Did I pick the wrong school? (to current cal poly students)

Colleges & Universities A-Z Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
1

<p>I turned down UC Irvine, UC Davis, and UC Riverside to go to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Now, I’m starting to regret my decision.
Some background information about me: I am a half asian half white female. I am a very liberal atheist and grew up in the so cal heat. I love big city life, and I’m not very social. (Everyone that doesn’t know me regards me as the “quiet, beautiful asian girl”.) Though I’m quiet, I love to have a good time. I’m attracted to the crazy, party lifestyle with a balance of hardwork. In college, I wanted to blossom with other liberal minded people that share my interest in big cities, scanty clothing, intellectual thinking, partying, rap and indie, fashion.
I visited Cal Poly after accepting admission there, and I felt really misplaced. The city was small. It seemed very redneck(my pet peeve). The mass amounts of white people made me feel out of place and unattractive(though pretty where I live, maybe the guys here only like white girls?) I heard that a vast majority of students were republican and very conservative uptights(another pet peeve of mine). In San Luis Obispo, my insecurities started to really bloom. I felt judged and out of place. They say the weather is lovely, but I visited recently and if the summertime makes me shiver, I’m scared as to think how I will react to the winter. Also, I dislike country music and anything to do with it with a passion. (I love rap, alternative, indie, oldies, classical, jazz)
Overall, I just really didn’t enjoy the vibe of the college, people, and town. However, this may be my insecurities and rumored thoughts getting the best of me.</p>

<p>I guess I’m looking for reassurance. That the college is not as socially dead as it looks. That I can have a good time even with my pet peeves. That maybe one of you went through the same insecurities?</p>

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<p>I think you’re worrying too much. You make it sound like Cal Poly’s in the middle of Texas what with the hicks and all LOL When I visited Cal Poly first thing I noticed was diversity. Yes, there are a lot of whites, but I also noticed asians, blacks, latinos, etc. Yes, the school has a big agriculture program, but that does not mean everyone who is in it is a hick. I am a white female going to Cal Poly to major in Animal Science. I love animals and love working on a farm, but by no means would I consider myself a “hick”. I grew up in Orange County, so I’d like to think I have at least some culture and class in me. Another thing, I am also a liberal. Orange County is known for being super conservative. You just find people that share the same views as you. It’s somewhat difficult, but not impossible. When you get to Cal Poly, find people that share the same interests and views as you. </p>

<p>And, like you, I also grew up in the so cal heat. I’m a total wuss when it comes to the cold, but from what I’ve heard, San Luis Obispo is similar to southern california in that temperatures are pretty mild year-round. The only thing is the ocean is colder than southern cal, so you have to wear a wetsuit when you go swimming. It can always be worse, right? At least it doesn’t snow there in the winter! (If it did, I wouldn’t go to Cal Poly - weather is a big deal-breaker for me). </p>

<p>And don’t forget the main reason you’re going there: academics. That is what you should be most concerned about, not so much the hicks on campus. Remember you will only be at Cal Poly for a short period of time in your life and there’s nothing that says you can’t go back home after you graduate or move elsewhere. But I really think once the fall semester starts and you get settled, you will end up loving Cal Poly. Good Luck to you!</p>

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<p>Hey! I felt like replying to your post since I had similar concerns. Im from SoCal too, so I understand the benefits of living in a large city and I’m also familiar with going out to clubs Thursday Friday Saturday and sometimes Sunday lol. I also consider myself to be a liberal atheist as well, love rap too, dislike country, you name it. Im a Hispanic male (so that means I speak English at school but Spanish at home, ALWAYS have to have habanero sauce on my food or other type of chili/hot sauce, you see where I’m going hahaha) and majoring in Electrical Engineering, in case you are wondering.</p>

<p>I remember visiting Cal Poly for Open House and had the SAME impression you did - not very diverse, felt out of place as well! Felt like everybody was looking at me. I don’t have a dark or light skin complexion but closer to the latter (Spaniard father, Mexican mother). I guess this is what really made me feel like an outcast, felt like I was unapproachable and would not be able to make connections with people on campus. And YES!!! For that reason I also felt like I was unattractive as well haha. </p>

<p>But hey! Don’t let that get in your head! Look - it may seem like a huge change for you (and I), but only you can make Cal Poly the best decision you ever made by going out there and not being afraid of change! Yes, the majority of the people there may not be like you, but there are always similarities you can discover. Plus, a good chunk of Cal Poly comes from SoCal (like 20%? not sure), so it will be more than likely that you will in fact meet you’re type of people. Since Cal Poly is not a commuter college, I’m pretty sure there are a bunch of clubs who may have something you are interested in. </p>

<p>If you feel like partying, you might try to make friends at UCSB, they always have stuff going on there and it is much more diverse compared to Cal Poly. Do you have any friends that go there? I have a handful, so I know I’ll be having fun when I feel like getting crazy.</p>

<p>Plus, there is a BUNCH of outdoor activities to do around SLO, hiking, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding??, off road atv rentals and have you checked out the Rec Center? DAMN. I’m definitely going to love it since I won’t have to be driving to go work out like I do now at home.</p>

<p>In conclusion lol, life is about change and unavoidable obstacles that you have to overcome. This in turn makes you a better person, its only up to you if you choose to be one. </p>

<p>For the record, I love meeting people of every corner of the world. Cal Poly being overwhelmingly white was never a problem for me, just something I haven’t experience back home. I would gladly try to make friendships with everyone over there. College is what YOU make of it. </p>

<p>I kind of rushed typing this, should be sleeping since I have class tomorrow ha.</p>

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<p>Just wanted to add that probably the most challenging thing would be food - I’ve read that campus food is not good at all, so you should probably be focused on learning how to cook meals during the summer before you get to Cal Poly haha.</p>

<p>Don’t forget about academics - you want to be cum laude or better once you graduate from Cal Poly!</p>

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<p>You felt judged? Seems that you pretty much judged a good portion of the US population. </p>

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<p>Perhaps it’s not your insecurities. Rather, it’s your own personal bias. College is a time to grow and experience things out of your comfort zone. If you were accepted to CP, you’re a sharp person. And you should not let your personal bias and comfort zone be your sole decision. Fit is important. But if you’re as closed-minded as your post would indicate, perhaps you would be better off somewhere else.</p>

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<p>Wow, first of all I have to compliment you on laying it all out there. You were pretty open with your feelings. I do not know you, so I can not tell you not to worry – anybody can be unhappy anywhere even in paradise. What I can share is how my kid’s experience has been.</p>

<p>My kid is mixed race just like you and my kid was accepted with open arms as an equal. yeah, we were a bit worried, but that disappeared when we met his roommates. Both boys were Asians. Interracial dating? No problem. Since my wife and I are an interracial couple, we spot other couples like us wherever we go. I can say that we saw many mixed couples on campus. Yes, 60% of Cal Poy is Caucasian, but the other 40% are just like you and me. If you are as pretty as you describe yourself, you’ll fit right in and possibly have more dates than you can handle. </p>

<p>Contrary to your impression of SLO. It is a liberal town. Just go downtown and hang out in the record shops, coffee shops or at the farmers market. I have no idea where you get the idea that SLO is full of hicks. Agriculture does not equal hicks. Much of the agriculture around SLO is related to the the wine making industry. Last time I checked, vineyards and winemakers were not exclusively religious conservatives – they are often liberal artisans.</p>

<p>My kid loves the place, but unlike you he is not a big city person and loves the outdoors and the fresh air. SLO is about 10 degrees cooler than So Cal year round. so, when it is 95 in So Cal it will be 85 at Cal Poly. When it is 65 in So Cal it will be 55 at Cal Poly. Not bad and really nice weather. Cooler than So Cal and far, far warmer than San Francisco.</p>

<p>Academically, it is wonderful and it has all the amenities that other posters above mention. The rec center is more than awesome – it is a 5 star hotel like facility.</p>

<p>Parties? Cal Poly is famous for the party culture. So much so that it is one of the things that my kid does not like as he is not a partier. So if it bothers him, you will LOVE it. It also has a very strong Greek system. You sound as if you might enjoy joining a sorority – just a guess. You may want to check it out. You’ll have a built in family and lots and lots of parties to go to. If you join one, your social life will be endless. You might as well check it out – there are liberal sororities you know.</p>

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<p>oh god, you sound so much like me in so many ways. I think that the trick to being happy here (or anywhere for that matter) is to find people who you have things in common with. My freshmen roommates were nice, but we didn’t become like best friends. I didn’t really meet many people my freshman year, and I was seriously doubting my decision to come here (I come from a big city as well). I thought about transferring, but then sophomore year I got EXTREMELY lucky and met an amazing group of friends. I went with random roommates again also, and this time the girls I got placed with had similar views as me and we ended up becoming quite good friends.</p>

<p>I had my doubts coming here before school even started as well, but I think that was really more just being afraid…If you’re quiet, don’t try and be super outgoing if that’s just not you, you’ll seem fake. As long as being quiet doesn’t bother you, just be who you are. </p>

<p>There are a decent amount of conservatives here, but what I realized is that as long as you don’t surround yourself with them, it’s like they don’t exist. There are plenty of liberals as well.</p>

<p>And as for music, yeah, some people are into country and stuff, but really not too many.</p>

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<p>My son is s sophomore there. His room mates and best friends at Cal poly are a mix of Kids/white, asian and hispanic and I really don’t think any of them ever think about the fact that they are different races. They all joined the same fraternity and are all very happy at cal poly. I think if you keep an open mind you will like Cal Poly. Best of luck to you.</p>

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<p>■■■■■ ALERT !!!
You guys got sucked in ;-)</p>

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<p>What about libertarians? Are there any out there?</p>

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<p>How many clues can you find?
First (1) post
…“quiet, beautiful asian girl” … attracted to the crazy, party lifestyle …
… wanted to … share my interest in … scanty clothing, intellectual thinking …
… visited Cal Poly after accepting admission …</p>

<p>Come on, there are a few more…</p>

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<p>Yup, totally got suckered! Oh well, I am pretty good at discovering trolls usually. Not this time…</p>

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<p>This may be a bit off topic, but what the heck … :wink: I teach First Aid & CPR, mostly to youth groups & their leaders. Last week I did a two day class for adult leaders, and there is always an interesting mix of students in those classes. One of my students is a UC professor of Electrical Engineering, so of course I peppered him with questions. He shared something I found especially interesting. He said that the quality of engineering education in lots of schools is very good, not a huge spread in the measurable quality between USNWR #1 - #100. He said that like a pair of jeans, some schools DO have a “Designer Label” and others not so much. For some people the “Designer Label” is more important than how the jeans fit. We know that suicide is a problem for STEM students at most top engineering schools. He may be spot on that many kids check the label before they check the fit. My sense is that most Cal Poly students checked the fit first then checked the label and found them both pretty darn good.</p>

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<p>Whether this post is a ■■■■■ attempt or not, I want to voice my thoughts too. When I narrowed my choices down to UCSD and Cal Poly for computer engineering, I realized that they are both majorly different. San Diego, where I live, is the big city. Apart from LA, I’d say San Diego is one of the biggest metropolises. I love the downtown and just the city in general. All the clubbing and whatnot is nice. I did visit Cal Poly and that’s how I made the decision. But still, I wondered if I made the decision too quickly. The bottom line for me was that Cal Poly offered what I wanted in regards to education. I was only considering UCSD for location and, sadly, my high school friends who are staying home/attending UCSD. </p>

<p>Another thing is that UCSD, from what students have told me, doesn’t have a huge social scene. Cal Poly, on the other hand, seems very friendly. Everyone seems to be outgoing. It’s sad that people classify residents of SLO as “hicks” and “rednecks”. Everyone is just extremely friendly, active, and healthy.</p>

<p>I know I made the right decision. Cal Poly seems like the perfect balance of fun and great education. So, if the person who started this topic is really having problems and not trolling, I want you to know that Cal Poly is not like what you described. Out of the schools you listed, I would have chosen Cal Poly in a heartbeat, no doubt about it. But, hey, that’s just my opinion.</p>

<p>Go SLO!</p>

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<p>@SLOLEARNER – Spot on! I totally agree and that is what happened with my kid. Fit was the most important variable.</p>

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<p>I come from a small town in New York of about 1,000 people. Everybody from my hometown is white, owns a farm, many live in trailers, logging is a major industry. So if Cal Poly “seemed very redneck” and there are “mass amounts of white people” then I am going to be very comfortable — LOL!!!
I am specifically coming to Cal Poly to “break out of my shell”. I know many will think this sounds nuts, but SLO is a metropolis compared to any towns near where I live, and going from my hometown where there were no minorities (at all!) to a campus of 40% minority will be culture shock. Hahaha.</p>

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<p>I think you made a good choice, Liz! Choosing the “metropolis” of San Luis Obispo will certainly be a step-up for you regarding the population! :slight_smile: But at the same time, you won’t be in a big city atmophere or somewhere like the Los Angeles or San Jose sprawl.</p>

<p>As for SLO being full of rednecks, I don’t think so. Sure, the surrounding rural area has farmland and ranches, as well as wineries. My own Swiss-Italian relatives have farmed in the Cayucos area since the late 1800s. Dairy first and then beef and avocados. Yeah, I would classify them as more conservative, but not really rednecks. However, they also happen to be 91 now. :slight_smile: And STILL running a ranch! </p>

<p>I digress. I think SLO will offer you an ideal way to “break out of your shell”. During holidays or long weekends you might consider taking the train or renting a car to visit San Francisco or the Monterey Bay/Carmel area to the north. Or even where I live in Santa Cruz! We have a fun boardwalk amusement park on the beach and beautiful redwoods to hike in. But, in the meantime, I’m sure you’ll have fun exploring SLO and the area around it.</p>

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<p>Coming from a white agnostic girl from the bay area, I have found SLO to be a mix of everything (OK not nearly as much as the bay but for such an isolated place as SLO can seem). The counties surrounding are more diverse but primarily SLO is an agricultural area and primarily “white”. That being said, there is a representation of asian students at Poly and they seem to be just as happyre as everyone else. The rec is an awesome place to socialize and hangout whether you’re playing racquet ball, tennis, swimming, doing classes, etc. My point is, put yourself out there and you will NOT have trouble making friends, no matter your ethnicity. I personally love Poly but understand it is not for everyone. There are rednecks and religious freaks but you mostly will see that (and laugh like I do) at farmer’s market on Thursdays. It’s a blast here if you immerse yourself in your passions as you will likely meet others who share the same interests. Try to be as open-minded as you can. Without trying to sound cliche, it totally is what you make it. If you come with expectations and judgements about the place and people, you’re going to be disappointed anywhere you go. :slight_smile: Positivity is what you have to come in with…we ARE voted the happiest place in America…try to keep that in mind. I rarely go home although it’s great in the East Bay, there’s something about the energy here and beauty of our surroundings that makes SLO so unique. I hope you love it and find Poly to be right for you.</p>

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<p>Char do you know if grad students are allowed to use the rec center or is it just undergrads? hahaha I am coming in as a grad and I heard about the cool rec center and I am excited to use it :P</p>

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<p>Nevermind, I answered my own question… yes, grads can use it! Excited! :D</p>