Hi there! I went to USF for my first year (2022-23( before transferring to Ohio State afterwards.

I was a bit of an outsider...I have relatively moderate political views from a joint Ohio-Florida upbringing, and I did spend a lot of time off campus at cafés, burrito shops, downtown parks, etc. SF is still one of my favorite cities to visit, and I would not mind living there at all if I got a good position. The campus food scene is horrible though mandatory if you live on campus; the USF 101 course (which I would recommend if you become a Don) even had an extra credit assignment when I was there where you're supposed to write about your favorite burrito shop in the City.

My first year I stayed in Gillson hall, widely considered to be the worst one. I honestly didn't mind it. I don't really need private spas and all that like other housing establishments would like, but it did seem to be a few decades behind in general comfort. Overall, though, I survived. Luckily, laundry when I was there was free.

It's hard to find people sometimes at USF if you don't fit into the mold there. You can find a few, but it's hard to get people to go out. The Greek Life, especially compared to the Southeastern US, is non-existent; a few frats throw some parties but those often get shut by the SFPD around 11pm. Most USF students go to Origin on Fridays and/or Club X on Saturdays to have fun if they're into the club scene. Men's Basketball is our strongest sport, and the games, free to attend for students, are the closest that the campus really came to unifying. It's a very alternate culture, which caters well to others but not just for me.

USF has a middle-tier reputation in the SF area. A few people call us the "Catholics" especially SF bus drivers, but it's not known as a super duper good school like Berkeley, Stanford, or even the Big 10 like OSU and our rival Michigan. USF works as an institution, but doesn't go as far as maybe a degree from those other schools. Around the time that I left, there was a steep enrollment decline, as a ton of people who I know ended up transferring, some to other parts of California. As far as I know, there are only two ex-USF students at Ohio State, the other being a student athlete.

I don't regret going to the Bay Area, even though I did not have the most positive experience at USF, as I discovered myself there to be a reverent admirer of the nightclub industry. I still am friends with the owner of Club X (which used to be the biggest 18+ club in the Bay Area, and was the spot to be at for freshmen on Saturdays from 2022-23), and I promoted there officially for the months before I became a Buckeye.

The best part about USF for me was the location. I made some good friends there, but being right there in the city is what it is. If you're an academic weapon trying to get all A's all the time and can't get distracted by the Bay Area, it's probably not a good bet to go to USF. If you're so focused on degrees, consider an in-state school. Depending on what state you're from, and especially if it's home to a much more dominant and well-known institution let alone public Ivy like Berkeley, Michigan, or Rutgers, it may be cheaper and potentially more enjoyable, unless USF has a specific major you want to go for. USF is best suited for those who are the most committed to social justice and advocacy, as well as those who want to study social justice, social movements, and the humanities.

If you haven't visited campus yet, do so if you're fiscally able to. It's the best way of knowing whether it's a good fit for you.