Due to state budget cuts, California State
Universities are no longer accepting spring
admissions, which is changing many students
transfer plans.
The closing of spring 2010 admissions is
part of an overall strategy to deal with the
$584 million budget reduction for CSUs, ac-
cording to a CSU press release.
CSUs typically enroll 35,000 students each
spring semester, but the system is trying to
reduce overall enrollment by 40,000 students
due to budget constraints.
“A lot of students were expecting fall to
be their last semester at EC. (These) students
have completed all their general education
courses and all units towards their major,”
Sue Oda-Omori, Transfer Center coordina-
tor, said.
Students who were planning to transfer to
CSUs in the spring may remain at EC and
stockpile credits, although Oda-Omori rec-
ommended they take a semester off to try to
work and save money for their university edu-
cation.
“I’m waiting to see how (reduced admis-
sions) will affect (CSUs) fall admissions.
There will be a large amount of applicants,
which will make getting in more competitive
because there will be more students applying
for less spaces,” Oda-Omori said.
EC has already felt the effect of California
State Universities reducing admissions during
fall registration, counselor Ken Gaines said.
“EC was packed and classes filled up very
quickly,” Gaines said. “Students were petition-
ing and pleading to be added to classes be-
cause they needed it not only for college, but
also for financial aid and insurance purposes.”
Because there are fewer spaces available at
CSUs, students must be more diligent when
getting classes because transferring will not be
as flexible as before, Oda-Omori said.
“Students need to be on top of the whole
transfer process in terms of meeting deadlines
(with) transcripts and applications, as well as
completing critical classes on time,” she said.
Mathematics, Engineering and Science
Achievement (MESA) member Kristin Hol-
mbeck is transferring to Loyola Marymount
University for the spring semester because she
does not want to wait until next fall to trans-
fer.
“It’s going to be tough, but I want to get
it over with,” Holmbeck said of the increased
fees she is going to have to pay at LMU, one
of many private universities that are open for
spring admissions.
Out-of-state colleges like Arizona State
University may be looking to take advantage
of California transfer students and, because
access to California private colleges is getting
tighter, going out of state is a valid option for
some students, Oda-Omori said.
“I don’t want to go out of state,” said Mario
Gregory, 29, electrical engineer major, who,
like Holmbeck, will be applying at UCs and
CSUs for fall 2010 where they can pay thou-
sands of dollars less in tuition fees.
Many students are upset that their plans of
getting a higher education are getting messed
up because of California’s attempts at balanc-
ing the budget.
“They should cut education as a last resort,”
James Dinh, 19, mechanical engineer major
said. “There should be other options.”
“Education is so critical to the future work-
force and to the state,” Oda-Omori said. “For
it to take such a big hit is really hard to un-
derstand. Things will get better but this is the
worst I’ve ever seen (colleges get hit).”