<p>So I was just recently accepted to both Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly SLO for civil engineering. I actually had my heart set on CPP since I didn't expect to get into CPSLO, but amazingly I just happened to get my acceptance yesterday, so now I'm kind of in a bind. I have also visited both schools, and kind of liked CPP's campus a bit more. (I am also quite hesitant about SLO, considering I've grown up in the suburbs my entire life, and the thought of being isolated sometimes worries me). Here are both my pro's and con's for each school:</p>
<p>CPSLO: </p>
<p>Pros:
More "prestigious and regarded" engineering program
Cleaner area and closer to beach
Has a college town community feel</p>
<p>Cons:
I would be considered a below average student in the college, since my GPA and ACT score was below average
Not able to be in an Honors College
Isolated location (worried about this for internships. I'm also from Texas, so it would be a huge hassle to have family visit, as well as to visit family, which would be quite frequent)
Tuition would be more </p>
<p>CPP: </p>
<p>Pros:
I would most likely get accepted into Kellogg Honors Program
Has a larger presence of civil engineers, since it is one of the largest majors on campus
A lot more things to do in the area, being close to LA and such.
Tuition is a bit cheaper than SLO
Would be able to stay locally for internships
Loved the campus and buildings.
Would be so much easier for me to fly back to Texas, as well as having family visit. </p>
<p>Cons:
Considered to be a commuter school
Not much of a sports scene
Not as "prestigious" and is sometime looked down upon compared to SLO
Weather is not as great</p>
<p>So these are just the pro's and con's that I was able to come up with personally, I guess I just need some more help comparing the two schools and the opportunities that both are able to offer. Also my goal after graduation is to get a job in the LA/OC area, so that's why I would like to lean towards CPP, but I'm also attracted to SLO for the prestige. Thanks! </p>
<p>It had been my understanding that CPP is the better of the two schools for civil engineering. I know SLO is better known in general, but this may be partly because of the more desirable geography. Also, CPP is more of a tech school while SLO is known for a wider range of majors. I suspect that there is not greater prestige for SLO among civil engineers, though I am not in that field and would defer to someone presently employed as a civil engineer.</p>
<p>Both are great schools and you deserve congratulations. </p>
<p>Yes, CPP is considered to be a commuter school but students from outside a certain geographic area must live on campus. I have heard they are trying to get more campus spirit going.</p>
<p>Honestly, in your shoes I’d pick Pomona, for all the great reasons you listed.</p>
<p>As a CPP Alumni, the choice is very difficult and I am slightly biased towards CPP.
SLO is the most expensive Cal State but more prestigious in terms of ranking.
My husband works for a heavy civil company and they hire from both CPP and SLO. Recruiters will come to both campuses.
Small town versus Suburbs. At CPP you are 1 hour from the beaches but also 1 hour from the mountains. You have several large cities within 30-1 hour driving distance. SLO: love the small town feel but you are isolated.
Easy access to fly home or have family visit. At CPP you have Ontario airport 20 mins. away while at SLO you would need to go down to Santa Barbara for the closest airport. <em>Note my older son picked UCD over SLO since he could fly out of Sacramento to Ontario and be home within 1 hour.</em> We live near the Pomona area.
Lastly, I would go with your gut feeling about which campus will suit you best. Good Luck with your decision. </p>
<p>There is an airport in SLO, but only United and US Air currently fly out of it, and flights to tend to be more expensive than flying out of LA area airports. If you plan on flying home often you should check the price difference and see how much it will cost extra in travel costs.
I am a SLO grad but both are great schools.</p>
<p>I would go for the residential college experience since you are leaving your state. Why pick a college for how easy your relatives can visit when you will be the one there 4 years. Anyway it is a beautiful vacation destination–beaches and notable wineries. There will be so many things going on in and near campus. I don’t think you will miss being in a suburb. Anyway the area isn’t all that sparsely populated. Internships are famously good. Check out the popular Thursday night Farmer’s Markets.</p>
<p>At CPP you will get into LA once in a great while or to the beach if you have a car or a friend with one, and it will be through massive traffic. It isn’t like UCLA where you are more in the thick of things. But if you go, get out to the monthly LA Art Walk downtown. It’s a scene.</p>