Cal State vs UCSB which should I choose?

I went to UCSB and my experience was okay. It was very expensive, limited financial aid, and I almost never got into the classes that I needed. After a little over a year, I decided to finish my GE’s at a community college. I have been accepted to Cal State Northridge, Cal State Fullerton, and Cal State Channel Islands. None of these schools are ranked as high as UCSB but I am wondering if that truly matters if I am only finishing my bachelors? I have the option of going back to UCSB but I am unsure of what to do? Does anyone have experience with these Cal State schools- are they worth it? Or should I just go back to UCSB? I have also been trying to maintain sobriety and UCSB is a major party school which was rough for me. All advice/opinions are welcome- Thanks!

What’s your major? Or career or future educational goals?

My son is a CSU grad. He now has a master’s from a flagship U in another state.

@calmom - excellent questions, and ones that should be at the top of your list when comparings these schools. I only have data on CSUN as I graduated from there in '88 with a business degree. It was a heavy commuter school, as are most of the CSU’s, so you aren’t going to get the concentration of young folks living on/near campus on their own (i.e. the party culture you find at UCSB).

The sizes of the 3 CSU’s you list are vastly different (total enrollment):

CSU Northridge - 40,131
CSU Fullerton - 38,948
CSU Channel Islands - 6,700

That may make a difference in the difficult or ease of getting classes.

The UC system is research based, so it tends to have more of a masters-centric feel. CSU’s tend to be more practical, i.e. getting you ready for a job. This is both what I’ve read and anecdotally gleaned from others I’ve known who have been to schools in both systems. This may or may not mean anything for based on your major.

Regarding UCSB and sobriety look into I think is called The Haven.

We have a child and UCSB who has had an excellent experience there and I really like it; however, I think there are some people I wouldn’t recommend it to because of the temptations and you may be one of them. The school actually has a pretty large group of Christian kids that isn’t into the partying there, but if that is not your thing, then that is no help.

Maintaining your sobriety, and the safety net you have to have to be successful, comes first. UCSB does have a group called Gauchos for Recovery. If you haven’t already done so, I’d check them out. Does UCSB have known triggers for you? Will you go to certain places that you’re familiar with on campus and feel the need to relapse? Sometimes, our triggers are places that seem innocent but actually bring back strong memories of partying. If you have these types of triggers at UCSB, I’d stay away from it. Where your degree is from is not as important as your health. You are very wise to be asking these questions.

I don’t personally know if Channel Islands is at the same level as the other two (but it will probably get there someday!), but if it is a school that you feel safe at then that is definitely a consideration. The other two are fine, and I know wonderful, successful, and intelligent grads from both. If you were my kid, I’d urge you to attend the school that would help you be the most successful sobriety-wise.

My kids are CSU and UC grads, and have gone onto graduate programs. They are both equally competitive in their areas, and being a CSU grad definitely has not held them back in any way.

One reason I asked about major or career aspirations is simply that I think there are some areas where CSU’s would provide a better foundation than UC’s — that is, more likely tailored to the person’s goals. As a very broad generalization, subject coverage at a CSU is more likely to be practically oriented, at a UC the same courses might gravitate more to the theoretical/academic.

@calmom - Very, very true! One of my kids went to a UC as an engineering major. She loved a more hands-on curriculum and was familiar with the work done at our local CSU. She really didn’t enjoy the theoretical focus at her university. It all worked out in the long run, but it was a lesson learned.

Thank you all for your responses! I am planning on finishing my bachelor’s in psych and then my masters. I did really well my first two quarters at UCSB, but then went through a traumatic experience there and gave up on school. I started getting Ds and Cs which has tanked my GPA. I am working now to get my GPA up at community college but I do not think I will get into a school better than UCSB:/ If I do go back I will definitely look into the Haven and Gauchos for recovery:) I feel safer going to a different school but I have read really bad reviews of CSUN, Channel Islands and Fullerton:(

@emma4411 - Have you talked with any graduating Psych seniors at CSUN or CSUF in order to find out what their post graduation plans are? At my local CSU, when my kids talked to the exiting seniors at the school’s admit weekend and heard what their plans were and where many were accepted for grad school, they really got a new perspective on the quality of the education at the university.