Deciding a Major

I couldn't decide a major or what I wanted to do, but now that I have limited it down to Kinesiology and Forensics. I can't make a final decision in what I really want to pursue. I am currently taking the forensics class at school and am really enjoying it. I do however enjoy helping people, which is why I might want to go into physical therapy, but I can also decide to take a path to become a forensic scientist. I also don't know what college I should choose depending on my major. So my two questions would be how you made your final decision in choosing a major and also how you picked a college for that specific major.

Questions Questions Questions

       So ladies and gentleman your girl is having some trouble finding good schools out of state. I know some people would prefer to stay in California but I would like try to venture out somewhere other than California. Although its pretty risky to venture out of state or venture out of your comfort zone, I would really like to know what are some good colleges that you guys recommend would be great for out of state. Also I would like to know who else is in the same predicament as I am. I know some of you may be thinking why are you going out of state? Well although staying in- state for college would be great and California has a lot to offer I just think going out of state for college would be a new and cool experience for me. Also some colleges out of state offer low tuition cost so that's a plus.  Lastly I would like to know ... man I am  like a chatterbox today... what is the acceptance rate for out of state undergraduates  So the three main questions I would like answered are: What are colleges do you recommend would be great for  out of state, who is in the same predicament as I am, and what is even the acceptance rate for out of state undergrads.  Overall I would like to try to go out of state for college like I said. If you have any suggestions for me they will be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)

Save money at a Cal State or go to my number one school which is a UC?!?

           As of now I am applying to Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton, and University of California Irvine. My sophomore year of high school, I made it my goal to get accepted into UCI. I want to get out of the Long Beach/Bellflower area and move to a new city while I attend college. However the closer I get to graduation the more hesitant I feel about actually wanting to go to UCI. After discussing with my parents our finical situation I sadly learned that my family and I are unable to afford any UC without having to take out student loans. I currently have a brother at Cal State Long Beach and a sister who dorms and attends UC Riverside. The cost of tuition annually for my parents is $40,000. My parents did not set enough aside to allow me to go to attend and dorm at a UC. For the past two years I was looking forward to leaving my small home in Bellflower and venture out into a larger city and immerse myself into the campus life. I have to come to terms with attending one of the two nearby Cal States (Long Beach or Fullerton). I had worked so hard my four years of high school, I took various amount of advanced placement classes, became apart of a sport, as well as various amount of clubs even taking high officer positions. My family have pushed to became the best I can be so I could be able to attend a great school just like my sister, however knowing that my only option to attend a UC is through taking out student loans scares me. I have been warned by teachers and by administration to avoid such matter at all cost if possible. However since it is my own education my parents have given me the decision of whether or not to take out student loans. My parents are very supportive, however I don't want to put my family or I through this financial hardship. But then again education is an investment and if I'm serious about my education then this trouble should only be temporary.

Community College

Next year I plan on going to either Long Beach or Cerritos community college. I’m still undecided on what I️ want to study, so I figured I should go and take my general ed classes to see if anything sparks my interest. I️ know that people tend to look down on community colleges, but I don’t see what’s wrong with saving money, especially when I still don’t know what I want to be. I️ plan on taking my general classes, then transferring somewhere else once I️ have things figured out. Some of the colleges I have my eye on when thinking about transferring are Cal State Long Beach, and Cal State Dominguez Hills, I would like to stay in the Southern California area while working on my degree in higher education. I had a plan of attending Cyprus community college and going into their Sonography program and recently went to a orientation which explained the courses and career path after graduating and I realized that that was not the path for me. I am glad I went to this workshop and learned more about the program before I enrolled and committed to going to school for that career, though I know that was not the right path for me I now have to look into new options and hopefully explore them before making a commitment. My question for you all is how did you figure out what you want to study in college? Do you have any tips for me?

Will I make it throughout college?

Going to college is a very important step for me and for my family.  If I were to get accepted into a college, I would be the first in my family to attend.  Don't get me wrong, college sounds great and I can't wait for what is to come for me and my future.  But, I know that there will be a few bumps on the road as they come.  Personally, I am not a huge fan of stress and I don't think anyone is either, and the big question for me is, will I be able to get through this tough milestone, will I be able to handle the financial debt, that is only if I don't get approved for financial aid, how will that affect my family and etc.  Obviously it is a lot to think about and I don't want to feel as if I am a burden to my family, even if I am not able to get through it all.  I know that I could be able to work on campus and eventually help out with the finance, but will that ever be enough?  I have seen some of my family members drop out of college because they are so stressed out, that they can't seem to live a normal life, and of course college will do that to you because you are devoting your time and knowledge into hours of schoolwork, which I have no problem with.  All I am asking is what do you think I should do?  How can I make my college life a little less harder once I step on campus?  Do you feel the same as I do?

                                                250 words



                          I'm going to either a UC or Cal state in the fall of 2018 but I'm confused on what major I should take.  I've been thinking about this for a while but I can't seem too rap my mind around one.  I feel as if I should have been looking earlier cause now I don't know what to do.  I'm not sure but is it bad to go in as undeclared.  I have heard that lots of people go in as undeclared but I'm not sure if that will prohibit me from getting into certain colleges because there might not be enough room for all of the people that want to get into that college and go in as undeclared.  I guess I don't really have a choice now since it's almost time to turn in applications and I definitely don't wanna miss the deadline, because I need to at least get into a college because I have prepared myself to go to a Cal of UC not a community nothing wrong with a community its just that's not what I have prepared myself for.  Honestly I feel as if like I said before I should just go in as undeclared.  This college thing is just weird and has me confused with what I want to major in and want to do for the rest of my life.  I'm hoping that someone can maybe give me a suggestion on what I should do cause at this point I'm really not sure what to.  Because like I said before, I don't have a lot of time left before I have to submit my application.

                      - Katelynn Collins

Tori Castillo is trying something new

This is a test. 

What college to choose?

So there's many options for colleges and which ones to choose and the factors that affect your decision. For me, I think that weather conditions is a major factor is which college I choose. What are some factors that decide where you want to go? Also, it is kind of difficult trying to find a college with your major. I've been searching majors and cant really set on one. I have a few in mind but a lot of colleges that I apply to do not have it or have something in relation to it. Do you think I should find a new college that has my major, or adjust my major to something similar to attend a college that I really get the feel of? There's so many deciding factors in this process after getting accepted and really narrowing down your colleges. Of course, its too early to decide where I want to go but I want to get people's opinions on what I should do. Also, what are some interesting majors that are related to some type of Biological Science? I wanted to get into something with Anatomy because it is interesting to me. Do you guys know anything that is related to it because not all colleges are offering that type of Bio Science major.

Is moving away the best choice?

I have recently applied to my dream school Florida State University. I want to major in nursing and they have an amazing program. I always thought that if I got accepted I would go. However, I have been wondering if moving across the country would be the best choice for me. I have many family members in Florida that would help me if I went, but I can not help but wonder how moving away from my friends and immediate family would turn out. In addition, moving away would be very costly. With out of state tuition, room and board, and the endless plane tickets, it all adds up to a great amount of money. However, there are many ways to lower these costs. I also worry that I will hate being away. My friend moved to a college on the east coast and loves it, however my sister, in Arizona, really misses home. My biggest fear is that I drop out of school only because I am I little homesick. However, I am going to focus on getting accepted first. If I do get accepted , I think moving to Florida would be a great experience. I will be able to grow as a person. Not only will I learn to be more independent, I will be forced to make new friends and form bonds with people that will last a lifetime. I am very grateful my parents are allowing me to take this opportunity if it happens to come my way. However I can't help but wonder if moving away for college is really the best choice.

On Campus or Off Campus?

College as we all know is a time that we all look forward to. If its either for sports, finding your lifelong calling, or even for the experience. Preparing for college is a stressful time, having to make decisions on which course to major in, what college to go to, and the point of this post, wether or not to stay on campus. For many colleges, the recommend that incoming freshmen spend their first year staying on campus. Perks of this are that you experience the life of it, and its easier for your schedule. You're also saving money on gas.  However, it is pretty costly and the idea of staying home and commuting to school, while saving a couple thousand dollars, does look appealing. Plus, mostly free food which is always a plus. So I'm stuck between if i should stay on campus if im close enough to home, or live on campus. Thoughts or ideas?

Becoming a Pilot as an Aerospace Engineer Major

From doing many hours of research to find out what I am interested in, I am choosing a path I will be most passionate about, and that is being a pilot. I aspired to become a pilot since I was a dreaming ten year old. And as I fill out my UC and CSU applications, I have realized I am taking a huge step towards my goal. I have applied to several UC's and CSU's entering as an Aerospace Engineer major with Mechanical Engineering as my alternate major. Most pilots are only required a bachelor's degree in any subject; however, I chose an aerospace engineer major to reinforce my understanding of aerodynamics. To start preparing for the many physics equations in the coming years, I took a physics class to build a basic foundation of motion, energy, and force. Although the class was somewhat ineffective, it was more of an introduction to physics rather than learning the concepts and sharpening my knowledge. My question is what are the challenges that I might encounter by becoming a STEM major? How difficult are the classes going to be?
-Jimwell Delos Santos

Is Leaving Home More Beneficial Than It Is Hard?

I know this question is kind of hard to answer because we all don't have personal experience with this yet, but I figured might as well (because I can't think of any other question that hasn't already been asked). I know everyone says, including me, that moving away for college and living without parents holding your hand in the same house, it forces upon you a sort of "time to grow up" kind of life experience. While it is undoubtedly true that that is the case, we can all also agree it isn't a slow process, it is pretty much dropping you straight into living on you own (minus roommates). So my question for you all is, is being dropped into solo living have more pros than it does cons, or is it going to be just more stress on your shoulders than college already is?

Moving Away?

As I have been looking at the various colleges that are out there and trying to see which ones have the best programs for what I want to major in, I started thinking about what would happen if I chose a college that's a ways away from home or even out of state. That sounds extremely daunting as a 17 year old girl that has grown with the support of a family who has always been around to help with anything needed. I guess it really depends on how independent you are by the time you even leave high school.
Even so, I've heard MANY stories of people who have moved away from home for college because it seemed like the best decision at the time but as soon as they did they were miserable, they weren't ready, and they wanted to go right back home.
So what I'm asking is how do you know if you'd be ready to move away on your own for college?

Is the financial burden worth it to attend a 4 year university?

My plan is to attend a 4 year university. Preferably a cal state university. I plan on staying local because I don't wan't to be a financial burden to my parents, they've already sacrifice so much for me. Since they never finished college I know that they would want me to finish college and be successful in my preferred career. They'll would do what ever it takes to help me. Parts of me wants to go and explore, and attend an out of state and stay on campus.  Get the full college experience.  Finding myself and surround myself around new people.  But I know that the cost of tuition and room and board will be so much money.  I know that there are ways to pay for college such as scholarships and financial aid but it will still cost a lot.  I would attend a community college to save money but that's not what I really want to do.  I'm pretty set that I want a career in the health field  because I enjoy helping others, but I just don't know what kind of career in that field. There are so many to choose from! For the longest of time I wanted to be a Dentist, but now I don't think I'd be really committed in that competitive field. So now I'm indecisive in what I want to do or major in. Should I be selfish and go to the college that I want to attend or just go to the most affordable? I don't want to be in serious debt afterwards and spend years paying it off! But if it's worth it I will.

Working through College?

How much should I try to work while in college? College is expensive, and I don't qualify for enough financial aid to cover much of the cost. I don't want to graduate with massive debt, so I'm planning to find a job either on or off campus. I'm going to major in engineering, so hopefully I can get a job or internship somewhere where I might want to start a career. However, college courses are rigorous, so I'm wondering how much time I should spend working in a week and how much time I should allot for coursework, extracurriculars, or other activities. I'm also considering if I want to join any hobby type bands so that I can still play my trombone. I'm not planning to major in music, but I want to keep playing at some level. Overall, what is the workload like in college and how many other activities can I fit into my schedule? -Jacob Zollinger

What universities are best to apply to when it comes to price and qualities?

My family has never been the wealthiest, as my mom is the only person in my household who works and we haven't figured out how I might pay off college tuition. I plan to apply to FAFSA and to different scholarships to try to get as much money as I can to help me pay what I can, but because not every scholarship is guaranteed, I'm trying to find universities that are not as pricey as others. I also will probably get a job to cover living expenses and textbooks for courses, but I'm not sure if it will be enough to cover everything. I'm also not sure about what qualities I should look for in each of the universities I am looking to apply to. I know I want some with fair graduation rates and a diverse community, but what else is there to look for? Maybe the size of the campus and the different studies offered are of interest, but I'm not sure what else to look for, and some of the universities I am already interested in may not even accept me or be able to pay for such as UCLA, UC Irvine, or the USC. Because I don't have a specific major selected, I also don't know which academic qualities to specifically look for, but I'm leaning towards a science or medical care related major and whichever place offers studies in those subjects. Over all, I want an affordable university where I can enjoy myself, have a diverse campus, and hopefully find a major that I'm inspired by to pursue.
- Kris Rubalcava

Out of State vs Studying Abroad

     I have always imagined myself leaving for college so that I can grow independently as a person.  Preferably, I would want to leave out of state or a couple hours away in order for myself to build a close bond with my campus and make life long friends and memories. However, this past year circumstances have changed.  My family has gained a new member, my baby sister, and I find myself leaning toward attending a local college.  Attending a local college would have its perks including that I wouldn't have to deal with the stress of leaving my family and that it is a cheaper option.  Another viable option for me would be to study abroad while attending a local college so that in a way, I still fulfill my desire to gain life experiences independently.  Should I leave out of state and develop a relationship with my campus or stay local and take the opportunity to study abroad?  Also, if I do study abroad, would it slow down my process of graduating on time with the necessary credits?

What do I major in?

Growing up we frequently get asked the question what do you want to be when you grow up? Which now translates in what will you major in? When I'm asked what I want to major in when applying for university's they already want to know what my major will be it is usually what I find the most interest. The majors that usually come to my attention is the medical field, criminology, forensics, and law because in order to be able to be happy further in life it has to be a major that I enjoy. If I don't enjoy the major that I chose then the work that is done will not be done in the correct fashion like many other people. Due to the majors that I chose there will a better satisfaction in what i choose and the interaction between the people that I have to help will be much more helpful and compassionate towards the people that require my assistance. In comparison the difference that happens when people don't enjoy their majors the interaction that takes place with the people that require assistance will not be as helpful because, the job will not be done correctly and fast in order to get over with it. Choosing a major that I enjoy is very important because I don't want to question myself over the years on what I chose to do with my life and not deliver the work as it should be done.

Is Communications in Media a good major choice?

I am interested in working with social media sites and creating content or helping create content that people would enjoy. I'm concerned because I don't know how great of a career I could get. It seems like everything I want to do doesn't end up well. I would probably have a minor in sociology to better understand people and the best marketing strategies are. However, I love English and don't want to give that up. I'm also concerned that this major is impacted, and it would be difficult to get good jobs. My mother happens to be in advertising for Kroger, so she told me this would be a good choice, but I'm not sure it’s what I personally want to do. I know companies like Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, or even being in advertising departments for companies seems like something I would like, but I feel like I would want to create more impactful and meaningful articles/projects. Journalism also interested me, but these days it seems like you can’t find an article that isn’t insanely biased or fake. I would most likely enjoy anything in the arts. There are other majors that i were thinking about though. Nursing seems great, but I hate math and chemistry. I wanted to be a therapist, but it's a dice roll on your salary. I feel like there's always going to be a hint of doubt in whatever I choose, so I'm trying to not be stressed about it. I am just very conflicted on what I should do.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

What colleges I am applying to has been a hot topic recently in my family.  Up until very recently I had no idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go.  I did a lot of research on colleges and majors for months.  I always loved the outdoors so this brought me to the decisions of going into environmental science.  This then prompted my research of schools in California that are great for a student majoring in environmental science.  This brought me to Humboldt State in Arcata.  I have heard about this school from family friends but I never considered it somewhere I would want to attend.  I always thought I would be attending CSULB and so did my parents.  I spent a while research HSU and fell in love with it.  Arcata is a very isolated town with a small population in Northern California.  If I went to HSU I would be going to an unfamiliar town away from all my friends and family.  Bringing up the idea of HSU to my parents was better than I thought.  They were all for where ever I wanted to go but I know they wanted me to stay.  I've applied to other local colleges because I know staying local is what my parents really want for me.  I think HSU might be the best place for me but I would be away from my entire family.  I want to go to a college I  love but I also don't want to be so far away from my family.  I know I have the personality to go away for college but I’m not sure if my parents want me to go.  My question is; Should I stay or should I go?
-Emily Guidas

I plan on attending Cal State Long Beach by this time next year. But I find myself struggling on deciding my major. All throughout my life I was asked the question 'what I want to be when I grow up', I brushed it off and thought i'll decide when the time comes. The time came and I haven't gave it much thought like I was supposed to and I find myself selecting undecided when filling out my applications. Will being  undecided affect my chances at admission?

Going Out-of-State for College and Trying to Earn a Living

About a week ago I received a letter in the mail from Seton Hall University. This college is located in New Jersey, a mere 2,800 miles away from here. In the letter, I was offered a scholarship ranging from $54,000 to $84,000 over the course of four years. I was ecstatic to have received such an offer. After looking into it, they have the major I'm looking for available, Accounting, and they're offering to pay a large amount of the tuition. Last night, however, my dad told me that we wouldn't be able to go, as the cost of living in New Jersey is too much for us, even though California is more costly to live in than New Jersey. Hearing my dad say this was a heartbreak, and so I want to go on my own in an attempt to make the living a bit easier. With most of my school payed for, I'd just require a job and a place to live, though I'd like to stay on campus. My question to you is if there's a way to make this process any easier. What hours should I work to have the right amount of school time and enough money to get by? What tips do you have to make sure any money I earn stays saved for the right moment?

   What kind of degree does a person have to get to work as a historian? I'm interested in any job that involves history. I like museums and being in history classes. I enjoy learning about why things are the way the are by looking at their past. I prefer thinking of a different time period and how everything was then instead of thinking about what's happening now. And how all this will be in a textbook that will come out in maybe a decade. Although I prefer U.S. history, I don't completely hate the idea of the history of other countries. History has fascinated me and I'm quite curious to know what kind of history jobs are out there in the world. I would like to do something history related in my future-anything would work for me.

What do I major in?

All throughout high school and middle school, I was frequently asked this questions “ what are you majoring in?” And to be frank, I do not know because I am interested in almost every subject. So, as I started researching the college application process and looking at particular schools, I noticed that some schools want to know my major before I applied or some schools, even asked me to apply without asking what major but made me fill in a specific subject like Engineering, Nursing, or Arts and Sciences. so as a senior about to step in the real world ask myself what am I going to do with my future or my career so I will not be bored for the rest of my life and how can I prevent this situation. so in 30 years from now, I will not ask myself what the hell am I doing.

What Qualities Do You Look for in a School?

So far, I have been doing really well with filling out my applications. There hasn't been much stress or pressure having to do with the application process. However, the only question that I do not know is how to pick a school. What qualities should I look for in a school?  So far I am hoping that I made decent choices about the schools I decided to apply to. The schools I am interested in is UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, San Jose State, and San Diego State. I picked these school based on the programs they offer, the community, and least importantly- the location. I plan on applying for a few more schools; however, these are my narrowed down choices right now. Each school has some sort of quality I find interesting. I am afraid that I will get accepted to some of these schools and have a hard time agreeing to pick one that I feel I would want to attend next fall. I also feel that picking a major has a huge affect on what I want to do and where I want to go. I am aware that it is normal to enter college with a specific major and graduate with another degree. The thing is, I don't think it would be safe or me to declare undecided. I want to get into and out of college as quickly as possible because I know that college can turn out to be expensive. In conclusion, I just wish that I go to college somewhere where I feel comfortable and settled with the school and its community.
-Jada Wright

Is the career of a Veterinarian worth the struggle?

Is becoming a Veterinarian a worthy life choice to make? I have heard that becoming a Veterinarian contains a lot of work and extra schooling, yet it is a worth wild career path to take. In my time of thinking this is maybe a career I can see myself being a part of from all the research I have done. Only a few Colleges offer  great Veterinarian programs. Only to name a few that are on my top college bound list are Louisiana State University (LSU) and University of California Davis. Both are well known colleges throughout Louisiana and California.  I have recently applied to LSU in hope to become part of the Veterinarian program on the campus yet my concern is that if I do not get into LSU and instead have the chance to attend another college that may offer a minor or major related to what I want to do in my future, I know I will still be required to go to Veterinarian school after my 4 years of college. By going to Veterinarian school I am adding an extra 4 years of schooling relating to my job that I desire. My question is if this career path I have chosen is worth the struggle and efforts? Or should I look into a different career path in college?
-Alana Williams   

Going Against the Grain

 Throughout my high school career I have dreaded the time of the year where college applications were the number one priority because I was very indecisive of where I wanted to go, what I wanted to be and what I wanted to major in. I  used to see previous seniors stressing about college applications and I knew that was going to be me  and now it is.  I witnessed many different routes that worked and didn’t work for some individuals. I used to want to go to a four-year  University but once I really understood how much debt a person can  get themselves into just from college debt I figured  Community college was the better way because I don’t even know what I want to major in. Since I am very indecisive is going to community college better than going to a four-year university?  Is it easier to get sidetracked if going to a community college rather than a four year university?  I’m not ashamed of wanting to go to community college because I can always transfer if I even have the funds.  However, I still want to apply to Cal states and UC’s because I want to see what type of options I can have for myself. Am I wasting my time doing college applications when I plan on going to community college, eventhough I don’t mind a variety of paths I can choose from?
- Maritza Rodriguez

Fire Science: A Prediction in the Long Term Effects

As I continue my schooling career I will be furthering my education at Santa Ana community college. I have looked into this college because they have a great program for becoming a firefighter. I have had many doubts coming into this field of study due to the fact that its very hard to find a job. Finding a job is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Many people have gotten hired through an academy, through knowing people or just by winning the lottery basically. Being a firefighter has its benefits for example,  health insurance, vacation pay, and competitive pension plan. I am a very competitive person so I think I will do fine in being able to find a job and to get hired. All of the benefits are great, but not being able to find a job right away after I graduate is going to be hassle and when I apply for any Fire departments its pretty much a waiting game. This got me thinking, Is majoring in fire science really worth it?

How good is a Biochemistry Major in terms of job availability? Also impacted is a biochemistry major in top ranked universities like the UCs?

     I am curious about how good is a biochemistry major when it comes to the job market. So far the only thing I'm worried about is getting hired since I don't wanna spend so much money on a good university and getting a degree, but not find work. I decided to choose this major since I'm good in both Biology and Chemistry. Hence, that's why I'm taking AP Chemistry and I plan to self study AP Biology and take the exam for college credit. I also don't mind if it's a bad job, since I have been in miserable workplaces before... like being a high school student. All I mainly care about is finding a job where I can support myself and be independent. So how friendly is the job market when it comes to people with biochemistry degrees?

     One more thing I am concerned about is how impacted is biochemistry? Throughout my high school career I have heard many students say they hated chemistry and often find it difficult to comprehend. Not to mention, my AP Chemistry class has less than ten students. So I assume that a majority of students wouldn't take biochemistry and especially not chemistry.  Yet, I also hear that usually for colleges I hear that the sciences are often impacted. So how impacted is a biochemistry major?
-Bryan Thach

Not applying to a Cal State or UC

Am I making the right decision by choosing to go to a community college and not applying to any other colleges? Should I be doing something different as in regards to going to college just like everyone else is?  Everyone around me at school seems to be talking about applying for whichever college they dream of going to, the amount of stress it has given them to get their applications in, and what they want to major in. Before any of this started happening I had a set plan on going to Cerritos College since it is about a 5-10 minute drive from my house and across the street from my work. I considered this a great idea because it would save me money by not having to drive far to a college such as Long Beach or having to pay to live on campus . I don't want to apply to a Cal State or UC because why would I want to put time and money into a college that costs so much when I'm unsure in what I want to major in. It makes sense to me when I think about it but I'm not sure if it sounds like a good idea to others. Today, 11/14/2017, our ASB teacher had a discussion with just seniors about applying to college and not waiting until the last minute because once the deadline happens, that's it. Then she went on saying how even if we don't want to apply to a UC, and plan on going to a community college we should still apply to a Cal State  if we meet the requirements so you know that you have options. Some seniors were asking questions about applications or majors and I had no clue as to what they were talking about and this gave me anxiety because I can't relate to a majority of the seniors on campus. I could start signing up for FAFSA and talking to my counselor to discuss what I can do in order to get a head start on getting into Cerritos Community College. Not everyone is going to make the same decisions as everyone else so I should be focused on me, myself, and I.

-Juliet Rose Chacon

Attending Community College First VS. Attending a University First

I turned in my applications for Cal State Schools, and I plan on majoring in Pediatrics Nursing.  I have heard from several people that it is better and more cost efficient to complete your pre-requisite classes at a community college first, and then later bridge over into your Cal State School.  So how this works is, I would be taking two years of general education at a community college, and then would be transferring in to take my classes for my major through my acceptance letter to the Cal State. Most people who get accepted into a four year college forget about this opportunity, even though it has several benefits like getting first pick at classes, and paying less for college expenses.  Four year colleges can cost up to three times more than community colleges, which could ultimately save a lot of money for future tuition at the Cal State.  However, I have also heard that if you have already decided on your major, it is better to go straight into the Cal State that you were accepted to.  This ultimately provides many social opportunities, and you have the chance to get to know your school and your professors early on as a Freshman; furthermore, starting out at your school of choice gives you more benefits when it comes to extracurricular and on campus involvement. Both of these pathways have huge benefits, but I was wondering which path seems more beneficial for me? Is anyone else considering community college first?  -Hannah Kearney

Staying or Going

Hello, personally my biggest fear about college is whether I should move away or stay home. There are pros and cons to both for me. I am extremely reliant on my parents, so I feel like moving away would help me grow and become better as a person, but then again I’m extremely reliant on them, I don’t even know how to do laundry. If I stayed home I could save all of my money and use it to things I actually want, but if I move away I’ll have to spend my money on all kinds of things. Also, what if I don’t make friends and I spend all of my days by myself, where here I have friends and I know my way around.  As you can see I’m very confused and unsure oh what to do. Does anybody else feel the same way or get nervous about the same thing? -Jaelyn Jurado

af: Blog Assignment #1: the FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions are those questions that are asked frequently!  DUH.

But what questions do you have about where you will be next year?  Ask a question about the college you are going to, the major you want to pursue, the branch of the military you plan to join -- a REAL question that you have.

The assignment requires ONE post and TWO comments to your peers by 6:00 pm

 on Friday, November 17.

The LINK to the blog rubric is right HERE.