California State University-Los Angeles Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

shahram

try harder, and don't think about money alot, becase money comes from different way. this was the most importatnt that i was worry about it, v=because i was not able to pay my registration. but in additional, i am very happy about my way that ia am going, there only money can help me to pay my classes ang get success as soon as possible.

demimarie

The advice I would give myself is be open minded to learning different ways, to interacting with different types of people and be very friendly. Everyone in college is trying their best to succeed so instead of being competetive, be a friend and supportive. Try to help as many people as you can succeed because they'll help you as best they can. Always go visit your professor in office hours and introduce yourself, it makes a world of a difference when your professor knows you a little more personally than just a student who comes to class. Interact in class and really engaged in the material that is taught. Lastly, take classes that interest you and take risks because that is where all the fun comes from in college. Collectively, all these tips will make for a great college experience.

Jie Hui Jeffrey

This is a really great chance of go back to talk to myself of how was college life like and what I could do to get into a better school. I think this is a great ways for me to do better in my senoir year and get better grades. Going back in time to talk to myself of what was the transition of going to college is different than high school is another way to help myself in the future. The advice that I would give to myself is traffic and going to CSULA in the East will always has traffic and Cal State Poly Pomona has little traffic. Another advice is other CUS program university has better academic like Cal State Poly Pomona and when it comes to final in college, college finals are much harder and more stressful than high school in finals week.

Eileen

If it was possible and i had the chance to do it, i would tell myself to listens to all my teachers and everyone else that was there for me and tried their best to help me succeed. I would tell myself to take all my classes serious and stop joking around and to stay away from certain people and to save up money and finish things that are making my life complicated now due to money difficulties. the mai9n thing I would tell myself to listen to the adivce of my parents, because they came from a different enviornment and they went through a rough path just to give us a better life and to be an example of what they had to struggle and work for just to get me and my sisters here to a better life. Also to push myself and work hard at what i want to achieve and that one day when i have what i worked fro help my parents and make them feel proud. Thats the pep talk i would give myself.

Maggie

My school background makes this an interesting and technically impossible question. I entered the Early Entrance Program at thirteen, enrolling at CSULA as a full-time college freshman. As such, I never actually entered high school, putting me in the interesting position of being a middle-school dropout with a BA. That said, I could still think of plenty of things to tell my eighteen-year-old self. I never developed anything resembling a social life, since I was more focused on academics. I kept telling myself that I'd socialize later, but that never happened. I also could and should have done a better job preparing to enter grad school, keeping better track of requirements and getting in my applications ahead of time. I think the thing that hurt me most was the fact that I more or less stumbled through college, and in hindsight, it seems miraculous that I eventually graduated. If I could give myself a single piece of advice, I'd keep it simple. I'd start by smacking my younger self to get her attention (I was borderline solipsistic), before shouting "Make plans! Make friends! Get a clue! You'll thank me in two years!"

Vivian

If I could go back to young and naive high school senior that I was ,I would advise myself to take my time and put more effort into studying than my social life and work life. I would also advise myself to save money for college and not to spend my money on unneccesary items.

Nuri

There are so many things I would say to myself if I could go back in time. The most important thing that I would tell myself would be to take a step back, breathe, really think about what my goal is and draw out a map before beginning the journey. I did really well in highschool. I earned high grades, took advanced placement classes, and participated in a college preparedness program. I was so focused on being ready for college and getting things done. I thought I knew where I was going but I look back now and realise that I was running a race without knowing where the finish line was. What I knew then was that I wanted to be a Music Therapist, that has not changed, but my journey has become more complicated. If I had drawn out a map I would have known to look for a school with a Music Therapy program and focus on getting accepted there and not just on getting into college. From the detour I've taken I have learned a lot but having a well thought out map would have been helpful.

Jessica

Your turning 18 on May 28th and then you're going to legally be an adult. Meaning you will have to start thinking about finances in college, and wether or not you can afford going to college. There's all kinds of scholarships out in the world that are giving away thousands of dollars, but with your GPA im just not sure you're going to make the cut. I know you're bombarded with all your classes, but you should look into scholarships that are need based or that dont need a minimum GPA. You are a smart and bright girl but in this world not everyone will see that. You have to make your own living and not depend so much on your parents anymore. Atleast now you know what it's like to have a low GPA— and to realize all the harm it can do to you by not letting you attend and/or finish college. Goodluck, but remember, no one will help you out unless you help yourself first.

Brittney

I would encourage myself to get involved in groups, go to workshops, clubs, and sports. Study hard and take your time. Make sure you do your research on what colleges you would like to attend. Visit many different colleges and talk to many different advisors/counselors. Ask questions and don't be afraid. Don't just settle for something; get what you want.

Tracy

My advice to myself as a high school senior would be attending community college after high school. Students who attend community colleges save a lot of money and the professors are much more hands-on. At community college, students can take a different variety of classes to find what interests them, simultaneously helping them narrow down to their intended major. The cost per unit for classes at junior college is less than half of what students at universities pay. It is easy to raise GPA and there are many resources on campus that will help students a guaranteed transfer to university. Since classes are smaller, professors are able to reach out to and help students who are struggling. Community colleges give students a taste of what university life will be like. Therefore, the transition from a junior college to university will not be as difficult as the transition from high school straight to university.

Valerie

If I could advise my high school-self, I would say find balance in life and let things go! I am still learning those points as a 24-year-old, but am realizing their importance; they have become my mantras. In academics, I would tell my younger self to find a balance in classes, neither taking on too little nor too much, in the workload, neither letting myself get too overwhelmed and slacking off nor working too hard and killing myself, and in extracurricular activities, neither avoiding clubs and events which help to create a whole new outlook on a young life nor doing too much to the detrement of my degree. In high school and in the beginning of college, I struggled to find a balance with these, often falling too much to either side. Because of that, I was very hard on myself and focused on small issues, blind to the big picture. So, I would also tell my younger self to let the little things go, whether they be a couple sub-par grades, a party missed in favor of doing schoolwork, or a slightly later graduation date. In the end, what matters is getting there!

Daniel

Finishing my freshman year in college I wish I could go back to high school and change my mind set. To all those mentors and parents who always told me to do my best and keep good grades thank you. Listen to your teachers take advantage and make the best of the gift of education. High school is no joke; colleges will only accept you based on your resume. If you’re an athletic like me I would manage my time on school and sports because in order to be a successful athletic it begins in the class room. I regret not taking advantage of tutoring to maintain a high grade point average. Get involve more in the community by joining clubs and organization offered on campus. I would encourage myself to take on more AP classes as you will learn in college it is a time and money saver. Start looking into what career you might wish to pursue. This will give you the opportunity to start building on your skills and experience within that work filed. Apply for internships or join work related programs that will give you the upper hand on other candidates in the future.

Alana

Try to get involved on campus right off the bat. Get all the tutoring help you need and don't neglect your studies for a party. Also keep in contact with old teachers that taught hard subject because you never know when you might have to remember that old information for some type of entrance exam. Be confident in what you believe in, but don't be afraid to try something new if it can adavance your studies. Also live on campus for at least one year if you can and SAVE your money, you don't have to go out to eat ALL time even if your friends want to.

Jesse Anthony

I would tell my high school self to take high school more seriously and to take better classes that will prepare me for my major. I would also tell myself to take some college courses over the summer to get a head start and to start saving money.

Madalyn

Hello, past Maddy! I have some advice for you about college. First things first, pick Cal State L.A. because it really helps you transition from high school to college. You know that you are not that independent and this college really helps you with that and makes you feel very comfortable. Next, STOP BEING SHY AND START TALKING TO PEOPLE SO YOU CAN MAKE FRIENDS!! I (your furture you) am going to be finishing up my first year in college and so far I have just made two friends. Trust me when I say this: you have had much more fun with just one friend than you did without any! Last bit of advice that I am going to give you is to talk with professors and advisors to help guide you in the right direction towards graduating. Your first quarter was a disaster because you chose undergrad classes that you did not need. It really helps when you talk with an advisor because they help you make your schedule and they help you pick the right classes. So that is my advice to you and you can either take it or leave it. (hint: TAKE THE ADVICE!)

magdalena

Looking back as a high school senior, I will tell myself to be more motivated in college. Have more dicipline towards my goals and accept greater challenges in college. Think about more accurate and imporant goals. I will tell myself that when you go to college, never miss an opportunity to challenge yourself and set your goals straight. Look into what major is best for you. Attend as many events as you can. Look into what kinds of jobs you can apply to on campus. Its also important to learn more and partipate in community service. In college there is more seriousness in school work and the relationship between you and your professor changes drastically. You may not have time to hang out with your friends since you get to make your own schedule so time is very conflict. When you go to college, you will change because once you are there college changes you. But one thing to keep in mind is to never lose yourself and remember who you are.

Stephanie

I would tell myself to keep up in my grades, ignore everything that does not have to do with school. School is the main priority at this point and the sky is the limit, if I work hard during High School it will pay off in the future and it would be worth it. I would also tell myself that most of the things that are occupying my mind in high school will not matter in a matter of few years, life has great things waiting for you and its up to you to discover them, no one else is going to do the work for you. I would also have told my self to join many clubs and be more involved in programs that could have help you prospered. Most of all, i would tell myself to never give up, theres always a way, you were put on this earth for a reason, take advantage of your education love it, live it, and be one with it. Expand your mind, the sky is your limit, read, study, write, and brainstorm!

sean

I would tell myself to pick a major that will best help me find a career. It's tough finding a job when you choose a major that can be considered worthless. I would have finished school much faster and I would be employed instead of having to go back to school to get a certificate in finance. Basically, make better choices and don't mess around as much. There will plenty of fun things to do after graduating and becoming fiscally sound.

Allison

As my future self, I only feel it is right to interfer as I watch my high school self struggle with the mystery that is college. I decided to step in, and maybe change the direction my life will go for the good! With a knock on the door, I stood on the steps of where I use to live. "Allison? It's me, well, you, from the future. Before you slam that door in my face, please hear me out! I have important information you must hear- about college!" With a puzzled look on my past self's face, I continued, "First off, learn everything you can from the classes you choose! You can take CLEP exams to earn college credit, get financial aid help, and even student loans! Also, never be afraid to ask questions. Be true to who you are, and never give up- believe in yourself! Keep motivated, keep wanting to learn new information, and be active in activities around campus, you never know what good can come from clubs! Be ambitious, study hard, do not waste college- it determines who you will become! Reach for the stars, my friend, listen to me and achieve greatness!"

soledad

Stay ahead of your studys and focus on your goal because is not easy and no one is going to make it easy for you.

Toni

My advice to my high school senior self is do not go to college directly after high school. Go into the military instead and let them pay for your school. I say this because I entered college and I'm about to finish my first year and probably won't be able to return next year. My parents cosigned a loan for my first year and I filled out my FAFSA and got the Stafford loan which wasn't enough to cover tuition. For my sophomore year my parents will not cosign a loan and I received the Stafford loan again and right now I have $5,500 for school. Even if I go to a different school now and have the military pay for my schooling, my credits probably won't transfer because my school has different requirements from other states. Entering the military you will go to school where you are stationed or take online classes. The school I go to now doesn't have my degree fully online. So basically I wasted a year of college and about $30,000 because it will probably have to be repeated somewhere else.

Bryan

If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would probably start off by slapping myself in the face for taking senior year easy instead of taking classes to help me get ahead in college. Big mistake slacking off senior year. I would tell myself that my first two years of college will be awful and boring, the classes I'll be taking will be with 70 students or more, that the work won't be challenging and I'd have to work hard at staying focused. I'd tell myself how much it hurt seeing the look of disappointment in mom's eyes when I told her I failed out of college the first time time around for not attending classes. I'd tell myself how hard it was going to be trying to make ends meet after being thrown out of the house. But I'd also tell myself to take solace that I could always go back to school and try again. That while nobody can go back and make a new beginning, anybody can start now and make a new ending.

Linda

I would have said: You need to believe in yourself and in your abilities. Don't let others get you down and don't believe the negative things said to you. You ARE smart and BEAUTIFUL, in fact, you are much smarter than you and others give you credit for. If you believe in yourself you will make it happen. You are also a much stronger person than you realize. Life will throw some low blows, but you will not only overcome, you will thrive and become the person you always wanted to be. You are AWESOME!

Sandra

I would ask myself to really think about what it means to be a nurse. Do I really want to work long hours, stick needles into people? Or do I want to inform people about better choices for their health and help them prevent illnesses? I would have gone straight into the Nutritional Science program. I would have joined the Student Dietetic Association much sooner. I have met many great people, but I would inform myself that those people, although they are older, are actually very willing to help me. The people I met my first year will actually be very good friends in the future and could help me if I ever needed advice in opeining my own consultation office. The people are friendly, helpful, and I would tell myself the importance of networking and time management. I would also tell myself to move out of housing and rent an apartment. It is much cheaper and I could save that money for summer classes. Most of all I would tell myself tha nothing is impossible and to never give, but most of all to enjoy myself and to do what I love and keep helping people.

Amberly

First I would tell myself. "stop procrastinating and doing your work in the middle of night!" Second i would tell myself that I dont need to be so stressed out about college but that I need to work and give it my best. Lastly I would tell myself to talk to more people because in college you will need contacts in class.

Jeffrey

I chose to go to Community College, for two reasons; to save money, and my grades were not up to par when compared to other students at my school. I was glad with how my time went at community college and I would only tell myself to work as hard as I can so that I can instill that work ethic that I may have not fully grasped before I transferred to a university. The one thing that I wish that I had known would shape my future, was my love for teaching. I would have told my high school self to pursue teaching directly after receiving my Bachelor's degree. If I had known that I had a true love for teaching, I would have pursused it instantly. I do not regret my time working before going back to school because my work with children are what led me to my love for teaching, but I always wondered what could have been possible if I had pursued my teaching credentials when I was a couple years younger. I am now pursuing that same degree, so I have no regrets, but those thoughts still linger at times.

yvette

If i could back and talk to my senior self in high school I would let myself know to get more involved and take adavantage of the opportunities given in public schools. It is true what they say, "you dont know what you have untill it is gone". In high school, everything was free, from books to classes to lunch . As we all know, none of that exist in colleges. We have to pay for everything we want and need. Towards the end of high school, being a senior to meant to me and others as well that there was no need to be in class. We would show up to school and just walk around campus while there were still lectures being taught in classrooms. Since we weren't paying for it, well, it didn't really matter to us. However, no that it is the complete opposite we have to show up to class whether we want to or not. We are the ones paying for that seat in class and education being given. If we don't show up, then it is as if we are throwing all that money down the drain.

Kaitlin

If I could go back two years ago, I'm not sure my high school self would like what I would say. I learned many life lessons in my year and a half in college. During high school I was a kind of laid back person who just took things as they came. I tried this technique in college, though I consider myself a good student, I know I did not reach my potential in my first year. I was extremely disappointed in myself. If I could tell my high school self anything, it's that some decisions can't be made just when they come along. I would say that I need to start looking at the big picture and take life more seriously, because this is the most important time in your life, and you will never be able to get it back.

suzanne

If I were given the chance, I would tell myself to remember the little things teachers had taught me. For instance, the times table chart or in my life skills class when the teacher would talk about how to act during a interview. I never really realized college was a step closer to becoming an adult. I would tell myself to focus on everything and anything the teachers had to say. I was very naive because I assumed everything could be done for me in college like in high school. In high school you do not choose the teacher you want nor the time you wanted to have a certain class not even the food to eat. I had felt very comfortable with that lifestyle and I wish I would have prepared myself more by becoming more independent. I would tell myself to stay motivated because in high school i did not care so much but now looking back at it, i could have had a great GPA and amazing SAT scores. Even though many told me to try my best I wish I could have told myself, you can do your best.

Nancy

If I could go back in time I would still opt to attend this college. I think one of my only complaints for this school is that orientation for incoming freshmen is very poor. I didn't understand the difference between part-time and full-time status. I only registered part-time and as a consequence my financial aid eligibility was greatly affected. I would definitely tell 18 year old Nancy "Ask questions if you are not sure of something!" I would also encourage myself to be more involved in school and extra-curricular activities. Social networking is very important for developmental and personal growth. I know that now, but I didn't before. I was more focused on just the academic component of my college experience and didn't explore the other opportunities that CSULA has to offer. I think it is crucial that every college student join a student organization whether it be a sorority/fraternity, sport, etc...College by all means is a time to solidify the skills that will help us in our future endeavors and professions, but it's also a time to enjoy our friends and experience the world as independent adults.

Marie

If I could go back and tell myself something it would be to take care of me and not everyone else. I spent a great deal of time care taking others and letting my life revolve around what others were doing or not doing. What I have come to realize and accept is that what I was really doing was constantly running from myself. I wasn't comfortable living in my own skin. I would say to be more gentle and compassionate with myself, to take the time to learn who I was and what I was interested in, rather than adapting to the interests of those around me. All of which would have lead up to staying in school and not dropping out after I received my 2 year degree, to push forward and to step out of my comfort zone and that everything is going to be ok. That some day all of the chaos and heart ache of watching friends die wouldn't be so painful and that all of this experience doesn't make me a victim, but a survivor that will help me to help others like me.

Faisal

Take advantage of all the possible resources available to you because what's free in high school could save you tons of money in college. You will be surprised to discover how far you will get in college and how much easier it will become when you prepare for it. Aim for the highest possible academic excellence and the rewards will huge. You must never underestimate yourself because you are capable of great things. When you find motivation, you find success. You may not see it manifest now, but know that your success in high school will follow you throughout college. Trust me, you will pat yourself on the back and be thankful you took advantage of what was available in high school. You must find motivation not only in success, but also in what you feel passionate in learning about. Find your meaning in college by first rediscovering yourself. When you discover yourself, you will discover your goals in education and that should be all the motivation you need to succeed with golden stars and graduate. And when you graduate and "work at a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life" - Confucius.

Blanca

College life is wonderful. Take your time to study but if you are in LA enjoy the city. CSULA allows you to grow professionally, personally, and culturally.

Esteban

I would tell myself to have read more books about psychology and the self, to become a more productive athlete and person. It would have made me stronger minded and more mature. Also i would tell myself to stay on the right path toward my education cause the future self is not doing bad at all so do not worry about going to ELAC and transferring to CAL ST LA, since it is not a bad school at all. That is basically it, i have no regrets at this point so far.

Jacqueline

Hello my naïve friend, following our friends avoiding the afternoon classes. I hear you thinking of excuses to tell the parents when the phone rings revealing our absence. How glorious you feel doing something so taboo. How care free life is lacking in any consequences. Well my friend the consequences will soon slap you in the face and our "pals" are nowhere to be found. The thrills you felt will shortly be replaced with humiliation. You know your smart, but our effortless A’s and B’s will be destroyed with our lack of attendance. “Just this once” will result in everyday. The persuasive callings from our classmates will not be there come time to face our educators. I beg you avoid the temptation, go to class, and do our homework. This will drastically improve our future and open the doors for scholarships thus preventing working forty hours a week to pay for school. Expel the thought that we will not attend college. You will and you are. Take my advice friend and skip the hardships realize now in order to have a career action needs to be taken immediately and it will drastically improve and ease our future.

India

India, first thing you need to do is get money (grants, scholarships and contests). This is very important, because you have no idea how annoying borrowing money is. You'll be in debt before you even leave school. Second, look for a bargain on a car now. Having to ask your parents for their car just to go to sociology is also annoying and frustrating, especially when they work during the day and can't give you the car and the public transportation in your town stops running at 5pm. Third, don't put any money in the stock market, it will tank dramatically again(words of wisdom). Fourth, don't go into engineering, it turns out there aren't alot of engineering jobs where you live and you will lose your love for it anyway. You know what they say, what you don't like as a career, you can possibly love as a hobby. Fifth and finally, go to a community college or trade school, this guarantees you a degree and possibly a career at the end of 2 years, instead of a degree, more debt, and a job(not in your field of study) in 4.

Sarah

If I were to go back in time to talk to myself, I would simply advise my old self to be prepared. Then, I would advise my old self that when I think I'm prepared, then prepare some more, because attending college has a great deal to do with preparation. I was in no shape or form ready for college, and I would have really loved to have been prepared and have had a vast knowledge about what I was going to do when I got to college. Making the transition is tough, and quite confusing. That is why, I would advise my old self to do much more planning in advance prior to the start of college. I would be well organized, and ready to take on college, and even the world. Accomplishing a well prepared and planned out guide would allow a much more smoother flow of attending college, and a clearer path to obtaining my goals then what I had experienced. In a nutshell, I would give the advice of prepare, prepare, and prepare some more!

petra

The advice i would give myself is, i would tell myself to do more scholarships. I would most definitely encourage myself to work on scholarships during my free time. They really come in handy when it comes to college. I would also have encouraged myself to work harder on my math and re-take the elm/ept exams.

Celia Elena

If I could go back in time and give myself advice when I was a high school senior I would say: Celia college is not all fun and games. College takes a lot of determination and hard work. You will need to focus and study a lot. Right now I know you can't wait to get out of high school but don't be in such a rush. Concentrate on finishing off strong that way you can go to the university you've been longing to go to. You are a smart girl with big dreams and goals but in order to accomplish these goals you need to start now. Forget about your guy problems and forget about the drama, soon all of those things wont matter. Soon you will be getting ready to apply to different colleges. While you apply, apply for colleges outside of California. I know it sounds scary now but trust me theres so much more to see outside of California. You will be fine and your family will always be here supporting you. Focus and prepare yourself for what will come next. I promise you it will be the best experience of your life.

Daniel

If I could go back and tell myself anything, it would be that I need to get some rigorous research experience in my field. To get ahead in any employment or graduate program requires already having experience. In addition to doing community volunteer work and filling leadership positions in clubs and programs, having the most rigorous research position that provides skills and experience that are likely to be current in the field is essential. I would tell myself that it is important not to take the first opportunity that comes up, but to look for an opportunity that is in the most challenging and represents the most up-and-coming area of my chosen field. This means looking at which professors teach the upper division classes that are applicable and going to speak with them about their research. Additionally, it means asking other researchers on campus about the work being done in labs that might be considered. Finally, I would say that it is essential to apply myself, during the last three to four quarters, to getting valuable research experience.

Elizabeth

Do not not get completely absorded in any one thing, make sure you balance out academics, work, friends and other school activites. The point of attending college is to study so make sure your classes are a priority. With that said do not forget to have a little fun because college only lasts for a short time. Make friends and build those relationships that will last a life time. Do not stress so much over things that do not work out as planned. Simply relax and approach the problem from a logical perspective, because if you use your emotions you could make an unwise decision. Do not sit around and wait for firends to find you, go out and make contact with people on your own. After a little while you will forget that C you got on a paper, but you will forever remember the fun you had and the memories you made along the way. Do not worry, you have a whole life ahead of you!

Dora

I would tell myself to stay focused and watch out for people who would stray you away from the wrong path. Also I would advise myself to study more and take the SAT and ACT. I would tell myself to apply to all the colleges near by and in the Maryland area and apply for more jobs, or stay focused on the one I had now. Keep up the good work with the grades and push myself. Continue with any sports. Make sure to establish some financial aid plan along with some financial stability

Syrena

I would tell myself that procratination doesn't pay off in any way. I would tell myself to stay up on top of information,schoolwork and important dates. The most important thing I would tell mself is that you get what you put in, you can't expect to get a B when yo didn't do the work to get the B. Also that last minute doing work will give you what you deserved.

Jacob

What I have gained from my college experience is the perseverance and determination I need to acomplish any task or obstacle that I incounter in my every day life. That includes my work, my relationships, my family, and my continued school work. I have learned so much from all of the classes I have attended and have learned very vauluable information and study skills from all of my instructors. It has taught me to deal with difficult situations and especially difficult individuals through the many group projects I have accomplished as well as the every day interactions with instrutors, students, and faculty members. I found it very valuable to have to interact with individuals from multicultural back rounds who i may have not interacted with if it was not required to. I have been able to grow as an idividual through the diffrent experiences i have encountered in my college career and I am continuing to grow still to this day. College has just been an amazing, fun, hard, stressfull, and life changing experience that will forever have a influence over my self and my future.

Eric

Going to CSULA has exposed me to an entirely new world filled with diverse people and has taught me different ways to think. Before college, I went to school with the same people, day in and day out. I had grown accustomed to my middle class suburban neighborhood. However, going to a public school in Eastern Los Angeles with easy access to public commute showed me a whole different part of the world. CSULA has a very diverse student body, with students of all ages, ethnicities, and incomes. I was able to meet several peers in my classes who came from totally different backgrounds. The way my peers acted was very different from what I was used to, as they had been raised much differently than the people from my neighborhood. When we collaborated together for schoolwork, they introduced me to different ways of thinking to better reach an educated conclusion. Being shown these different viewpoints has helped me determine how to best make decisions in tough situations. My college experience has helped me learn how to better interact with the people around me and has helped me develop new and better ways of thinking.

Matilde

I have to say I've gotten a lot out of my college experience at CSULA. Because I am involved on campus, I've been able to meet a lot of great people with the same ideals as me and I've been able to be apart of a lot of awesome events on campus. Since I am apart of some clubs on campus I have been able to get to know my professors on another level than just in the classroom. For example, I am the secretary for the queer connection, which is a group for LGBT student and allies too. It's humbling to see professors attend our events and support our group. It's been valuable to me to be involved because it goes beyond learning in the classroom. It's made me into the well rounded person I am today. I know how to manage my work in school and include time to be involved as well. I value my education, but I am glad to be involved, which makes me value my campus, it's various organizations and events. It makes college much more enjoyable beyond the academics.

Jennifer

What I got out of my college expreience is that there are schools with professors that enjoy teaching, and there are those school that do. not I started out at a college with terrible experiences, but today, after transferring to CSULA showed me that there are professors out there that encourage you to keep going. I also learned to take online classes during winter-session or breaks to get more done during a time that you would not take the time to do. I have met some wonderful people going to college and i have a feeling that we are going to best friends for life. Going to college has been valuable to attend due to the facts that I have been able to somewhat write better, and teaches me how teach when I become a teacher. I am constantly learning what to do and what not to do from professors in this campus. I would not be able to be a teacher without my professors here, nor would I be as great as a musician thanks to a dear friend that taught the previous school I attended, but now is trying to get a full time gig with CSULA.

matthew

I enlisted in the military 5 years ago.It was an honerable job, but it provided me with many chanlenges and obstacles.The hours were long, and the work at times could be dangerous. When I was sent to Balad Air Base in Iraq, it became more than apparent to me that i needed to change the direction my life was headed.Though i could work this blue collar job,and potentially make it a career, I saw more for myself. I felt i had the ability to further my education. I decided to seperate from the military in 2009, with an honerable disharge and registered at the local community college. Here, as a pre-med major, i flourished. I ended my first semester with a 3.6 average, and an acceptance into the University of California Davis. I currently attend UC Davis, where I am a Bio-Chemistry/Molecular Biology major. College is one of the most important things in my life. Without it, my potential would not be able to be reached. I am now in the position to succeed, which I most definitley will.

Jaqueline

My college experience has been fun and knowledgeable. I have met many new people from different backgrounds. I have learned to live on my own and take responsibility into my own hands. It has been valuable because I have learn to take responsibility and taken control of my life. I have discovered new study skills and have applied them to my work habits.

Francisco

When i first started college, it was kind of difficult for me because i wasn't used to the pace of the classes and i also did not know anybody. But after a couple of weeks, i got the hang of it and classes seem a little easier. A lot of it can still be confusing but you just have to work harder and really concentrate and be more resonsible. In college, there is no one looking after you so you have to be responsible and make desicions for yourself. That is one thing that i have gotten out of my college experience so far, which is to be more responsible. Another thing is that you make a lot of new friends. You meet a lot of cool people. It's a totally different feeling being in college than high school but i think thats part of the experience, which is to try new things and have a taste of what the real world is like.