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University of San Diego - Local Atmosphere - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler5.00

Local Atmosphere

A+
Where does this grade come from?View all Local Atmosphere rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Local Atmosphere Grades:

Quick Stats

Fun Local Trivia
  1. Balboa Park, just south of USD, is the nation’s largest "urban cultural" park. It is home to more than a dozen museums and the famous Old Globe Theatre, and is a renowned hot spot for up-and-coming culinary artists.
  2. Founded in the 16th century, San Diego is California's oldest city.
  3. Hollywood loves to work in San Diego. A small sampling of the movies filmed or partially shot here include "Almost Famous," "Anchor Man," "Bring it On," "The Scorpion King," "Some Like it Hot," "Spaceballs," "Top Gun," and "Traffic." Kansas City Barbecue in downtown proudly proclaims "Top Gun sleazy bar scene filmed here" on its marquee.
  4. Old Town San Diego recreates California life from 1821–1872, spanning both Mexican and American periods of control.
  5. The U.S.S. Midway, a retired aircraft carrier, is a floating naval museum in the downtown San Diego Big Bay.
Notable Natives
  • Marcus Allen – former NFL player
  • Adam Brody – actor
  • Reggie Bush – NFL player
  • Nick Cannon – actor
  • Ted Danson – actor
  • Terrell Davis – former NFL player
  • Cameron Diaz – actress
  • Robert Duvall – actor
  • Tony Hawk – professional skateboarder
  • Jeremy and Jason London – actors
  • Mario Lopez – actor, TV personality
  • Ted Williams – baseball hall of famer
Points of Interest
  • Balboa Park
  • Belmont Park
  • California coastline
  • Coronado Island
  • Del Mar Fairgrounds and Race Track
  • Gaslamp Quarter
  • Legoland
  • The New Children's Museum
  • Old Town San Diego
  • PETCO Park
  • Qualcomm Stadium
  • Safari Park
  • San Diego Zoo
  • SeaWorld

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Students rave about the beach and outdoor activities San Diego offers. There is a fun, friendly, low-key environment just about everywhere you go in San Diego. The bay can be seen from almost anywhere on campus, serving as a constant temptation and reminder that the beach is a short car ride away. For many, any bit of free time is spent away from campus, enjoying all the city has to offer. The beach is a large part of the culture of San Diego. Students spend their weekends surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, or tanning at the beach, and then go to house parties at the beach at night. For students interested in a change of pace, camping, rock climbing, hiking, and mountain biking sites are all close, and the University often sponsors trips to Julian and Cuyamaca mountains, allowing students to take a break from the beach and embrace some of San Diego’s natural surroundings.

If you’re not really an outdoorsy person, no worries: San Diego has something for you, too. There are tons of museums in San Diego, the zoo, SeaWorld, as well as unique restaurants and places to shop. There are also three other universities nearby—UCSD, SDSU, and Point Loma. The close proximity of all four schools makes it easy to meet and socialize with new people. Overall, San Diego is a great place to live. A popular saying that encompasses this attitude: "We live where you spring break."

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San Diego Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at University of San Diego

USDcollegeadvice

Communication and Media Studies '14

5.0
A+

Always something to do on the weekends

San Diego is absolutely the ideal place to go to school. USD's campus is breathtaking and unquestionably gorgeous, but sometimes living on campus can make you feel stuck in a bubble. Luckily, the school is surrounded by places to go and things to experience. A typical weekend for students is spent at Mission Beach, paddleboarding in the bay, or exploring Balboa Park.

Check out some other fun San Diego activities at:

usdcollegeadvice.blogspot.com

May 08, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at University of San Diego

surfvixen

International Relations and National Security Studies '13

4.6
A

It's San Diego!

The actual city that USD is located in, Linda Vista, is a dump. But San Diego as a whole is amazing and there's always something to do and something going on. And if nothing else, you can just go to the beach. USD is also really close to everything, including public transportation.

May 06, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at University of San Diego

USDcurrent

Business Administration and Management '15

4.6
A

It's San Diego

USD is 5-10 minutes from downtown SD. Perfect distance. Haven't had a chance to experience it that much yet but I hear once you hit 21 there are a ton of great bars. Gaslight district is cool too

Apr 09, 2012

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Page 1 of 15
User rating for University of San Diego - Local Atmosphere is 4.6 out of 5 based on 43 user reviews.

Photos of University of San Diego's Local Atmosphere

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University of San Diego - View looking out from campusView looking out from campus
Photo by USDcurrent
View looking out from campus This is a view from the back of Mother Rosalie Hill Hall building.
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University of San Diego - Campus viewCampus view
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Campus view This is a view walking out of Serra Hall.
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University of San Diego - Mission BeachMission Beach
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Mission Beach This is a look at a party on Mission Beach.
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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • Fashion Valley mall
  • Westfield Horton Plaza
  • Westfield Mission Valley Mall
Major Sports Teams
  • San Diego Chargers: NFL
  • San Diego Padres: MLB
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Los Angeles: : 2 hours
  • Tijuana, Mexico: : 30 minutes
Did You Know? From San Diego, you can drive an hour or less and get to the snow, a desert, a beach, or another country.

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

AMC Fashion Valley 18
7037 Friars Road
Linda Vista
(619) 296-0370

UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive
Mission Valley
(619) 685-2841

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Shannon Palka
Hometown
Thousand Oaks, CA
Major
English and Theology
Grad Year
2015

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.