Average GPA at Cal Poly SLO (Mechanical Engineering)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
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<p>I got accepted to Cal Poly SLO in Mechanical Engineering this Fall 2014 as a transfer student and I would like to get a good idea of how the classes are like in SLO. What is the average GPA of Mechanical Engineering students at SLO? I tried looking on their website but couldn’t find anything. If you can’t find it, even the average GPA of Engineering in general at SLO is good enough.</p>

<p>At my community college I got a 3.96 GPA, so I’m trying to see more or less what GPA I would expect to get at Cal Poly SLO since I do understand that upper-division courses at any university are harder. I know GPA isn’t everything, but I do plan on going to Grad school later on to get a Masters Degree so I want to be a competitive applicant when the time comes. Also, I would be happy to hear any general comments you may have about the way engineering classes are taught at SLO based on your experiences.</p>

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<p>Hello there, as a current ME student at Cal Poly I can tell you it is quite a difficult path. As a transfer you’ll have to take a few classes to get up and running. ME 228, will get you up to speed with hand drafting, CAD drafting, and mechanical design. It is 6 hours a week and also expect 4+ hours of hw a week + review/study time. It is 2 units. </p>

<p>Also expect to add in a math class, physics class, a manufacturing process class (welding, machining, or materials casting), a GE or support class, and study sessions. You’ll be taking around 15-17 units.</p>

<p>The fun part about these classes is that you’ll be taking many labs per week. ME 228 by it’s self is 2 labs a week (6 hours), physics/chemistry have labs associated with them, and the industrial manufacturing classes are labs too. So it’s not uncommon to be spending 9-12 hours a week in just labs. </p>

<p>I don’t have much data for GPA averages, but I do know the average GPA for freshmen/transfers in their first year is a 2.7, engineering is probably lower. For example, my HS unweighted GPA was a 3.97, but my first term here I barely pulled off a 3.02, then again, I was taking harder classes than many of my peers.</p>

<p>Typically GPA’s will go up as you develop better studying habits, but the classes get harder. Upperclassmen are around the 2.8-3.3 GPA range.</p>

<p>Sounds intimidating sometimes, but it really is fun! If anything, try to join clubs, you can use what you learn in class and meet some great people :)</p>

<p>Good luck, feel free post/message me with additional questions. </p>

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<p>Upperclassmen are around the 2.8-3.3 GPA range . . . sounds alright. I would like to aim for a 3.5 to get into a good grad school later on, so I’m wondering if that’s possible. </p>

<p>Also, are classes graded on a curve like they do in some UCs or is it pretty much a point system where you get the grade you get?</p>

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<p>" I would like to aim for a 3.5 to get into a good grad school later on, so I’m wondering if that’s possible."</p>

<p>It is possible, but lots of work and you may be off investing more time into extracurricular activities. Anything about a 3.0 in engineering should be fine, especially in mechanical engineering here. The reason mechanical is difficult here is the insane amount of units Cal Poly wants you to take per term. To graduate on time (assuming no college credit coming in) you’ll need to take 17 units per term. If you want to comfortably graduate in 4.5-5 years, 14 units per term is about right. </p>

<p>As you can probably guess, getting a 3.5 overall taking 14 units per term is quite a bit easier than taking 17 per term and getting a 3.5. Both ways are doable.</p>

<hr>

<p>Classes are graded depending on the teacher’s grading system. Most classes I’ve taken just have the tests curved (if necessary), the grades aren’t usually curved. So essentially, the grade you get. </p>

<p>Easier classes like general education (GE) requirements should be very straight forward and almost always a A or B. Engineering classes are harder and need curves for the tests. For example, my engineering statics class had an average of 30% for the quizzes, and the midterm averages were around 55%. </p>

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<p>I had (And probably will still wonder until my first round of classes…) the same question regarding GPA. I will be doing electrical engineering, but it is similar in the scope of this post.</p>

<p>What I’ve gathered from current students at Cal Poly, and other schools as well, it really just comes down to your own habits - which is probably just common sense. But it seems that the smartest students from high school or CC’s have gotten away with studying for exams the night prior, which really catches up to them at a university.</p>

<p>If you got a 3.96 by studying constantly, I think you can expect a 3.0+ if you put in the same or more effort.</p>

<p>I worked full time, was (and still am) actively drilling in the National Guard, and I pulled a 3.93. I was studying ever night for hours, though, and even on my drill weekends I would sneak off to the conference room of the hotel to study after a 12 hour day.</p>

<p>Edit: Forgot to mention, another Guard member worked full time going to SJSU for Mechanical and he graduated with a 3.3 - his comments were about the same, a large number of students don’t put in a big effort.</p>

<p>You’ll be fine! Good luck… Maybe I’ll see you around this fall.</p>

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<p>My kid is an ME major and he said that the average GPA is about what you see above. A lot of folks are in the 2.8 plus range. That is average. Anything above a 3.0 will be taken seriously by employers. My kid is a lot higher than that, but I know that he would not want me to post his GPA.</p>

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<p>Thank you all for the great info. I feel more confident now and I’ll make sure I’m prepared to do good in Cal Poly SLO when I get there. </p>

<p>So how are the labs for the Upper-Division Engineering courses? I know from my experience doing labs at my community college they can be fun, but at the same time they can be pretty difficult too. For Engineering/Tech courses, would you say the labs are harder than the lecture part of class (Quizzes, Exams, Homework), easier, or about the same?</p>

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<p>Interesting post. Im transferring this fall too, biomedical eng. Is this scenario similar or what should I expect for my major? Im guessing its the same for any engineering major</p>