After-trip report. Confirmed that crosstown in LA would be a bad idea. Took 40 min to get to USC (10 miles) from the airport at 11am diring a holiday week. DS loved USC, liked LMU. Two very different campuses. USC was bigger and more centrally located. LMU was smaller and quieter. Next up was UCSD. Beautiful and expansive campus next to the ocean. Crosstown AFROTC at San Diego State would be too far for comfort. Possible, but would be a struggle. San Diego state was a big campus state school (with AFROTC on campus). DS did not really care for it. University of San Diego was impressive. Beautiful campus and great location with small class sizes (they said their max was 40 students). Crosstown with San Diego State would be very doable. Public transport is available and admissions staff indicated that carpools are common for those doing crosstown ROTC at SDSU.
Not sure if this is going to provide any value but maybe my $.00001c may provide some consideration... - Please, take this as a grain of salt:
During my last 14 months in the USN I served at Coronado teaching a specific group of men in a very elite group for the Navy - gives you an idea of what I did. I also split time with an elite group of Marines at Camp Pendleton. I was their Doc through both training locations, after being deployed for over 6 years with both Marine and Navy Spec Ops units. While my role may be unique my experience is not - hence my comments. As an fyi, I loved my time in the military and still have the closest friends in life from that time but that is another convo.
The USN knew I was getting out and I would not re-enlist even with the bonuses, etc. I was in a great spot for advancing in the USN but I was ready to make the move at 28 years of age. That said, I lived in La Jolla and was offered a job at UCSD as a Trauma Nurse. They held the job for 2 months waiting for me to separate. Why do I say this? San Diego, UCSD, USD and SDSU were instrumental in my later twenties. I was married, and am still - going on 27 years of marriage - and the life, outdoors activity - diving, tri-athalons, mountain biking, motorcycling, beach, DIVING - DIVING - DIVING, people, youth, military, law enforcement, tourism, and year round awesome weather is what I love about San Diego. I do not think you can go wrong with any of those Universities. USD, SDSU, UCSD and Point Loma are great schools. It really comes down to the 'FIT' for you.
Background - I went to San Diego City College (SDCC) during my last year in the USN to finalize a few classes then transferred into UCSD on a TAG agreement. I chose UCSD over SDSU based on the specific program I wanted and because I live 2.1 miles away vs. 8-E to College St./Ave for SDSU. During my first quarter at UCSD I realized, as a veteran, this may not be the right campus for me. Had a run-in with a very ignorant person that bragged about their 2.1 GPA and how they got to that school due to their race - sorry, I believe in merit and the argument did not go over well for that individual as they had no facts or basis, just their feelings - anyway, it is what it is. Additonally, I had a run in with another college student, mind you 19 year old, because they did not like my language in the gym working out. Lol. I was 27 and rolled out from three combat deployments and working out in Marine Corps and USN gyms. Additionally, I was a full time trauma nurse at USCD Level-1 Trauma Life Flight and had to endure kids telling me I was guttural. That is after I saved one to four peoples lives in 12 hours through triage and intubation. That was almost a weekly occurence. My 'exhaust' was at the campus gym which is the floor above the super computer building where I took the majority of my classes. A lot of those people knew who I was. I was still in reserves, with a combat mohawk approved high and tight, and was pretty high speed in class back then. I threw the curve off a few times to say the least on our blue book exams. This does not make me better than anyone else. I am just letting you know my experience - which overall was very good.
Additionally, this is not to discourage your DS - I want him to succeed and be great. Schools in Southern Cal are outstanding. Just make sure it FITS with you. It is a 4 year commitment. Once you sign the paperwork ensure you are bought in fully. UCSD is great on education, and I did excel in honors and had an opportunity (was accepted) to Harvard, but my best time on Friday and Saturday was at SDSU - College campus with a college life.
By the way I did not go to Harvard and also I am not a genius. I just work hard. Really, I work hard and am a team player. I realized at the age of 29 I was not able to live that college life fully due to a full time job and marriage but I can tell you my single friends that left the USN and USMC love, lived and graduated from SDSU. They loved that school and still love it.
Another example, when I call UCSD for a transcript or paperwork requirement that requires an authorization for work, a new job or a transcript request they ask my my student number and refer to me as a student number. When I call my graduate school they refer to me as a person by my first and last name. Big difference IMO. That just happened last week.
Simply put, we all take different routes. I took another route. I went to UCSD and graduated with honors. UCSD is very boring when it comes to college life - my opinion - based on my experience (Warren School). A very focused, very engineering based college. I got a degree in critical thinking. Not a degree in Chemistry and History of Science with a pre-med focus. That is what my diploma says but my _real_ degree was in critical thinking. If you want to talk more directly about those schools let me know. I can offer more information if you are interested. Sorry for the rant.... Had to get that off my chest.
Good luck and God Speed!