California State Long Beach (San Diego, Chico: rent, homes, dorms)

[YoungKevCash]

First off, I'd like to apologize if this thread isn't the type for this forum, but I don't really know where else to ask

I'm a high school senior, and I'm looking at two different schools as my final college choices, one of them happens to be CSU Long Beach. I'm not from the area, and a family friend has told us it's just "A Party school" but I did some googling and I found that it has some of the lowest fees in the country, but I don't know much in terms of the education I can get from there.

LA area residents, can you give me some insight to the local perspectives on CSU LB? Positive and negative are what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance!

[NaplesRes]

next to san luis, Long Beach is recognized as the best CSU school. while it is fun to attend with it's proximity to belmont shore, it is academically very respectable.

Newsweek ranks it the 3rd best public masters school in the west I believe. It's engineering school is ranked in the top 50 nationally. Many other programs are strong (business, art, theatre to name a few). It has more high school valedictorians than any other university.

As far as negatives, it is a large public university and so you don't get the personal attention you would at a small private school. The education will ultimately be what you make of it. Put in a little effort and you'll get a lot back.

In short, it's a good school. I recommend living in the dorms the first year and then getting an apt with some friends after that in nearby belmont shore, downtown, or the area just southeast of the traffic circle.

[bhcompy]

CSULB is not a party school. party schools in CA are San Diego State(SDSU) and Chico State(CSU Chico). there is actually very little on school housing at CSULB, so that really takes the sails out of any party effort. it's a large commuter school and typical full time students rent rooms from nearby homes, live in the coastal regions, or rent apts around the traffic circle and a few other areas.

[missionhome]

What is the other college choice and what are you interested in??? It helps to know what you are comparing CSULB against and some schools could be better than others at certain majors.

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

CSULB is not a party school. party schools in CA are San Diego State(SDSU) and Chico State(CSU Chico). there is actually very little on school housing at CSULB, so that really takes the sails out of any party effort. it's a large commuter school and typical full time students rent rooms from nearby homes, live in the coastal regions, or rent apts around the traffic circle and a few other areas.

CSULB is getting more residential. New student rec center, more dorms being built, and even talk of an on campus fraternity row. That said, I agree most students live off campus.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by YoungKevCash

First off, I'd like to apologize if this thread isn't the type for this forum, but I don't really know where else to ask

I'm a high school senior, and I'm looking at two different schools as my final college choices, one of them happens to be CSU Long Beach. I'm not from the area, and a family friend has told us it's just "A Party school" but I did some googling and I found that it has some of the lowest fees in the country, but I don't know much in terms of the education I can get from there.

LA area residents, can you give me some insight to the local perspectives on CSU LB? Positive and negative are what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance!

You mention that you are a senior ... Are you anticipating beginning your studies in Fall 2009? Have you already applied to CSULB as the deadline for Fall 2009 already passed? This is one of the most impacted (competitive) schools in Southern California in terms of admissions due to the large number of applicants that they receive. Here is some useful information from CSULB's admissions website. Good luck.

http://www.csulb.edu/depts/enrollmen.../freshmen.html

[YoungKevCash]

Originally Posted by msconnie73

You mention that you are a senior ... Are you anticipating beginning your studies in Fall 2009? Have you already applied to CSULB as the deadline for Fall 2009 already passed? This is one of the most impacted (competitive) schools in Southern California in terms of admissions due to the large number of applicants that they receive. Here is some useful information from CSULB's admissions website. Good luck.

http://www.csulb.edu/depts/enrollmen.../freshmen.html

Yeah, I've applied and been accepted, but I'm coming from out of state (WAY out of state), and my mom, an immigrant from Taiwan, was really opposed to the idea of sending me at out of state cost to a school she hasn't heard of. Thank you for the people who gave positive feedback, i was able to show her schools aren't bad if you've never heard of them. My family lived in the LA area for a little while in the late 90s and its always been one of my goals to be able to go back

[trojerine]

What are your in-state options?

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by trojerine

What are your in-state options?

I agree. What are we comparing CSULB to? It helps to know for comparing the options. CSULB is a good school, but then your in state school could be just as good, better, worse, etc... in a certain area of study.

[andyourlittledogtoo]

I went to CSU Long Beach and it is a good school. I agree that the big party schools are Chico and San Diego in the CSU system. You need to be careful where you live in off campus housing as housing costs in So Cal are so expensive, probably higher than in your home state unless it's NY or Chicago or Miami or something. Good luck!