<p>Why would I want to go to a CSU when I could make it to a UC? I know that CSUs are geared towards practical experience and UCs are for going to graduate school and for research. But why go for a CSU when UCs have a better reputation?</p>
<p>I'm at community college for now, and I'm trying to decide what school I want to transfer to. I don't know my major yet, but I thought I'd at least be able to choose between the UC system and the CSU system.</p>
<p>How important is reputation, really? I know that a UC would be great for friends and family and all, but what do the EMPLOYERS think?</p>
<p>There are number of reasons why some students choose to go to CSU over UC schools. Some CSU schools have impacted majors (Cal Poly SLO, San Jose State, Cal Poly Pomona - engineering, computer science, Cal State Long Beach - communications, nursing, crimminal justice, etc…), so many students choose to go to CSU over UC schools because some CSU’s majors are more impacted than UC schools. But overall, UC schools have more reputation than CSU schools.</p>
<p>So it’s better to decide your major right now before transferring to another college. Also, research which programs are impacted in each school.</p>
<p>UC’s would not only be great for friends and families, but it would also be great for employers too. But if you go to Cal Poly SLO and you majored in engineering, then employers regard SLO better than any other UC schools. So just research what you want to major in.</p>
<p>My D and I have been pondering this very question and here’s why she will apply to three CSU’s and two UC’s: First, reputation? What does that word mean? The UC’s academic reputation is built at the graduate level. If you go to any UC you will only carry an assumption of being intelligent- not a bad thing for people to assume about you, but it’s only as good as the work you put in during your four years in terms of going on to get a job or get into a grad school. Second, CSU’s are jumping up into UC-Standard land. A few have admit rates in the mid 30%-40%. At Cal Poly SLO this is tempered somewhat by the degree area you apply into (some more elite than others). So CSU’s rep for having smart kids (they’ve always had a nice, all-inclusive mix) will grow. It’s always nicer IMHO to be surrounded by bright kids. Class size is smaller at CSU’s in general, professors more focused on the teaching. People speak of a closer sense of community. Finally- some majors just lend themselves well to four years with hands-on and good internship programs. This is what the CSU’s sell.<br>
BTW- deadline’s upon us…</p>
<p>Undergrad or Grad, UC is substantially significant in comparison. Employment potential or education level. </p>
<p>There’s a saying that people use to convince themselves a school is right for them oftentimes. It goes, “college is what a student makes of it.”</p>
<p>I agree with maenidmom in that"The UC’s academic reputation is built at the graduate level.". I’m not sure if SLO’s reputation for engineering is better than “any other UC”, but I’m sure SLO’s engineering program is pefered over most. Keep in mind that most UC’s such as Merced, Riverside, Santa Cruz, or even Irvine, are not known for their engineering programs. The SLO enginnering degree is probably preferred over these schools. However, I highly doubt that the SLO engineering degree is prefer over a Berkeley, Davis, San Diego, or LA engineering degree. But that’s only engineering. Aside from engineering and nursing, I think it would be wise to attend a local CSU to 1). Save money 2). Perhaps even a greater gpa since standards are usually lower and 3) more time and opportunities for internship. </p>
<p>In other words, attend a CSU if you plan to attend graduate school.</p>