California State University-Bakersfield Top Questions

Live everyday like it's your last. You choose where you go it's your life.

After three years of being a college student, the best advice I would pass on to entering freshmen is to love it! Make college a fun experience by taking an interest in the classes, developing new friendships, trying things you never have before, and taking lots of pictures. These four years will be a precious chapter of life in which enduring connections and passions will be uncovered. I would not suggest a first time student to overload his/her schedule the first quarter, because the amount of out-of-class, independent work might come as a surprise - especially to students who found highschool to be exceptionally easy. Share highlights and proud moments with Mom and Dad, and do not be afraid to confide fears and anxiety with them either. Their support will have a profound impact on the success of the student and his/her desire to achieve. Remember that these four years are supposed to be the most adventurous of your life; so fall in love with your education!

My advice to students would be to take time to choose to choose the college that is right for you. Look at many factors such as: campus size, surrounding area, most popular majors, religion affiliation, organizations, cost, etc. These may seem like small factors but they actually can make or break your college experience. So take time to do research on each of your choices and then visit them to make a final decision. Keep in mind that this will be your home for 4 years so you want to choose the school that is right for you. Don't choose a college because your friend is going or you want to follow a significant other; choose a college becuase it's best for you and what you're tryingto achieve. Secondly, when you go to college it is important to make the best of your experience. Join organizations, run for offices, make the good grades, meet new people, and try things that you've never tried before. It's all about experimenting. I believe when people say college are the best years of your life so make the most of it because it will surely go by fast.

I would tell parents and or students that in order to find the right college you need to find yourself in that college. Find your best qualities and look for them in the schools your interested in. Don't just look at what majors are offered or how much it costs. Look at the social costs as well. Your experiences in college shape you into the personal and professional person you will become. In order to be successful in college it takes a great amount of effort, but that effort shouldn't just come from you. The school, your professors, your peers, your coaches, and you all play a part in how successful and enjoyable your college experience is. The one thing I tell every freshmen I meet is to get involved. You can make college whatever you want it to be, and become whoever you want to be at this time in your life. The first step is deciding what school your going to make this journey at.

Decide what is most important to you and find the college that has THAT first and foremost. Then use other things that you want in a school to make a final decision.

The biggest disappointment about college is the lack of challenge, so the best advice I can offer a person looking for a college is to make sure you understand the major description you have chosen. If you need to call or email professors in the department, do so and ask tons of questions. Also get a roster with all the possible professors in your major choice and go to "ratemyprofessor.com". If there is not a great selection of professors then it's most likely not going to be an enjoyable exerience at that university. You are paying for an education , so make sure you are getting what you pay for. If you get lost in a class and don't feel like you are getting the material the go to the professors office hours or email the professor. Most students wait until they are almost done with school before they ask for help. The more envolved you are on campus the better experience you will have.

When picking out a college make sure the student will enjoy being on the campus. Liking the campus has a lot to do with being able to go to class and being happy. If a student is happy about where he or she atends, then they are more likely to be invovled in the school. Therefore, would lead them to have a great college experience. Being able to be comfortable in a school will promise you being to study well and get along with peers and professors at the school. Make sure the college you do choose you research its programs, sports, social activities, and anything else that will help you make the most of your college experience. If you enjoy the school you are at, you will enjoy learning at it also. That college experience will stay with you all your life and help bulid your character for your future career and yourself. So, make a wise choice that you know will have fun with and get the most out of.

I would recommend that they take the time to visit many campuses and do the research about the schools. Find out what the surrounding area is like, how big the class sizes are, what extra-curricular options are available through the school. For athletes, I would say that you should not choose a school exclusively on the fact that you can play there. It is important that there is another aspect to college that the sport that is being played, and outside things should be a big factor. Part of making it through four years of a college sport is the ability to have outside activities. Of course the sport takes up a lot of time, but if you are not at a school with people you like, an environment you enjoy, and amenities that allow for enjoyable time, you will not be as happy. I would recommend that the student really anaylse if he will be ok far from parents or home, and take that into consideration. Most importantly, you are not cemented to the school you choose; if you hate it, you can leave and there are resouces available for a smooth transfer.

I would tell students to choose the college that would best suit their desires. They need to look for the college that provides them with the greatest opportunities, education wise and career wise. It is good to do research on several different colleges and choose which one will best fit their specific needs and wants.

While I love the academic experience I'm getting at CSUB, the campus also seriously lacks social activities for students. I'm not an extremely social person but I do feel like I'm missing out on some important, fun activities with my peers. Initially it didn't bother me, as I was concentrated solely on academics. However, as my time in college draws to an end, I'm feeling a bit of regret at choosing price and education over everything else. My advice would be to try and find a school that has a good balance of both social activities and educational experience.

When deciding the right college look at a school that has the most resources available for studying, your health etc. , student life, the backgrounds of the university is substancial , and the college offers a good financial package. Also look for a school that has your major and lots of program and opportunity for a person to use to his or her full advantages. For me when choosing a school, i look for, is the school near a church for me to wordship at , and does the school have lots of resources for my major. When attending the college have fun make the best out of it , but remember college is a previledge not a right, so do the best you can , dont procrastinate till the last minute, spend your money wisely, and take advantage of every opportunity handle out to you.

I went back to college to obtain my Bachelor's degree with a wife and five children. If there is anything I could say, or advice I could give, it would be to follow your dreams no matter how unattainable they may seem. I found that setting a goal and having a reason to see it through, in my case my family, helped me to perservere even when it felt like I couldn't take anymore. For parents, help your children to seek out colleges that focus on education over socialization. Everyone should have the opportunity for balance, but education and the pursuit of a career should always remain the priority. From a young age we should encourage our children to set life goals and then give them the tools to obtain them. My wife and I both returned to school to show our children even under the most dire of circumstances any dream can be realized if you believe in what you're doing. The only difference between a successful and an unsuccessful student is their level of desire. "You've got to want it to win it and we want it more!"

The most important thing about college experiences is that they are worth remembering forever. I would advice students looking for the "perfect" college or university to keep their options wide and their minds open. Every college and/or universities has their strengths as well as weakness. So they should make the most of what they have. Be optimistic and happy. With a positive attitude, anyone can gain the ability to enrich their learning experiences. Make good relationships, volunteer, help the community, and the environment!

I would have to say that you need to find a school that best suits your needs. If you are more of a person who likes the one on one with your professors then look for a smaller school, it all just depends on what your needs are and what you want to get out of your college experience. Just remember that there will always be time for parties and hanging out and getting an education that can last you a lifetime is something priceless so find the place that will help you achieve what you want.

Research the school and make campus visits to see if the atmosphere is something you would like.

College should not be just a place that individuals pass through to get degrees for occupations. College is an important part of learning in life that does not only teach us how to test experiments or write papers, but teaches us how to grow within ourselves as individuals with responsibilities. College teaches us how to interact, collaborate, and compromise with other individuals; how to work not as a group of people but as a team of people, and at the same time preserve our individuality and independence. It is our experiences in college and the characters that we build that we will carry throughout the rest of our professional lives. The values we learn here are the values we are going to show our co-workers, our friends, and most importantly, our family. Most people meet their life-long friends in college, and some meet their future spouses in college. So when choosing the right college, one should not only consider the quality of education or the popularity of that campus; one should also consider the quality of the the student body, the faculty, the staff, and the overall campus environment, because college will choose what your future will be.

Consider what the cost is, and the distance.

Visit the school early. Make sure that the school you go to is right for the major, or interrests, you want.

Decide what school to go to based on what you want to do. Don't let parents or friends dictate where you go. Find a college with a thriving student life and be involved!

My best advice to finding the right college would be follow your heart. That feeling you get when you know this is where you should be. A place where you can see all your goals coming true. For me that was in the desert of Bakersfield believe it or not. When I met the softball team there for the first time, I felt so welcomed. They were going to be my family for the next 4 years I thought. And it has always been my dream to play college ball and pursue exercise science as my major; so I can help young athletes like myself one day. Cal State Bakersfield offered me that. So parents and students need to find a college that they feel will help prepare them for a bright future with a great college experience. Follow your heart, and know anything is possible. You can attend any achool you want. Don't be deterred by all the keen students that apply, there is always a spot for the determined. And that I am, determined. Determined to succeed and continue in college until I earn my master's degree.

The advice I would give is choose WISELY. I initially chose to go to a private university down south because I thought : It's a private school so I'll get a better education. After my first year I realized that it WASN'T any better than a traditional four year school. My professors didn't interact with students AT ALL. They came to class between "work," usually some sort of study they were currently working on and left promptly when class was over. I NEVER saw a teacher outside of the classroom. I also ended up paying around $28,000 for that year. At California State Bakersfield, I receive financial aid, not a lot, but enough to pay my tuition and for my books for the quarter. I ALWAYS see my professors outside of class and they are always available during their office hours. The class sizes are a little bigger than at the private school, but the professors have assistants, so it's not really an issue. You might THINK that you want some big, fancy school, but in the end, an education is an education. So choose wisely and weight out your pros and cons carefully.

The advice I will give parents and students when they are looking for the right college is to see if it fits you so, you are not an odd person there. Also, make sure to see if the school is on a quarter or a semester system. Sometimes students have a hard time adjusting to different system. Living in the dorms is not always the best idea for a first time student. It can be hard to live with people who party a lot and want you to join them. Try to live close to the college that you want to go to. It will be really helpful when you need help with your homework from a professor or someone else. Some students get really depressed from being away from their families. Remember moving far away from you family is sometimes not the best idea. But sometime you just have to do things that you don?t want to do; for example, moving far away from your family to go to school. Make sure they have good administration and nice and helpful professors. Finding the right school can be hard. Good luck and have fun finding the right school :)

iT is best to visit each campus iff possible.