Cal Poly SLO vs. UC Irvine? I need serious help!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Got into both Cal Poly SLO (from waitlist) and UC Irvine (from appeal). My major for Cal Poly is English, and my major for Irvine is Literary Journalism. I'm aiming for a job in the field of Journalism/English/Political Science.</p>

<p>CAL POLY PROS- good school for a CSU, "Learn By Doing" motto, small class size for School of Humanities (more attention from professors, not just a number or face in the crowd), cheaper, closer to home</p>

<p>CAL POLY CONS- it's still a CSU (quality of education in question), hard-hitting budget cuts, technically-geared school (no place for liberal arts?), possibly overrated?</p>

<p>It's known to be hard to switch majors at Cal Poly, but if your majors are in the same school like in my situation (English/Poly Sci, I'll either switch or double major) I heard it's not much of a challenge as, let's say, going from Animal Science to Child Development or something. Plus, taking English and/or Poly Sci, in my opinion, stands much stronger than taking Journalism on its own, right? </p>

<p>UC IRVINE PROS- ranked top four UC (all-around academically strong), stellar Humanities program, unique Literary Journalism major</p>

<p>UC IRVINE CONS- large class sizes (definitely another face in the crowd), expensive, farther away from home, not as hard-hitting budget cuts?</p>

<p>I mean, I could switch majors here, but I appealed specifically for Literary Journalism because it's a unique major. Switching would not bode well, I feel. I could double major? AND I just got in today (mid-May), do I get the ****ty leftovers of everything? Like housing and such?</p>

<ol>
<li>Yes, I understand UC is better than CSU</li>
<li>Yes, I understand Cal Poly SLO is geared towards technical majors</li>
<li>Yes, I understand I can take out a loan, scholarships, yadda yadda</li>
</ol>

<p>But I'm concerned about what happens when I walk into my first class, or lecture, or whatever it might be. I want to feel like I'm getting my money's worth. I want to feel like going to this school or that school was a good choice because I'm getting the best that I could get. Right now, I'm leaning towards Cal Poly because of the small class size and the fact that it's cheaper. </p>

<p>In the end, I just want to learn and feel good about myself; where I am, who I am (Mustang or Anteater?), and what I'm going to do with my life.</p>

<p>Corny, but we all have thought it at some point.</p>

<p>I want a good, solid, supported (by fact) answer. Please and thank you! Help a sister out!</p>

2

<p>Judging by the way you wrote this post it is obvious that you respect and prefer UCI. I strongly recommend that you go there.</p>

<p>Cal Poly is a very special place. However, I think that you would be wasting your time there.</p>

3

<p>I might be in the minority on this subject but I imagine that the career paths that would be served by your major selections would place less value on where you got your degree(s) than with what the degree(s) entailed.</p>

<p>If you were indeed attending Cal Poly for Aerospace Engineering, it would matter that they were Highly ranked in that area but the professions served by your degrees of choice sound like they would be well served by a LAC.</p>

<p>Not to put either down - in fact, our son will be attending a school known for their literary education. IF my assumption is accurate, I would focus on your personal fit. Community, atmosphere, class size, etc. </p>

<p>SLO is an amazing community VS Irvine…</p>

<p>Note: Cal Poly has a highly white student population. UC Irvine has a high amount of local & international Asian students. Both communities are very accepting so no worries there but Ivine is in a very wealthy area that tends to ‘roll up the carpets’ at around 9pm…a pretty quiet school socially as I understand it…</p>

<p>good luck and enjoy!</p>

4

<p>GO AND VISIT!!!</p>

<p>Even if you’ve been there before. Go back on a weekday, on a weekend, spend the day, stay the evening, get a feel for each place. Seek out the professors you’d be working with and ask them what they think about your two choices. (Sure, why not???) I don’t know how quickly you have to decide, but if you can do this without tanking your finals, I think it would be the best thing you can do.</p>

<p>You might find out that the best professor in your field is at SLO . . . and you don’t get along with him at all! Or there might be a new instructor at Irvine who’s the greatest person you’ve ever met. No way to know this without going and checking the schools out yourself.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>