California State University, Fullerton Admission
California State University, Fullerton Undergraduate Program
California State University, Fullerton Application

The Facts

California State University, Fullerton is one of the largest members of the state-supported CSU system that umbrellas 22 satellite universities throughout the state. The university is located in the town of Fullerton, about 30 miles east of Los Angeles, and is home to over 20,000 undergraduate students and approximately 11,000 graduate and part-time professional students. CSU Fullerton is divided up into several smaller undergraduate and graduate colleges that include programs in the areas of arts, business, economics, communications, engineering, computer science, human development, community services, humanities, social science, natural science, as well as math. These programs offer majors in the areas of biological science, business (which includes a renowned tourism program), communications and the arts, computer and physical science, education, engineering and environmental design, health professions, as well as social science (which is home to a unique and innovative Russian and Slavic studies program). Some of the most popular major choices are in the areas of business administration, communications, and psychology.

Admission to CSU Fullerton is quite a bit more competitive than are some of the other CSU member schools, and the interest of qualified out-of-state students has increased in recent years as well. Last year, over 17,500 students applied for admission to the school, and approximately 11,525 of those students were accepted; of those, about 3,150 matriculated. The admitted students had an average combined SAT score ranging from 980 to 1030, and an average comprehensive ACT score ranging from 19 to 25. Additionally, more than 70% of the admitted students were ranked in the top 25% of their high school graduating class with an average high school GPA of about 3.72.

CSU Fullerton has a fairly high student to faculty ratio of 20:1, but while many of the general education courses are held in large lecture halls, the more specialized classes are held in small seminar groups, in which discussions are key. In general, students give their professors high marks when it comes to accessibility and willingness to help, although there are a few teachers that seem more interested in getting tenure than anything else.

The Social Scene

The town of Fullerton is quite suburban, and doesn’t really offer students much in the way of entertainment; however, Los Angeles is only about 30 miles away, and most students venture into the city on the weekends to have a bit of fun. CSU Fullerton is home to 27 fraternities and sororities, and many students join a Greek organization at some point in their collegiate careers. The Greeks basically govern on-campus social life, and throw a bounty of weekend parties that are extremely popular with students, and are the place to be on a Saturday night. Drinking is highly prevalent, and the administration has made a recent effort to crack down on kegging and binge drinking.

The dating scene is very much alive, and we hear that there are an extraordinary amount of good-looking students to choose from...

What’s Good

“Even though the school is really big, they pair you up with great advisors that keep track of you and help you through the experience.”

“There are a ton of things to do without ever having to leave campus. There are actually over 200 clubs to choose from. It’s all pretty impressive.”

“It’s awesome being so close to Los Angeles. If you want a taste of life in the fast lane, just head on over.”

What’s Bad

“A lot of the general education classes are totally pointless. I feel like I’m in high school again.”

“People are very snobby here sometimes. Especially the Greeks. They figure, if you haven’t joined, you’re not really worth speaking to.”

“The party scene gets way too out of hand. It becomes nearly impossible to do your work on the weekends.”

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