I’m currently waiting on SDSU, CSUF, and CSUS. I have already been accepted to CSUCI and CSULB.
Here is my info:
Major: Anthropology
GPA: 3.3 for now
AA-T: Yes
Area: Norcal
Golden Four: Completing this semester, so far 2 Bs and an A
What I really want know is a true review of CSU Channel Islands, or a nice opinion. From what I’ve read online, some people absolutely hate it, and a lot love it. I love the fact that it has significantly less students than the other CSUs I’ve applied to. I’m not into the party scene or the greek life scene, so this is not important to me at all. I’ve heard the stories about how it is “haunted” so don’t try to scare me away with that BS. I really like the “true college” feel that it seems like CI has. I will be living on campus pretty much at all of these schools except Fullerton and Sac State.
I’m skeptical about my chances of being accepted to SDSU, so I’m trying to decide what my best second option will be if I don’t get accepted.
This post is sort of all over the place, so let me know if any clarification is needed. I would really appreciate some insight!!!
I live in the area and know five students who went there. They all really liked it. They like that it’s smaller, with involved professors who take a personal interest in them.
I think it’s a great school, with a great reputation.
If you go there, I would recommend a car as it’s really kind of in a canyon not near any other transportation.
I personally love the small campus. But my niece and her friends whom live near do not want to attend. They all would rather attend UCSB. When I talk to the young people, there is sort of a snobbery aspect I noticed not regarding the school itself, but rather the students. It seems that UCSB has students that they would rather be around. Which does matter since you will be spending a lot of time with your cohort. And, many even will meet their future spouse in college.
That is also my impression. However, it may be hard to know for sure which category you fall into, unless you go visit and see for yourself.
For me, the small size of CSUCI would be a big plus. On the other hand, I can see how its isolated location might be a big negative for some people. On one side of campus, there are undeveloped hills; on the other side, there are farms. There is literally nothing else within walking distance.
So if you run out of things to do on campus – and remember, it isn’t very large – there is nowhere else to go, unless you have a car or take a bus. It’s not like (for example) Chico, where there is a fun college town environment right across the street from campus.
Also, I wanted to add, it seems like a prestige thing for those whom hate it. The school takes students that may not have the best stats, and is one of the easier schools to get into. Many of the students are first generation, so it may even have a class element for some. And, the school gives priority registration to those students, which means students with a parent that went to college could get last pickings for classes.
I didn’t see any Ken and Barbie types there while touring. Maybe prospective students want to be around those types? I hope not to offend anyone, but OP is asking for honesty. I hope others on here will do the same for my questions.
For those whom love it (myself), it may seem like a hidden gem because of the location so close to the Pacific Ocean and not so busy as LA. Also, less opportunity for a kid to get into trouble may be appealing to a parent!
As I live locally, I’ve also heard that the professors are just very happy to be teaching there. As it’s a newer school, there are no burned out professors who are just waiting to retire. Who wouldn’t want to live and teach in a beautiful area in a newer school with lots of enthusiastic colleagues?