There’s no particular way to define what the college experience is like. There are several factors that contribute to what makes them all unique.
I had the pleasure of asking various college students about their experiences at their respective schools. Students reflected on their time in the UC system, community college, state schools, and/or out-of-state schools.
Starting with fellow UC Santa Cruz students, there’s a general consensus for the love of nature and the sincere appreciation for a community that bases itself on being inclusive.
In light of our school being surrounded by trees, a fellow hometown friend, Mariela, shared that after her finals she likes to take a nice walk into the woods and become one with nature. Nestor, who also belongs to our same town, added that he’s had the luxury of making a few friends while walking through the pathways on our campus. The breathtaking scenery acts as a peaceful distraction for Michelle and that’s one of the reasons she chose to come to UCSC.
As a commuter, Nestor believes that he’s more inclined to use his time to go to class and the library to study compared to if he were living on campus. On another note, as an off-campus student, Michelle wishes to partake in the benefits of on campus housing; such as not worrying about the expenses and struggles of commuting to and from campus.
When asked about what it’s like living and going to college in Santa Cruz, Miguel amusingly answers, “The diversity makes us unique! And the fact that we as a community are a bit of ‘weirdos’ aka odd.” He laughs as he recounts one of the school’s traditions that takes place after the first rainfall of the school year. “The naked run!”
Eve from UC Merced shares her own experience of what life’s like in Merced, “Everyone makes fun of themselves for being cow school students. We have a music festival called COWchella.” However, as an off-campus student, she feels like she’s missing out on things because she’s not on campus.
Another off-campus UC Merced student, Leessette, would likewise state the inconvenience that’s scheduling a school day around commuting to and from class without a car. Her day on campus has to end before it’s too dark out. “My school’s unique for the student community that comes out of hardships such as bus schedules, how accessible getting fresh food is, or thinking of something fun to do,” She said about studying in Merced. “It makes you appreciate home and apply new skills you might not have had before about navigating a new space and its structure.”
UC Davis student, Emily, had a similar experience with getting around as an off-campus student. Subsequently, this stops her from going out too often, specifically on weekdays. She views Davis as a small, college town “tightly packed with mom and pop shops” and believes that social life can be rich since there are many activities and shops to stop by.
Kassandra from UC Santa Barbara lives off-campus and feels like her college experience is enhanced by having the comfort that’s provided by this space. Apart from the influence of her housing situation, she stated that “Campus is very lively and the people are super outgoing. It’s really easy to make friends. There’s always something going on. Academic life is pretty intense, especially on the quarter system, but it’s doable as long as you actually try.”
Caricia, a student at UC Riverside, is a transfer student who now lives off-campus instead of at home. It’s only a fifteen minute walk for her, so she doesn’t struggle with commuting to school. She noted how the pandemic played a role in her adjustment to her new school, but that didn’t stop her from noticing her campus’s diversity and efforts in respecting pronouns and identity.
Recent Fresno State transfer, Fernanda, shared her San Jose Community College experience. From 2018 to 2021, she studied at a school that was close to home and was financially the best option for her. She found college to be very difficult but found great help along the way, “I remember my first semester was really hard. I was about to drop out of school, but I met a girl that helped me sign up for one of the school’s clubs, ‘Metas.’” This club helped her continue with her studies at SJCC.
Two San Jose State students, Kevin and Daisy, described their campus to be lively and diverse since it’s integrated with the busy life of downtown San Jose. There are also multiple clubs and activities for students to get involved in. Daisy, for example, is a member in the SJSU HerCampus chapter.
On a brief note, Kevin pointed out a program that is no stranger to high schools in San Jose, “I attended the school because of a program it had with my high school, which would admit students almost academically.” This program makes it easier for some students to get the chance to go to college after high school.
CSU East Bay students, Alexis and Vincent, depicted their school as a commuter school. Though both men are commuters, they both had differing views on the campus culture life. Alexis argued that it was easy to socialize since people were friendly and often open to meeting others, while Vincent would argue that it’s not very welcoming considering the fact that there are less opportunities to make friends as a commuter. However, unlike Alexis, Vincent took a gap year to enlist into the army. The army in return fully covers his college expenses.
Attending George Washington University is Duc Tan whose major plays a big role in why he chose to go out-of-state. As one of the best international relations schools and Washington DC being the home to embassies and international organizations, Duc Tan found better opportunities in his school of choice.
After talking to these people I learned more about how choices and limitations contribute to the college experience. There is without a doubt no perfect way to conquer the world of college.