UCLA vs CSULA vs CSULB - English Major

College Search & Selection
1

I’m not sure which school to attend. I’m considering UCLA, CSULA and CSULB. CSULA is a 40min bus ride away and UCLA is an 1hr20min bus ride away. If I attend CSULB I could move in with my dad and it’d take a 30min bus ride to get there.

I’m an English major and not sure what career I want or what to do with my life. I just wanna be employed. If I attend CSULB I picked the English Education option, but I’m not entirely sure if I want to be a teacher.

Also, does it really matter where I earn my BA? I assume that UCLA does a better job at helping students find internships or jobs, but I’m not sure. I’m also assuming that it looks better on a job application that I earned my BA from UCLA. Is any of this true? And advice or knowledge would be helpful.

2

Does cost after financial aid differ and matter?

Would living on or near campus be doable instead of long commutes?

3

No, the Cal Grant covers tuition for UCLA and CSUs.

Living on or near campus is expensive, I don’t want to be a financial burden on my family, we’re lower-middle class. It’d be cheaper to buy a car.

4

https://app.financialaid.ucla.edu/FASEstimator/Dependent.aspx indicates that UCLA adjusts financial aid grants to cover estimated costs of different housing (on campus, off campus, commuter). It would have been better if you had asked at least a few days ago so that you could have checked with UCLA’s financial aid office on that matter before deciding.