Hey,
I am from Germany and I am 22 year old.
In August I will study for 4 months in the USA, at the moment I have the choice between some colleges in California.
There are the colleges
CSU Channel Islands
CSU Fullerton
CSU Monterey Bay
CSU San Macros
Which of that colleges would be the best for me?
I am type of person who really loves to party and have fun. I would love to have a great time in the USA, with a lot of fun.
The reason for my question is. That I wanted to go to Chico at first, but at the moment it is not clear, if Chico takes International Students at the moment, so I have to take a choose soon.
I would be very thanksful if you can help me.
I would suggest Cal State Fullerton or San Marcos. Channel Islands and Monterey Bay are very nice but may be too isolated.
CSUF is within 10-15 min from Disneyland, sports venues such as Anaheim Stadium (Baseball) and the Pond (Ice Hockey/Concerts) and within 30 mins from the beaches. Downtown Fullerton has a nice restaurant and bar scene on the weekends.
CSUSM is near the San Diego area, so you have beaches, attractions such as Sea world and the Zoo, concert venues, restaurants and bars (in the Gas Lamp quarter) all within 30-40 minutes.
Thank you for your answer.
What about the party scene there?
For me it is not a really big problem to be isolated, I have not a problem with a small college, but it must have a great social life, where people like to have fun.
In Germany I am on a very small college with just 2500 students, but we have here a great time
Chico is a better party scene. And SDSU, if that is an option would be the best. CSUF is something of a commuter school with most students living off campus. It is a good location to see the greater Los Angeles and Beaches area but only if you have a car as the public transportation is horrible around there.
These are not really the greatest choices, what other choices do you have?
I agree with BrownParent, your choices are not the best. Majority of the Cal States are commuter schools, so only a few students remain on campus on weekends thus the party scene is limited. Also Cal States to do not have a large Greek system (Fraternities/Sororitites) where many parties happen.
San Marcos does have a train station on campus which would help with transportation:
https://www.csusm.edu/global/ugadmiss/index.html
I can only visit those colleges because there are cheap, all other are really to expensive.
I could visit Wymonig too because it is a partner school.
As long as you don’t plan to see much of the ‘California’ many expect, Chico could be the right choice. The town is great and, as others note, there’s an active nightlife a short walk from campus most nights. The campus is a nice mix of classic brick and more modern architecture. There is a lot to do in and around town, from Lassen National Park to Bidwell Mansion and Park. Local bus service is quite good. Chico State will give you a great feel for what it;s like to be a college student in the US - and exposure to the rest of California.
A few things to know before signing up. It is 100 miles North of Sacramento and can get very hot as Summer approaches. Most of what’s between Sac and Chico is farmland. You’ll be about a 5 hour drive from the beach (you will need a wetsuit to go in the water), 5 hour drive from SF and 8-9 hours to LA. There’s no commercial air service closer than Sacramento and bus/train service is spotty.
Fullerton and San Marcos put you in more urban area and you’d have better access to transit and the more touristy aspects of CA. Though both are more ‘commuter schools’ there is no shortage of nightlife in the area - though not necessarily a ‘college scene’. If you are looking for the theme park/beach/bikini scene, either would be a better choice than Chico.
To get the most from Monterrey and Channel Islands - you’d need a car. Both campuses are fairly new and don’t really have ‘critical mass’ yet. They are both isolated from meaningful population by several miles and, right now, they don’t have much presence of their own. Any of the other 3 would be a better choice.
Wyoming is beautiful but isolated and COLD much of the year.
Good luck on your adventure!
Thank you a lot for the great and long answer.
I would really love to go to Chico, but at the moment I can not apply in Chico.
And I have to inform my teacher on thursday, which college I choose.
It is not easy for me to choose a school, so at the moment, I have the decision between Fullerton and San Macros.
Can someone tell me something about the living situation there? In Chico I found the “Timber Creek Apartments”, is there a kind of those apartments, in San Macros too?
I searched for hours on google about Chico, but it is not possible to apply, so I must find a other school.
After my college time is finished, I am going to stay for a month in the USA, to see everything.
Thank you all for the many questions in a bad english.
As several members have noted the CSUs for most part are commuter schools. For most of them you’ll find limited “after” school socialization on campus. This is true even for San Francisco State which despite the location of the college (some 3 miles from the center of San Francisc) is very very quiet at night. There is a social scene (in addition to that at Chico) at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is also part of the CSU system.
At 22 you’ll be one of the older students at the colleges you mention. It’s not that there aren’t older students at the CSUs but that many of the older students work and have a home life away from campus.
My sense is that you’re more likely to find what you are looking for at the University of Wyoming. Many students there live on campus or nearby. The university has a strong athletic program, etc. Socially it’s more of what many think of as a typical american “university” than the CSUs.
My son goes to Chico State, I know there are international students on campus. Their web site says they welcome more than 500 of them. Perhaps they don’t participate in your program.
http://www.csuchico.edu/graduatestudies/prospective/international.shtml
Timber Creek is known as The Zoo for a reason… and definitely attracts more spirited students - and has since the 1970s. .
Both (Fullerton and San Marcos) have fraternities - therefore there are parties but, the communities of Fullerton and Oceanside/San Marcos are much less tolerant of college parties than Chico. I’d be surprised to see a complex that lively near campus Fullerton or San Marcos. Honestly, i don’t know them as well as I do Chico. If you have to pick between the 2, Fullerton is a larger, more established campus.
Not on your list above but, CSU Sacramento will probably fit your bill too - especially since you;ll be 22. There’s no shortage of live music/nightlife/pubs in East Sacramento and Mid Town areas.
Wyoming is probably more “typical” of the American college experience with students staying on campus at night and over the weekends, hence more party opportunities. It is, however, very cold and rather rural (and you’d have to fly to get to many places).