Fall semester classes begin today for around 31,000 students at San Diego State University and about 10,000 more at Cal State San Marcos.
At SDSU, there are 4,100 incoming freshmen, 3,800 new transfers and 1,800 new graduate students, according to the school. The new undergraduate students have an overall grade-point average of 3.6 and Scholastic Aptitude Test score of 1,085.
"I am really looking forward to the wonderful learning experiences I'll be presented with at San Diego State," said Mackenzie Aiken, a national advanced placement scholar with a 4.6 grade-point average at El Capitan High School.
"I'm excited to explore the intellect and insight available to me as a student", she said.
Because of her advanced instruction, she already earned 41 college credits before entering SDSU.
Students will find construction continuing on the new student union that's replacing Aztec Center, and renovation work at Storm and Nasitir Halls, classroom buildings on the west side of campus.
CSUSM will welcome more than 1,800 freshmen more than 1,400 new transfer students. A student-organized reception with food and live music is on tap at 5:30 p.m. at Clarke Terrace.
The University of San Diego begins its fall semester next week, and UC San Diego starts later in September.
