University of San Francisco - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

San Francisco is one of the most popular, gorgeous, and cosmopolitan cities in the world. This is often the main reason students come to USF. There is always something to do in this city, whether it’s checking out the latest restaurant, taking advantage of student discounts at the world-famous SF Opera and SF Ballet, walking through Golden Gate Park or across the Golden Gate Bridge, or enjoying a stroll through the Mission, Chinatown, or North Beach. Everyone can find something about this city that they absolutely adore, but the most exciting part is the chance the city gives you to discover something new every day.

San Francisco, large and bustling as it may be, provides an excellent backdrop for the University. Whenever school becomes too stressful, students can always escape to their favorite off-campus site. Also, the abundance of history, beauty, and culture makes classroom activities more tangible and relevant. Oftentimes, classes take field trips to the city’s museums or historical sites, and some students perform community service and work with the homeless. If you’re looking for a fun, exciting, cultural, and hands-on experience, San Francisco is definitely the place to be.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere is unlike any other... The atmosphere is unlike any other place I have been. While San Francisco is a big city, it is not so big that you ever find yourself lost. Culturally, it is a diverse city and a far cry from a traditional college town, though there are quite a few schools inside its borders. I would recommend visiting the Museum of Modern Art, North Beach, Haight Street, the beaches, the Presidio, and the numerous independent theaters. Also, venture outside the city to places like the Marin Headlands, Sausalito, and the Napa Valley. Go everywhere you can! 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The city is amazing, of course.... The city is amazing, of course. Other universities are in San Francisco, but USF is snobbish and doesn’t tend to intermingle. Stay out of the Tenderloin at night, and make sure to see all the best views and peruse all the great museums. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

San Francisco has such a diverse... San Francisco has such a diverse culture, and it’s a very exciting place to be in. There are various things to do in the city—plays, the opera, ballet, concerts, parties, etc. The Bay Area boasts a number of distinguished universities like UC Berkeley, Stanford University, University of San Francisco, Mills College, San Francisco State University, and several community colleges. In such a fun, exciting, and cultured city, I can’t think of anything to stay away from. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The city of San Francisco is very... The city of San Francisco is very tolerant and liberal. There are people of all walks of life here; college students (USF and others), adults, kids, everything. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

USF is all about the city... USF is all about the city atmosphere: hectic, big, and exhilaratingly free. There are other universities present, but we tend to be known as the snob of the collegiate group—definitely be a tourist! Yes, it can be overrated if you do it all the time, but you should act like one at least once because there’s so much more to the city than college parties. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about San Francisco:
• Golden Gate Park, established on April 4, 1870, is a man-made park that was built upon sand dunes and is 1,031 acres in size.
• The infamous cable cars began running in 1873, originally with over eight different lines. San Francisco was the first city to ever use the cable car, but the Great Earthquake of 1906 damaged many of the lines. Today, some of the original lines are still in use.
• Mark Twain once said, “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.”
• Alcatraz Island has a rich history; it was originally occupied by the military as a fort, then it was an army prison camp. Most notably, Alcatraz became the famous prison where the nation’s worst criminals were sent, after which it became the site of the Native American peace community. Now it is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, open with tours daily.
• The historic streetcars, which run along Market Street and the Embarcadero to Fisherman’s Wharf, began service in 1912. San Francisco has actual streetcars running that came from seven different countries and ten different cities across the U.S.

Famous People from San Francisco:
Benjamin Bratt, Paul Desmond, Joe DiMaggio, Clint Eastwood, Robert Frost, Jerry Garcia, Danny Glover, Merv Griffin, Josh Hartnett, James Hetfield, Jack London, Kevin Pollack, Rob Schneider, OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Tambor, and Robin Williams

Local Slang:
Hella – Extremely cool.
Bridge and Tunnel People – Commuters into San Francisco from around the Bay Area.
SoMa – South of Market Street; a popular area on the weekend where bars and clubs seemingly pop up overnight.
MUNI – San Francisco Municipal Railway, a.k.a. the bus.
Tenderloin – Section of downtown notorious for being dangerous and unpleasant at night, but has great restaurants and sites to see.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Ishtar Schneider
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Major: Communication Studies/Public Relations minor

Ishtar has three loves in life: dancing, figure skating, and shopping. She is also half Chinese, but you would never know it!

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