CSULB or CSUN (please someone respond)

[zoner]

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Hi Everyone

I have been reading this forum thoroughly and have a huge dilemma. I am deciding between CSULB or CSUN for 2nd bach. pre med. They have both accepted me and CSULB has given me a state grant so the tuition will be completely free.

little about me...

I am 33 years old. I have been brushing up on my math and science at a local community college. I graduated from Wesleyan University, CT in 99 majored in humanities.

UC is out of the picture for finance reason and a lot of them don't take 2nd baccs.

From what I can tell, it seems that CSUN is more established with pre health profession advisers that have been doing it for a long time and has research opportunity as well as local volunteer experiences. Just not sure what CSULB has to offer.

Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[deleted248403]

What on earth do any of the abbreviations stand for? CSUN? CSULB? Are these in CT?
If so, I've never heard of them

 

[DrMidlife]

I personally would go with Northridge because it's smaller. Long Beach is intimidatingly vast, imho. Like a 1950's Soviet farm. But I haven't been up to speed on CSU developments for about 15 years, caveat emptor.

Either school is fine for doing prereqs. Don't overthink it - just go where you're most likely to succeed.

Best of luck to you.

 

[deleted248403]

Ok this is california, ignore me. I thought OP was in CT due to Wesleyan reference... apologies and just ignore me haha

 

[zoner]

CSULB = Cal State University Long Beach, 40 min. south of LA

CSUN = Cal State University Northridge, 30 min. north of LA

the question is, how important is it to have a MD and a professor who is a pre health profession adviser vs. having a full time student turned employee who works as a adviser?

also I am wondering about volunteer and research opportunity. Supposedly at CSUN, there are professors who does research which students can part take in, and also CSUN has affiliation with three big hospitals that takes in volunteers to do actual meaningful work.

However, free tuition at CSULB sounds awfully good.... Even though its only 2050 dollars per semeseter.

Thank you for any any feedback....

 

[Icure]

I would personally go to Long Beach. I currently go to UC Irvine, but I constantly hear great things about CSULB. They also have research opportunities, great advisors, and are affiliated with Long Beach Memorial Hospital, and plus free tuition is a no-brainer for me. Just my 2 cents.

 

[drizzt3117]

I'd go with long beach too, partially because i'd rather be almost anywhere in the world except the valley.

 

[sarahg]

I don't think any of the CSUs have exceptional pre-med offices but any of them should do if you get good grades there. I'd pick Long Beach for location (not that LB is great, but I hear CSULB is in the nicer section of it) and free tuition. Have you applied to Fullerton? I think they have a semi-structured postbac program. Not the greatest part of OC and some of the students were mean to me when I went to UCI (not the the UC kids don't deserve it, haha) but it could be worth a look.

 

[KiwiBruin]

I would go where it is convenient for you. If you live near the valley go there. If you live near long beach then go there. You do not want a long commute. Especially if you might have classes in the morning. If you live about equal distance or a bit farther from long beach but still between the valley and long beach, I would go to long beach because of the reasons mentioned above. The free tuition seems like a great deal and the differences in classes (I feel like) would be minimal.

Good luck~

 

[zoner]

You guys are great,,,

I am leaning on CSULB myself, however, I heard that at CSULB, they don't give + and - grade, and its just all A, B or C or D,,,,

do you guys think that is really that important?

Just to let you guys know, I currently live in San Diego, but will be moving over the summer close to whichever school I decide to go to.

One thing about CSUN is that one of the premed adviser there is not just any faculty member but a MD from UCIrvine which somehow sound very nice to have as an advisor, don't you think?

No, I only applied to CSUN and CSULB because they were the only southern california state university that allowed 2nd bacc to apply and give normal registration priority.


I love this site

 

[Icure]

they don't give + and - grade, and its just all A, B or C or D,,,,

do you guys think that is really that important?

I'm not sure this is true....and no.. it's not really that important anyway since you'll be getting Straight A's anyway...right..?!?🙂

 

[murfettie]

I'm not sure this is true....and no.. it's not really that important anyway since you'll be getting Straight A's anyway...right..?!?🙂

i like csun, i've been there a few times, once for the chem placement test and for paying tuition and getting an id card, etc.
it does seem smaller, although there are lots of students at csun.
the campus is really nice.
i'm establishing life in the valley!
geez, i'd prefer west l.a but... it's close enough that it's better than where i live right now.

 

[caseofthemndays]

my two pesos: CSULB, for all the reasons mentioned above. Also, an A from CSUN is gonna count the same as an A from CSULB. I'm from LA, too, and I don't think people outside of California are really going to know that CSUN kinda has a better name in socal than CSULB. Also, one thing you might learn on this forum, take what your advisors say with a grain of salt. Especially if this MD advisor went to med school a long time ago. Just try to integrate all of the information you hear in a way that makes sense, and ask schools specifically what their requirements are. 🙂