<p>So there are A LOT of CSUs. I'm planning to apply out of state to at least one of the CSUs but am having difficulties deciding which one would be best for me. </p>
<p>Currently I am a high school senior. I have a 4.0 GPA (my state doesn't go over 4.0 like it seems california can) which hopefully won't change by the end of this year. My SAT is 1590 but I'm taking it again in October. Also I have taken 7 AP classes.</p>
<p>I am interested in pre-med and really don't fit the hard core party greek system type of college either.</p>
<p>What school would I best fit? </p>
<p>Calculate your CSU/UC GPA: <a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU;
California will give you up to 8 extra points for your AP classes taken 10-11th grade. Your SAT is what will be a problem for schools such as Cal Poly SLO and SDSU (2 highest ranked CSU’s). If you look at your other post, it explains how Cal Poly SLO and the other CSU’s calculate the admission criteria. You have a good chance at SDSU if you get your SAT up to the 1700 range and at SLO around 1900. You might also want to consider Cal Poly Pomona, which is highly ranked for their sciences, engineering and architecture.</p>
<p>Do you realize that your status as an OOS student will be very expensive in California?</p>
<p>If you plan on pre med, OOS fees will add to an already expensive education.</p>
<p>At SDSU, you will be paying a minimum of $32,000, <a href=“Cost of Attendance Tables | Student Affairs and Campus Diversity | SDSU”>http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/admissions/costs.html</a>.
That would be per year and not including travel costs nor living expenses.</p>
<p>You don’t qualify for California funding programs. Taxpayers fund the CSU’s so preference is given to the children of California taxpayers.</p>
<p>We’re you aware of these issues? </p>
<p>Well my dad lives in california and is an army veteran. Supposedly part of the cost of college is paid for if I attend a college in california because of some veteran thing as I have heard from him and my mom. I’m still going to apply to three schools in my state and just looking for some options out of state. </p>
<p>Awesome, tell us more of your selection criteria - near beach, big city, small town, etc?</p>
<p>hmm. Well I prefer it to have a good reputation considering there has to be a “rank” of which of the CSUs are better than the others. </p>
<p>Also a pretty small class sizes would be nice. And not too heavily known for its greek system, since I’m not much of a hardcore partier and drinker. </p>
<p>I wouldnt mind either small town or city as long it is not rural. </p>
<p>I honestly don’t think you’ll find a CSU with small class sizes. Many campuses are commuter schools so don’t have a big Greek system. You may have to expand to privates.</p>
<p>With Yellow Ribbon (I assume that’s what you mean) and a 4.0, I’d aim for UCM or UCSC. You’ll have two essays to write and they’ll be more holistic, taking into account any special circumstances explaining your SAT score. In the meanwhile, invest in a tutor and work very hard to bring your SAT to at LEAST 1700.
CSU’s are stricly numbers: GPA X test score.
You could aim for Sonoma Honors, perhaps. More residential than other CSUs.
Humboldt doesn’t have much in terms of drinking issues, on the other hand their problem is weed.
Was that 1590 a fluke? Were you sick?
Or is your high school low-performing and such scores are fairly normal for someone with a 4.0?
If you want small class sizes, look into Chapman, Whittier, Redlands, Loyola Marymount-LA, St Mary’s of California, USanDiego, UoP, Santa Clara. Not sure how each of these stands wrt the Yellow Ribbon program.</p>
<p>Thank you! Well my I’m aware that my SAT scores are awful. It was my first time, I didn’t study for it, and also I consider myself to be a really bad test taker. I get nervous or I loose focus really easily. But for this upcoming SAT, I am going to study and try not to get distracted while I take the test</p>
<p>Your SAT scores have to go up to be considered for the California schools. You may want to switch out to the ACT instead.</p>
<p>“I get nervous or I loose focus really easily…/ get distracted while I take the test”
= have you been tested for ADHD?</p>
<p>CSUs look only at your math and reading SAT Scores - they combine them with your CSU GPA to create an index.you can read about here: NOTE _ SLO USES A VERY DIFFERENT SYSTEM</p>
<p><a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU; </p>
<p>With a 4.0 GPA and M&R SAT around 1000 your index is 4200, which will get you in all but the most competitive programs at SDSU (the most selective campus that uses the index) </p>
<p>What trips up many OOS applicants is the required courses (referred to as a-g courses). If you are just one semester short on one of the requirements, you won’t be admitted. Adjust your Sr schedule accordingly.</p>
<p>Many of the CSU campuses offer honors programs - they vary school to school but, something you should take a look at. Generally, smaller class sizes, priority registration are included. </p>
<p>A comment on class size - that varies a lot, campus to campus. Sonoma and Chico manage to keep classes smallish - while SDSU has some huge lecture halls for intro classes. </p>
<p>So Cal or No Cal?</p>
<p>i prefer North California </p>
<p>Sonoma, Monterey Bay, and Humboldt are among the more residential CSUs in northern California, although Humboldt may be a bit too isolated for your preferences. Many CSUs are more urban, although they tend to have a higher percentages of commuter students. Consider also the accessibility of pre-med extracurricular activities like volunteering in medical contexts.</p>
<p>CSUs generally do not have high percentages of students in fraternities or sororities.</p>
<p>For class sizes, look up their on-line class schedules to see if they list class sizes (or count the number of labs associated with each lecture in introductory biology and chemistry courses that you will be taking for pre-med purposes).</p>
<p>Since you prefer N Cal - add Chico to your list. Check out their honors program, you are a great candidate.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.csuchico.edu/honors/admissions/freshman.shtml”>http://www.csuchico.edu/honors/admissions/freshman.shtml</a></p>
<p>It features smaller, more compelling GE courses, priority registration and other perks. - </p>
<p>Other CSUs have similar programs too.
The application process is separate from admissions.
Good luck </p>