CSUMB Open House draws hopeful inspired students

By Mark Muckenfuss

Taylor Chapman is looking for a university close to the beach where she can study psychology, with an eye on maybe one day working for the FBI. On Saturday, Oct. 5, she was trying to determine if Cal State Monterey Bay was that school.

Chapman and her mother, Joyce, traveled from Las Vegas to be part of more than 1,000 prospective students and their family members taking part in CSUMB’s annual Open House, an event that welcomes those wanting to experience a day on the campus and discover all it has to offer.

Like many students, she said she is attracted by the university’s small size and intimate feel.

“I like the student/teacher ratio, “ she said. “It’s about the same as a normal classroom at my high school.”

She also wanted to know more about the student housing and the quality of the food in the dining commons. Joyce, who was born on Fort Ord when her father was in the Army, said price is also a consideration. Even though her daughter would have to pay out-of-state tuition, the cost for CSUMB still fits within the family’s budget, she said. 

Other prospective students wanted to know about campus life, internship and job opportunities, financial aid and whether the beach was truly just a mile away from campus. It is.

CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones said she looks forward to having students check out the campus and find the answers to those questions.

“I am excited to showcase our incredible institution,” Quiñones said. “I look forward to welcoming our prospective students and their families as they explore how they can find their place here. Our community has worked creatively to develop a top-ranked residential campus that offers outstanding academic opportunities, a supportive environment, and the ability for our students to move forward. I hope that during their visit, students and their supporters will discover why we value “The Strength of Us” – our community – and what it truly means to be part of the Otter family.”

Looking at the total picture of what a campus has to offer is important, Quiñones told a crowd that packed the University Center at the start of the daylong event.

“I think you not only have to find a place to study but a place where you belong,” Quiñones told the audience. 

In her remarks, she emphasized the university’s success – as reflected in national rankings, such as being No. 1 in social mobility among Western regional colleges, according to U.S. News and World Report – and its close-knit community. She shared the idea of otters forming living rafts in the ocean to keep their groups together and safe, adding that the CSUMB Otters take inspiration from that activity.   

“This institution will make sure that you are not left behind,” she said. 

Other speakers, such as Ben Corpus, vice president of enrollment management and student affairs, and Andrew Lawson, provost and vice president for academic affairs, talked about CSUMB’s academic excellence and support systems for students. 

A panel of students shared their thoughts and experiences with the large crowd. Izzy Aquila addressed what she suspected was on the minds of many students. 

“My biggest fear was failure,” she said, recalling her first-year experience. “I have all these classes and I’m working now. Am I going to be able to keep up?”

In the end, she found she was able to keep up, she said. “But it’s an adjustment. Using the resources we have on campus is really important.”

During the remainder of the day, students were able to explore those resources, tour the campus – including the dorms – and get information on the admission process, financial aid and various academic programs. A host of student and campus organizations tabled in the main quad while the tantalizing smell from taco and barbecue food trucks drifted through the warm air.

Leo Jurado, a high school senior from Clovis, California, said an inclusive campus that feels comfortable is important.

“I’m trying to find acceptance and a welcoming energy,” said Jurado, “a place where I can grow as a person and fit in.”

Jurado plans to study biology but also hopes to one day be an author. Other academic avenues may also be an option. 

“I really want to live on my own and explore who I am and what I want to do in the future, careerwise,” Jurado said. “Any of the colleges we visit, that’s what I’m hoping for, that I can build my life here.”

More photos of the day's events can be found here.