Out of State vs. In State?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello, </p>

<p>Since I kind of read over another user's situation on the forum over her same battling concerns over where to be going to school I decided to make my own struggle known to decide where to go to school to everyone here and read everyone's opinion on the topic.</p>

<p>Before I write out what is going through my mind I just want to say that I don't mind if I get responses that I am crazy for doing this or anything of that sort I want honest opinions.</p>

<p>So I am going to be starting college in the near fall and it seems like a flash that I was talking about going to school in California and dreaming about it since I was in grade 9. But anyways, I am conflicted on what to do reguarding this fact now.</p>

<p>I applied to eight schools and I thankfully got into all of them. I narrowed the choices down to two. I have one CSUN (Cal State Northridge) and UofT (University of Toronto) in Canada where I live now.</p>

<p>I was born in the states but my parents decided to move here to Canada because of the free health care and all that jazz. I always knew I wanted to go back to the states though. So I kind of jammed myself between a rock and a hard place because I am conflicted on where to go.</p>

<p>I calculated that UofT would be around 21,000 grand a year for tuition and CSUN would be around 26,000 not much of a difference. I need to add at least 4,000-5,000 in travel costs and other expenses from flying to California and Toronto so totaling to 30,000. I talked to my parents about it and they support me no matter where I go (meaning they will cover all the costs of my stay wherever I am). So money isn't a problem.</p>

<p>I just have a couple concerns reguarding both staying and going. UofT is a better school compared to CSUN but the atmosphere around home and stuff I don't really like it. Now call me crazy I know university isn't for the atmosphere it's for the education. I just thought it over and I know that I wouldn't really enjoy my stay at UofT as much as I would like to go to California and experience something different for a change.</p>

<p>I am going to be visiting CSUN in July to see a couple of friends.</p>

<p>I just am really conflicted ..... I don't want to be rash and going into things head on but I know that it would be better to try out California and see how it is and I have the liberty knowing that I don't have any loans over my head after my education is done (thank god). I plan to live on campus and get a job to at least support myself for outings so I don't have to go and ask for money from my parents. </p>

<p>I just really have a problem deciding because I know I would benefit from staying closer to home and having a place to stay if I ever needed to get a break from university. But what's really holding me back is the problem that if I stay for four years in Toronto then it will be a bit harder to establish myself in California later on. I was just thinking it's better to go now and establish myself there and get that process over with.</p>

<p>I am not saying CSUN is where I will end up graduating in four years (I was planning on transferring to SDSU the following year if anything) and I always have fin aid if anything.</p>

<p>A lot of thoughts have been going through my head on where to go really I just needed to get my story out there and ask everyone here what they think?</p>

2

<p>Bump :smiley: :D</p>

3

<p>I see nothing wrong with picking the lesser ranked school if that is where your heart is. However you should do it with your eyes open. You have not said what you want to study or your credentials, but you should keep in mind the the quality of student will be lower at CSUN. If you decide to go there, you should try to get the best GPA possible. You can then choose to transfer or get accepted to a superior grad school. It is a very large school, so with effort you should be able to find your niche there. Choosing to follow your dream and go to college in California could be very rewarding, or you may find out that you miss your home environment more than you expected.</p>

4

<p>I am from Canada so my GPA is really uncertain but I get A’s in all my courses and the admin at my school said my GPA is around 3.2 - 3.5 </p>

<p>I am majoring in History and want to be a teacher.</p>

5

<p>Probably if I were in your shoes, I would follow my gut feeling. I think atmosphere is important in affecting you attitude towards your education. I think CSUN is a fine choice particularly considering your goals. (If you were doing engineering, my feeling would be different) Your college experience is what you make of it no matter where you go. Even if your goals change, a history major can be a springboard to a graduate program somewhere else. Also, if you go and find it was a mistake, UT does take transfers!. Only you can know what’s best for you.</p>

6

<p>I wanted to try out CSUN and if anything I would transfer into SDSU the following year or Long Beach.</p>

<p>I wanted to go to UCLA for a graduate program too :)</p>

<p>A lot of people are actually going for engineering from what I see on the majors list when it comes to roommates and stuff. Is it a really good engineering school?</p>

<p>I guess I like CSUN because they aren’t really on humanities so the class sizes are small and teachers can focus more on students.</p>

7

<p>CSUN is sooooooo not worth non-resident costs. No way.</p>

8

<p>I just need to try out CSUN first to see if I want to get into any of the other schools around Los Angeles.</p>

<p>The UC’s themselves are not even worth OOS costs.</p>

<p>In fact really no schools are worth it but it has to be done sometimes to get where you want to be haha.</p>

9

<p>You will not likely like CSUN…largely a commuter campus…you’ll be lonely on weekends.</p>

<p>If you wanted to go to school in Calif, why not go to a decent private…like U San Diego, U Redlands, Chapman, Loyola Marymount, or U San Francisco?</p>

10

<p>I don’t really mind quiet weekends. I have a couple friends in Southern California so I would probably be around them most of the weekends if anything.</p>

<p>I just need a boost with the schools so I have time to transfer the following year. Private schools are really pricey which is a turn off for me.</p>

11

<p>Why not go to Toronto – a much better school at a lower cost – and try to go to some place like UCLA or USC for graduate school if you want to do graduate school in the Los Angeles area?</p>

<p>Going to a four year school with intent to transfer is not that good an idea.</p>

12

<p>I actually agree with the other posters - it’s only four years. You can move to California after college just as easily. You may be able to find summer jobs in CA.</p>

13

<p>Yeah I just have friends a majority of who go to Toronto and don’t really like it. </p>

<p>I just don’t want to go to Toronto and not be happy with my choice and regret it later on.</p>

<p>I don’t intend to transfer out the following year from CSUN I just said it was an idea if I don’t like it.</p>

14

<p>All I can say is if you go in with a negative attitude, then it will probably be a self-fulfilling prophecy that you will not like it. UT is a huge place with lots of student organizations and different kinds of people from all over the world. (I assume you mean the St George campus). Certainly almost any student can, with effort, find their place there. But you have to go in excited and ready to start having fun (and work hard) wherever you go.</p>