Erasmus Experience in San Diego, United States by Maria

Why did you choose to go to San Diego, United States?

Because I always wanted to go to California and San Diego is really a nice and big city but without the conffusion and traffic of LA. I was looking for a relaxed, cool, fun place with very good weather and where I was still able to combine both city and nature lifestyles.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I did not receive any scholarship. My home school in Portugal would only give scholarships to people going to Europe (Erasmus program) or Brazil.

What is the student lifestyle like in San Diego?

There are a lot of universities and students in san Diego, a lot of them have houses by the beach. It is really a fun and relaxing city with a lot of young people. You have a lot of bars where college students go (e.g. Sandbar in Mission Beach) and a lot of sports to do.

Would you recommend the city and the University of San Diego to other students?

Yes, very much. Very pretty campus, the university is almost like a city. I lived in houses that belonged to the University really close to the campus. So, my experience was really the American student lifestyle campus that we do not have in Europe. I would go to school to have classes, have meals, meet my friends, play sports (gym, tennis, swimming pool), I even went there to go to the supermarket or to have a doctor appointment in the health care center. The university was almost like a little city.

What is the food like?

I loved the sushi mondays and Taco tuesdays in a lot of restaurants. There is a lot of Mexican food due to the proximity to Mexico. I really enjoyed it.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in San Diego?

Not really, I ended up applying for housing on campus.

How much does it cost to live in San Diego?

I paid probably more because I was living on campus, about 4000 dollars the semester.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

I have studied English since I was six, so I did not have any language problems.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to San Diego from your city?

By plain, I flew to London and then San Diego.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in San Diego?

Downtown (to clubs like Ivy Club) or to the bars in Pacific or Mission Beach

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Balboa Park

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to San Diego in the future?

Go to Sunset Cliffs, La Jolla, try surfing.