<p>zagat: I think Cal poly engineering has a better reputation than the middle UC's. Take UC Davis. CP is best known for it's engineering and architecture programs, while UC Davis is best known for its science programs. A bio major from UC Davis would have more "prestige" than a CP bio major, but a CP engineer would top a Davis engineer. Overall the two schools have similar reputation, but because of different programs.</p>
<p>Edit: Don't take this as an assualt on the CP bio program, as I love it. I'm just relating what I perceive to be the perception of the public.</p>
<p>I don't see how you can criticize the CSU system as being the "McDonald's or Burger King" of college education. The CSUs provide an excellent education and many of my teachers are graduates of the CSU system. Just so you know, some of these teachers were ranked #1 among thousands of coaches in Speech and Debate nationally.</p>
<p>Honestly, I chose SDSU over UCI, partly because of it's location and the fact it actually offers a business program. You can look at average salary statistics and SDSU is up there with the top business schools. So call it a fast food education if you will, but it's a fast food diner that serves up some fine meals. </p>
<p>In terms of reputation:
1. Cal Poly SLO
2. San Diego State
3. Long Beach State
4. Chico</p>
<p>I feel my reputation ranking is more valid then most on CC, mainly because I have friends at all the various CSU's (saw the decisions they have made) and i've talked to employers (although possible BIASes) about reputation and that seems to be the general concensus. Although, before going to SDSU, I as well was succumbed into thinking Cal Poly Pomona was almost as prestigious as Cal Poly SLO, primarily because of the confusion with Pomona College and Cal Poly, being two top colleges.</p>
<p>on a sidenote: Whoever that poster was who referred to CSU's as fast food dining needs to shut their arrogant mouth.</p>
<p>The best CSU is the CSU that is right for you. If all you are concerned with is having the best degree possible, go to CP SLO. Other than that, choose based on location, campus feel, classes, strength of majors, and all those other factors. Although I could probably get in to any UC, i considering applyign to sonoma state for a long time because the campus is so beautiful, the vibe is almost familial, so relaxed (although I'm sure that changes at night if you want it to). Take a long hard look at each of Chico, Sonoma, SF State, Humboldt, and Fresno. San Jose is ugly, don't go to school in San Jose. I live a few blocks away from SF State, and have many friends that go there. I can say that if you are driven to succeed, SF State will have all the options you need, because you will have easy access to everything in San Francisco (which is essentially anything in the world).</p>
<p>Do not go to Sonoma St. I go to the local junior college here in Santa Rosa and it has a better reputation than Sonoma St. Sonoma State has a reputation of being "easier" than the JC....And there you have it. I can't believe USnews ranked Sonoma St. at 6 in california CSUs, that's appalling.</p>
<p>i dont know what smebbs is talking about. But in san francisco, sonoma state has a reputation as a good school to go to. Community colleges dont Have* reputations, or at least, the differences between teh reputations among them is marginal. Sonoma state has a beautiful campus, a great library, nice students. I say as far as CSUs go, its a top choice, behind Obviously Cal Poly which is the only one with a national reputation.</p>
<p>I agree with TheCity. Unfortunately many students who grow up near a particular school often end up feeling it's not that great a place to be. Maybe it's just too familiar. I know Sonoma draws a large number of people from the San Diego area...probably because the kids there see San Diego State as a commuter school where everyone from their high schools go. On the other hand many nor-cal kids see San Diego as THEE place to be. It's all a matter of perspective and, like everyone says, college is what you make it.</p>
<p>Why I say Sonoma is easier than the local JC is because the students and the TEACHERS say so. Some of the JC teachers teach at Sonoma St lol. And yes, the SRJC does have a great reputation in academics, ranked one of the top in the nation. How can you say CC's don't have reputations? That's preposterous....If you look at Sonoma St, it's business program is one of the few schools if not the only school NOT ACCREDITED by AACSB. I'm surprised as why San Franciscans regard Sonoma St. as a good school. I look at SFSU at a great school myself, it's accredited and they actually boost some grades if you're coming from SRJC. I've been told if I were to get a C in Econ that SFSU would move it up a grade because they know how hard the classes are at SRJC. I've been told by numerous professors how good SRJC is and how 4-yr colleges know. So I do know what I'm talking about. I've been told by my Economic professor that past students email him from colleges all over the nation and tell him how hard his class was compare to their classes at a 4-yr. college. He also stated that a student from CAL Berkeley emailed him and said the Econ class at SRJC was harder than any class he has taken at CAL.....</p>
<p>Thanks for the input myladyd, I'm surprised and had no realization of that.</p>
<p>I personally like Humboldt State - smaller than the other Cal states (few classes over 40 students), good academics, nice location. Unfortunately, its rep as a stoner school turns off many prospective students.</p>
<p><b>Is Cal Poly Worth Traveling across Country to Attend</b>
Accepted with scholarship to Cal Poly for Computer Engineering. I realize that it is ranked well (at schools whose highest degree is a bachelors or masters. In fact, that is how we found it (see lists below). However, because it is not a National University it is difficult to compare to the other (East Coast) schools my S has been accepted to. Would it be silly to travel across the country to attend a CSU? From what I am reading on CC CSUs are considered to be inferior to UCs.</p>
<p>Undergraduate engineering specialties:
Computer Engineering
(At schools whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's)
1. Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (IN)
2. Cal PolySan Luis Obispo *
Cooper Union (NY)
4. Harvey Mudd College (CA)
5. Milwaukee School of Engineering
6. United States Air Force Acad. (CO)*
Valparaiso University (IN)</p>
<p>Additionally it ranked very well for these academic program which I feel are very important for a computer engineering major:</p>
<p>Academic Programs: Internships / co-ops</p>
<p>Alverno College (WI)
Antioch College (OH)
Berea College (KY)
Cal PolySan Luis Obispo *
Drexel University (PA)
Georgia Institute of Technology *
Northeastern University (MA)
Portland State University (OR)*
Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY)
University of Cincinnati *
Warren Wilson College (NC)</p>
<p>Academic Programs: Undergraduate research / creative projects</p>
<p>Allegheny College (PA)
Amherst College (MA)
Bates College (ME)
Bryn Mawr College (PA)
California Institute of Technology
Cal PolySan Luis Obispo *
Carleton College (MN)
Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
College of Wooster (OH)
Creighton University (NE)
Davidson College (NC)
Duke University (NC)
Furman University (SC)
Grinnell College (IA)
Harvard University (MA)
Harvey Mudd College (CA)
Hope College (MI)
Johns Hopkins University (MD)
Lafayette College (PA)
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology
Oberlin College (OH)
Pennsylvania State U.University Park *
Princeton University (NJ)
Reed College (OR)
Stanford University (CA)
SUNYStony Brook *
Swarthmore College (PA)
Truman State University (MO)*
University of CaliforniaBerkeley *
University of CaliforniaIrvine *
Univ. of CaliforniaLos Angeles *
University of Chicago
University of Delaware *
University of Georgia *
Univ. of MarylandCollege Park *
University of MichiganAnn Arbor *
U. of North CarolinaAsheville *
U. of North CarolinaChapel Hill *
University of Pennsylvania
University of Washington *
Univ. of WisconsinEau Claire *
Univ. of WisconsinLa Crosse *
Univ. of WisconsinMadison *
Wellesley College (MA)
Williams College (MA)
Yale University (CT)</p>
<p>Smebbs is right about some CC's having a better reputation than others. I've always heard Santa Barbara City College is a great school and a primary feeder to UC Santa Barbara. Sure, transfers can be done from virtually any CC to any UC but I think the great location, proximity to the UC campus and cross-enrollment opportunities make it a step-up in the minds of most people. </p>
<p>I can't say the same holds true of most CC/CSU relationships...they tend to be more adversarial for some reason. Altho the Butte/Chico combination seems to work for many people.</p>
<p>carolyn, I also like Humboldt! It seems like the perfect place to spend a couple years if your the outdoorsy type! But your right about the stoner rep. Too bad people can't look past 'reputations' and realize that there are all kinds of people at every school and just bc a particular campus has a certain 'rep' doesn't mean they personally have to live up to it.</p>
<p>anybody can dial up their favorite CSU. for example, if you like redwood scenery, try humboldt. if you like big, then look at beach, san diego or fullerton. if you like small try on monterey bay or channel islands for size.</p>
<p>i have attended or worked at three different CSUs and frequently ask a contact who provides data from the CSU chancellors office about relative strengths. i also have personally visited 22 of the 23 campuses.</p>
<p>here is a short summation:</p>
<p>I. UNIVERSITYWIDE ACADEMICS: 1. Cal Poly SLO by a clear margin; 2. Cal Poly Pomona; 3. Chico State and Long Beach State.</p>
<p>II. ATHLETICS: 1. San Diego State (Mountain West Conference); 2. Fresno State (Western Athletic Conference); 3. San Jose State (Western Athletic Conference).</p>
<p>III. CAMPUS SCENE/ACTIVITIES: 1. San Diego State (considered huge party school); 2. Chico State; 3. Cal Poly SLO.</p>
<p>IV. CAMPUS BEAUTY: 1. Cal Poly Pomona (former winter horse ranch for W.K. Kellogg; 2. Humboldt State (rustic); 3. Chico State.</p>
<p>V. BUSINESS: 1. San Diego State (largest business program in West); 2. Cal State-Fullerton; 3. Cal Poly Pomona.</p>
<p>VI. ENGINEERING: 1. Cal Poly SLO; 2. Cal Poly Pomona; 3. San Jose State.</p>
<p>VII. HUMANITIES: 1. San Diego State; 2. Cal Poly SLO; 3. Long Beach State.</p>
<p>VIII. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Cal State Fullerton; 2. San Diego State; 3. San Jose State.</p>
<p>IX. AGRICULTURE: 1. Cal Poly SLO; 2. Cal Poly Pomona; 3. Fresno State.</p>
<p>X. ARCHITECTURE: 1. Cal Poly SLO; 2. Cal Poly Pomona; 3. San Jose State.</p>
<p>hope this helps. you can see why the polytechnic schools are so highly favored, particularly the branch at SLO.</p>
<p>cal poly pomona is no way the second most prestigious state school after cal poly slo. cal poly pomona is way back in the ranks, cal poly pomona is under a FALSE assumption of 'prestige' because of both the "cal poly" and the "pomona" in its name, confusing itself with the prestige of cal poly slo and pomona LAC. in reality, cal poly pomona faculty, professors and alumni are no more prestigious than that of cal state fullerton or san francisco state, the confusion that comes with the name is all it has........if cal poly pomona administrative officers decide to change the name to pomona state college all that false prestige would end. </p>
<p>i would say the second best cal state would definately be SDSU overall with chico state following right behind. without a doubt cal poly SLO is the crown jewel of the cal state system and is academically comparable to UC's like davis, irvine, and santa barbara. </p>
<p>and the best business program in the cal state system is without a doubt cal poly SLO orfala college of business, followed by SDSU.</p>
<p>Those of us in CA are lucky to have so many choices when it comes to public colleges/universities. There truly is something for everyone! We have always told our kids they could go to any UC/CSU they wanted because they WILL find the perfect fit among the 33 campuses and it's affordable.</p>
<p>First up...Chico, where D is headed in the fall. She initially resisted applying there because A) the party school rep, and B) it wasn't on the beach! One unofficial weekend visit changed her mind. She made tons of friends, found and apartment/roommates (to avoid the craziness of the frosh dorms), fell in love with the campus and surrounding area, decided on a major, and generally just got pumped about going to college. For an academically passive high schooler it doesn't get much better than that.</p>
<p>that's all you have to offer? how many CSU campuses have you attended, worked at, or even visited? where is your evidence?</p>
<p>i have worked for the CSU chancellor. while it is nice that you celebrate san diego state university--and i correctly place its sports teams and party life first in the system--its overall academic programs are coniderably weaker than "cal state pomona college" or whatever you choose to denignate one of the premiere universities in the system which has distinguished programs in engineering, architecture, agriculture, business, and arguably the top ranked program in hospitality management in the nation. only in business does SDSU excel among this list as was duly noted.</p>
<p>i suggest you check the carnegie commission's findings or even the far more popular USNWR data before you continue to smear cal poly pomona, which coincidentally is correctly called the california state polytechnic university and has been so named since 1966 when the southern campus divided from the northern one. the administration led by president warren baker and faculty at cal poly SLO most assuredly place their sister school in very high regard, and with some knowledge you might, too.</p>
<p>i welcome enlightened discourse about outstanding CSU features or programs and not hearsay opinions that hold little value.</p>
<p>ok it allllll depends on what you want to do. If you are more interested in math/science/business type stuff than 1) Cal Poly SLO 2) SDSU 3) CSU Chico. Chico is known for being a party school, but it's really no more of a party school than any other school, and a lot of it's alum are really successful. My uncle was an alum and now he is a partner in one of the biggest law firms in my city. I don't really know a lot about liberal arts types of schools, but I would assume San Jose and SDSU are your best bets.</p>
<p>It's tough to see how SDSU stacks up with the rest of the Cal States, since it is considered a national school by USNews. The others are considered regional. Here's how they ranked the regional CSU's:</p>
<p>However, San Diego is the second-most selective CSU. The avg. gpa is a 3.52 with an SAT of 1079. Pomona's is 3.3 and 1003. I just don't see a clear reason why Pomona would be better than SDSU. Any help? (SDSU is a 4th tier national school, by the way)</p>
<p>Well, I really think you must not know a whole lot about the csu system. I chose a csu over "big name" colleges, for example University of Southern California, because the college had a better program for what I wanted to do AND it wasn't going to take the rest of my life to pay for.</p>
<p>difficult to compare san diego with the rest of the system using USNWR criteria for reasons you state. the reason why is that the aztecs have enough doctoral programs to qualify as a national university and is the only one of 23 which does this. pls keep in mind that these programs are not SDSU conferred but rather joint programs with UCs per state guidelines. other campuses in the system, with SLO in the lead, have chosen to focus more on undergraduate education. so sorta an apple/orange comparison here.</p>
<p>i have enormous respect for this university. by character it is most like san jose state and then fresno state, ie, large urban universities with huge commuter bases. its legendary party reputation may detract from its perception of academic regard but it nevertheless is the best among this group.</p>
<p>great university for business, communications and the humanities. great for what it does just as the two polytechnics (which for 30 years were one school with two campuses) are great for what they do. it's just that the greatness is mostly in different areas, with business being a common demoninator and san diego the best of the best.</p>
<p>wrt business programs, SLO is a much smaller program than either san diego or pomona. san diego has some exciting programs such as a new MBA in sports management and is the largest college in the west. pomona has far more options available than SLO and is almost double its sister's size albeit with somewhat weaker students yet some exciting and different niche programs such as electronic business, entrepreneurship, real estate management, and entertainment business. SLO does not even have departments but rather areas; its curriculum is thinner than either of the other two but its faculty highly regarded and well published.</p>