<p>What could be more stressful than waiting to hear back from colleges?
Choosing which one to go to, that’s what. At least for me. </p>
<p>So I got into Syracuse, USC, Cal Poly SLO, and U of Oregon… all for architecture. Though I’d LOVE to go to 'Cuse or USC, it’s just not an option for me since the tuition at these school are hella expensive. </p>
<p>Basically, I’m choosing between CAL POLY SLO and OREGON. </p>
<p>Help me people!!! I’m in desperate need of help!!! If you so graciously decide to input your opinion on this matter, please keep the atmosphere of the college in mind as well as the academics. After all, I do want to have fun in college.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about Oregon, but people who go to CPSLO generally LOVE it there! the campus is in a beautiful area and the downtown is nice. The architecture porgarm has a great reputation. Congrats on getting in! CPSLO is a place where students work very hard, but also have a good time it seems. The weather is great too!</p>
<p>so I’m not too sure about the Architecture major, or anything (i’m going into engineering, though) I have heard that Cal Poly is really, really good… One thing to consider is where you are going to be. I’m from the Pacific Northwest, which sort of encompasses Eugene, Oregon… Though I’m from Washington, the weather can tend to be the same, which is rain (for fall-spring) and snow in the winter… And though it doesn’t rain in Eugene nearly as much as Seattle (where I’m from) it is still something that happens a lot more than in Cali… So that might be something that you want to think about when making your decision… And just like momofmv said, everyone loves it at Cal Poly, but I’ve had plenty of friends go to UO and love it there… one of the biggest questions for me was, where would I be happier?</p>
<p>Very true about “where would I be happier?”</p>
<p>I’m a pretty chill person, but I do like to go out and party once in a while… but nothing like the crazy-party-every-weekend type of girl. I’ve lived in the tropics for pretty much my whole life so I’m used to warm weather. That said, snow/cold weather could be a welcoming change. </p>
<p>Cal Poly SLO is ranked 3rd best for undergrad architecture in the nation… but beyond that, I don’t really know much about the school. Oregon is ranked 7th best, and according to friends who are going to go there, it has a beautiful campus and a friendly student body.</p>
<p>Have you visited both campuses? Your best bet would be to tour the campuses and talk to students. I know there is not much time left, but I would take the time to do it if you can. My family toured the Cal Poly campus last week and my son loved the atmosphere and the vibe. The town was great, Pismo beach, and most of all, the students loved it there. Our tour guide did mention a few times that the architecture majors work really hard–and he was a bioengineering guy! My son is 99% sold on Cal Poly but we are going to Open House so he can spend more time with the EE faculty and students to get even a better perspective on what he could expect as an EE major at Cal Poly. Good luck to you. It is not easy. There are always pros and cons to every school!</p>
<p>CalMom05, I live overseas (literally halfway across the globe from America), and unfortunately, I don’t have time/money to visit the schools myself beforehand. </p>
<p>Thanks for your advice/insight though!! Right now, I’m trying to get the best information on these schools as I can by facebooking alum/friends. Oregon’s website has great videos which gives me a lot of insight on the school. No one is going/is currently attending Cal Poly SLO from my school, which is making it very hard for me to see what the school is like. </p>
<p>And so, I’d appreciate more info on cal poly SLO. </p>
<p>So far, I’ve heard good things about both of the schools. Keep the suggestions coming! They really are helping me to finalize my decision. Thanks!</p>
<p>Since you live out of country, maybe Oregon would be better location wise, its in a much larger city and around larger cities too, there would be more things to do if you decide to not go home over the breaks and such. Both Cal POly and UofO architectures’ programs are both highly regarded. I talked to an architecture major student about rankings, and he said that the college simply being in the top ten on Design Intelligence is all that really matters, because each arch program has its strengths and focuses.</p>
<p>My daughter was in the same boat as you last year, and she chose Cal Poly. It has been a perfect fit for her, and the arch program there is first-rate with lots of hands-on projects right from the start. Oh, and the weather is superb! :)</p>
<p>Then Oregon is the school for you, they compete in the Pac10 and their athletic facilities are first-rate. Thanks to their most famous alum, Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike.</p>
<p>As an former international student myself I think either town will be a huge cultural-shock. I’d actually recommend a place where you find people from your own cultural background. Believe me, it’s a lot harder to adapt than you think (but it’s a cool learning experience nonetheless!). Good luck!</p>
<p>Sure thing CalPolyEngineer … errr PolyArch. Thousands of American students of various ethnicities study abroad every year. The “culture shock” doesn’t appear to be a hindrance considering the rising number of students who participate. Leaving your comfort zone and experiencing new things isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but rather a large part of college is about. </p>
<p>einnob: At school, we were always able to spot who the NorCal kids were as soon as “hella” slipped out of their mouths lol.</p>
<p>^ 08alum i don’t think PolyArch was saying it was a hindering experience. typically students that study abroad go with a large group of other american students/leaders who study abroad with them anyways… it is important to have a little support and people that you can relate to so you aren’t isolated and feel uncomfortable…</p>
<p>unfortunately cal poly is not diverse at all… university of oregon isn’t either. And since there is a lack of diversity it probably will be difficult to relate to a lot of the people on campus, which will be tough, but like 08alum said it can b beneficial, help you grow/learn, etc.</p>
<p>but anyway…if you don’t know already, U of O is a very liberal campus, especially when comparing it to Cal Poly. They say Cal Poly is about 50% liberal 50% conservative, but to be honest it is majority conservative. San Luis Obispo in general is a very conservative city and county. I go to Cal Poly, my sister attends University of Oregon. so what i say about Uof O is just hearsay, but it’s generally perceived as a “liberally” school. The gen. student population of U of O might be considered more tolerant then Cal Poly…</p>
<p>I know that a lot of kids who graduated from my school last year, have experienced “reverse-culture shock”, even though we go to an American school/are Amreican citizens. I guess its because we’re so used to the “international” atmosphere.</p>
<p>Luckily, I know a few people going to Oregon from my grade. For Cal Poly… I know one guy from another international school. So I’ll have at least one person I know regardless of which school I go to. </p>
<p>So adapting’s harder than I thought, huh? I haven’t lived in America since 3rd grade. </p>
<p>Oh yeah, despite being an “international student”, I’d say I’m pretty Americanized. I’ve been going to an American school in Asia these past 10 years, and before that, I used to live in the states. Do you think that that’ll make a difference?</p>
</p>