1.) When they say it’s a commuter school they’re not kidding!
People commute from all over to go to California State University Northridge. That can be great, especially if you’re a commuter. But if you’re an 18-20 year old, either directly out of high school, or transferring from community college, you might want more of the stereotypical “college experience.” It’s not impossible to have that type of experience, but it takes vigilance. A lot of your friends will be driving back to Santa Clarita, Hollywood, the Westside, and other parts of LA after class they might not be as available to hang out as they would have been at other local choices like UCLA or USC.
2.) Greek Life is teeny tiny.
If you’re looking for community, going Greek can be a great option. And yes, CSUN does offer the chance to pledge/rush for fraternities and sororities. But just for perspective, other large universities have dozens upon dozens of Greek organizations to choose from, and CSUN offers about half a dozen. And if you do join up, know that there is no big fancy sorority/fraternity house to move into, and a scarce selection of exciting Frat Parties to attend.
3.) Residential Life at CSUN is more “apartment” than “dorm”.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Schools that house thousands upon thousands of students typically house those students in tiny shoebox sized bachelor apartments. CSUN’s residential accommodations are beautiful, large, and well maintained. While each floor in the housing complex has its own live in Residential Advisor, the apartments include full bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms. This means it’s less common to find students hanging out in the halls, the common areas, or even at community events. Even the Residential Apartments carry the feel of a commuter school.
If you’re interested in CSUN, check out our article on 7 Ways to Stay Involved At California State University Northridge.
4.) You may have to park in another city.
Parking at CSUN is a pretty serious nightmare. Before I lived on campus there were a few days that I literally missed a class because I only arrived an hour early then spent more than 2 hours looking for parking. Some new parking has been added since then, but it’s still quite packed. Sometimes you can get lucky and find parking in that ten minute time period when one set of classes have ended and the others have not yet begun, but nothing is ever guaranteed.
5.) Campus is HUGE and some classes are literally driving distance from one another.
You get used to this sort of thing- but if you’re just starting out at a huge campus, you can easily sign up for one class that ends at 12:00, and another that starts at 12:30, and not realize that you’ll have to move your car, find a new spot, and probably never make it on time. Invest in walking shoes, and keep distance in mind when planning your schedule.
6.) Priority Registration is your best friend!
I spent an entire extra year in school and decided to add a second major because I couldn’t get classes in my original major. I made I’d get my classes by becoming a Resident Advisor, a job that gave me the benefit of Priority Registration. If at all possible, do whatever it takes to get priority, or if your classes are in demand, you may delay graduation.
7.) The teachers really care.
All college professors have office hour requirements, but in hindsight, this is something I took very little advantage of. Most CSUN professors are very caring and helpful, especially if you take a moment to reach out. Visit during office hours or send an email to let them know if you have questions or need help. Also, if you have not managed to acquire a spot at the beginning of the semester, it’s worth it to show up and try to get added. Sometimes students always flake and you can nab their spot, and sometimes teachers will figure out how to make room even if it looks like they won’t be able to.
8.) Awesome events are held, but not well advertised.
Purely by accident, I was able to attend two awesome speaking events for free Sandra Cisneros one of my favorite authors, and the legendary Maya Angelou who I was blessed to have seen before she passed away! I only found out about these events by a last minute flier in a hall. Keep your eyes and ears open CSUN has some nice theater’s and spaces, and often hosts really exciting events. I’m sure for every event I attended, I missed out on 5 that I’ll never know about!
9.) Classes are small. Be prepared to participate.
This isn’t a school like you see on TV where 200 students are in a crowded hall. Only a handful of classes take place in large lecture halls, and many classes only have about 30 students each. Be prepared for your professor to call on you, and take advantage of the individual attention.
10.) There are several free resources to take advantage of!
The Career Center might sound like a place that you only need if you’re looking for a career, and at 19 years old, who cares, you probably just want to pass your English final. However, the career center can be a great place to find part time work, to get info on resources like getting your taxes done for free by accounting students, or great networking events. There’s also a health center for low cost doctor visits, and even a counseling center that offers each student a few months of no cost therapy each year.
Bonnie Sludik off received a BA in English and Film from CSUN in 2006. She currently works as a freelance writer, and is getting ready to tour with her one-woman show “That’s What She Didn’t Say” @NotYourBonnie