San Diego State University 2007 (College Prowler)

Introduction from the Author

When I tell people that I attend San Diego State University, I receive a multitude of replies. One of the most common responses involves SDSU’s reputation as one of the biggest party schools in California. Sometimes the people responding are envious of me for attending such a “fun school,” while others condescendingly brush off the education I’m receiving as inferior to theirs. Still, there are other people who recognize San Diego State as a stellar academic university that offers some of the strongest programs in the nation. Regardless of the school’s reputation, San Diego State University offers an excellent academic experience, which gives students the chance to learn the skills they need to be successful, both inside and outside the classroom.

San Diego State University is constantly growing and expanding with new programs, facilities, and resources. As the largest university of the CSU system, San Diego State is trying hard to eliminate its reputation as a party school, and to be recognized as a school with high academic prestige. For the past few years, much of the administration’s time has been spent attempting to move the University past the “party school” stigma. President Stephen L. Weber seeks to, as stated in his Shared Vision, enhance commitment to academic excellence, nurture a learning-center university, increase diversity, promote the growth and development of resources, and create a global university. This bold statement encompasses exactly what San Diego State is striving for, to become one of the strongest universities in California, right up there with the greatest that the UC systems have to offer.

Growing up in Orange County, an hour and a half away from San Diego, I had a very general picture of what San Diego State University was like. I had gone to Cox Arena for a few concerts such as Weezer, and I got to know the surrounding area relatively well. At the time, it seemed dominated by Greek life and a nighttime party scene. When I entered into the school, I knew what to expect from social life here, but not much else. The academic programs offered here are solid, and the degree programs offered go a long way into giving students exactly the kind of education they need. Just because SDSU has a lot to offer in terms of the social scene does not mean that academic quality lags; in fact, it excels. You cannot truly understand all that San Diego State is until you look at it from every possible angle.

If you’re interested in attending SDSU, you probably already know about the party scene, but you must understand that there is a lot more to the school. Look at the programs it has to offer, and make sure that you find something that will interest you for the next four years of your life. Make sure you want to be in San Diego for such a long period of time, because once you begin your studies here, it is nothing but a hassle not to finish here. Deciding on a college is an important decision, and thankfully you now hold in your hands some very helpful and honest information about the University which you cannot find anywhere else. Good luck with the decisions you’ll be making, and I wish you the best in your future endeavors. Maybe someday I’ll see you here at “State.”

Brian Webb, Author
San Diego State University