Hi you guys! I don’t know if this has been asked yet, but I am going to ask it anyways.
How would you compare the Computer Science program at Cal Poly to that of the UC’s?
In my family, the prestige of the UC title means a lot. I personally do not care if it is a CSU or a UC school, however, I want to get a lot of good work experience during college and to receive a high end job as soon as I graduate. I also want to learn as much as possible in my college time. How would you guys rate the CS Program at Cal Poly? What UC CS programs are better than Cal Polys? Also, if any current CS students are out there I would really appreciate your honest feedback on how you like it there now. As of now Cal Poly is my top choice, however, I want to make sure it is the right choice. Also, I thought this was an interesting list:
Cal Poly. Without a doubt. I have friends at UCSD for Comp Sci and their freshman year and sophomore year is basic GE and a little intro to Comp Sci with one or two VERY basic labs thrown in their. My friend in CS at Cal Poly has taken 2 CS Labs, has learned Python, Java, and Game Design. Just look at the classes freshman take at Cal Poly and you will notice it aligns straight with industry requirements. Also, the Learn By Doing philosophy is something that actually happens and is really helpful for CS. I would recommend Cal Poly, and I am glad I turned UCSD down to come here!
I would never turn down UCLA and certainly not UCB for CP, I believe the opportunities are greater out of those schools, but they are not nearly as laid back as CP. For the other UCs, maybe CP would be better, but not in CS games and certain other disciplines. Everyone learns by doing in engineering/CS, CP sometimes comes off more like a “trade school” with that saying sometimes, and that is concerning. There is an intellectual and very theoretical part of engineering that is key to climbing it career wise as well and determines where you start and how fast you climb (in addition to all you bring to the tables as well).
They are all good options and are different. According to Wired magazine, Apple hired more grads from CP than they did from UCLA (Yahoo, more from UCLA). That’s certainly not to say CP is better, but to easily refute the notion that someone should always choose one school over the other. There are no absolutes. It should be assessed on a case by case basis by each individual.
As for the Learn By Doing, trade school flame, you won’t get any less theory at CP. Look at the curriculum maps. Take Vibrations for example. At most schools, it’s simply a math course. At Poly, they have something most other schools don’t have, a Vibrations lab. You get all the theory AND a lab, not the lab instead of the theory.
I would not use payscale data to pick a school. It is survey data where the person who wants to compare their salary is entering their own data to get at the info they want. So it is very easy to miss reporting for underpaid or unemployed, and of course for people who go to grad school who will not be counted while in grad school or after.
I would instead think of your salary relating to your grades, skills, interviewing chops, job hunting effort and I’d look at pay for the industry and what you will be aiming for as a job category.
I believe that the Cal Poly undergraduate CS program is competitive with any of the UC programs comparing what you study, faculty, industry reputation and recruiting. At Poly you will have more access to professors instead of grad student TAs. You can’t go wrong with a UC or Cal Poly-- figure out which school is a fit for you. Berkeley is the only program I believe, that has a clear “best” reputation with educators I have talked with and most in tech industry—however–as an undergrad would recommend you visit each campus. My son preferred the Cal Poly undergrad experience and SLO environment to that of Berkeley – they are very different and he chose on where he would be most comfortable for 4 years. However he will consider Berkeley for grad school down the road which is really the basis for its strong CS reputation.
I am a first year computer science major at Cal Poly and I absolutely love it. I started this school year knowing next to nothing and am insanely surprised and proud about how far I’ve come. I also have landed myself a full time, paid internship for this summer, and I am not the only first year to do so.
To sum it up:
Pro’s:
Smaller class sizes (HUGE PLUS)
Teachers know me personally
Students willing to help each other out
“Learn by doing” though you’ve heard that a million times, but really it’s wonderful
Tons of clubs
High job retention rate
Con’s:
The registration system
I chose Cal Poly over UCSD and UCSB. Was not admitted to UCLA or UCB. Eventually just came down to the idea that I want a job in 4 years and do a graduate program later down the road and I felt that Cal Poly would best prepare me for that.
@Sarah2116: can you elaborate on “knowing next to nothing”?
I want to do computer science/software engineering/software development but i know nothing about java, python or any other programming languages. how are the professors at cal poly helpful when it comes to teaching people like me?
also i got rejected from all UCs except UC santa cruz, i’m having the same question OP is asking. I’m not sure if i should go to UCSC or Cal poly
@andrewcove, don’t put your fate in the hands of random internet posters like us. Go see for yourself. This is a good resource for learning objective things, but really bad for all but the most straightforward “which is better” type questions. First, we don’t know anything about you in order to help determine fit. Second, we have biases. I’m clearly a CP fan at least for Engineering and CS. @blueskies2day is clearly not a fan. The thing is, you don’t know why. Many of the bashers have been or have kids who have been rejected by CP. Think they’ll give you a useful answer? Many of the fans are students or have kids at CP, me included. It might cloud our opinions.
Both schools are good. Go see and decide for yourself.
Here’s at least a tool that will help you learn more about Poly. It lets you look up any degree and year and see where the graduates got jobs, went to grad school and how much they are getting paid first year.
You have two great choices. I actually think CP is a good value and one of the best state schools, but no, my students were not a fan of the town as others are, are not sold by the “learn by doing motto” because I believe all schools actually do that, and I have real concerns about kids getting their classes. I had two accepted there, both in engineering (one EE, one CS), both chose to go elsewhere because of information we got from friends, people we know well and trust, with first hand information. Only taking 10 credits because they couldn’t get classes then having to take summer school every year to graduate on time is not the path we wanted. Double major or minoring important but not going to happen there. But you get what you pay for, so putting up with all that for the price may be worth it. We have decided for our priorities it is not, you need to decide what factors are important to you. I think UCI and CP are probably close in terms of program quality, I would go where you feel a good fit with the school and student body. Irvine is in the burbs but close to major metro centers, CP is a quiet seaside town. Go where you are happy. Try to tour engineering at UCI if you can, ironically you can’t do engineering tours for the next month (just general tour) at CP so talk to people you may know there. Is one more of a party school than the other? Probably. So check out that perspective and see what you like best. People that have kids at CP also don’t have perspectives from other schools so yes, all judgement is clouded regardless of what side someone is on. We all agree that you should go to both schools and see what fits YOU best. Good luck!
That thing with getting classes. My daughter is a freshman. Winter quarter she missed her registration deadline and ended up dead last in priority for signing up for classes. Went home for the break being on the waitlist for a single class and waiting for other classes to open up. By the time the quarter started she ended up with 20 units, all on her graduation path. For Spring she started with 18 units. 16 units is the average required to graduate in 4 years. She is more than 30% done with units required since CalPoly is good about giving her AP credit, well under way to graduate in 4 years, even while planning a semester abroad. It seems in most cases the school opens new classes and things work out for those willing to persist. Not really different from what you’d have to do in real life. I have a good friend with a daughter at Carnegie Mellon. She will have to take some summer classes in order to be able to minor in CS there. So things are not really different from that perspective pretty much anywhere you’d go. Yes, you keep hearing horror stories about signing up for classes at every college.
The one really good thing for Cal Poly is that she is taking one or two classes in her major every single quarter, starting with her Fall Freshman quarter. That is a lot harder to do at most research schools. But like others before stated, we are obviously all biased. Pick the school based on as much objective information you can gather and based on what best fits you.
No matter what you chose you can’t really go wrong. Pick one, be happy, never look back. Best of luck!