University of San Francisco
Reviews

Tons of Stuff

There are a lot of things to do seeing as the school is in the center of the city. Everything from downtown, to the park, and the wharf. There are always a lot of events going on somewhere in the city as well as a lot cultural areas in the city that are cool to see.

It's Great, but it's Not the Best

USF is great once you find your niche. The campus itself is quite small, but the city makes up for it with its awesome places to explore. Most of the people here are super friendly and laid-back. The lack of a football team and school spirit in general is definitely a downside.

City Living's the Best

What makes USF different from SFSU is its placement in the city. USF is more centrally located and closer to much more. Also, USF gives you a MUNI bus pass, so the city is yours for the taking from the time you get your ID. Living in the city means there's always something to do outside of school, whether it be just hanging out at a local coffee shop, checking out Haight Street, chilling at Ocean Beach, or hitting the mall on Market Street downtown. It's a great place to be!

USF Atmosphere

USF is located in one of the most enriching parts of the city. We are within walking distance of Clement and Geary, both of which are major streets filled with restaurants, bookstores, coffee shops, etc. The bus lines located around campus also make it easy to get to Union Square, Market Street, and Golden Gate Park, which is where several museums are located.

Psychology Major

The Psychology Department here at USF is great. The program has incredible resources for students to use - including access to various academic databases, which really comes in handy when writing papers for any number of classes (even those outside of the Psych department). Not only are the academic resources excellent, but the faculty within this department is, in my opinion, unmatched by any other university. The psychology professors are the jocks of the school - each one of them are vastly knowledgeable in his/her respective field, and they are still very approachable and down-to-earth. There are a lot of RA opportunities provided by professors; however, it is extremely competitive given the size of the department (it's the largest major on campus!).

Meh

Everyone at this school is genuinely into social justice. I did not realize it at first, but it's actually really special.

Unfortunately there's also a lot of apathy from students in the classroom. Class discussions can become dull when no one else does the assigned reading. Teachers are really personable though, and engage with students who show interest.

Things to Consider

If you like the food in the cafeteria and are friends with your neighbors, living on campus is both fun and extremely convenient. However, the student body at USF is pretty diverse, and most upperclassmen would rather live on their own than in the residence halls. Food on campus is extremely expensive and on-campus freshmen are required to have the meal plan.

Love it Here

I'm from Southern California and I wasn't sure about moving away from the sun and great beaches, but I love it here. The school has so much to offer and I've met some amazing people here. I'm not sure if going back home for the summer will live up to the great experiences I've had at USF.

Good

I definitely enjoyed living in Hayes. Though it isn't the best dorm on campus, I've enjoyed all my experiences there. Having a public bathroom was a really different experience, but you get used to it.

Pros and Cons

The food can be delicious and elaborate, but only occasionally. Oftentimes, the food can be greasy and there isn't much to choose from. The food itself and meal plans are also ridiculously overpriced, with the meal plan working as a prepaid debit system. This sometimes results in students overeating by the end of semesters to minimize monetary loss.

Not Very Popular

There are many athletic teams, but not very much support. Most people don't go to games and it is really hard for the student body to attract people.

Mix

There's a pretty big mix of all different types of people at USF. Lots of artsy people, but also lots of athletic people.

First Year on Campus is a Must!

The freshmen dorms at USF are pretty nice, but they are particularly small. One bathroom is shared by one wing, although there are multiple toilets, showers, and sinks. The dorms are great for making friends.

Pretty Relaxed

There are always parties off campus, and there is some drinking in the dorms before said parties. A lot of people smoke weed, but there is no peer pressure to do anything you don't want to.

Business Seems to Be an Awesome Major Here

As a freshman i have only completed 2 business classes here but they were really cool! The business building is really nice and advance, probably the nicest on campus. The professor i had for intro to business class was so knowledgable and had so much experience running various large corporations etc and my other professor really helped outside of class too with my resume and forcing me to get a linked in account and follow the stock market haha. Awesome major.

Lots of Girls

If you are a guy, you will love this school. Otherwise, it is about 60% girls and 40% guys, which sucks for the ladies. Lots of hipsters.

One Stop Is Awesome

The financial aid team at OneStop is excellent! They are all very knowledgable, extremely helpful, and patient. Explore all options even if you think it's not for you at first.

Favorite Experiences

I definitely am thankful for joining and becoming active with certain clubs and activities on campus. Doing so will introduce you to a huge set of new people, and I've meet some of the funniest and greatest people in my life because of it.

Diversity

Plenty of diversity in terms of majors and personalities at this school, but gender-wise there are lots of females. However, the school is a very accepting environment towards other races and sexual orientations, with the exception of a few people here and there.

Great but Costly

The school just raised tuition, which they only acknowledged by sending out a casual e-mail that was conveniently sent right after all the deadlines for other colleges had passed, making it too late to transfer for next year to a school with cheaper tuition. I love the school, but they aren't doing anything to help students support their education.

Internet Service in My Room

I always have very fast Internet in my dorm room. I never have to worry about the server being down or the Internet being slow. It's especially nice when I know that I need to submit assignments online.

Always Get the Classes I Want

Going to a smaller private school means that I have less people to compete with in order to get the classes that I want. Unlike my friends who go to state schools and UCs who seem to never get their first choice classes, I don't have much trouble getting the classes that I want as long as I register for classes at my assigned time. It's nice to know that I don't have to worry too much about making alternate schedules in case I don't get the classes that I want.

Expensive Living

Off-campus housing is expensive in this area. It's San Francisco. Either get a lot of roommates, stay with your parents, or live on campus.

Lacking in Choices

There aren't a lot of off-campus dining options that are relatively close or within walking distance from campus. There are a couple of grocery stores in the area, however the ready-to-eat food is minimal at best and the costs are rather high and student discounts are not available.

You Gotta Love SF

San Francisco is an amazing place to be. With various cultures and places to go, you always have something to do. We have places for sightseeing, a zoo, the Exploratorium, great restaurants, the Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Golden Gate Bridge (to name a few).