great for her.
Kudos to her honestly. Now she realizes she wants to be closer to home and end up teaching in CA. She’s learning as she grows.
I’m guessing they have gen eds in abroad.
But here’s an example. AIFS. You can see if any of her prospect schools use them too. If so, you might be able to get an indication of advanced approval.
Or find a ‘common’ company or university both schools attend.
My daughter will be at Dankook in Korea. I see it on Long Beach State List (if that’s a school of interest). Is it on UVM’s? That kind of thing.
CIEE is another many use. If not with the school you can still petition to have classes approved. But in your case you want to ensure the new school (if possible) will want the credits as well as UVM.
A couple of kids from my D22’s class went to USD, and I looked at it back in my day too. Gorgeous school. Religion is not overtly in your face, but it will be around. The kids we know who went there—not super religious families and they seem to be having a great time. I think wealth is probably more “on display” than religion, at least from the student perspective.
My D goes to UCLA and knows a bunch of kids from LMU bc they often come over to UCLA parties or they’re her college friends’ friends from home. They also seem to be a fun loving group of people of all backgrounds.
I’m an LMU alum, and very long legacy of family attending. My Dad was a master teacher in the Ed department overseeing grad students. My sister is a teacher and a graduate at LMU. Terrific program and a ton of support.
Jesuit schools tend to be the most liberal and progressive of Catholic institutions and from experience, I know there are many LGBTQ+ professors and students. My S22 considered transferring there this fall (attending UCLA instead) and they continue to remind him he can still apply. Deciding to transfer is a big decision, but the right one for my S22.
My D24 was accepted to both LMU and USD for fall but decided to attend Holy Cross. She is Catholic, but not religious by any means. She would’ve been happy at LMU or USD, but was very drawn to HC for their commitment to community service and wanted to attend school on the East Coast.
I attended USD 40 years ago. At that time, it was more religious than now, but all I was required to do was take a course in religion and it was taught by a Catholic deacon who was very secular in his approach.
When I did go to Mass, I attended the student Mass in which a number of the non-Catholic students attended, just to learn about the Mass and then go to the-clubs afterwards.
I’m Catholic and I had friends in the dorms who were Jewish (not too many) and other Protestant religions living in my hall. It wasn’t advertised because friends were just friends. We didn’t say “oh you’re not Catholic? They eventually volunteered it at one point or not at all. It didn’t matter.
The wealth was very evident by those who drove by in their sports cars.
In other words, it wasn’t an issue for us. (The Catholics partied worse than any of the other students.) It won’t be an issue for her.