October 1. The Cal State Apply submission window has opened. The application season for Fall 2027 is officially underway.

Last week, I received a message like this: "My child only wants to apply to the nursing program at Long Beach State. If they come from a local school, won't they just get in?" This is partly true and partly false.

Today, I will summarize this question. The key terms are impacted and local preference.

First, the timeline. Cal State Apply has been available for early submission since August 1, and the actual submission starts on October 1, 2026. The priority deadline for freshmen is November 30.

The freshman deadline for CSU Long Beach (CSULB) is also announced as November 30, 2026. Since it falls right after the Thanksgiving holiday, delaying could be risky.

The application fee is $70 per campus. Even applying to just four schools will cost $280. Honestly, that's not a small amount.

However, there is a fee waiver program. If eligible, you can have the fees waived for up to four campuses. There are eligibility requirements, such as residency duration, so be sure to check before applying.

Now, to the main point. Impacted means that there are more applicants than available spots, leading to higher selection criteria. Just meeting the minimum qualifications is not enough.

For the 2027-28 academic year, five campuses are considered impacted overall. These are Cal Poly SLO, Fullerton, Long Beach, San Diego State, and San Jose State.

At Long Beach, all undergraduate majors and pre-majors, even undeclared, are impacted for freshmen. This means there are no easy options.

Let's go over the basic qualifications. California students need a GPA of 2.5 or higher in A-G subjects, while out-of-state students need a GPA of 3.0 or higher, as stated by CSULB.

So how are students selected? CSULB ranks applicants who exceed the minimum qualifications using its own index score. The higher the number, the better your chances.

The formula for general majors is as follows: multiply the A-G GPA by 200, the math GPA by 500, and the English GPA by 500, then add them together.

STEM majors are calculated separately. Math GPA is multiplied by 600, and science GPA is also multiplied by 600. English scores are not included, meaning math and science scores are essentially everything.

The calculation includes grades from A-G subjects taken after 9th grade. The initial assessment is based on the grades entered by the applicant for 10th and 11th grades.

There are also honors points available. Up to eight approved honors, AP, or IB courses with a grade of C or higher from 10th to 12th grade are recognized.

One surprising point: even among applicants from Long Beach, the transcript reviewed can differ significantly depending on whether they apply for engineering or business. Choosing a major is a strategic decision.

Auditions are required for music and dance programs. For nursing, students must enter as pre-nursing and meet specific course and credit requirements to advance to the major in their third year.

Now, about local preference. CSULB determines local status based on the high school from which students graduate. Military service experience also counts.

Local areas include high schools from designated school districts such as Long Beach Unified, Bellflower, Downey, Huntington Beach, Compton, and some private schools. You can find the exact list and map on the CSULB admissions page.

Local applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will receive an admission offer. However, if they do not meet the criteria for their desired major, they will enter as undeclared.

This answers the earlier message. While a student may be admitted, getting into the nursing program is a separate matter.

If a student enters as undeclared, they must meet the major's criteria before declaring it by their third year. It's not an easy path.

If you are not local, you will compete based on the index score. They only admit as many students as there are available spots. This is why Long Beach may feel particularly competitive for out-of-state students.

However, there is an exit option. If a California resident freshman does not receive a decision due to capacity issues at any CSU they applied to, they may be redirected to another campus with available space.

One more thing. CSULB makes decisions based on the grades entered by the student. After acceptance, they will verify with official transcripts, so a single input error could lead to rescinding admission.

If accepted, students must submit a registration deposit by May 1 and final transcripts by July 15 after graduation. Missing either deadline can be problematic, so be sure to note these dates.

If I were a parent, I would approach it this way. I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket with Long Beach. I would calculate the index myself and mix in at least two campuses that are less impacted.

If eligible for a fee waiver, it's beneficial to fill out all four applications.

It's also worth considering the fairness issue. The fact that where you live can affect admission chances is an opportunity for local students but a high barrier for those from other areas.

What do you think? Should local preference be maintained or reduced? Please share your thoughts in the comments.