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Veteran Comes Home to USF
After a childhood outside Sacramento, six years in the Air Force, three deployments in Afghanistan, and two years at Sierra Community College, Tyler Marcum, Economics '19, arrives at USF with a rich resume — and high hopes.
Why did you choose USF?
San Francisco is an epicenter of opportunity. Culture, internships, jobs, exploration — there’s no other place like it. Also, USF is a Yellow Ribbon school, which means it’s military friendly. The G.I. Bill has made a private education accessible to me.
What's your major, and why?
Economics. I like looking at the laws of supply and demand to see how humans behave. I see the flow of goods and services. I see needs and wants. Demand gives producers an incentive to create. Demand can lift people out of poverty. To me, economics is a great way to quantify human progress.
USF is a Yellow Ribbon school, which means it’s military friendly. The G.I. Bill has made a private education accessible to me."
Your favorite spot in the city?
A few weeks ago, I hiked up Mount Davidson and looked at the cross on top. To see that massive Christian symbol in a secular city is kind of a surprise. And then I saw a plaque that said the current cross commemorates the Armenian genocide of 1915. That got me thinking and wondering about human progress.
How did you find an apartment?
Craigslist. I found a studio a block from campus. The rent is the equivalent of a mortgage payment in some other places, but that’s supply and demand for you. It’s worth it!
Why should I apply to USF?
During my school search, I found that USF students do well in the world for two reasons. First, they’re taught by amazing professors who challenge them and open them up. I’ve certainly been challenged in my first two months of school here, and I’d be disappointed if I wasn’t challenged. Second, students get connected to alumni and to the city of San Francisco. USF has deep roots in the city; that’s a real asset for students.
