offspring96

Hey guys

I am still deciding between CSUN or UCI and my problems are purely financial. If I go to UCI i will have to get about $14,000 in loans to pay for the $22k cost whereas if I go to CSUN I will only have to pay about 9k total. So basically, is it worth the extra money to go to a UC school vs. a Cal State school? Any input is appreciated.

dlo137

You only goto college once, so make the most of it? Is one way to put it..

jas0n

It depends what your long term goals are. If you plan on continuing education after undergraduate, maybe UCI might be the better choice. If I were you, I would estimate how much you truly want to pay off loans after college. If you don't want to spend multiple years paying off larger loans, then go for the state .

Of course, this being a UC forum and UCs being on a different level as states, I would recommend going to UCI. Your experience and oppurtunities at a UC would be memorable =].

alicantekid

I think it's worth the extra money. Your average starting salary will be higher outof a UC, and you'll be able to make up the difference in tuition over a few years, and your ceiling will be higher.

Darth Fuji

There's always also the option of going to CC for two years and then transferring to a UC. Saves a boatload of money, but also arguably robs you of a lot of the "college experience."

Also, looking beyond things like average starting salary, make sure, whatever choice you make, that it's a choice you're happy with. Don't go to a UC because it's more presigious or because you'll have a higher average starting salary, go there because youlike the school and the atmosphere. I went to a school that, on paper, seemed like an excellent choice, but it turned out to be horribly wrong because the atmosphere and the are were just not at all compatible with my personality. I couldn't stand going there, and I tanked my grades because I was so depressed over being stuck in such a rotten school. Of course, it's not a bad school, just not the right one for me.

Other than that, the advice everyone else has been giving is sound. If you're going into the sciences, definitely think about UCI, because it has very good programs. If you're looking for any kind of grad school, a UC might be a better choice, but don't rule out a CSU. I have a friend that is graduating from CSU San Marcos this year, and he'll be attending Cornell in the fall for grad school (in history, if you're wondering).

Make sure you choose a school that you genuinely like, and make sure you're getting your money's worth. No use paying more for an education that you could've gotten just as easily at a CSU. I'd also look into scholarships; a lot of scholarships go unawarded. There are all sorts of obscure scholarships just ripe for the picking.

riparian

You might want to look into the details of your prospective major at each school too. I was surprised to learn that Northridge is rated very high for music, for instance...one of the best in CA, so I've heard