California State University-Northridge Top Questions

It is important to slow down and take a steady pace when it comes to selecting the college that is the best one for you. If you go too fast and do not think about your options you might rush into a decision that you WILL regret later on. Before I entered CSUN I was really rushed thinking that I was going to run out of time and that all the colleges would fill up and I would end up with no school (of course those were CC schools.) After calming down and doing a little more research I found CSUN which turned out to be the best decision I have ever made. If you do your homework on schools and try not to rush into things you can be happy at a school you enjoy going to and in the end happiness with your school and life is all that really matters.

Go to the school, talk to the students, and most of all, go with your gut. Dont go to a school solely on its achedemic sucess, go to it because it calls to you and says "Im the right one for you, achedmically, socially, and locationally!"

I believe letting your child have some freedom and learn from their mistakes is the best way to help them grow up. Parents can and should help financially if possible but otherwise, students should have the responsibility of taking care of themselves. There are some mistakes that people want to avoid but once they come close to making them, the reality check kicks in and the maturation process accelerates. I think trying to make it on their own makes students into better people who are ready to take on the world and the rest of their lives.

Look for the program that best fits your needs. Don't be distracted by what other people are choosing for their experiences. You will be happiest if you attend a University where you are with people interested in the same things as you are.

Finding the right college is only half the battle, its what you put into it that determines what you take from it. I always wanted to go to UCLA like all my uncles, and I admit I was a Bruin fan growing up and I still am. When I decided not to attend UCLA based on cost factors, I felt a little down. Honestly, I felt that CSUN was more of a mediocre school. To my benefit, I found I was totally wrong. CSUN has been an amazing school and I have established many meaningful relationships during my attendance. As far as advice for the college experience, its simple: have fun, study hard, and savor the experience. Careers come up awfully fast, I will miss college when its over. Don't let the college experience pass you by, have fun while you're at it. Even if you go back for a graduate degree, it will surely not be the same experience as undergrad. Also, pay attention in class. Its only to your benefit and it'll help you in the long run. There are many classes I wish I could retake if I only had the time.

In order to find a school that is the best fit for a potential student, parents should research the school in advance to be certain it will provide their child the resources they need. Campus tours, and college websites can provide a wealth of information about the schools. Potential students should meet with school represenatives, and come prepared with a list of questions and expectations of the school. They can determine if the school fits their needs and desires by the schools' responses to their questions. A tour of the campus can also help the student determine whether the campus is a good fit for them. It would be important to go during the term so that the student gets the truest representation of the campus. Will the campus meet their physical needs? That alone could determine whether or not a school would be suitable. Perhaps the best, and least biased, way to find out if a school fits the student is to interview students that are curently enrolled in the programs the prospective student is interested in. The student may find that the school doesn't have a strong program for degree they are interested in pursuing. Good luck!

To make sure to go over every opportunities and research every school that offers what the students' academical interests are (since that's what the student is going to do later on in life)

People say you only get what you put into something. This is very true when it comes to college. If your college only have 2000 students or have 33,000 like mine, as long as you put yourself available for the possibilities, your college experience can be the best that it can be. May it be joining a club or an organization, double majoring in something, or helping with the community of your chosen university, as long as you put dedication and hard work, it all pays off well. As far as picking the right college, be sure to research extensively with what you exactly want and if it matches with your standards and qualifications. Also, make sure that you communicate with parents so that there is no misunderstanding so that you can avoid unneccessary arguments.

If you are a senior in high school, make sure your college counselor at your high school is helping you every step of the way and if there are any guest speakers coming to your high school to tell you about the college that they attend, I urge you to go to see that guest speak and ASK QUESTIONS!!! There is nothing better than getting advice from someone who is close to you in age about a school that you may want to attend. 9 times out of 10, that college student know's what you are going through and you will be better able to understand where you are coming from. Good luck and remember to always ASK QUESTIONS because closed mouths do not get fed and your education is what will get you to the top in life!!!

I think it's important to know what profession/carreer you want to be in first before you decide where you want to go because the school that you choose will impact how well the school will help you reach your goal. Do your research on which schools offer the best programs for you.