While some students have just started college, many are starting their transferring process. Applications, transcripts and personal statements must be sent, but before that, the student must ask: Which college to apply to?

The popular belief is that the more famous and the more popular a school is, the better.

Perhaps some people believe that acceptance into the top UC is a must to success.

Also a popular belief is that California State Universities are inferior in academic quality than the Universities of California.

What many students fail to acknowledge is that those rumors are absolutely false and unnecessary.

For example, there are no undergraduate journalism programs in any UC, while several CSU’s have journalism programs that can compete with the University of Southern California.

If a student wants to get a bachelor’s degree in journalism, he or she cannot go to a UC.

UCLA’s music education program is always popular, but CSULB also has an excellent program that can match UCLA’s and costs less, too.

Cal State Fullerton has a film program that competes strongly with UCLA and USC.

The only difference is that a CSUF student doesn’t have to fork over his or her entire bank savings to go to school.

There are too many students who have dismissed the idea of attending a CSU without the proper research and open minds.

Universities of California are excellent institutions, but they do not offer everything that a student needs.

There is no reason to avoid applying to a CSU because they are just as excellent as any UC.

The common misconception that a UC is better than a CSU discourages students who are unsure of where to transfer or whether to apply to any CSU at all.

So that new students can do their own research, college sophomores and juniors must stop spreading false assumptions.

Also, there is absolutely no guarantee that a degree from a UC will bring more success than a degree from a CSU.

As today’s work field demands higher degrees and gets more competitive, what matters the most is not where the degree came from, but what degree a person has and what skill he or she can bring to the table.

Deciding on which school to apply must be based on thorough research, visiting the campus and discussions with appropriate counselors.

A degree from a good college is worthless without the skill needed for the job.

So, new students: it is OK. CSU’s are not the diluted versions of UC’s.

Returning students: please stop the rumors and give a CSU a second look.

In the end, the key to success is the desire to be successful.