Cal State Fullerton vs Community College

<p>I have asked this before, but now I have 69 hours to decide and have no idea, I am going to have to talk to counselors from each school and high school (probably not going to happen just to let you know). </p>

<p>Here is why I don't want to choose Cal State Fullerton (not in any order).
1. It costs more
2. It's a lot harder to transfer to a UC any school than a Community College
3. They don't offer the major I wanted (aerospace), I don't really have the answer to how I will solve this. I mean I could take mechanical, but I haven't looked into all that yet.
4. The classes will be harder so when I transfer it will make even harder </p>

<p>Here is why I want to go to Cal State Fullerton (not in any order)
1. I can at least tell me and everyone else that I am going to a college/university, not a community college (people at my church think I am smart I feel like I let everyone down going to the same schools as everyone, CSUF falls into that category pretty much)
2. I'll at least be willing to talk to these girls (to consider for marriage) unlike the ones at community college
3. I can learn more here. (I don't even know if the community college I would go to offers the levels of math needed for me)
4. I sort of get the "College experience"
5. I know a lot of people that are going here</p>

<p>To be honest, I do not see any valid points on your "Why I want to go to Cal State Fullerton." Whereas your first list (sans the 4th point) contains empirical observations that should carry great weight, your reasons in the second list for why you should go seem, at least to me, frivolous.</p>

<p>Fullerton is not Berkeley. I hate to be blunt here, but that's the truth. To go to a school like Cal State Fullerton for some vague notion of prestige is absurd and downright silly, especially when you could otherwise take advantage of the opportunity to actually get into a school like Berkeley/UCLA, if not Berkeley itself.</p>

<p>If you go to a CC, you will meet people, and I guarantee you will have the "college experience" afterwards because you will be forced to transfer if you want a Bachelors degree. I would also challenge your notion of "I can learn more" at CSU Fullerton. Fullerton is not a small LAC. It's a really big CSU school with a mediocre reputation. Am I being kind? No. However, I believe you came here because you wanted honesty, and so I will give you just that.</p>

<p>Go to CC for two years, work your tail off, and apply to the UC schools. Maintaining a 3.5+ should not be difficult, and pay attention to the transfer requirements of the UC institutions. This may not be the most glamorous at first, but it will be the best path towards a better future. And if you need something to tell people who question your decision, tell them this: "I am going to CC because I believe I can do better. CC is giving me the opportunity to go to a school of which I can truly be proud and from which I may receive a remarkable education."</p>

<p>You write well enough; you can do this. Believe in yourself.</p>

<p>Go to SB City College, you'll get both the college experience and you can transfer to UCSB later. It has a good aerospace engineering program.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/468098-backdoor-way-get-into-ucsb.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/468098-backdoor-way-get-into-ucsb.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>If someone were to tell me they go to Cal State Fullerton, I would not easily be impressed. If anything I would assume they slacked off in HS and had mediocre grades.</p>

<p>At CC, you have honors programs, you have guaranteed transferred programs, you have every opportunity to attend a better institution that CSUF. </p>

<p>PS Like one of the posts aboves, your reasons for going to CSUF are ridiculous and hold no real reason to attend CSUF. Besides you can't live your life based on what people from your church think. They aren't the ones getting the education.
and anyways why would you want to settle for a girl that went to CSUF, instead of a girl that you can potentially meet at a top schoo, ie UCLA, USC, UCSD, UCB, maybe even UCSB.</p>

<p>if you're embarassed by the idea of having to go to a community college, than go to one that is miles away from home, even if you have to drive for 30-40 minutes. no one from your church will know you're not at csuf, etc. besides if you're really dedicated and smart, you could potentially transfer within this year, assuming you take 15-18 units during the summer 15-18 during the fall, 15-18 during winter, and 15-18 during the spring. you'd be at ucla, ucb, or wherever as a junior within a year.</p>

<p>Believe me, the girls you meet at that community college will be there for exactly the same reasons you are: better opportunities at a lower cost.</p>

<p>Jahn1012 is right on target. The community colleges in this country are the best kept secret in higher education. If you work hard there, the rewards will be great.</p>

<p>There is no question. You should go to a CC, work very very hard, and transfer. That is the best path for you.</p>

<p>Miami...agree with the others. Go to the best community college that is close to you...in our county there are 3 choices, you likely have the same if not more. Tell anyone who asks that you are going to cc to save the big bucks for your last two years. Not that you need to, but you will impress your church friends with your frugality and forethought. Good luck you sound like a smart kid!</p>

<p>Another thought Miami, while you are going to that community college try to get some work experience or an internship at something in the aerospace field..it will help you when you go to transfer!</p>

<p>
[quote]
If someone were to tell me they go to Cal State Fullerton, I would not easily be impressed. If anything I would assume they slacked off in HS and had mediocre grades.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I would not make that claim. 3.8 GPA is not for slacker. However, in CCland, people in general are more prestige conscious. But rest assure, if you decide to go there because you want to then that is a perfectly good reason. However, for anyother reason, like to impress somebody at your church, etc.. CSUF is not for that reason.</p>

<p>Furthermore, please do not bash the Cal States, especially CSUF which I think has an excellent business program. People that I know graduated from this school are earning in the top 1% of the income range stated by the IRS, please google and find out what that income range is, while CC people are still squabbling whether $150K is considered middle class. LOL! Prestige does not equal success(I mean $$). There are plenty of people go to brand name schools(Duke for example) that are still doing temp jobs(according to their parents).</p>

<p>


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<p>With all due respect, you are making a common mistake yourself: equating the journey to and through college as nothing more than a ticket to a "good" job. College is not job training; it's life training. If you want to talk about business programs and the correlation between an institution and the jobs and salaries of its graduates, why not discuss vocational schools?</p>

<p>Yes, I realize that most colleges now have "Business" programs, but these are not traditional college majors. When someone mentions college to me, I am under the assumption that they want to learn, not just get job training and pick up a diploma.</p>

<p>The implication that Duke University is somehow inferior to CSU Fullerton is laughable at best. Whether or not the people of whom you are aware took advantage of the opportunities with which they were presented at Duke is another story entirely, but make no mistake: Duke's learning environment is one of the best in this nation. Furthermore, to imply that people only attend the "brand name schools" for the sake of prestige is silly. Yes, some people certainly care about the reputation of their institution above all else; however, if these schools were nothing more than names, they would be unable to consistently rank at the top when it comes to education, quality of students and faculty, and learning environments.</p>

<p>since nearly all Cal States are major commuter schools, the 'college experience' is minimal, at least as compared to a UC (or SLO). Investigate juco honors programs (OCC has a great transfer rate to UCLA and Cal). Some jucos have guaranteed transfer arrangements with a UC. Some even have housing available. Santa Monica is a big feeder to UCLA; Diablo Valley is a big feeder to Cal. Note, however, that SBCC is a huge party school with great temptations, so be aware.</p>

<p>
[quote]
With all due respect, you are making a common mistake yourself: equating the journey to and through college as nothing more than a ticket to a "good" job. College is not job training; it's life training. If you want to talk about business programs and the correlation between an institution and the jobs and salaries of its graduates, why not discuss vocational schools?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I understand, but this one is the only one that is measurable.

[quote]
The implication that Duke University is somehow inferior to CSU Fullerton is laughable at best.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm not trying to pick on Duke. I should have substituted Duke with Prestige U.</p>

<p>I don't think I infer that. You made the assumption. However, why do you assume you can only learn at Duke? Futhermore, these complaints are not from me but rather from a Duke parent.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Furthermore, to imply that people only attend the "brand name schools" for the sake of prestige is silly. Yes, some people certainly care about the reputation of their institution above all else; however, if these schools were nothing more than names, they would be unable to consistently rank at the top when it comes to education, quality of students and faculty, and learning environments.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If you hang around CC long enough, you know it's not silly. People do pick schools because of the name. Also if you hang around CC long enough you also know ranking is relative.</p>

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</p>

<p>If you did not intend the implication then I do apologize for the assumption.</p>

<p>However, you just made a similar assumption by assuming that I believe one can only learn at Duke. I am not a Duke University student, and I believe that learning can happen anywhere. I was speaking more to the opportunities provided by an environment in which the faculty are leading scholars in their respective fields, money for research and other programs is readily available, and the student body is (and/or was), in a very general sense, more committed to their education.</p>

<p>Aye, ranking is relative, and I have, indeed, seen that to which you make reference. However, I would say that the CC community is a very small minority within the college-applicant world, and the segment of the CC population that subscribes to that method of choosing schools is a minority within the CC community, making them an even less significant minority in the scheme of things.</p>

<p>
[quote]
However, you just made a similar assumption by assuming that I believe one can only learn at Duke.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The why Duke could be why any Prestige U.
I agree with the research/opportunities and such but if you want to learn the library/internet is your friend.</p>

<p>Columbia, Jahn could have not said it any better. He took my words out of my mouth before I got to them.</p>

<p>My comment was made in regards to the academic education someone would receive at a Cal State. Not to say that an education at a Cal State is inferior, for gosh sakes we got Steven Spieldberg from a Cal State, but the simple fact that someone would personally choose to go to a CSUF to supposedly live up to the smartness his church members associate with him, is not so smart.</p>

<p>So do you guys think it is that hard to transfer out of CSUF into UCLA (my dream school) or UCSD?</p>

<p>
[quote]
So do you guys think it is that hard to transfer out of CSUF into UCLA (my dream school) or UCSD?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, it is hard to transfer to UCLA. It will be a lot easier to transfer from a CC. If your dream is to go to UCLA, the best way to realize that dream is to go to CC.</p>

<p>It will be harder without a doubt.</p>

<p>go to cal state....jsutin case u cnat get into berkelyey of UCSD</p>

<p>If you can't transfer to UCB or UCSD, you can at least get into UCI/UCSB/UCD or CSUF/CSLB. Please check out the UC transfer forum to see what kind of GPA you need to transfer from CC to each UC.
You will be no worser off. I think it depends on how many APs you have, you maybe even transfer after one year at CC.</p>