California State University - Northridge
- Inside Scoop

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Inside Scoop

Quick Stats

School Slang
  • Ambassador: An ambassador works through the recruitment office and gives guided tours to prospective students. They also work with students throughout orientation and are given priority registration.
  • AS: Associated Students. The elected or volunteer students who govern the school, put on events, and represent the student interests to the University Corporation
  • ASREC Sports: Associated Students Recreational Sports. The organization responsible for coordinating intramural, club sports, open gym, and the fitness center
  • The Big Show: An annual concert that is becoming more popular each year, featuring famous musicians, singers, and bands.
  • The Bull Pit: A group of students that support the athletes by standing during the entire game and heckling the opposing team
  • Course Catalog: The book which lists every class CSUN offers even if they aren’t offering that semester
  • Crashing: When you couldn’t register for a class, so you show up on the first day of school and ask the professor to add you.
  • FAFSA: Financial aid application
  • GE classes: General education classes.
  • ITR: Computer help desk
  • Matadancers: A CSUN group that performs dance routines at all major events including Homecoming, carnival, and half-time shows.
  • Matamaniacs: A group of student athletes who support other athletes by traveling to away games, wearing costumes, and heckling the opposing team.
  • Solar: The CSUN portal that allows students to register for classes, view their grades, request transcripts, pay tuition, and so on
  • SPACE: Student Productions and Campus Entertainment responsible for such events as the Big Show who bring entertainers such as Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World, and Mates of State to campus.
  • SSU: Satellite Student Union. The student hangout in the dorms.
  • TTR: Phone registration
  • UPC: Union Program Council responsible for coordinating activities in the Satellite Student Union and the University Student Union such as Cultural Nights, trips to the lake, horseback riding getaways, movie nights
  • USU: University Student Union where students eat, hang out, study, and where the majority of events are held
Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School
  • Always apply for scholarships. Inquire at the Financial Aid office or at your major’s department for scholarship information. Don’t handwrite the application. Re-make the scholarship application on your computer so it looks nicer. Apply, even if you don’t fit all the criteria they are looking for. You might be the only applicant.
  • Declare a minor because it gives you a broader knowledge base and allows you the opportunity to have cross-disciplinary experience. Depending on your career, it may also make you stand out to an employer.
  • Don’t think you need to join a fraternity/sorority right away. If you rush or join a sorority/fraternity too quickly, there’s no guarantee you will enjoy being a part of it long-term.
  • Grades only matter if you are trying to get into graduate school and if you are an accounting major. Don’t be too wrapped up in school. Learn how to get the best grade by putting in as little time as possible into it.
  • It is very important to go to a university that specializes in your area of study.
  • Staying in touch with professors really pays off. They can help you out of a jam or put you in a good position for a job or an internship.
  • The buildings Jerome Richfield and Sierra Hall, where the majority of GE classes are held, only connect on the third floor. It is very easy to wander from one to the other without knowing it.
  • The campus is huge! Get a bike, scooter, roller blades or some faster form of transportation instead of tiring yourself out.
  • You don’t always need to take the pre-requisite to an upper division course first. Try the class out, and you will know whether or not you can handle it.
Tips to Succeed
  • A great way to meet people is to sign up on MySpace.com. If you put that you attend CSUN on your profile then you, and other CSUN students, can post messages on CSUN’s MySpace account.
  • Get a College Campus Directory your first week of school. They are in front of the bookstore, and they are free!
  • Get an internship in the field you are interested in. This is important because you might find that your career wasn’t what you thought it was.
  • Go to your professor’s office hours. They are usually eager to help you, and it pays off in the end.
  • Join a group or club because making friends only through classes can be difficult.
  • Make friends with people in classes and exchange e-mails or phone numbers because you never know when or why it might come in handy.
  • Stop by the Career Center and pick up their four-year guide. Meet with a career counselor to talk about career options. Don’t wait until you are a graduating senior to do this.
  • Talk to people in your major about which professors to take. That can save you a lot of trouble.
See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

Cal State Northridge Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Inside Scoop at California State University - Northridge

edwinsilva140

'12

Civil Engineering

5.0
A+

Difference

This school is unique from others with its at least 35.000 students. Equal opportunity for everyone no matter their race. The deaf studies program is wonderful and it's engineering amazing. Many international students even prefer coming to Cal State NorthridgeCalifCalifornia rather than UCLA

Jan 11, 2012

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Inside Scoop at California State University - Northridge

steph83

'15

Physical Therapy

5.0
A+

Csun

Cal State Northridge is the ONLY university in the country that offers a Central American Studies program. It's AMAZING.

Jan 05, 2012

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Inside Scoop at California State University - Northridge

rauljr8

'16

Business Administration and Management

4.6
A

Hospitality

My school is a very friendly place. Everyone is willing to answer any questions you have, students and staff.

Dec 12, 2011

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Facts

Traditions
  • The Big Show: Five years strong, this event is one of the most popular at CSUN. With bands such as Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday, The Big Show attracts a lot of students—especially since it is free to all CSUN students and a guest.
  • Bull Pit: Student fans, especially active during basketball season, who stand the entire game, cheer the CSUN athletes, and even present their own award to one member of the basketball team at the end of the season.
  • Carnival: The event celebrates the multicultural community through performances by the Capoeira Club, the Matadancers, hip-hop dancers, step dancers, the steel drum ensemble, and even reggae singers. There is also multicultural art, arts and crafts corners, and caricature artists, at no cost to the students.
  • Homecoming: Since CSUN does not have a football team, Homecoming is celebrated at the peek of basketball season and marks the peek of CSUN spirit. Bonfires, pep rallies, free food, and CSUN gear, “yell like hell” contests, half-time shows, and concerts by famous artists including Shaggy are the reasons for the amazing turnout at CSUN’s homecoming events in the past.
  • Matamaniacs: The Matamaniacs are a group of athletes who support other athletes by wearing crazy wigs, outrageous make-up on their faces, and dressing up as clowns. Once, during the fall, the swim team will attend a men’s soccer game dressed up as clowns, wearing their swimsuits on the outside of their clothing. It’s hilarious.
  • President’s Picnic: Part of welcome week’s special events to help students get back in the swing of things, the Picnic offers a free lunch to whoever is willing to stand in line for five minutes. The food is awesome, with a choice of hamburger or hot dogs, students are also given a drink, chips, and fruit.
  • Raza Bowl: In an effort to unite the Hispanic groups on campus during the Hispanic Cultural Awareness Month, the Raza Bowl (a spin-off of the Turkey Bowl) is a flag football game between MEChA and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. The game is at Northridge Park, usually draws a pretty large crowd, and can be very intense. The groups also use it as a fundraising opportunity and sell yummy, authentic Mexican food.
  • School Spirit: CSUN students may love their school, but have mixed feelings when it comes to showing their school spirit. Although most students wear their CSUN sweaters, not many people actually attend games. Although most students are involved in some club or organization, they do not share a common bond. Many students commute to school, and have little reason to hang around or meet new people after their classes are over. However, you will find that the majority of CSUN students are proud of CSUN’s distinguished programs, prominent sports teams, and growing reputation.
  • Up All Night: Up All Night is a hiatus for students during finals week in the Satellite Student Union where students receive free massages, free brain food, and the opportunity to talk with other students and relieve some of the stress that accompanies finals week.
  • Welcome Back Week: Designed to help students become accustomed to school life again, Welcome Back Week holds a number of concerts, free movies, outside fairs, and other events including Meet the Clubs Day.

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Major: English/Liberal Studies

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