Wednesday, October 3, 2012
School Review
I've been looking into schools for a class project. I've chosen schools that are convenient for me financially and accessible. I think my top two schools are good schools but the rest don't really have a reputation at all. I want to be able to travel and get a good job and I'm not sure if the schools I've been looking up will provide that fluid freedom for me.
Even my top two schools, UCMerced and CSULB, don't have the best reputations. UCMerced is still making a name for themselves so new students get the impression that the academics are easy. If it's the newest UC, it must be easy. I've even heard CalState Long Beach would be better academic wise. Both schools are great though and after researching both these schools are great. The main difference is the population. The academics are great and both have great science programs. Merced seems to put most their effort into their science department whereas CSULB tends to distribute their focus evenly. This is the reason why these are my top two schools.
Applications have open up and I'm ready to start applying. I'm nervous because I've been on the fence about what I should major in for quite some time now. I'm sure these schools will put me on the right path and open up many opportunities for me. I'm hoping for some good relationships with professors and just continue my cultural experience that I've picked up at the schools I've already attended. There's a lot of room to grow and college is a big part of that.
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Hi Nicole, I have never heard of UCMerced myself, is it far? Both do sound like great schools based off on what you're saying. I agree that college is a time for experiences and growth. It's okay that you're unsure about your major. I think I ran by a couple of different areas, but in the end, I knew there was really one particular major that always stuck around. And I know that people change majors on average about 5-10 times or so, and I think that average number is changing/growing all the time. When I heard about it I was shocked at how many it was. But now that I think of it, it makes sense. I liked a bunch of different things but couldn't pick one and tried focusing at them one at a time. Sometimes it felt right, sometimes it didn't. But it is a big deal since we're studying and putting years of time and effort into something that will be our life career. And that isn't an easy choice and isn't likely to be found instantly. Good luck on your search, you seem to be a positive person, just keep that positiveness up. Have fun on the adventure
ReplyDeleteMerced is about 30 minutes away from Fresno. 4 hours away from long beach and 2 hours away from San Fransisco. It's in central valley so I think that's why nobody knows about it. The school is only 8 years old and has about 3-4 graduating classes so far. I know changing majors is a common thing but I keep reading that as a transfer it's impossible to change your major since they believe you've already had time to think it through as a community college student. I think I'm going to stick to natural sciences and just take extra math classes for fun and if I want to do anything else to pursue it after I get a Bachelors in whatever I can get. Thanks for the good luck and I hope your journey will keep you positive as well!
DeleteThese are both pretty solid schools! I know of some people that have gone to Merced. If you like being in big open country, as opposed to being surrounded by a crowded city, then it's the perfect choice. I recently read too that it has the highest acceptance rate out of the UCs, so your chances look good! If you're looking for relationships with professors, Merced is also the smallest, student population-wise, so classes shouldn't be too overcrowded.
ReplyDeleteYou can't really go wrong with CSULB. It's a pretty well rounded school, so you'll have the proper training and resources to succeed in basically any major you decide on.
Transferring is always so exciting! Good luck!
Hi Nicole,
ReplyDeleteI went to a college fair up in Pasadena last year and was able to take a look at a lot of the UC and CSU schools. I actually found that CSULB seemed to be a real up-and-comer. I was on campus just last night and saw one of my favorite poets read there--which was cool because she's published and I look up to her work. She's been pretty successful. I feel that if someone who is successful is coming to read at the University, it must be doing pretty well. But I do remember when I was in High School, ten years ago, they were trying to really push CSULB onto the kids with lower GPAs. Then again--that's 10 years ago.
I saw Merced at the fair as well. They had a small booth and because it wasn't well known, had very few visitors. They were one of the few booths I was able to actually verbally ask any questions at, but I was uninterested because they immediately did say they focus most on science and I needed one who focused more on the Liberal Arts.
Good luck to you!
Best,
Marisa
If you like to travel, have you thought about International Business. You are still young, check out the colleges nationwide, giving you more opportunity for what you want. If reputation of the school is important to you, do more research or even visiting the campus, before you enroll to the college.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck to you all!