School Information
You receive an email from a student at your former high school, asking about life at your college. Read the message below, then write a response.
To: ______ Penny Garzon Subject: Questions About College Life Hello _____, I’m a sophomore at ______ high school, and I’d like to know more about California State University, San Bernardino. You might remember my sister, Marguerite Garzon, who graduated with you. She went to Ohio State University, but I’m looking at other options. Will you please tell me how you like school and answer a few questions for me: · How difficult is the work? Is the workload much more than what we have in high school? Is it manageable if I also have a part-time job during school? · How accessible are the instructors at your school? Do they have time for you one-on-one? · What’s the social life like at your school? Are fraternities and sororities popular? What do people do for fun? · Does your school have a debate club? I’m on the debate time in high school, and I’d like to join a club in college. What are my options? Thanks for giving me your perspective. This will help me make a decision about whether to apply to your school. Penny Garzon |
Audience
Remember that you’re writing to a high-school student. For example, when Penny asks about the workload, tell her more than just credit load. Help her understand the difference between high school life and college life by including the hours/week requirements for a typical class load (including lectures, homework, etc.).
Purpose
To help Penny understand college life, be as specific and detailed as possible. Share stories and experiences that will help her gain a better perspective of life at college. For example, if you’ve scheduled an appointment with a Professor during office hours, describe it to Penny. On the other hand, if you don’t have any experience with CSUSB fraternities or sororities (and many students don’t), be sure to explain that.
Structure
Penny’s email included four bullet points in the body of her email. Answer all of her questions. Your response should include at least six paragraphs: introduction, four body paragraphs, conclusion. Your body paragraphs should be in the same order as her questions.
Style
Be personal. Penny is a family friend. Choose a friendly, informal writing style.
Memorandum
To: Penny Garzon
From: Bibi Guerrero
Date: April 21 ,2016
Subjecfi lnformation About College
Greetings Penny! lt is good to hear from you and the fact that you are interested in learning more
about other colleges like CSUSB. lt makes me happy to see how encourage you are in furthering
your education by taking your time to explore other colleges and universities. Even though your
sister and a good friend of mine, Marguerite Gazon, is currently going to a good university like
Ohio State University, you will find that CSUSB is a diverse, fun, close to nature and high
academic university. Hopefully with my following responses to your questions, lwill be able to
help you and show you how great of a university CSUSB is and has been to me over the years.
Regarding your first question about how difficult the work is? College in general is a time in your
life where as a college student it is good to test your limits, give it your very best in each class
and at the same time enjoy your life. Now, the workload compare to high school is it a bit more
because as a college student you are expected to dedicate your own time in reading each
chapter in the course before class, doing your homework and any projects that are assign to you.
Keep in mind that the level of difficulty for each class depends on each student and how much
time they personally dedicate to the class to learn and study for that course. For example, I
remember my firct year in college there was a class I was scared to take because I have heard
from various students that that class was hard, that class was statistic. Once having taken that
class and doing everything I was expected to do, I discover how fun and easy it was for me, but
yet at the beginning of the course I was scared. Why? Because I had let the comments of other
students influence me as to how I perceive that class. Only you could determine if that class if
hard for you or easy.
As to your second question about if it is manageable to have a part{ime job and go to school.
Yes, it is manageable. lt is a naturalthing for a college student to be going to school and having a
part-time job. You will be surprise as to how many students are studying full time and going to
work part-time. The secret in being able to do good in schoolwhile going to work, is on how well
you manage your time. I remember the first quarter I had to work part-time and go to schoolfull-
time, it was hard for me at first. With time, I learned how to manage both worlds by learning how
to manage my time. A way you could manage your time is by having an agenda where you write
down allthe important dates, things that you have to do in school and in work. As simple as it
sounds, this is a good way, as for a college student, to manage their time and this method has
personally help me a lot!
For your third question about if the instructors are accessible and if you could have a one-on-one
instructors always try their best to make themselves accessible to the
students. At the beginning of each course the instructor goes over the different timings and days
they are in their office or in school. As a student it is important to emailthem before going to seek
out help or ask any questions so that you know if they are currently free or if they are not they will
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let you know. Another thing you could do is set up an appointment with them where you could
have that one-on-one time. For example with each instructor, if I have a question, I make it a
habit to email them before hand or set up an appointment. This way is always beneficial for you
and for them.
As for your fourth question about if fraternities or sororities are popular and what is the social life
like at CSUSB? Like mention previously, CSUSB is a diverse university so you are able to meet
many people from all over the world and learn about their different cultures. Like for example in
one of my upper division classes, I met a classmate, who is now a good friend of mine that was
from lreland and I was able to learn a lot from their culture. lt is exciting to know that for each
class you take you might meet someone from a different country. As for the fraternities and
sororities, it is a popular thing for college students to be part of one of many fraternities and
sororities available at CSUSB. Even though l’m not part of a sorority, I do have many friends who
are in a fraternity or sorority and are always sharing stories as to how much fun they have in
them. As to your other question of what people do for fun? Since CSUSB is surrounded by
nature, a lot of college students either go for a hike, or decide to enjoy the nature by laying the
grass. There’s a lot of attractions near CSUSB like different malls, the beach, amusement parks,
lakes and the mountains if you decide you want to camp. There is always something to do on
your free time since CSUSB is close by to many places.
Regarding your last question about whether or not there’s a debate club at CSUSB? This
university does have a really good debate club where they go and compete both locally and
nationally. Students who are part of this program have the opportunity to convert their debate
abilities to skills. lf you are interested in knowing more about this program you could contact
Emily Edric through her email at emily.edris@csusb.edu.
I hope that these answers and hints about college life will be a good help to you in deciding which
university you would like to become part of. Hopefully I have answered all your questions and if
you have any other questions or concerns, feelfree to email me at any time. I’ll be more than
happy to answer any questions for you! I wish you the best of luck in your journey of exploring
different universities and I hope I get to see you around, if you decide to attend to CSUSB.
With Best Wishes,
tsiltt, Gu,e.rrort
Memorandum
TO: Penny Gauo
From: Blanca Torres
Date: April 21,2016
Subj ect: College Information
Hello Penny! Of course, I remember your sister Marguerite we had math class together during
our senior year. I’m glad to hear that she is studying at Ohio State University; I remember how
eager and anxious she was to graduate high school and how she looked forward to starting a new
chapter in her life as a college student. I hope she is doing well and please say hello to her on my
behalf. I{rn delighted to hear that you are preparing for college as a sophomore, it is never to
early start to considering your educational opinions. I understand how difficult it can be on
deciding what college to attend, but personally speaking CSUSB is a great school. And I’m more
than happy to answer any questions you have about the university.
To answer your question regarding the workload, it can be difficult at times depending on the
course you are enrolled in but for the most part the workload is manageable. College is different
compared to high school, reason being, is that students do not attend the same class five days a
week. A college class schedule can consists of attending class twice a week or even three times a
week. This gives students the flexibility to study and obtain a part-time job. More importantly,
make sure you keep up with homework assignments and do not procrastinate because the
workload can pile up.
The professors are accessible to the students. At the beginning of the quarter, professors hand out
a syllabus that contains their email address and office phone number if you wish to contact them.
They are willing to stay after class to answer any questions and explain concepts you didn’t
understand. If further assistance is needed, instructors have office hours where a meeting can be
arranged for additional guidance and feedback. Professors are also there to direct students
towards the right career path since they have connections with some of the industries
professionals: On one occasion, I needed advice regarding the pay on a job offer I received. I was
able to discuss with the instructor that, the job would be my first experience in my profession and ,. ,$tt-
that the pay was rather lo{he best words of wisdom, she gave me, was that I should not chase 5*”-f ‘/
money but instead chase .u6er oriented experiences and opportunities that will allow me to gain .q* \\\\\
knowledgtlShe went to mention, how important it is to build your resume with experiences f.frSil
related to f6ur major while you’re in college so by the time you graduate, you’ll stand out. F.nL
The social life at CSUSB is pretty calm compared to other universities. The university has over
one hundred clubs and many sororities you can join. Both clubs and sororities are a great way to
meet new people, build long lasting friendships, network, and get academic support. For fun, the
campus also hosts certain events that students can attend for free such as dances, festivals,
shows, and some athletic games. Some of the coolest events that the school arranged were the
comedy shows where, famous comedians such as Kevin Hart and Gabriel Iglesias came to
CSUSB to perform their comedy act. Students also take advantage of getting in shape by going
to the gym which is free for all students and faculty. The gym also known as the Recreational
Center, organizes active trips to places like Lake Tahoe, Big Bear, and Yosemite National Park
to name a few.
Upon your interest in joining a debate team, the campus does have a debate club named the
Forensic Team. I believe Emily Edris is the person in charge of the club. If you have specific
questions or want information on how to join, you contact Emily at Emily.edris@csusb.edu.
Another club you may take interest in is, Toastmasters International which is a similar club to the
debate team. The difference between the two is that, the debate team focuses more on )
argumentative topics in order to compete against other colleges and universities. On the othe, 2f/qYq+
hand, Toastmasters is a club geared towards helping students improve their communication, fuAUM-
public speaking, and leadership skills by allowing them to present a series of speeches . ct hcn
I hope this information was useful. If you have any further questions or concerns, do not hesitate
to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you again and keep me updated on what university
you decide to attend. I wish you the best of luck in your educational career and enjoy the time
you have left in high school because college is no joke.
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Memorandum
To: Penny Garzon
From: Raymond Lopez
Date: October grh’ 2012
Subject: College Information
Hello, Penny! It’s good to hear from you. I’m glad to hear you’re taking an interest in furthering
your education. Now is definitely the time to lay the groundwork for your college experience.
The more information you have now, the more beneficial it will be to you in the future. I’m sure
your sister has told you how important a good education is to your success, and I’m delighted
you’ve decided to take the next step. CSUSB is a wonderful college to attend, and I will be
happy to answer the questions I can and to look into those I don’t have the answer to.
To answer your first question, yes, the work can be difficult at times. However, it’s all about how
much effort you put into it. If you allot yourself enough time and realize a good grade is not
going to be handed to you, then you can achieve success despite the obstacles. Unlike high
school, you are an adult now, and you will be treated as such. As far as the part-time job, it all
depends on the individual. I am able to work fuIl-time and maintain 12 units. While at times it
does feel a bit overwhelming, it is definitely manageable if you are determined enough. you
seem like a responsible young lady, so I don’t see you having any problem.
The instructors are hit and miss. I have had some really good ones and some that leave
something to be desired. Having said that, I would say the majority are truly there for the
students’ needs. Many are happy to stay after class to explain concepts and give more personal
feedback. Oftentimes they also have office hours in which you can arrange to meet with them for
assistance. Sometimes they provide their emails as another point of contact. I have even had an
instructor leave their cellphone number so that I could text or call at any time. All in all, most of
the instructors are there for more than a paycheck. They are there to help you better yourself and
will make accommodations to help you.
Unfortunately, I don’t know much about the social life on campus. I often go straight from work
to school, so most activities are done by the time I get out of classes. Yes, there are fraternities
and sororities, but I have yet to become involved in them. Periodically, they hold concerts and
other events at Coussoulis Arena. There are also free concerts and events put on around campus.
For your convenience, the CSUSB website maintains a calendar of events to keep its students up
to date.
Your question about the debate team sparked my interest, so I decided to do a little research.
CSUSB does in fact have a debate team. While I did not find any specific information about the
team other than its name, Forensics Debate Team, you can contact Ms. Shawnee Biggerstaff,
Director of Forensics, at sbdebate@aol.com with any further questions. Concerning clubs,
CSUSB has over 100 unique organizatrons. If you would like to speak to someone with more
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expertise than myself, feel free to contact the Office of Student Leadership & Development for
assistance at (909) 537-5234.
I hope this information has been useful to you. If you have any other questions or concerns, don’t
hesitate to write me again. Though it may seem daunting at first, there is a lot to look forward to.
Just keep in mind that college is all what you make it. It can be unsettling at times, but the
reward is far greater than the sacrifice.
P.S. Say hi to Marguerite for me!