Review of California State University-Channel Islands
from Gardena, CA
Describe your college in three sentences.
CSUCI has a great student teacher ratio that should encourage any incoming freshman to consider CI. You get the attention you most definitely want when you are put in a new environment--especially if you're living far from home. It gives you a great sense of stability and comfort knowing that the faculty and staff are really here for you to help you in any way possible.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Go to your professors office hours! They are here to help you. Seriously. I can't imagine what or even where I would have gotten someone to go over some lecture notes with me other than my professors. Don't get discouraged if you are having a hard time in a class. Take advantage of the fact that they are in here to help you and just let them know what options you have for improving.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
I'm currently an incoming freshman myself so majority of my classes are just helping me to expand what critical thinking is and basically putting my reading and writing skills to the test. I have yet to get bombarded with the amount of work my professors have been giving me which is just another plus.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
I love my dorm. If you can afford it or if your financial aid covers it, I definitely recommend it. CI has some of the nicest dorms I have seen when I was out college hunting. Nothing like the other schools. We don't even have to go to the shower halls that in some others schools have. We have the luxury of having our showers in our suites. Lucky us.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
We have the main cafe that has pretty much a buffet style set up that serves the yummiest breakfast lunch and dinner. Of course its nothing like home, but it really is better than the food they serve in middle and high school. Oh, and did I mention its all you can eat? Yum!
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Heres the tricky part of coming to CI. They try to keep the student body entertained by hosting little events around campus but majority of the time, if you don't have a car its a bit of a hike into town. So what i suggest is getting active, bring some video games, or hang out in any of the cool lounges they have. I'm not going to sugar coat it. It does get pretty boring sometimes on the weekends since I don't have a car to go into the neighboring cities but I always find something to do with friends.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The market in the town center (which is basically where our mini Market, Subway, and Juice It Up, aka Jamba Juice) is expensive for someone without any type of income. Flex cash that those who dorm have can be spent in the places in the town center. But if you really want milk with your cereal you're going to have to pay about 4 to 5 bucks for a half gallon.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Since the school has been open for about 10 years some parts of the school are still being built. If you don't know, CI use to be somewhat of a hospital. It get a little creep sometimes walking around at night just because you look around and some of the original buildings that are still empty are there.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
This place is great for students who want to make not only friends but have a really big family. The campus alone is tiny and does not have the overwhelming number of students most other Cal States have. Its also great for students who prefer one on ones with teachers who are genuinely here to help students.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
So far all the clubs and activities that have been around campus have been just to motivate us. There are a lot of extremely helpful clubs for students looking for ways to commute, transfer, and even cook.
CSUCI has a great student teacher ratio that should encourage any incoming freshman to consider CI. You get the attention you most definitely want when you are put in a new environment--especially if you're living far from home. It gives you a great sense of stability and comfort knowing that the faculty and staff are really here for you to help you in any way possible.
Go to your professors office hours! They are here to help you. Seriously. I can't imagine what or even where I would have gotten someone to go over some lecture notes with me other than my professors. Don't get discouraged if you are having a hard time in a class. Take advantage of the fact that they are in here to help you and just let them know what options you have for improving.
I'm currently an incoming freshman myself so majority of my classes are just helping me to expand what critical thinking is and basically putting my reading and writing skills to the test. I have yet to get bombarded with the amount of work my professors have been giving me which is just another plus.
I love my dorm. If you can afford it or if your financial aid covers it, I definitely recommend it. CI has some of the nicest dorms I have seen when I was out college hunting. Nothing like the other schools. We don't even have to go to the shower halls that in some others schools have. We have the luxury of having our showers in our suites. Lucky us.
We have the main cafe that has pretty much a buffet style set up that serves the yummiest breakfast lunch and dinner. Of course its nothing like home, but it really is better than the food they serve in middle and high school. Oh, and did I mention its all you can eat? Yum!
Heres the tricky part of coming to CI. They try to keep the student body entertained by hosting little events around campus but majority of the time, if you don't have a car its a bit of a hike into town. So what i suggest is getting active, bring some video games, or hang out in any of the cool lounges they have. I'm not going to sugar coat it. It does get pretty boring sometimes on the weekends since I don't have a car to go into the neighboring cities but I always find something to do with friends.
The market in the town center (which is basically where our mini Market, Subway, and Juice It Up, aka Jamba Juice) is expensive for someone without any type of income. Flex cash that those who dorm have can be spent in the places in the town center. But if you really want milk with your cereal you're going to have to pay about 4 to 5 bucks for a half gallon.
Since the school has been open for about 10 years some parts of the school are still being built. If you don't know, CI use to be somewhat of a hospital. It get a little creep sometimes walking around at night just because you look around and some of the original buildings that are still empty are there.
This place is great for students who want to make not only friends but have a really big family. The campus alone is tiny and does not have the overwhelming number of students most other Cal States have. Its also great for students who prefer one on ones with teachers who are genuinely here to help students.
So far all the clubs and activities that have been around campus have been just to motivate us. There are a lot of extremely helpful clubs for students looking for ways to commute, transfer, and even cook.