So first up - why does CP take so long to send out decisions? I understand why most schools do - having humans read through tens of thousands of applications obviously takes a lot of time and people. But if CP really just calculates MCA scores for everyone, shouldn’t that greatly expedite the process? I realize it’s probably not 100% computerized, but certainly without having to go through things like essays, recommendations, ECs, etc. I’d think it would be much faster than other schools. Yet the regular decision deadline is before many other RD’s, with results going out in ~February/March.
On a completely different topic, when I calculate the estimated admit rate for Graphic Communication using the “Figuring admit rate by major” thread and CP’s Enrollment projections, I’m getting something like 80%. This sounds way too high - can anyone confirm?
To answer your 2nd question, I get an estimated acceptance rate for Graphic Communications of 33%. (FTF target x3 and divide by FTF apps)
Answer to your 1st question, as a parent whom had 2 sons’s apply to SLO, I have no clue why it takes them so long to send out decisions especially since everything is computerized. I am sure there many other applicants/parents wondering the same thing. If the majority of UC’s (Davis, Berkeley, LA, San Diego, Santa Cruz) can send out decisions in one day where they do have to read essays and LOR’s, why can’t most of the Cal States do the same?
@Gumbymom Huh. I must be looking at the wrong numbers or something - on the 2015-2016 Enrollment Projections, it seems like 80 for FTF Target, and 323 for FTF Apps. It’s also entirely possible that my brain is scrambled right now from too much math homework, and I’m doing something really stupid, but I’m getting 80*3 = 240, and 240/323 = 0.743 (74.3%). Where am I going wrong?
@BobNotBob: Not all majors are created equal at SLO plus will will vary depending upon the number of applicants. If for some reason there is a huge surge in Graphic Communication applicants this year, the acceptance rate will be lower.
@BobNotBob Could I have the link to the site you used to figure your acceptance rate? I’d like to try and figure the rate for Environmental Mmgt & Protection
The first link is for the table with all of the FTF Apps/Targets. Use the link and the formula in the first reply for a slightly more accurate acceptance rate - it makes use of the actual yields for each school, rather than the general estimate of “3”.
Here’s Environmental Mgt & Protection: (1/.488)(66/399)(100) = 33.90%. The College of Agriculture seems to have a relatively high yield, so less people need to be chosen in order to fill all of the spots.
@Gumbymom you scared me for a second with that 33% admit rate!!
@BobNotBob I applied for GrC too! CPSLO is pretty much my top choice and their program seems amazing, I’ve contacted a current GrC student and she absolutely raved about it! I’m super excited, I hope we both get in
@flaminhaute I hope so too. {Warning: Stress Venting Ahead} The only thing that I’m worried about is if an admissions counselor sees my major switch as an attempt to get in with a less selective major that I don’t care about. I originally switched from Computer Engineering to Software Engineering - 50% because I wanted to do more software based stuff, 50% because SE is a teensy bit less selective. I then kind of freaked out about getting in, and looked for the least selective majors at CP. HOWEVER, I quickly realized that selecting a major based on selectivity was an incredibly stupid idea, so I went in the total opposite direction - choosing a major that actually correlates with what I really want to do (CE/SE were just kind of “tolerable”). GrC fit the bill.
The problem I can foresee (although I could just be paranoid) is the fact that I’ve now switched majors twice, each time to a less selective one. Especially since GrC is quite less selective than the engineering majors, and it doesn’t seem like a “natural” switch (Engineering to liberal arts? Who does that?), I can see how this could be viewed as me just picking a random, less selective major that I don’t care about, when in reality I’m doing the opposite (although, ironically, my selection was spurred by this kind of thing).
Let’s hope that everything really is just thrown into a computer, and that I can chill out a little bit
@BobNotBob I definitely see what you have to be worried about! I’m guessing you have the grades/scores of an engineering student, which could smooth things over for you. I’ve heard of a lot of people who went from engineering to some sort of design, so it’s not that far fetched,all computery stuff in the end, right??
I wouldn’t be surprised if a human never saw my app! I feel like they probably divide them by major and then rank apps by grades and scores or something?
For the 1st question, it is just ranking gimmicks and theatrics. My empirical observation is that bar a few rolling admissions schools such as Purdue, how early results are published is inversely proportional to the US World News school ranking. I am certain most schools (especially those that have a computer based algorithms) should be able to publish results end of Jan/mid Feb. Some even go to some stupid games where they announce they have decisions online, but will send the acceptance/rejection via postal mail and will hold publishing the info online for 3 days.
