<p>D was accepted to Cal Poly and UCI Business major.</p>
<p>Anyone in the same boat and what is your decision?</p>
<p>Would like to hear the experience from current Cal Poly Business students.</p>
<p>i would like to know as well,
i was rejected from UCI but accepted to cal poly…
and was wondering if i should go to cal poly OR go to community college and transfer to UCI :/</p>
<p>That depends on what you are looking for in a biz school and university? And what is your concentration? </p>
<p>Cal Poly is very different from UCI in its style and culture, and admittedly, some students will love it or hate it. For instance, CP is a residential campus, UCI is a commuter campus. UCI is in a city, CP is in a town. UCI has a lot of diversity in its student body, CP is comparatively mono-ethnic.</p>
<p>Which concentration in CP is good?</p>
<p>I heard accounting and finance are popular.</p>
<p>Any students in entrepreneurship can share your esperience?</p>
<p>i am not quite sure yet, but i’m leaning toward international business</p>
<p>commuting to UCI wouldn’t be a problem for me cuz i live pretty close to it 
i will definitely have to check out CP’s campus during spring break. jw, what is the major ethnic group in CP?</p>
<p>def. white</p>
<p>The two schools are almost equally mono-ethnic. Cal Poly has more whites at 64%; UCI has more Asians at 52%.</p>
<p>See the real stats on page three of the link below for Cal Poly:
<a href=“http://www.ipa.calpoly.edu/publications_reports/polyview/pv10.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ipa.calpoly.edu/publications_reports/polyview/pv10.pdf</a></p>
<p>Here are the stats for UCI:
<a href=“http://www.oir.uci.edu/portrait/uci-college-portrait.pdf[/url]”>http://www.oir.uci.edu/portrait/uci-college-portrait.pdf</a></p>
<p>Our family is Multi-Racial at 3.6% for Cal Poly and not even tracked at UCI. What matters most is teaching style and jobs. We chose Cal Poly.</p>
<p>@OsakaDad</p>
<p>What is the teaching style and jobs you think CP is better than UCI?</p>
<p>^^Learn By Doing</p>
<p>It’s the CP’s motto. That’s what makes employers favorable for CP graduates. During the 4-5 years at CP, graduates have received extensive in field experience in their respective majors.</p>
<p>Cal Poly’s approach to its teaching is very hands-on. The description I have seen on CC explaining this approach is putting theory into action. So most of the lecture classes in school have some sort of “lab” attached where students can actually put their classroom learning into practice. </p>
<p>I know recently Cal Poly accounting students are preparing taxes for free for SLO low income families for the upcoming tax season. Another example I also know is there is a stock trading facility on campus to teach finance students investment management in real life. There are also numerous professional clubs for various business concentrations to network, do company visits, help members to secure co-ops and internships, and to provide hands-on professional trainings for its members.</p>
<p>All of the teaching in CP is done by professors, not TAs. CP faculty is a teaching faculty first and foremost. The academic standards are rigorous, CP has no mercy when it comes to weeding out the bad or lazy apples in its student body. Every year, numerous students from all majors are asked to leave either temporarily or permanently. </p>
<p>Cal Poly, unlike UCI, is located in central coast near a small city. The school’s culture centers very heavily around nature and the outdoors. There are lots of rolling hills and mountains surrounding the campus, and 2 really nice beaches within 15 minutes drive of school. The weather is near perfect in SLO almost year round so it really reinforce the outdoor lifestyle. It is also a very close knit student body because almost EVERYONE lives on or near school because most students are not from SLO area. Virtually no one commutes. This obviously contrast heavily to UCI’s commuting culture. In essence, Cal Poly’s culture is the quintessential college town experience that most people think about when they picture college (not the insane drug sex party version, but more mellow and studious version). </p>
<p>I think partly because everyone is “stuck” in SLO there is a lot of school pride and spirit from that bonding. You will see people wearing Cal Poly’s clothing everywhere around school and town. </p>
<p>But precisely because of Cal Poly’s location and culture, not everyone will like it. It does require a specific personality disposition to fit into SLO. Most of the students LOVE Cal Poly and SLO and never want to leave, but there are some that hate it with a vengeance. So buyers beware! </p>
<p>I almost forgot, Cal Poly is unusual for a high ranked CA public university in that it is very white. But the students get along well regardless of race.</p>
<p>I dont mean to steal your thread, but i dont want to make another comparisons thread. </p>
<p>im down to SLO business administration, and UCSB economics and accounting. it sounds like both programs are strong. im really torn between them :/</p>
<p>@fermium</p>
<p>Thanks for the detail sharing.</p>
<p>Do you know the 4 years graduation rate of CP Business students?</p>
<p>@Keepchow and fermium</p>
<p>Wow! What a great post. I am going to have my son read it. Excellent info from an insider. My kid got into engineering at UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, Cal Poly Pomona - Honors and UCI - Honors as well. Cal Poly SLO fits like a glove.</p>
<p>I keep hearing that Cal Poly is “very white”. Coming from a mixed race family my attitude is who cares? Whoever wants to fit in at Cal Poly will. You will be welcome regardless of race. Cal Poly only accepts those who earn the spot.</p>
<p>My kid loves camping, hiking and hits the rock climbing gym at every opportunity. He can’t wait to be part of the outdoor culture at Cal Poly. He is looking into auditioning for the Jazz Band too.</p>
<p>@ Keepchow</p>
<p>Cal Poly tires to get everyone out in 4 years. However for many students it takes 5. This is far better than many UC’s and certainly better than some Cal States. Cal State Long Beach which is in our neighborhood and a great school is more like 6 to 7 years. Craziness. At Cal Poly you can do the 4+1 and get both your undergrad and grad degree together. Don’t know the actual statistic. But you can find it on the school web site. One of the things that I love about Cal Poly is that the web site is incredible with a wealth of great information. Literally every question that I wanted answered is on there. Excellent depth and better than many other schools including UC’s.</p>
<p>Here’s info on “how to graduate on time” from SLO business school.
[Graduate</a> on Time Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.cob.calpoly.edu/advising/graduating-on-time/]Graduate”>http://www.cob.calpoly.edu/advising/graduating-on-time/)</p>
<p>180 units means 15 units/quarter will get you out in 4 years. Of course, you have to be able to get the classes. In my son’s experience (not business) they usually they have enough core sections for majors, and its a matter of getting the GE’s. He’s found if he’s open to a few options, he’s had no problem staying on track. Plus the way Cal Poly rotates registration, everyone gets an early pick once a year, and you have 2 or 3 “Priority” registration cards that you can use to jump to the front of the line if you have a late reg date and a “must have” class.</p>
<p>Not sure why people would think they got “stuck” at SLO? Like OsakaDad, my D was accepted to UCLA, UCSD, Purdue and other great schools, but it looks like she will be choosing SLO for aerospace engineering. Their business school is also highly ranked. (BTW OsakaDad, my son’s roommate is in the jazz band, and its really awesome - plus they get paid for lots of their gigs)</p>
<p>Hi, I’m a 2nd year accounting concentration at OCOB. I’d say that accounting and finance are both very popular, since they’re more technical and more kids have jobs at graduation. Information systems is also getting more popular. I’d be wary of entrepreneurship, they’re trying to phase it out and make it a subdepartment of the management concentration.</p>
<p>What fermium said is true. Our classes are relatively small, especially compared to the UC campus. Math and stats class are commonly 30-35 students or less, while my business core classes tend to be around 48. We have some big lecture hall classes, like business law and the econ core classes, but the biggest classes are still 230. Classes are taught by profs and not TAs, and the professors are very hands on. </p>
<p>As far as job opportunities go, Cal Poly puts on great career fairs and recruiters love Cal Poly students. ([Job</a> Recruiter Comments on Top Colleges for Hiring - WSJ.com](<a href=“Job Recruiter Comments on Top Colleges for Hiring - WSJ”>Job Recruiter Comments on Top Colleges for Hiring - WSJ)) I know a lot of kids who are getting jobs, and as a sophomore, I’ve already begun the recruiting process.</p>
<p>Graduating in 4 years is totally doable. You don’t even have to take 4 classes every single quarter, and I know kids with minors that are graduating on time.</p>
<p>SLO is a gorgeous town, and my only complaint about Poly is the lack of diversity. OCOB is great. If you have any questions about my experiences, I’d be happy to answer. :)</p>
<p>FYI: <a href=“http://studentlife.calpoly.edu/orientation/openhouse/[/url]”>http://studentlife.calpoly.edu/orientation/openhouse/</a></p>
<p>Each individual college has its own mini Open House the day before actually Open House. OCOB will have the student ambassadors and faculty from each concentration there, and the business clubs will be there as well.</p>
<p>To everyone sharing your insight, I am impressed how much I can learn from 1st hand experience. Thanks. </p>
<p>We went to CP last week, we really enjoyed the tour and seems most of the students are happy and helpful. D will go to Discover UCI in April and make a decision afterwards. </p>
<p>She is interested in International Business and entrepreneurship. Life is full of excitement and I am sure no matter where she goes, she will have a wonderful experience of lifetime.</p>
<p>^ you can check both school’s curriculum on its business websites. I don’t think UCI offers International Business and entrepreneuship if that’s what you daughter is interested. SLO’s program is more broad and has more option. UCI only offers accounting and management so far, I believe.</p>
<p>Just check, UCI also has marketing</p>
<p>@LaLew5</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip on Jazz Band. Had no idea they got paid! My son’s plays both wind instruments and lower brass. His school band recently won first place in their division at a Jazz clinic at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo.</p>
<p>Getting back to the topic, Keepchow, consider lifestyle very seriously in your choice. If you don’t develop school pride like fermium states above, it could get lonely at SLO. My kid has always been pretty enthusiastic with school pride. It has more to do with his buddies than the actual school itself. However, I see him really getting into the culture and being one of those that really love the school. He is already looking into groups that he will fit into and that is a very positive sign.</p>