California State University - Los Angeles

Date: Dec 02 2005
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I started at CSULA as a post-baccalaureate student looking for a career change. My first impression of the school was not a very positive one because their facilities were lacking at best. I did not get into single class I wanted and I was so frustrated during the orientation because they seemed confused and incompetent. I almost ended up not attending. However, I began to appreciate CSULA more when I took classes at two other nearby CSUs. CSULA may be lacking in terms of facilities and staff, they got one thing right: their hiring of faculty members. I have been here a year now and I have had positive experience with all the professors. Not only are they very helpful and friendly, they take their jobs very seriously. I am afraid that I can't say the same for other schools I have attended. Another great feature about this school is that it is on a quarter system and they offer classes all year around. I think this school definitely has a niche here in Southern California. If you are a true freshman, right out of high school, you might not like it since the students tend to be older and most of them commute. However, if you would like to attend a school with mature peers and value your time, this is definitely the place to be. Their perceived academic excellence may be behind some other schools in Los Angeles and Orange County, they make up for it by getting their priority straight instead of worrying about how they would rank in US News.