If you’re thinking about going to college, there are a lot of factors to consider. There is the cost, location, and degree program that suits your interests best. But one thing that many people don’t know is how important the state where they go to school can be for their future career prospects.
Not only does living in California give you an edge when it comes time for job hunting but also there’s just so much to do here! Check out these seven reasons why we think you should choose colleges in California.
Diverse Environments
The Golden State of California is a melting pot, having been home to Native Americans for millennia, as well as immigrants from all over the world. With tolerant and progressive Californians living everywhere from San Francisco to Orange County, there are opinions and activism on every issue imaginable – politically, socially, religiously – meaning that people with niche interests will feel right at home. It’s also a great state for foodies! The diverse environments provide a slew of different experiences in cuisine: you could live in Los Angeles and eat nothing but Korean food for months without repeating restaurants.
Great Weather
California weather is generally mild year-round; coastal areas get cooling breezes off the ocean while inland areas stay relatively warm during the winter. The state gets less rain than other states on the west coast but still provides enough water from snowmelt from the Sierras and major rivers to support its famously rich agricultural bases.
Enormous Diversity in College Options
Not only are there a plethora of different environments to choose from, but California also has an enormous diversity of colleges and universities to attend. Colleges range from small liberal arts schools like Pomona College or Harvey Mudd College to large research universities like the University of California-Los Angeles or UC-Berkeley. From small, teaching-focused colleges like Whittier to various online colleges in California, there is definitely a school for everyone here.
Exciting Community Engagement
California is home to a wealth of opportunities for volunteer and community involvement. Tech companies like Google maintain active nonprofits like Google.org, which provide resources to hundreds of non-profits throughout California. Additionally, social media movements have been known to originate here for causes such as LGBTQ rights, women’s health access, gun violence prevention, immigration reform, food justice/accessibility, etc. As California goes, so goes the nation. If you are looking to get involved with your community while pursuing your education at the same time, look no further than California!
Career Opportunities Abound
There are plenty of opportunities out there if you are willing to work for them! Thanks in large part to the many software, technology, and information companies that call this state home (Google, Apple Inc., Facebook, Oracle), there are seemingly countless jobs available in these fields alone with promising salaries upon graduation. Be sure to look into leadership training programs while you are still in school so you can hit the ground running when your start your first job post-college.
Great Climate for Innovation
And finally, even beyond its economic success, California is a great place for innovation thanks to its emphasis on technology and science education beginning at a young age. At UC-San Diego’s Rady School of Management, undergraduate students have access to the Rady Venture Fund, which gives out seed money twice a year for student-led projects.
Not to be outdone, Stanford University is home to the StartX Fund, the computer science department’s technology commercialization program which invests in startups created by Stanford students and professors alike! As one of the leaders of tech innovation in this country, higher education here ensures that California will only continue to grow its vast economic base.
So, if you are looking for a place where diversity thrives, there are opportunities abound, college options are vast and exciting while community involvement is encouraged, your career prospects will always be bright, your climate ripe for innovation and you can decide how much (or little) time you want to spend studying – look no further than sunny California!
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