3 Reasons Why I Believe The CSU System Better Prepares Students for the Workforce

At 18 years old, all of us were forced to make some life altering decisions in regards to our future. Right after high school we are supposed to know where you want to live, what financial burdens you want to take on, and what you want to do for the rest of your life - or at least for the next four years. 

Looking back on my personal experience trying to accomplish an undergraduate degree, attending three different colleges over the course of the last 6 years I have noticed some major differences between the 4 year University and the CSU system. For some context, right after graduating high school in 2020, I enrolled at the University of Washington in Seattle majoring in Cinema and Media Studies which is in the college of humanities. After taking a couple core  major classes, I realized that I could not connect anything that I was learning to working in the film industry at all. Most of my classes were film theory based, very lecture heavy, and had a heavy focus on academia which was not something that I was intending on pursuing. I found course material to be bleak,  irrelevant, and the program was heavily underfunded as it didn’t even have a designated building or area on campus. My dissatisfaction with the program continued to grow over the course of my junior year bringing me to a breaking point. I needed to make a major change and frankly could not see any more benefits to be paying out of state tuition. 

While I think that the university could have done better, I also think that I failed to choose the college that was right for me. I think if I could say one thing to a high school senior before they make their college decision is to do your research on your major. Just because a school has the major that sounds relevant to the field you want to work in doesn’t mean it will be worthwhile. I would suggest looking into the class descriptions of the major requirement classes, researching the faculty, and most importantly follow the money. Attend a college that values your major.

This past fall, after completing my first semester at CSULB, I finally feel like my courses are actually preparing me for a successful career. In 2024 the CSU program made a major shift from achieving a 4 year degree to securing better job payoff rates (Wantanabe). They believe that increasing job preparation for students post-graduation would increase the value of their education. I think that their goal proposal has proven to be successful for these 3 reasons: 

1. Funding: Many 4 year universities including the UC system get lots of additional funding through participating in research, therefore their curriculum is largely based on research and theoretical knowledge better suited for academic careers or graduate school. The CSU on the other hand values a quick career-focused curriculum which can be more valuable for specialized careers such as nursing and teaching. 

2. Accessibility: Financially the CSUs are known to be the best value for in-state students. While financials should always be considered when choosing the best suited college for you. It is also true that the accessibility generates a more vast range of alumni connections which give students better networking opportunities and resources.

3. Applied Learning:  The CSU system also values a practical hand on learning experience which sets students apart in the work force.

The main takeaway from this piece is not to diminish the value of other universities education but to share my personal experiences and educate prospective students on what to consider when choosing their academic path.   

References

Watanabe, Teresa. (2024, October 29). CSU shifts to career focus for student success. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-29/csu-shift-to-career-focus-for-student-success