<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Besides the tuition difference, how do you compare these two schools for Computer Engineering? Thanks!!</p>
<p>We toured Santa Clara and I really liked it, though my son didn’t so he didn’t apply there. So I will leave the comparisons to others.</p>
<p>But I was very impressed with the school, it has an excellent location in Silicon Valley and a lot of big name tech companies recruit there (as with Cal Poly).</p>
<p>My son applied ED to Cal Poly and was accepted to Electrical Engineering. He applied EA to SCU and was waitlisted. He changed to Computer Engineering during his first year at Cal Poly.</p>
<p>Both are excellent schools. Take a look at the courses required for both and see how they compare. I’m guessing there will be more labs at Cal Poly than at SCU given Cal Poly’s emphasis on hands-on learning. What style of learning do you prefer?<br>
The best thing would be to tour both schools and talk to professors and current students.</p>
<p>vballmom,</p>
<p>We were told that it is extremely and almost impossible to change majors. This is a big concern for us since my son is not 100% sure about Computer Engineering.</p>
<p>What and how difficult were the process of changing majors? Thanks!!</p>
<p>I want to know more too, I got accepted to CPE and have not taken much CS classes. So can you be able to catch up??</p>
<p>Changing majors has become easier in the last couple of years at CP. They now have ICMA’s (independent change of major agreements) that are basically a contract between the student and the target major department. The ICMA lists a few courses that need to be taken with a minimum GPA over 1 or 2 quarters. If you meet the criteria, you are granted acceptance into the new major. My son changed his major twice, from College of Ag to the College of Engineering (Comp. Sci) and then to the College of Liberal Arts. He should still graduate in 4 years with his BA in Philosophy and a minor in Religious studies. As he got into his two previous majors, he realized those majors didn’t appeal to him, so he changed. Cal Poly recommends that students research what major they think they want, but even so, MANY end up changing their major at least once. The new ICMA procedure allows for accomplishing change of major quicker than in the past because the requirement to achieve minimum progress in your current major is waived while you are working on an ICMA. This change was implemented to help students graduate in 4 years, thus saving the state money.</p>
<p>SCU is a great engineering (and in general) school. Fabulous connections in Silicon Valley, virtually every judge and lawyer in the area went there (some exaggeration but you get the idea) and engineering is well connected to valley as well. What it may lack in engineering depth compared to CP they may make up in connections and smaller environment/more individual attention. Both schools are very different environments besides the obvious beach v. valley thing. I think both are actually pretty relaxed, but CP definitely has more of a community feel around campus and more spirit. SCU has basketball, but not much else that draws the crowds to gather. It’s not a commuter school, but it does seem very quiet there at times. Lots to do in SJ and Bay Area, but virtually everything to do means getting in a car, not much around campus except sandwich/food and coffee shops. It is a Jesuit and private and all that goes with that. Service to others themed and great customer service (cause you are paying for it). To me the choice between these two would be easy for any college bound student… they just need to spend a few hours at either campus and they would immediately recognize the differences and know what he or she likes better.</p>