California State University - Northridge

Date: Mar 29 2009
Major: History/Histories (art history/etc.) (This Major's Salary over time)
Let me attempt to give a balanced review of this university:

Overall, the classes I've taken here are pretty good with some being more insightful and challenging than others. There are so many majors and programs to choose from that you can easily find yourself confused about what you want to study. The business school is ranked as one of the best in the country, and the film, music, and journalism programs also have good reputations.

It is very, very true that CSUN is meant for people who couldn't get into (or couldn't afford) UCLA, USC, or any other "better" school in LA. I've heard endless complaints from my classmates that they were "stuck" going here when they "should" be at UCLA. The vast majority of students who go here live two hours from campus at the most. You will also come to find that many freshmen come here with about 50 people from their high school graduating class, as if they insist on staying within their "bubble", which is often the reason why so many of them are very immature. Because most students here commute, no one wants to help create a real community on campus. Student clubs here are as active as a dead battery, with the only ones holding any real activities being the ethnic/religious ones (such as MEChA, Hillel, Armenian culture club, etc.). Students also frequently complain about the lack of a football team and "school spirit" present on campus, as if they think it's a life-or-death issue.

Faculty are sink or swim. I've had some truly outstanding professors, but also some awful and uninspiring ones. I feel as though the best ones were those who put the focus in ideas and concepts rather than making sure we could copy information from a text book

One of the worst things about this place is the fact that classes fill up so quickly, namely because the school is so big and advisement ends after you hit upper-division, that it can take people five or even six years to graduate with a four-year degree. Even students who transfer from community college find themselves spending an extra year or so trying to get all their major requirements (this is especially true with business and accounting majors, since those are the most popular programs). My advice is to be extremely organized, know what you want to do and plan how you're going to achieve it since no one will help you out, EVER.

To sum it all up, CSUN is what you make of it. My time has been good so far, but personally I wish the school offered something more. If you want a good time, get involved. No one is going to hand things to you here; you have to get it yourself and be assertive.