California State University-Northridge Top Questions

If finances are an issue, I would highly recommend attending a two-year community college and then transferring to a four-year college. Make sure you do some research about the schools in your area and take note of the transfer rate of the students of those schools. Make sure they have a high transfer rate and that they offer courses that transfer to the school you are hoping to transfer to. Even if finances aren't a problem, I have found the quality of education recieved in a community college to be as good, if not beyond what you would find even in the most renowned four-year universities. Wherever you go, make sure when you get there that you feel that you are truly learning something. Make sure you are being challenged. And make sure you love where you end up.

To Parents: Allow your child to make his/her choice. You may go with them to take care of his/her paperwork, but allow your child to do all the talking when necessary. He/she is now an adult and will have to learn to speak for his or herself. Make sure to visit the campus before applying, if possible take a private tour. Visiting a campus before applying will save you application costs if the school turns out to be less than expected. To make the best out of college it would be ideal your child does not have to worry about finances as a priority. To Prospective Student: The websites offer something differnet from an acutal campus visit, go and see if you feel this can be a home away from home for the next 4-5 years. It may sound redundant, but TAKE ADVANTAGE of the campus resources!! Get to know people on campus beside peers. Getting to know Administrators, Counselors, and Professors can make you feel you belong there. Join clubs/organizations, keeping people who have the same goals as you will help you stay focused. It can be a better experience, if you try!

I would advise parents and students to really research different schools. I also feel that after they have a set of potential schools that they go and physically visit them. Being at the school in person is really the only way to see how the school is, a school website only shows what they want to show. Also go where you would be happy, you and not want someone else wants for you is what is important. Also GOOD LUCK :)

Talk to people.

Go for the college that offers the degree you are interested in. Visit the campus before you make your final decision to attend the school! If you're able, live on campus to experience every aspect of college life. Most of all, don't be shy; make friends and have fun!

Make sure that you look at what each college has to offer, there are a lot of people who go to a college and it doesn't even have the major that they want, so they pay the money and end up transfering anyway. i would say community college first would be better, it is easier and you can get your GPA really high, so that when you get to the university and you don't do so well you don't have to worry about your GPA falling really low. To get the most of the college experience would be to join clubs and sororities and fraternities, make lots of friends. it really helps. it is way easier to go to college knowing what you want to major in than it is to go in undecided.

Any parent or student who wishes to choose a college should always remember that he or she needs to pick a college based on what he or she wishes to do in life, and that not picking a college that is well suited to a person can lead to headache and frustration. A college should be something to help a person attain his or her goals, not hinder that person. That, of course, is dependant on the financial situation of any person, seeing as how someone cannot attend a college that will cost more than he or she can pay for, and still keep a roof over his or her head and food on the table. The quality of a person's life is thus more important than nearly anything else, and if that quality will be diminished by going to a school that costs more (unless able to receive boons such as financial aid), then that school should not be considered as much as another, more cost-effective school.

Go somewhere where you will be out of your comfort zone...somewhere where Mom and Dad are not so easily accessible, this way you learn the most about yourself and it helps you become an adult and mature responsibly.

Do alot of research, consider you future goals/plans, and make sure to visit the campus before applying.

I would tell them to research a couple schools, visit them and narrow it down to the one they like the best. I would also tell the student not to be afraid to travel away from home because in the end it will highly benefit them by helping them grow socially and as a person.

I think that most students look at college as a time to just party, but I think they need to focus on what school offers the best education for whatever career path they want to take. The more options they have, the better their experience will be in college.

Pick a school with same departments that speak to you. Just go, no matter what! Even if its community college...Then work your butt off to transfer. Make the most of it; get involved

Support their kods and encourage them to be better than they may think they are.

The advice I would give parents or students about finding the right college and making the most of college experience would have to be going on a campus tour when classes are in session. Having a tour of the atmosphere and seeing the campus enviornment is important but having the feel of the campus while in session gives you the whole ordeal of how you would experience day to day on campus.

Some advice I would give students about finding the right college for them is to check out the campus during an actual term and see how the life on campus is.

I would advise them to ask friends and family about their collegiate experiences, and also do extensive research to consider their future career and how the college of their choice might respond to that. Research on the aesthetic and social aspects and surrounding neighborhood of the college is important also - your child doesn't want to be miserable because of his/her surroundings, or loneliness, or even because of their outright hatred for those around them.

I would say its very important to evaluate all of the options. Don't be opposed to the idea of going to a really great junior college if you dont get into the school you want.

My advice would be to go visit the school you are planning to attend and go check out the area surrounding it. I believe that if the area that is surrounding the school you like, is not something you like, then you will not have a great time at your school. The surrounding area is very important because when you are not in school where you are stressing about grading and such, you must find a place of comfort and if the are surrounding you is not comfortable then you will be stressed out the whole time you are in college and that is not a good thing.

Apply to as many schools as possible, the ones you get accepted to, go check them out and then decide.

Make sure that you fit in with your schooland just make it an enjoyeable experience

Make sure your child knows what he or she wants to do in life before settling to any college!

Going to the college and getting a sense of the atmostphere will give you a real grip on how the campus runs and the students. Go to a class and see how a teacher conducts a typical class in your major. Speak to a student and ask them first had on how their expericene is. Knowing what you want in a school will allow you to rule out one once you've been there. Experience the lifestyle of a student first hand is the only way to really grasp the expericene that school will have. Get involved with campus activities and allow yourself to be open.

Make sure you know the school, make sure they tell you everything you need to know. Because time and money you can never get back

During the college search, it is important to focus not only on the future situation of the student, but on the current life as well. Not all students are meant for large, prestigious universities during their undergraduate years - this does not mean they are entitled to any less of an education or will not desire the larger universities in the future. Undecided students in particular should look for a school where they will be comfortable, and where they can have personal interaction with their professors, who can be the best resources a student will ever have. For students, meet with your professors often, even when do not believe you need to. Make friends and create study groups. Do not be afraid to speak up in class and argue your opinions, even if you are in the minority. When all else fails, take time off if necessary. It is better to take time and be sure you are where you want to be than to wind up with a degree you will never use.

First of all, I would tell parents to allow their child to choose the school that is right for them. Do not try to persuade them to go to a school that you like because if they do not like that choice they will deeply regret their decision and may resent you as a parent. To the students like I said choose a school that is right for YOU! Make sure you look into majors and housing and so forth. Once you find the right one all I can say is get involved! Join clubs, sports teams, fraternities, sororities. Join anything that interests you and that will make your college experience great!

The advice I would give to parents and or students about finding the right college is to go on college tours, get information and booklets sent to your house, ask students on campus their opinions on the school and to attend different school events that may be held on campus to get a feel for it.

When picking a college, take your time and consider finances, living situatons, and possible majors. You definitely want to take all of these into consideration because you don't want to have to deal with transferring schools because it is really inconvenient and difficult. As a freshmen in college, especially if the school is far from home, it would be helpful to join clubs or a sorority/fraternity to meet new people.

Have fun!

Parents and future college students should select a college based on their interests and research on what school best accommodates their needs. Although some schools may be more expensive, the cost may be worth it if the program is best suited for the student. Research all factors taht may affect your choice in schools and research the many options of financial aid that are available. It is best to pick a school with a good support staff. People who care about your success and are helpful in pointing you in the right direction are priceless. Above all, choose the best school that you feel you can be proud of and that will challenge you to be the best you can be.

It is important for students to truly know what they want to do with their lives. In most cases there are endless pressures for students in high school to succeed academically and enter immediately into college enabling the immediate facilitation of job placement upon graduation. Students who are eighteen years of age barely know themselves enough to determine what they wish to do with their lives and where their ambitions are. I recommend travel after high school, whether for the summer following graduation or even for a semester, possible even an entire year, until students are ready for the growth that college can offer. This allows students to better know themselves away from the societal influences of parents and friends that they have been conditioned with since early childhood. Travel always inspires personal growth, and personal growth is really what college magnifies for the student. Students who clearly know what they want from life will excel in college more efficiently then students who dont. College is deterministic, and sets our lives and our careers in motion. When students truly know what it is that they want from life, then they can fully take advantage of what college can offer them.

It is important to slow down and take a steady pace when it comes to selecting the college that is the best one for you. If you go too fast and do not think about your options you might rush into a decision that you WILL regret later on. Before I entered CSUN I was really rushed thinking that I was going to run out of time and that all the colleges would fill up and I would end up with no school (of course those were CC schools.) After calming down and doing a little more research I found CSUN which turned out to be the best decision I have ever made. If you do your homework on schools and try not to rush into things you can be happy at a school you enjoy going to and in the end happiness with your school and life is all that really matters.

Go to the school, talk to the students, and most of all, go with your gut. Dont go to a school solely on its achedemic sucess, go to it because it calls to you and says "Im the right one for you, achedmically, socially, and locationally!"

I believe letting your child have some freedom and learn from their mistakes is the best way to help them grow up. Parents can and should help financially if possible but otherwise, students should have the responsibility of taking care of themselves. There are some mistakes that people want to avoid but once they come close to making them, the reality check kicks in and the maturation process accelerates. I think trying to make it on their own makes students into better people who are ready to take on the world and the rest of their lives.

Look for the program that best fits your needs. Don't be distracted by what other people are choosing for their experiences. You will be happiest if you attend a University where you are with people interested in the same things as you are.

Finding the right college is only half the battle, its what you put into it that determines what you take from it. I always wanted to go to UCLA like all my uncles, and I admit I was a Bruin fan growing up and I still am. When I decided not to attend UCLA based on cost factors, I felt a little down. Honestly, I felt that CSUN was more of a mediocre school. To my benefit, I found I was totally wrong. CSUN has been an amazing school and I have established many meaningful relationships during my attendance. As far as advice for the college experience, its simple: have fun, study hard, and savor the experience. Careers come up awfully fast, I will miss college when its over. Don't let the college experience pass you by, have fun while you're at it. Even if you go back for a graduate degree, it will surely not be the same experience as undergrad. Also, pay attention in class. Its only to your benefit and it'll help you in the long run. There are many classes I wish I could retake if I only had the time.

In order to find a school that is the best fit for a potential student, parents should research the school in advance to be certain it will provide their child the resources they need. Campus tours, and college websites can provide a wealth of information about the schools. Potential students should meet with school represenatives, and come prepared with a list of questions and expectations of the school. They can determine if the school fits their needs and desires by the schools' responses to their questions. A tour of the campus can also help the student determine whether the campus is a good fit for them. It would be important to go during the term so that the student gets the truest representation of the campus. Will the campus meet their physical needs? That alone could determine whether or not a school would be suitable. Perhaps the best, and least biased, way to find out if a school fits the student is to interview students that are curently enrolled in the programs the prospective student is interested in. The student may find that the school doesn't have a strong program for degree they are interested in pursuing. Good luck!

To make sure to go over every opportunities and research every school that offers what the students' academical interests are (since that's what the student is going to do later on in life)

People say you only get what you put into something. This is very true when it comes to college. If your college only have 2000 students or have 33,000 like mine, as long as you put yourself available for the possibilities, your college experience can be the best that it can be. May it be joining a club or an organization, double majoring in something, or helping with the community of your chosen university, as long as you put dedication and hard work, it all pays off well. As far as picking the right college, be sure to research extensively with what you exactly want and if it matches with your standards and qualifications. Also, make sure that you communicate with parents so that there is no misunderstanding so that you can avoid unneccessary arguments.

If you are a senior in high school, make sure your college counselor at your high school is helping you every step of the way and if there are any guest speakers coming to your high school to tell you about the college that they attend, I urge you to go to see that guest speak and ASK QUESTIONS!!! There is nothing better than getting advice from someone who is close to you in age about a school that you may want to attend. 9 times out of 10, that college student know's what you are going through and you will be better able to understand where you are coming from. Good luck and remember to always ASK QUESTIONS because closed mouths do not get fed and your education is what will get you to the top in life!!!

I think it's important to know what profession/carreer you want to be in first before you decide where you want to go because the school that you choose will impact how well the school will help you reach your goal. Do your research on which schools offer the best programs for you.

To parents and students looking for the right college i say always go with your feelings. If you feel right the moment you step into a college campus then that might just be the right one for you. I remember when i came to CSUN i felt right at home!. Also, see what clubs they offer, some colleges have honor societies based on majors which can later help when trying to look for a job. If your living away from home consider joining a club that offers your hobby and share it with other people or maybe join a Sorority of Fraternity. That is the best way to meet and interact with others on campus. Go to orientations! More often than not, there will be professors present at these orientations eager to meet you, the new student, and they will want to make your college experience something amazing for you! Explore and try new things! The bottom line is wherever you decide to go, try to make the best of it because college only happens once in your life.

Make sure you go into college with the mind set that you are going to succeed. Make sure that you believe you will suceed and therefore take the appropriate steps to do so. Also keep your priorities right. Balance your time, ensure that everyday you have time for studying and getting all of your assignments done. College is a great place for net working, meeting new people, and making friends, but its main purpose is to get you started in a career so that you can enjoy your life to the fullest. With that said, make sure you are doing the things that need to be done for your classes and ultimately your degree.

do the research and make a couple visits to the campus and dorm get a feel for the school.

Visit every school you apply too, don't just take the guided tour, but try and sit in on a class in your major. If you get to college, and still hate the school your at by the end of freshman year, do not be afraid to transfer.

I would tell students that even though they say college is the best time of your life, and it's true, to still be responsible and remember why they are at college in the first place- to get an education. But despite that education is your number one priority, the way to get the most out of college is to be involved on campus and make a new life for yourself-one that was different from high school. You just need to figure out how to manage your time and balance out activities so that way you can be able to multi-task and get good grades while having fun. I would tell students to utilize all resouces on campus. I would tell parents to not worry and to let their child grow and find themself because this is the time to do it, however, they should still try to stay involved and be there for their child no matter what.

Every school has its strong suits, but you get out of it what you put into it. If you don't put anything in, you wont enjoy your time in college

Go take a campus tour first, and make sure you go see a college counselor for classes and advising. Do not think you can handle your freshman year on your own, it is important to utilize campus resources.

Go with your gut instinct. If you visit a school, and something "feels" wrong about it, then it really isn't the choice for you.

For the students, it would be to keep a balance between their school and thier social life, and to pick a school not just based on the name of that school, but also on the fact that they want to go there because of it's programs. As for the parents, all I can say is to let their children make their own choices now and to not be too involed into their lives because they are not the ones attending the college, their children are. Therefore their children should have the last saying.

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