***cal poly slo early decision thread 2015-2016***

@zdutta123 yeah, it is definitely more lenient. However, I do have friends who did not get into Poly with ED (mechanical) and he had a 3.7gpa. I also have a friend who did not get in with a 4.5gpa regular decision. Long story short, it’s a crap shoot, but admissions is definitely more lenient with ED and you have a higher chance of acceptance. If you don’t get in ED, you will be moved to RD and then have another shot at the remaining spots. Your ACT scores are stronger than mine, and you took a few more AP courses than I did. I do believe you have a pretty decent shot at admittance. Good luck!

Would anyone happen to know an MCA range for business?

@JVZ122 what was your MCA score?

I hope these admissions do not take a SLO amount of time. Haha get it?

I will gladly calculate it tomorrow (12/8) after my 7am final! I don’t know what it is off the bat, because I never calculated it (nor know how, but im sure a quick google search will clear that up) haha. @humanacidtrip

@JVZ122, it is not a crap shoot. Once you understand the MCA score it’s pretty clear how a high GPA can get rejected. Poly uses multiple criteria including test scores, rigor based on a formula and ECs. GPA is capped at 4.2, so a 4.5 (which isn’t possible as a Cal Poly calculated GPA) is no better than a 4.2. So, long story short, it’s actually totally objective. There’s no “crap shoot” what so ever.

@waterbearer Poly does not publish MCA ranges as far as I know for each major. I have a son who got into Business ED a few years ago with an MCA of 4350 he is In State not sure if that is low or high end of range for that major. What is your MCA score?

I’m wondering if I calculated my son’s MCA correctly.

Here is his info:

Applied ED
Major: Aerospace Engineering
GPA: Cal Poly GPA 4.36
ACT: 30
EC: 1-5 hours per week
Work 6-10 hours per week

I think his MCA is 4263 which I’m afraid is not high enough. He only had 3 years of math (Geometry, Accelerated Algebra 2/Pre-Calc, Intro to Calc (at the HS)/Pre-Calc (at the comm college), 4 years of lab science, 4 years of English, 3 years of foreign language, 2 years of visual arts). He’s also in AP Stats but from what I’ve read, that doesn’t count as a higher level math.

He’s had 10 honors/AP classes. I go from feeling hopeful to not hopeful. Any input? Do you think I calculated his MCA correctly?

Thanks.

@ConnieMM I get a similar number using your posted stats. His math work is a little confusing. Did he take Algebra in middle school? If so, did you include that on his application? What were his math classes his junior year (half at HS, half at CC)? That MCA is on the low side for AE, but early decision will likely increase his chances. Good Luck!

Thank you @ocgolfdad . He took Algebra 1 in middle school, geometry in 9th, Accelerated Algebra 2/Pre-Calc in 10th, in 11th he took Intro to Calc Honors at the HS first semester and the second semester he took Pre-Calc/Trig at the CC. I think he indicated on his app that he had taken Alg 1 in middle school but I don’t see it on the application we saved.

@ConnieMM Hopefully you included the Algebra 1 class on his app. I’m pretty sure that 1 semester of CC work = 2 semesters of HS work, so that will help his math rigor. Where else did he apply?

He also applied to UC Davis, UCI, UCSD, SJSU and SDSU.

@ConnieMM, his mathematics path is pretty atypical. I’m not sure what credit he’ll get as his CC course was basically a repeat of his 10th grade class (pre-calc is pre-calc no matter where you take it and I don’t think he’ll ultimately get double credit for the same course). It looks like he was all set up to have two years of Calculus by graduation, but somehow ended up with a single semester and a repeat of pre-calc. How did he decide on that path?

@eyemgh, he had a terrible teacher in first semester last year which made him have to take his next semester at CC. I’m afraid we got bad advice on which class he should take at the CC. This year just didn’t work out unfortunately for taking the next level. The mishap with the math really messed up his plans, unfortunately. I hope it doesn’t end up hurting him. I guess we’ll know in a few days.

I Talked to admissions about the 8th grade algebra issue (if it was NOT entered on the app) - and they said, it
is not a problem. They can see by the upper level course work that it was taken … ie, Algebra is a pre-req for Alg. II so you will get credit for it , even if it was not included on your application.

@ConnieMM, I was under the impression that anything above Algebra 2 meets Cal Poly’s “desired semesters” for the math bonus points - which, if true, should include pre-cal and AP stats for your son - maybe you can call and confirm? There seems to be some confusion on the Math criteria with regard to what satisfies the Math component, maybe it has changed over the last year or two. If you are able to confirm any info on this one way or another, please post so others know.

@ConnieMM, Cal Poly has such a unique admissions system that it might hurt him there, but hopefully not anywhere else. Hopefully he gets in, but if he doesn’t, it isn’t the end of the world. Survey after survey shows that 80% of university graduates are happy with their undergraduate institution, regardless of where it fell in their original hierarchy, even if it was last. I’m a big CP fan, but the take hope message is this, it’s more about how he makes use of his time than it is about the name of his school. Good luck.

I posted mine before but i accidentally put the wrong ACT score, and I also just received my new scores and cal Poly just inputted them.

Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Administration
ACT English: 29 Math: 25
3.74
8 semesters of math (4 of those are at a cc)
8 semesters of lab science
10 semesters of English
6 semesters of Foreign Language
4 semesters of Visual Performing Arts (all at cc)
16-20 EC
Leadership yes
6-10 work hours
Work was Major Related yes

High School in Cal Poly Service Area (500) Yes

I calculated my MCA score to be 4,591

Can anyone chance me?

@sportsgirl820, did you include the 500 points in your calculated MCA total? The reason I ask is that they don’t include the non-academic points until the RD round. Even so, you might get in to that major ED, but if you don’t, don’t despair because your RD MCA will be stronger. Good luck!

how do you calculate mca score