Let’s take a moment and talk about everyone’s favorite subject: San Francisco. Ever since I started going to school in San Francisco, and even before I left, people never stopped telling me how amazing it is. Every single person I told about attending school in San Francisco had something to say about it. When you move to San Francisco for college, it means you have decided to give up a “traditional” large college experience for the experience of the most unique city in the United States. That’s a pretty fair trade in my humble opinion. The only guideline you have to know when you move here is to never call San Francisco any of its cringe-worthy abbreviations (Frisco or San Fran). That’s basically it! Throw your societal norms out the window and Google what bars will help you avoid the techies. Now you’re ready for the rarest collegiate experience money (a lot of it) can buy.
While we are on the topic of money…
You never get over the shock of how expensive everything is.
Does San Francisco think I am made of money? Does my landlord realize I am paying the same amount I would pay anywhere else to live in a single-family home to live in a converted attic with three other people? Why does ramen suddenly mean something fancy and expensive? These are all questions I ask myself on a daily basis.
Your campus is a 5-minute walk from Golden Gate Park.
I get it. You are probably thinking, “There are parks everywhere. That’s not that special or crazy. You are jaded by your love of San Francisco. You can’t even see any other city.” You are wrong. Golden Gate Park is a national landmark where you can find colorful people, beautiful scenery, free music festivals, funky roller-skating sessions, hippie hills and magic.
You can cross the length of your campus in 10 minutes.
Even if I am sweating and panting when I make it up the dreaded steps of Lone Mountain, at least I don’t have to go on a 3-mile hike to get from astronomy to Victorian literature.
Your peers are some of the most well rounded intelligent people you’ve ever met.
Change the world from here, right? The students I’ve met at school will forever go down in history as the most enthusiastic and passionate people I’ve ever encountered. They are well informed and willing to fill you in on anything you might be wondering.
Your professors are accessible and seriously cool.
I am an English major and genuinely believe that I have some of the most amazing professors at USF. They are understanding and really into whatever subject they are teaching. I have felt supported and encouraged throughout college by this group of awesome educators.
Your classes are so small that you know everyone’s name (and the professor knows who you are).
You really have to take the good and the bad with this one. On one hand, it’s awesome to always be able to voice your opinion in class or ask a question. On the other hand, it is a struggle to fly under the radar when you stayed up until 3 a.m. binge-watching Disney movies on Netflix and you just want to take a personal day. I have only had one class in all of college where attendance wasn’t a part of my grade.
There is an event somewhere in San Francisco for everything you could possibly want.
It’s also probably free! Music festivals and Etsy meetups galore! You can be into anything from wood working to Corgis and there is definitely a spot in San Francisco to partake in your passions.
Food. Food. Food.
If I came across a briefcase of money, I would spend it on food in San Francisco. Even if you’re not down for a $300 meal, SF still has some of the tastiest treats and food truck fare that won’t leave you crying over your bank statement.
You ride the Muni and have at least three insane stories to tell.
My roommate sat next to a live chicken on a Muni bus once. The chicken belonged to no one; he was just trying to avoid fare checkpoints like the rest of us.
You’ve never met this many characters in your life.
People in San Francisco are colorful and wonderful. The people that were born and raised in San Francisco are the best part of the city.
San Francisco is your playground.
Everything from the bars in the Marina to the food of the Mission is the backdrop for your college experience, and that makes you very lucky. If you ever long for college town bars, tailgates or parties at frat houses, remember that Berkeley is just a Bart ride away, but you get to rest your head in the best city ever.
