"The scholars program has given me so much more than I expected-the wonderful friends and the service opportunities, which I love. The benefits are incredible. There is no way to describe how grateful I am.

The laptop has saved my life the last couple of days. There is no way I can ever say thank you enough times for everything they've given. I just love it here. It's just been such an incredible experience that I can't imagine being anywhere else."

"This is really an environment where I feel comfortable. I was a little worried about coming to Fullerton because demographically I didn't think it would be the same as high school. Then as I started talking with people, I felt a lot more comfortable, and I felt like this is a place where I belong. It's a lot more supportive; with the scholars, people figure out how they can help each other. I really didn't expect to enjoy college this much."
- Steve Hsieh

As soon as I found out that they were going to give me the scholarship, I decided to go to Cal State Fullerton. I've never once thought I should have made a different choice. I've just had a blast here. Normally I would think that at college you're just another student. I feel like I play a role here on this campus. The people here are really great, and the faculty is outstanding. When you're a President's Scholar, doors fly open for you.
- Scott Hsieh

"I think the tight-knit community that we have as scholars is just great. It's a real community. Everything that I've received in just these two short years, it's been more than I could possibly ever have imagined. I know I've made lifelong friends, there's no question about that. I've gotten a lot of skills, I've worked with so many different people, and I am involved in so many different things that I otherwise would never have been involved in.

This is absolutely the biggest reward that I could have received from working so hard in school. This is everything that I ever wanted. It really is."

"It's an awesome program. It helps me get involved in the community and give back, and it helps me with my leadership skills. The scholarship pushes me to work hard, and I can benefit from that. The undergraduate program is perfect here because you get more one-on-one attention.

I didn't think the scholars program would be such a close-knit group of people. I just can't believe how much fun it is."

"The scholarship is such a huge package. I was just so impressed, and Cal State Fullerton is really acclaimed for their music program. I am so happy that I was chosen to be a scholar. I feel that I am so taken cared of. It's like this feeling that I have a lot of people who care about me. I worked so hard in high school, and I feel so rewarded now.

I am so privileged. Now I feel that I just have to keep going and not give up. I want to be an opera singer."

"It's a prestigious group. It's very motivating to be around the other President's Scholars, to see their accomplishments, to see the work they do and to see that the goals they have set for themselves are really high. It's not intimidating. I don't feel that there is a competitive edge to it at all. Everyone is there to help you out.

This is a great place to go-just for the value that you get out of it and all of the great things this university has to offer."

"I want to go to medical school. Right now, I don't know if I want to go into research or family practice. I could be happy with either one. The scholarship makes me want to work harder and to do well in my major. I've had some really good professors here who go out of their way to help me.

This summer, I have an internship doing research with one of the professors. I think being a President's Scholar helped a lot."