Studying In California
Introduction
If you’re from out of state or from overseas and are contemplating studying in California, you can be guaranteed to get plenty of the three S’s; not necessarily Study, Seminars and Sports but Sun, Sea and S** - well let’s just say getting intimate with a special friend. Of course there is a serious side to studying in California at the great colleges and universities here, but don’t forget to also have some fun in California, we are after all known as the Golden State.
An overview of what’s on offer
With a state population of almost 37 millions California has a comprehensive network of universities and colleges that, between them, can surely offer you any course of study that you might wish to follow. As a state California has a three-tiered higher education system at the top of which is the University of California (UC) boasting more Nobel Prize winners than anywhere else worldwide; UC is the host to the research universities of California. Most people studying in California will begin as an undergraduate in one of the California State Universities (CSU) which is the second tier; and the renowned University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is part of the CSU. A total of 450,000 students in the 23 CSU schools make it one of the biggest in the country. Finally there’s the third tier - the California Community Colleges System. Here some 110 colleges offer courses more geared toward basic skills and more vocational (work-related) ones. Nearly 3 million students use the Community Colleges, most of whom are California residents. Supplementary to the state system are the private universities and colleges; including such well known and respected names as University of Southern California (USC) and the California Institute of Technology (CalTech).
Californian student life
The first thing to say about student life in California is that if you enjoy life - you’ll enjoy studying in California. With its Mediterranean climate of barely cool and rainy winters to dry blue skies summers, you can’t help but feel good about studying in a Californian university or college. Although not all of the campuses are on the coast, they’re all within striking distance of it and regular beach trips with your friends are a must when the studying permits. With such a mild climate outdoor sports clubs thrive and, of course, there are great facilities for both outdoor and indoor sports. Or, if you’re more musically or arts minded, many of the universities have highly respected orchestras and drama groups etc. Despite being continually put down as an anachronism the fraternity and sorority system is thriving within the Californian universities, with considerably over 10% of all the students participating in them. Most California university campuses, like UCLA, are located in large parkland and incorporate dormitories on them, creating small self-contained towns. So, if you should prefer to stay on campus, then anything you need from study materials to food supplies and entertainment can all be found on campus.
California campus living
OK, so the main point of studying in California is really to get that qualification that will either help you with your career or to better understand and express yourself. Whilst you really must see your opportunity to study in California as an opportunity to also learn about wider life experiences, you no doubt want to know some hard facts about studying in California. Well, based on an average students experience at one of the CSU establishments, here goes. As a first year student you will be almost guaranteed a room in a dormitory and the vast majority of first year students are in the 18-20 year age bracket. Sharing a room is still quite common, though changing on some campuses to apartment style rooms and even single-occupancy. Most dormitories will be co-ed, with a 50:50 split on most floors. In a dormitory, you won’t have your own bathroom and should expect to share facilities with up to 10 or 12 fellow students. Most students opt to take their meals in the refectories, but you can if you wish to self-cater. Costs vary from campus to campus, so check with the University of your Choice for details. However, it is fair to say that California is quite an expensive place to live. That’s not to say that you can’t live cheaply, especially on campus, but if you want to play the bon viveur - then you’ll need some cash behind you.