Hello, everyone! I’ve been lucky enough to get acceptance to both of these amazing institutions this year for Computer Science, but I’m having trouble deciding which one is right for my future.
I’d love if anyone here could provide insight about either college. The good, the bad, the ugly; everything and anything. I don’t know much beyond the rankings as I’m out-of-state for both. Thank you so much in advance!
First is it SLO or Pomona? sLO is much better than Cal Poly Pomona.
It is harder to change majors at Cal Poly compared to GT. you can go into GT as undesignated engineering or CS or undesignated period. Cal Poly, you need to select a major now.
Cal Poly SLO is more hands on and somewhat focused on particular operating systems, programming languages and hardware. Georgia Tech is a more theoretically grounded program.
At Georgia Tech you will be asked to pick two CS threads by sophomore year, and your registration in classes will be directed by the thread selection. Class size is large at both due to ballooning CS enrollments at both schools. Georgia Tech has a large graduate school and lots more classes to pick from if you have AP credits or college credits already. Cal Poly does not offer a PhD degree in CS or any subject.
There is a lot more research at Georgia Tech given the huge graduate program. Freshman at GT can get involved. Georgia Tech offers CS programs in Barcelona Spain and in their campus in France and you will pay close to in state tuition for that semester only. (if you are OOS).
Cal Poly has outstanding job connections in California but less well connected in other states. Georgia Tech has more of a national reputation.
GT has an outstanding outdoor education program in Rock climbing, mountain biking and kayaking and trips to the Appalachia just north of Atlanta and into Tennessee and other locations.
Both schools have a lot of spirit and parties. Weather is hotter in Atlanta but really nice in the winter, with cooler temps. sLO has one season and near a beach.