I had a wonderful experience at CSU Chico. The faculty are dedicated to teaching and working closely with students most of my classes were smaller seminar-style classes (with the exception of a few popular or required gen ed classes).

What made a big difference to me is the significance of bringing student voices into major decisions. Student input was sought for major hiring decisions, changes to the curriculum and other vital efforts on campus. These efforts went way beyond asking the student government to speak for the students, but also creating committees of students to provide input. Also many of the most successful activities are entirely student-driven. This is a campus that cares deeply about the needs and the voice of their students.

One thing to consider, the classes are engaging and incredibly valuable, but, generally, I would not describe them as academically demanding when compared to other, more prestigious institutions. If your goal is to attend the most competitive, most challenging programs, this might not be the school for you. However, if you are seeking an education at an institution that cares deeply about your well being, educators both in and outside of the classroom that are dedicated to your development and education, and opportunities for leadership on campus, Chico State will be a fantastic university.

Lastly, we need to address the issue of parties. The fact of the matter is that CSU Chico is no more or less a party school than many other universities in California. I believe you could find more robust party culture at universities such as USC, UC Santa Cruz, or other schools in California That said, if you are looking for parties they will not be hard to find. I would recommend any student (and family) gearing up to apply for colleges to have a serious conversation about drinking as a college student and create clear expectations for what is and is not appropriate behavior. Keep in mind that the campus residence halls are all dry, as is the campus. There is a major push to provide students with activities and support that does not involve drinking or parties. Students who are not interested in that culture will have plenty of ways to avoid drinking and on campus and the residence halls are safe spaces for students.