For decades, California’s public university system has been a model for the world and its prestige has helped create much of the state’s prosperity. But more recently the system has been stumbling. Its become a victim of constant budget cutting, chronic overcrowding and administrative gridlock. The situation at City College of San Francisco is just one local example of that, but the state’s budget woes have affected all facets of higher education. According to a recent analysis by Bay Area News Group, five of the 23 California State University campuses have more applicants than available spaces -- in every major. KALW’s Lisa Carmack spoke with several recent graduates of San Francisco State University about the challenges and triumphs of their public education.
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