<p>I will be applying to colleges this fall and my top choice is Cal Poly but I have also been thinking about Texas A&M. Which school is more prestigious and viewed more highly by potential employers? I plan on majoring in civil engineering.
Which school has better student life? (dorms, campus, sports, etc)
Also, I would be going out of state to both so Cal Poly would actually be slightly cheaper.
I will also be posting this on the TAMU thread.</p>
<p>Cal Poly is probably better…although I dont know squat about Texas A&M. You could try applying to UT Austin too, which I believe is the best school in Texas(ranked higher than Texas A&M) Not sure if UT Austin would be cheaper but it’s a big school :P</p>
<p>I’m a grad from Texas A & M Engineering (Computer Science) who now lives in CA and has 2 kids at Cal Poly. Both are great schools for Engineering! Cal Poly is probably more highly regarded in CA, but when I was growiing up in Texas, I hardly ever heard of Cal Poly. A&M is VERY highly regarded in Texas, and I assume nationally it is better known than Cal Poly partly because of it’s huge size and Div I athletics. Texas (in general) is much more conservative that California, and Texas A&M in particular with it’s military corps and influence is more conservative than most Texas universities. Guys still open the door for girls there, or give up their seat on a crowded bus. There are many Christians, and the people are generally very nice and friendly, and I would say that most are not pushy about their religious/political views. There is a strong “Aggie Spirit” on campus and the school is rich in (sometimes strange) traditions. There is a HUGE network of Aggie alums everywhere, but especially in Texas. This makes finding a job in Texas much easier, as Aggies like to hire Aggies and there are so many of them. The cost of living in Texas is WAY lower than California, but the weather is frequently hot and humid and not as nice as on the California coast (and Texas beaches my soon be covered in oil).The State of Texas is in MUCH BETTER fiscal shape that the State of California, so it is much less likely to have issues such as furloughs and cutting back enrollment. The students at Cal Poly generally seem happy and friendly, and in the Engineering Departments, they work very hard. The “learn by doing” philosopy at CP makes for many extensive projects in Engineering that make Cal Poly grads exceptionally capable when they enter the workforce.</p>
<p>Texas A & M is much larger and more sports oriented than Cal Poly. The stats for admitted Freshen at both schools are almost identical, so they attract a similar caliber of students. You can’t go wrong with either school. Hope some of this helps you decide!</p>