CSU Fullerton First Impressions

On September 12, 2023, the students of Neuwirth went on a campus tour of Cal State Fullerton right off the 57 on the Orange highway. Founded in 1957, Fullerton includes a diverse range of students including a majority Hispanic, Asian Pacific Americans, and White. With programs to ensure student success such as preparing for job interviews, and finding access to jobs in their fields and offices that aid first-gen students through college, CSUF is a great option for many students. 

Today I will focus on the experience of one Neuwirth scholar named Jio Cruz, who participated in the Fullerton campus tour. With a GPA of 3.82, Jio is a great student who has done plenty of research on colleges in and out of their area. Participating in college tours is a great opportunity for Jio to further their knowledge of colleges and experience college environments for a day. This is what they had to say about Fullerton:

1.  What did you think of Fullerton when you first arrived? 

When I first arrived at Fullerton, I was very surprised with how big the school looked from afar. The dorms were the first thing we approached and I was stunned to see the size of the dorms as CSU schools don’t usually prioritize dorming but this vibrant school actually had both dorms and apartments.

2. What do you think about the location and setting of the school, do you feel that it would be an easy commute? 

CSU Fullerton is located in a pretty accessible location, right off the 57 highway that students from Los Angeles can easily take. Therefore, this school isn’t too far to commute from as the drive from Los Angeles is less than an hour, and various amounts of students already live in the Orange County area.

3. Did you think the school was diverse academically and/or socially? What does this campus do to support diversity?

I believe CSU Fullerton is both academically and socially diverse as it provides a numerous amount of majors for people to pursue, as well as minors. It also has the option for students to double major. Socially, students can join various programs or clubs to be able to socialize with new people and to find a place that connects most to parts of their identities.

4. Did you find the staff to be helpful in a student's college career? If so, what is some of the help that this college provides?

I did find the staff to be helpful to students’ college careers since they offer office hours where students are welcome anytime to check in academically, to see if they are on the right track, or to even talk about possibly changing majors. The staff also provides mental health check-ins for students as it is a key component in preserving their career and attendance in their classes day to day. 

5. Would you consider applying to this school? Explain.

I personally would consider applying to this college because not only does it provide my major, but it also provides me with a variety of resources that would specifically help me as a 1st gen Hispanic student. From hosting various clubs and internship opportunities to providing counselors for a cluster of specific programs.  

6. What was your favorite thing about CSU Fullerton?

My favorite thing about CSU Fullerton is the nursing program they provide, where classes are built to feel like a hospital environment so that future nurses studying there can have some experience before going out and pursuing their careers.