First Year Experience
The First Year Experience program is designed to help new students get acclimated to the USD community and begins even before classes start. The New Student Orientation jump starts the FYE for students, which has an academic and residential component.
The academic component is the Preceptorial Program, where students are placed in a small class in which the professor acts as an academic advisor and a current student is the “preceptorial assistant”. The professor provides academic counseling to students regarding which classes to take and an explanation of the core curriculum. The preceptorial assistant acts as a mentor to new students and a point of contact for any inquiries about life at USD. The preceptorial assistant gives students a better understanding of what to expect the upcoming semester.
The residential life component is important because nearly all freshmen live on campus. FYE Resident Assistants work with residents in their hall to establish a respectful and inclusive community. The residential living and learning experience at USD seeks to establish a strong academic community that supports student learning outside the classroom. Students in first year halls will see information and have the opportunity to attend programs designed to help them begin successful college careers.
Summer Send–offs
Want to meet some of your future classmates who live in your area? The summer before entering USD, the Office of Parent Relations hosts Summer Send–offs in cities throughout the country. This social gathering allows students and parents to meet other new students from their region and connect with current students and their families before arriving at USD. Check the MySanDiego portal for more information on where these programs will take place.
Living Learning Communities
As a part of the First Year Experience program, all incoming freshmen are housed in Living Learning Communities (LLC). Each LLC has its own distinct theme and provides a unique, customized residential experience in which freshmen are housed with students who share similar interests. LLCs offer a variety of activities and provide access to resident faculty members, all of which serves to foster a true sense of community amongst residents.
Torero Life
The Torero Life is one of vibrancy and variation. With a multitude of clubs, organizations, and events for students, campus life is teeming with activities that offer something for everyone!
Residential Life
Living on campus allows for an easy and exciting transition to life at USD. Residence halls provide students with a tight-knit community of peers while also allowing for immediate access to classes, faculty, and on-campus events.
