If a laid-back Californian culture, warm weather, surfing communities and Mexican food excite you – then San Diego is your place to study! Studying in San Diego can be great as it is one of the safest cities in America. Around 70,000 students make up the population of San Diego. You will definitely find that the vibe in this city is young and the people are friendly as well. In the next few paragraphs, EDUopinions will explain the pros and cons of studying in San Diego.
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Pros of studying in San Diego
1. Great beaches
San Diego is blessed with great weather. It’s almost always warm and it almost seldom rains. Which means you can find plenty of time to enjoy the lovely beaches here in San Diego when you are not studying. Surfing is also big here, so it can be a good opportunity to learn surfing as well.
2. Great party places
Students definitely love to party in their downtime, and San Diego is known for its great parties and nightlife. Whether you want to go to a bar, even, show, concert – San Diego has it all! One of the most happening places to visit for students is Gaslamp Quarter. And of course, let us not forget the amazing parties thrown by students on campuses as well.
3. Lots of things to do, for free
As a student, one is always short on money. But this Californian city is blessed with lots to do and that too for free. You can watch sea lions soaking up the sun on the rocks at La Jolla Cove. Enjoy sunsets at Oceanside Pier during a campfire. You can also visit Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre urban cultural park, which is free of charge. You will also find live bands playing there sometimes. And of course, as we mentioned before, beaches!
4. Mexican influence
Since it is pretty close to the Mexican border, everyone goes to the other side of the border almost all the time. The nightlife is amazing near the border, as the rules are more relaxed and of course, the food is amazing! A lot of people go to Tijuana which has great restaurants, a lot of nightlife, and point of reference if talking about Craft Beer.
5. Great Universities
San Diego has a lot of great universities, some of which are the University of San Diego, San Diego State University, Ashford University and many more. No wonder, the student population in San Diego is huge and increasing by the year. This city is the perfect Californian dream for students!
Cons of studying in San Diego
1. Rents are expensive
So, if you’re coming to study in San Diego make sure you have sorted out your living conditions first. The rents and property prices are skyrocketing every year. It can cost about $500,000 for an outdated home in an unideal area of town. A studio apartment can be rented for around $1,479 per month without utilities. However, the rent here is still cheaper than rents in other cities like Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco.
2. It is almost necessary to have a car
Though public transport is there like buses and trolleys, they aren’t the most convenient form of transport. The city is very spread out and you cannot travel everywhere in a bus, as it is not that well-connected. This is tough for students as not everyone can afford to buy a car.
3. Traffic is a problem
Since everyone needs a car, the roads tend to get choked. Though the San Diego highways are great, the cars on the road seem to be increasing every year. And of course, parking woes are there. Due to the increasing number of cars, it is tough to find parking spots in the city.
4. The airport is not the best
If you are an international student and would be visiting home often, then you will be disappointed to know that the San Diego airport is not the best. It is nowhere near as helpful as you would want it to be, for a city of this size. There’s only one runway here so there aren’t many flights out of here. Plus, flying out of there will cost you more than if you went through an airport to the north. Most of the residents end up driving to LAX to fly somewhere because the savings can be significant.
That is it, for our pros and cons of studying in San Diego. Mostly, San Diego is a great city if you find yourself always dreaming of that Californian summer you want to have. A laid back lifestyle, with lots of surfing, chilling on the beach and partying is basically what San Diego is about.
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