It's hard to believe, but my oldest son is starting to fill out college applications already! By this time next year, he'll be out on his own, and I'll be at home hoping and praying that he makes sound decisions even without Mom and Dad looking over his shoulder. But first things first. My son still hasn't found that perfect school -- though San Diego colleges are definitely leading the pack.
To be honest, I would be happy if my boy chose to go to one of the fine San Diego colleges he's been looking at. For one thing, the city is only a three-hour drive away from our home, so it would be easy for him to come back and visit during holidays or long weekends. For another, we would get to pay in-state tuition, which is of course significantly cheaper than out-of-state tuition. Anything that will make the college years easier on our bank account automatically gets my endorsement!
Anyway, here are the San Diego colleges that are currently in the running. SDSU is the one that most people have heard of, and the one that most students are attracted to. The school has an excellent academic program, a competitive sports team in the Aztecs, a diverse student body, and a tuition cost below the national average for public universities. Out of all the San Diego colleges, my son has expressed the most interest in SDSU.
The University of California also has a school in the area. UCSD in La Jolla is another very good university that my son would be proud to attend. As part of the UC system, this school has a lot of academic resources, terrific programs, plenty of study abroad opportunities, and a vibrant campus life. I know the UC system has come under fire in recent months because of steady cost hikes, but there's no denying that they still provide a quality education to all.
Others in the running include a handful of community colleges, San Diego Mesa College, and the University of San Diego. These schools, though not necessarily a student's top choice, would nevertheless be a good place to begin fulfilling general education requirements before transferring to a different institution to complete a four-year degree program. The main benefit of doing things this way is to take advantage of cheaper tuition -- particularly in the case of a community college.
The college application process is long and sometimes tedious, but is also very important. One of the major keys to success for students is to choose a school that is a good fit in as many areas as possible: academically, financially, and socially. For my son, this means he'll likely go with one of the San Diego colleges I've talked about here. No matter what he ultimately decides, we'll stand behind him and give him all the support he needs!
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