Still TBD, haven't booked my ticket yet (I know I know such a slacker) so I'm not sure when I'll be heading out

Kencade - It's in a building with other condos but I'm going to be renting from an individual owner so I don't know anything about other units.

Is the Burns Park area a good place to live?  Specifically near the Packard & Granger intersection.

If you're an older student (I'm 26) I wouldn't necessarily recommend areas like Pacific Beach or Ocean Beach.  Tired beach towns with overgrown frat boys running around isn't always the ideal setting.  I'm not going to school right now, just working but I really wouldn't recommend those areas.

That said, there are great places away from the 5 fwy that are worth looking into.  I live in Kearny Mesa, which is in the midst of developing into a trendy place for young professionals and caters to people who work at the big tech firms around the area.  You get more bang for your buck because you're not right next to the beach, but the beach is only a 10 minute drive away (and for a nice beach you wouldn't go to PB anyway, you'd go to Torrey Pines or the like).

Anyway, just my .02.  I've lived in SD for 3 years now so feel free to PM me if you have any other questions!

Congrats Duck!  I'm starting next summer as well