Hello! I’m an international student and I’ve applied to CSUN and APU for my undergraduate studies.
My initial choice was CSUN because it was cheaper and it seemed like a good school. But APU accepted me sooner and I’ve been offered financial aid that cuts /more than half/ of the /overall/ cost-of-attendance at APU (now = $21,000 approx). I’ve already sent in my campus housing deposit and registered for classes and was so set on it. And then I receive my acceptance for CSUN and I am suddenly deeply confused on which would be a better college for my future now.
At CSUN and APU, my chosen majors are fairly similar: CSUN - BS Public Health; APU - BS Allied Health; except at APU, it involves a bit more lab than CSUN (I don’t really mind). I am also concerned about the amount of aid I can get from CSUN and how much approx.
My trouble here is whether I should drop APU and go to CSUN for Fall 2017, or maybe transfer in Spring 2018 or 2nd year Fall 2018? I am aware that CSUN is a more cheaper and recognized school but getting classes and aid/loans is a bit harder and graduation period may take up to 5-6 years. I am Christian and I love that APU shapes religion onto our campus and studies. My question also wonders if, let’s say I do complete my degree at APU, will it decrease my chances of getting into other med schools because of APU’s small reputation? On saying that, I do love the intimate class sizes because one-on-one with teachers helps me a lot.
If smaller classes and more individualized academic attention, as well as dominant Christian values are better for you, and as long as you can afford the $21k per year, then my opinion is that it sounds like APU is a significantly better choice.
CSUN is a perfectly fine school, but consider that it is pretty large and you may not be able to get the required courses you’s need to graduate in 4 years. That extra year might make the seemingly lower-cost CSU more expensive in the long run. If it’s affordable, APU will provide the same pre-Health options to you that CSUN would with a likely 4-year graduation assurance.
I’m a California resident and while I appreciate the reputation that the UC and CSU’s have internationally, I would never be able to say that all CSU or UC are created equally. CSUN is not one of the more highly selective CSU’s, but of course that’s not to say you won’t find some very smart students there.
CSUN tends to be more of a commuter campus, and is in a far Eastern suburb of Los Angeles, so you may not have the same sense of community or easy affinity groups as at APU, and it could be more difficult to find other students that share your values.
While I think that the CSU system is a great place for in-state students, it doesn’t make as much sense for an International student. You have a solid option in APU.
@hop thanks so much! I am very concerned about graduating in 4 years at CSUN. While APU’s cost has greatly decreased, it still is quite expensive but not impossible. If you have any info on CSUN aid amount as well as the teachers, that’d be great. I often hear talk on how the CSUN faculty and offices arent very supportive, but of course maybe not all.
If you’re international, you’ll not get any aid from CSUN.
Because it’s a state school, any ‘discounts’ are baked-in for the in-state students.
The total cost of attendance for in-state students for 2016/17 is estimated at $22,170.00 per year.
If you are not a resident of California, add $396 per unit. With 30 full-time units per year required to graduate in 4 years, you’re yearly out of state premium would be $11,880, for a total of $34,050. per year at CSUN.
From what you’ve disclosed about your APU offer, it seems like a much better offer.
As far as faculty are concerned, I too have heard about ill-prepared unintelligible, or unenthusiastic professors, but I’ve also heard about many (over the span of majors) who are conscientious and excellent. One can hear these stories at many public schools, including many UC’s.
Although much will be up to you and your motivation, I do not think that one school would give you any distinct advantage over the other as far as preparation for grad school.
The deciding factors for me would be 1) cost, and then 2) the strength of each schools’ grad school and/or career advising within your major. Do they have a dedicated pre-Health or pre-Med advising center?
How many people work there? How frequently do they advise students to check in with their office? Do their services beginning Freshman year? If not, why not? Do they offer community-building or affinity-building pre-Health groups?
What are the range of services are on offer? How do they asses your needs? Are their services geared only toward those hoping to go to Med school or is there a range of Health-related careers that they help pre for?
If you’re not sure what’s on offer – now’s the time to find out.