<p>idk why everyone in my area is making a big deal about the school</p>
<p>in my opinion it seems severely overrated in the sense that everyone else considers it "underrated"</p>
<p>is it even that good of a school (no bias here)?</p>
<p>also, question 2: is it actually better then UCSD? (lets assume science/engineering major - money not being an issue btw)</p>
<p>Cal Poly SLO really is that good of a school. My kid enrolled as a freshman in the fall of 2011. He chose Cal Poly over the engineering programs at UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UCI (Honors), Cal Poly Pomona (Honors) and other schools.</p>
<p>We are 100% satisfied and my kid loves the school. Here is the difference: (a) You immediately get involved in your major from the first week of the first quarter of your freshman year. (b) You will be immediately involved in lab learning in a hands on environment for almost every class. Even the English class required getting involved in town and interviewing people. (c) You will be welcomed into the clubs and put to immediate use in team competitions. My kid flies to Houston this week for a national competition put on by Shell Oil for supermileage prototype vehicles. Cal Poly consistently medals in these events and sometimes they sweep all categories such as in this example – [Cal</a> Poly Engineering Sweeps AIAA Student Aircraft Design Competition](<a href=“http://www.calpolynews.calpoly.edu/news_releases/2011/September/aircraft.html]Cal”>http://www.calpolynews.calpoly.edu/news_releases/2011/September/aircraft.html) </p>
<p>Believe me. If Cal Poly did not step up and deliver on its promises, I’d be screaming bloody murder. My kid graduated at the top of his class and had the stats to be considered for any public or private school he wanted. In reality, he actually got into pretty much everywhere he applied. However, Cal Poly was the only school that offered a true hands on learning experience. The students there are smart. They have strong work ethic. There is very little if any sense of entitlement (my kid despises intellectual elitism). They get really good jobs after school and internships and co-ops while attending school. You will be expected to pull your weight and work hard. Nothing will be handed to you on a silver platter. But if you are a self-starter and fit into the culture, I think it is the best engineering program in CA. So far we are completely satisfied and feel that SLO actually underpromised and is overdelivering everyday. Yup, the school really is “all that” much to our surprise.</p>
<p>However, if you are a big city person. If pristine natural surroundings do nothing for you. If you are a bit spoiled and expect to be waited on hand and foot. Or if you have an inclination towards intellectual elitism. This is NOT the school for you. This school requires you to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. It is also an agriculture school. So, if the sight, sounds and smell of horses, farm animals and vineyards around school bother you, this is NOT your school. My kid came home with his hands all beat up from working in the machine shop after his first quarter. He was really proud of it and pursued that kind of experience. </p>
<p>UCSD was our second choice. It is an excellent school – no doubt. However, it still did not deliver the hands on experience my kid was looking for.</p>
<p>he picked slo over ucla?</p>
<p>what a ■■■■■ u are good sir</p>
<p>I know a girl who picked SLO over UCLA for mechanical engineering. She was deferred and eventually rejected at MIT and Caltech but accepted to UCB, UCLA, and Harvey Mudd. Mudd was way too expensive, and she felt that the education and job prospects were better at SLO. She absolutely loves it. In fact, coming from a Bay area public school I know lots of kids at SLO and not one is unhappy with it.</p>
<p>i only understand slo over ucla if it is a money problem</p>
<p>sorry but if thats not it then it sounds like a fail to me</p>
<p>She didn’t go to slo because of money. </p>
<p>It’s not a “fail.” SLO is more hands on, and the engineering program and job placement are better in many ways.</p>
<p>Well, you first have to decide what route in life you want to take. The UCs are focused on sending their grads to Graduate School and teaching essentially all theory to their students. Cal Poly is focused on teaching its students hands-on material that will be applicable to the job force (excellent for engineer and other practical majors) In addition, class sizes are HUGE at UCs in comparison to Cal Poly and you will rarely get into personal contact with the professor at all as most are off doing research and having the TAs do a majority if not all of the teaching to undergrads. At Cal Poly, the professor will know your name and will be more accessible to his or her students. Plus, employers have a definite bias towards CP grads since they are ready to go from day 1. Personally, I feel the UCs are overrated for the aforementioned reasons. BTW, I’m choosing CP engineering over UCSD, USC, and others.</p>