We visited with our son (CSE major) this past Saturday during their Bobcat Day event. What everyone says about positives and negatives is spot on.
- Make no mistake: it is University of California.
- The campus itself is very modern, new, neat, clean, spacious and yet not spread out. Everything is within walking distance.
- Dorms are new, clean and plentiful. Every freshman and sophomore is guaranteed housing. They are probably the best of all UC system schools.
- Students all seem happy, chill and friendly. Everyone is welcoming and smiling.
- Excellent amenities (2 cafeterias, 2 gyms, big library for a relatively small school)
- New Dean of Engineering school who’s been there only 6 months (25 years of teaching experience at Cal Poly SLO) gave a very positive and inspirational talk about Engineering school majors, outcomes, research and internship opportunities.
- Class size is small / medium. Largest lecture hall is at most 200 students.
- You don’t really get an idea just how remote and isolated campus is until you visit. Which, if you come there to study and get an education with minimal distractions is fairly ideal.
- Even to go get a haircut or get some groceries, for example, you have to take a bus or Uber to town (~4-5 miles). If you live in dorms you don’t need groceries. Everything is available on campus.
- There are 20-30 laundry machines per dorm building which houses 600-800 students. Could be tough to find time to wash clothes, but everyone manages.
- Drive from San Diego without any traffic (which is possible, believe it or not, if timed right) is 6.5 hours with 2 short bathroom / gas stops. But then again, it’s in the middle of nowhere.
- Fresno is 45 min south
- Food for guests at the cafeteria is only $10 for all-you-can-eat options. We ate there for lunch and it was very decent. Main cafeteria itself is big, bright and clean with both indoor and outdoor (shaded) seating overlooking small pond / lake.
- After visiting several small private schools, we felt that’s exactly what you get at UCM: small, clean, state-of-the art campus and education (private school experience), but at the public / UC pricing.
- Our son felt great vibes about the school, education and experience and half-way through the visit said he would like to commit there. He slept on it, and say he still felt strongly about it. We drove home last night, and he filled out SIR.