Fresno City College
Fresno, CA, USA

Reviews

Fresno City College

Miguel from Fresno, CA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Fresno City College is the 2nd oldest community College. Fresno City is a great place to get your general education and transfer AA for those planning to attend a CSU or UC. It is also very economical to do two years at Fresno city as appose to all your years at the university you plan to attend.
Tips for prospective students
Parking is a mess at city college you have to get to campus with an hour to spare or park at the stadium parking. The stadium parking is the farthest away, but never gets full like the others. Just make sure when using this parking lot to be here 15 minutes before your class, because you will spend 10 of those minutes walking to campus. Take advantage of this parking lot and never have worry about the parking nightmare on campus.
Due to the higher number of students at this college, getting your classes can be a real challenge. I recommend enrolling at Midnight before the first day for registration for best chances. The only two other ways to get your classes is to play a sport, or get accepted into EOPS which is a program at FCC. If you meet the requirements for FCC apply for the program, if accepted you'll get priority registration, even before all the athletes do. You will be guarantee any class, any time of day and any teacher with priority registration.
Academic Rigor
It all depends on your professors. There teaching styles will varies. I recommend using ratemyprofessor.com to chose your professors. There are many professors at City college. Choosing the one that teaching style best meet your learning need will be made easier with the use of this website.
Dorm Life
City College has no dorms.
Food and Dining
Fresno city college has a decent cafe, with cooks to make you a fresh and custom breakfast or lunch.
What to do for fun
City college has lots of on campus activities. There are clubs. Vendor malls. Free Ram burger day. Many campus event and free workshops. Even an arcade! The possibilities off campus are endless, located in such a large city.
Bang for the buck
A community college for your general ed or transfer AA is the way to go. Fresno City is truly affordable, with tuition fee waivers. FASFA and CAL grant will always end up in your pocket due the affordability of Fresno City.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
By the Student Lounge you will find an Arcade with pool tables and arcade games
Great for these types of students
Students wanting to attend a four year university but not wanting to tackle all those expenses for the four/five years they attend that university. Also great for those wishing to attend a UC with guarantee transfer admission.
Clubs and Activities
Fresno City College has a long list of clubs, you will most definitively find one that suits you. You can find a list of these clubs on the Fresno city college website.
Greek Life
There are no Greek Frats or Sor. at City College
Campus Safety
There is a strong presence of the district police. The Campus is well lit and there is a plentiful amount of people on campus even when dark.

Elise from Fresno, CA

a past student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
1. Fresno City College is a beautiful, old fashioned campus, with a diverse student population, located right in the heart of Fresno's historic Tower District.
2. Teachers are involved and invested in the success of their students, and in my experience, have been easily accessible for any issue or questions a student might have.
3. There are constantly activities, festivals, seminars, and rummage sales going on at the campus, making it a fantastic place to just spend time sitting and soaking in the cultural and educational goings-on.
Tips for prospective students
- Be open-minded. Because Fresno City College is a community college, and a public institution, there are lots of different types of people all around. If you can get out of your comfort zone, and get your foot in the door with a lot of different groups, the experiences that open up are endless.
- Go to class! This is a general tip for every college or school you'll ever go to, but because of the number of students that need to get into classes at FCC, professors have no qualms about dropping a student from a class, even five or six weeks into the semester! You have to earn your seat in a class, and want to be there to learn.
- Get involved in the clubs on campus. There is one for almost every interest, skill, or ethnic group. They're easy to check out at the Club Days, and will give you a fantastic extracurricular college experience.
- Explore the area around the college! FCC is located right in the middle of Fresno's famous Tower District. There are locally owned restaurants and coffee shops sprinkled amid local art galleries and retro clothing stores.
Academic Rigor
I was in the Honors Program at Fresno City College, and found those classes to be more challenging than the regular classes, as they should be. However, the regular classes were demanding as well. The teachers are very involved with each student, and you will have to work hard to earn a passing grade. It ensures you learn the material backwards and forwards.
Food and Dining
Fresno City has a really great catering company that sets up booths and stands around the campus for quick and easy access to snacks between classes. There is also a café, and a dining hall on campus near the student lounge that offer the usual pizza and taquitos, but also healthier choices like fresh fruit, freshly made salads and juice.
What to do for fun
- Explore the area. There is so much to do around Fresno City College. There are a lot of on-campus activities too, so it's worth picking up the school newspaper, The Rampage, to see what's comping up soon.
- Photography and art students particularly love the campus because of the views and subject matter it offers them. There are many beautiful antique buildings, like the Old Administration Building, recently restored, and the big red brick Library. Many of the trees are upwards of 100 years old.
Bang for the buck
There are many scholarships and financial waivers available, even for middle class students. But even without the financial assistance, it is not a particularly pricey school at which to study. The opportunities, activities, class diversity, and quality of education all make it a fantastic educational deal.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The Library is a vast brick building, with columns and a high ceiling-ed hall. There are classrooms upstairs, and a beautiful long room, lined with books upon books, and long wooden tables at which students quietly study. It gives an old-fashioned school feel to an otherwise urban environment.
Also, every year the campus has Asian Fest, a beautiful day of parades and booths, foods and dancing, put on by the Asian community of Fresno. It is definitely worth coming out for.
Great for these types of students
For a student that loves learning through experience as much as learning from a teacher, Fresno City College is a great choice. The campus offers so many great opportunities for travel, performance, artistic expression, and simply learning through immersion, being surrounded by so many people with such a variety of ideas and experiences. It continuously rounds and opens the minds of the students that attend.
Clubs and Activities
There are lots of clubs on campus for a variety of groups. From people interested in music, to card games, to ethnic foods, and designing their own fashion items, the campus offers something for everyone. The clubs participate in activities throughout the community, offering the members a chance to further broaden their circle of acquaintances, and build connections with other student of shared interests.
Greek Life
There are no sororities or fraternities on Fresno City College's campus. It is a community college. However, there are Greek Honors Societies and groups that study certain topics throughout the year, in conjunction with activities with other members from other colleges.
Campus Safety
There are lots of friendly campus police officers around all the time. They oftentimes give warnings rather than tickets, which is a very nice gesture towards poor college students! If there is ever any kind of problem on campus, the campus police are there within seconds, and no one is ever in any kind of danger. It's a very comfortable campus.

Kaylee from Fresno, CA

a past student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Did learn a lot
I learned a fair amount of information. Although the classes weren't challenging for me, I did leave there a lot more knowledgeable than before I got there.
Did enjoy being here
I enjoyed being there for the simple fact that I was involved in athletics, the volleyball team to be exact. There are a lot of people who don't care to be in school so don't get sucked into that crowd.
Bang for the buck
Super cheap and I finished my AA in less than 2 years.
Tips for prospective students
Be prepared for a high school like atmosphere in the classroom. It is way easy and is taught a lot like a high school only you aren't required to go to class. However, most teachers take role on a daily basis and use attendance as participation points on a final grade. Just go to class. It is very tempting to skip out, but don't lower your grade because you didn't show up. Also, make sure you have in mind where you would like to transfer and make sure your classes are transferable.
Great for these types of students
Great for students who do not know what direction they want to go with their education. It is a cheap alternative to spending years and a LOT of money at a university with no idea of where you want to go in life. Also great for student athletes who would like to continue their athletic careers through college.

Veronica from Fresno, CA

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Most of my professors are devoted to their classes. They are not restrained from the pressure to teach California standardized exams or the No Child Left Behind exam. Instead they are able to be creative and think outside the box. They create new and exciting ways to teach a topic. My classes are not based on a text book, but on the personal experiences of students and teachers. College should be a time to learn about yourself and what you should expect in life and this is what I've learned so far! My professors have successfully triggered my interests in new fields of study!
Am enjoying being here
Fresno City College is perhaps one of the most diverse campuses. I've met parents, students who are married, students who come from a wealthy or a humble background and students of all ages. I've met a lot of kind people. I admire how they take the time to ask how everybody is doing. The professors' enthusiasm is enjoyable and I feel comfortable enough to ask questions. I had a huge problem with this in high school. One negative thing, however, is that a large amount of people don't appreciate their education there. They feel as if it's an obligation to go to college and can be heard complaining a lot. This is one little thing that bothers me.
Bang for the buck
Fresno City College is significantly cheaper than surrounding schools. So yes, I feel as if I am getting the best bank for my buck. The school also provides a lot of students with financial aid. However, I wish they had more opportunities to give money to students based on their persona, not solely on their financial needs. The effect of the California budget cuts are evident. For example, classrooms need to be updated. However, most of the staff do well with what they have.
Tips for prospective students
You're going to save a lot of time and stress from applying to Fresno City College. So use that saved time and apply for scholarships! I truly regret not spending my senior year in high school applying for grants and scholarships. Ask around who are the best professors to take: at least somebody in your class will tell you who to take and who not to take. Students share wonderful tips! Over 40,000 students are enrolled, so fight for a way to get priority registration, otherwise it'll be hard to get in your classes. I volunteered to take notes for students in my class and that gave my priority registration. You can sign up for the Honors program, as well.
Great for these types of students
Students who are all for taking small steps to success! Wise students who want to save money. People who are having trouble juggling work, a family and money. The college is suitable for everyone!

Aaron from Fresno, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Academic Rigor
The academic rigor at Fresno City Collage really prepares you for any university you may be thinking about attending. I find that it challenges me to do better and reach higher. It can be a bit much if your not a serious student.
Dorm Life
Dorm life does not exist at fresno city collage, it is a two year collage that prepares you for a four year collage.
Food and Dining
Food and dining are excellent, the cooks are nice and friendly. The atmosphere is prefect for socializing and having a nice meal

Julie* from Fresno, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Tips for prospective students
Take advantage of information available to you through webadvisor and the Fresno City website. BE PREPARED!
Great for these types of students
great for transfer students and locals
Campus Safety
I've never had a problem on campus so far, the only issue I have encountered so fat is getting your car stolen or broken into.