<p>I got acepted for both Cal Polys (Pomona and SLO) for architecure but I don’t know which one to pick. I like Cal Poly Pomona’s design-studio based program and the fact that the campus is close to LA arch studios. San Luis Obispo is a nice town, but architecturally there’s really nothing appealing and seems a tad bit isolated from a major metropolis. Is choosing Pomona over SLO madness like some suggest? Thanks.</p>
<p>1 in 5 architects in CA are from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.</p>
<p>Yes, Cal Poly SLO is isolated, but that makes it a great college town. TONS of recruiters from both so cal and nor cal come to recruit Cal Poly students. You’ll find a job better at San Luis Obispo waaaay more easier than Pomona. The only advantage Pomona might have would be a summer local internship perhaps?</p>
<p>In 2009, Cal Poly’s architecture program was rated as the No. 3 architecture school in the nation by the leading architecture and engineering journal DesignIntelligence.</p>
<p>Great program in a great college atmosphere. It’s a no brainer. The choice is yours, but I’d way rather go to Cal Poly SLO.</p>
<p>I hear that a fair amount of SLO’s architecture majors’ projects have been actual campus facilities. I do know that arch students designed the campus’ “Spider” building, and I think one of the apartment complexes on campus.</p>
<p>Then, of course, it’s true that SLO’s program is nationally known, as posted above.</p>
<p>1 of 5 archtects in CA are also from Cal Poly Pomona… Haha
I would go to Cal Poly SLO ( it was my first choice)… But ifCPP is more appealing to you, go there! No peer pressure haha. I’m going there as well but for a different major. Plus college is what you make of it. If you will learn better at CPP, attend this school instead of SLO.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response LSkaiWalk and mattrice92. I actually don’t care much about the atmosphere since I’m a book worm =D. It’s just that back in the UK I lived in the city of Manchester and I’m used to being surrounded by lots of people (there’s 2.5 million of us there) and I worry that’ll be more of shock to me (I’ve been living for the last 2 years in Sacramento so I have CA residence). Also, only 1.2% of students at SLO are international and I’m sort of scared that’ll feel lonely. My main concern is access to equipment, funding etc. I saw that both colleges get the same amount of funding, and both are ranked in DesignIntelligence and Planetizen. However, at SLO I’ll be paying $2,000 dollars more for tuition so I want to know why is that much more. (Yes! I’m poor) Thank you for your responses.</p>
<p>Cal poly SLO is worth the extra bucks definitely. Both Cal Poly’s are good at arch, but SLO is ranked in the top 5 in the nation consistently.</p>
<p>I’m just considering what I know about my major - Graphic Communications - which has a hell of a lot of equipment and facilities for student use, when I say that the extra two grand is probably for that sort of stuff. I can only imagine that Architecture is even more hands-on, which I’d say is totally worth the money if it means getting more experience behind already having the reputation of a degree from SLO.</p>
<p>Did you get accepted to Pomona early decision? Because I thought Pomona hadn’t sent out acceptances for Arch yet - at least as of a week or so ago when I called the admissions office.</p>
<p>I just got rejected today. 
Architecture major.</p>
<p>Poly Arch,</p>
<p>As I’ve stated in other replies to your threads, Pomona is better solely on the fact that it draws better design professionals. Good design architects cannot get any work in far out places like SLO, so their faculty is technically focused as opposed to design oriented as can be seen by your list of architects that have taught at Pomona. Most of the faculty at Pomona also teaches at Sci-Arch UCLA and USC and have much current work to show for. The faculty at SLO are mainly older white male professional educators as opposed to practicing architects at the forefront of design trends. In addition, the Pomona faculty is more published with Judith Sheine’s multiple books on Rudolph Schindler, and Michael Fox’s book on Interactive Architecture. Bottom line, talented architects cannot survive away from big cities and SLO has old historic architecture while LA has cool mid century modern and currently modern architecture. Pomona owning modern master Richard Neutra’s house is a huge plus!</p>
<p>^egmontus, do you anything else about Pomona’s architecture program, such as class size, what they emphasize on, etc? I got accepted there, but I dont know too much abotu their program. Thanks!</p>
<p>No, egmontus is just a Pomona slob advertising in the obvious better school’s forum.</p>
<p>einnob,</p>
<p>The Pomona program is centered around the design studio from day one. They start around 20 students the first year but dwindle down to the low teens by the 5th year. The first year studios are very artistic, multi-disciplinary and broad and meant to cleanse your mind of preconceived ideas about architecture. Second and third year studios more about learning the basics of building design. Forth and 5th year are topic studios in which you get to choose your focus. Topics include urban, sustainable, computer aided design, housing, transportation, adaptive re-use, just to name a few. A year long thesis project fills up the final fifth year. Aside from the studios, there are the typical architectural core courses such as structures, history, and construction and professional electives such as Asian and Latin American architecture history. </p>
<p>SLO and Pomona are different types of programs. Most people assume SLO is a better program because it’s in a better overall University. However, in architecture, SLO’s remoteness works against them as there aren’t many architects practicing in the area and the ones that are, are not at the forefront of design. I addition to their full time faculty, Pomona invites various other practicing architects from the LA area to teach their topic studios. Many of them are published and also teach at more expensive schools such as USC, UCLA, and SciArc (the boutique of architecture schools, which consequently was created by ex Pomona faculty members Thom Mayne and Ray kappe). Diversity of thought is very critical in an architecture school. Pomona also owns the house of one of the fathers of modern architecture, Richard Neutra, which they use as a real life lab in sustainable design and historic preservation. Architecture Dean, Judith Sheine, wrote numerous books on another moderism great, Rudolph Schindler and Michael Fox wrote a pretty cool book on Interactive Architecture. The list goes on, but the bottom line is that Pomona benefits from being in the hotbed of architecture, Los Angeles, with great architects past and present such as Netura, Schindler Frank Gehry and Morhposis. SLO is in a beautiful surrounding area with buildings by Julia Morgan (Hearst Castle).</p>
<p>To their credit, SLO is consistently highly ranked by the profession for producing workforce ready and technically proficient architects, but as a practicing architect, I can tell you that technical skills are mainly learned on the job in the first few years, but good design takes a lifetime to learn. If design is what you’d like to focus, Pomona is a better bet. If technical skills are your goal, maybe SLO is a better fit. If sustainable design and rankings are your thing, Pomona along with UT Austin and U of Oregon, are the top three in the nation.</p>
<p>[Architecture</a> Schools Guide 2009 - Education, Research - Architect Magazine](<a href=“http://www.architectmagazine.com/education/arch-ed-2009.aspx]Architecture”>http://www.architectmagazine.com/education/arch-ed-2009.aspx)</p>
<p>HI! I’m a junior in high school right now. so from last year, I’ve been wanting to attend CAL POLY SLO.
my grades aren’t that great, but I really want to be an architect. </p>
<p>I want to know if I have any chances at all, so please tell me your GPA and SAT scores.</p>
<p>Stats for Pomona,</p>
<p>21 percent acceptance
3.83 GPA
1,179/ 1600 SAT Math and Verbal (no writing)</p>
<p>[Cal</a> Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cal_Poly_Pomona_College_of_Environmental_Design]Cal”>Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>SLO has slightly higher stats, but it depends more on what you want to focus on. Pomona for design, SLO for technicality.</p>
<p>Is that a joke…? No need to even consider it, if you want a good education go to SLO.</p>
<p>I am very familiar with both schools and my son was accepted to both as well. I strongly suggest that you physically go to each school and speak to the professors and students directly. Then you can decide. We did exactly that and actually being there made all the difference in the world. My son chose SLO as he fit in there from day one. It is an amazing place. We also liked Pomona and had he not gotten into SLO it is possible that he would be there right now. We actually preferred Pomona to most of the UC’s we visited and he got into. It is crazy to make the decision without going to that actual campuses. Go on a tour or better yet, go to the Open Houses / Admitted Student’s Days.</p>