Getting into Cal Poly SLO As an Out of State Transfer

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi! I am calling all of Cal Poly alumni or anyone who is familiar with the school!

I’m a student at a local community college in New Jersey, but I didn’t start here right out of highschool. I attended Eckerd College with a major in Environmental Studies (not science) from August 2013- December 2013. I left Eckerd because there was no possible way I could take some extra classes and receive a BS instead of a BA and a BA Is something I wouldn’t settle for- and I’m really not that into marine biology which the school was so huge on so I wouldn’t switch my major.

Anyway- long story short I came home and started at a community college working towards my degree in liberal arts (AA) just to get some GEN EDs out of the way. Although it’s an entirely different major I have remained passionate about wanting to pursue Environmental Science since I was a sophomore in highschool. I have maintained a pretty high GPA (3.82) at community college and have taken many science classes as electives (environmental science, biology, and lab classes)

I’m looking to graduate in December (2016) from community and attend Cal Poly SLO in the spring of 2017 and I just am wondering what my chances are of getting in? I know it’s a beautiful school but also it is so focused on the sciences and they say you learn by doing. I have been so passionate about the Environmental field and have so many plans and goals and visions I want to see play out.

I’ve been looking at other schools like Cal State and FAU (Florida Atlantic Univeristy) even Rutgers Univeristy over here but no school seems as dedicated to the Sciences as much as Cal Poly. I truly feel that Cal Poly would benefit me the most in setting me up for my career. I don’t want just any degree from any school, I want a very good, in depth education so I can become the best at my profession.

Thanks for reading!
Any advice helps!

Amanda

2

I would contact SLO directly and see which classes will transfer from OOS. The CSU’s have pretty specific GE course requirements (Golden Four) that need to be completed prior to transferring.

http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/transfer/ge_breadth.asp

Priority is given to in-state and local transfer applicant’s but it is definitely worth an application if you meet all the requirements.

http://admissions.calpoly.edu/applicants/transfer/criteria17/envm.html

If you are looking for an excellent Environmental science program, I suggest you also look at UC Davis. Their Environmental programs are ranked 7th in the US.

http://www.caes.ucdavis.edu/

As an OOS applicant, you are aware that you will receive no financial aid and will be expected to pay full fees at any California public??

3

Your chances of transferring into CPSLO are pretty slim, especially as an OOS applicant.

Quite simply, they don’t accept many transfer applicants (just 1400 last year) and, applicants from local CCs are heavily favored.

Frankly there are more transfer seats at any of the UCs. With a 3.8+GPA, UCI, UCD or UCSB are possible, UCR, UCSC and UCM are likely.

Given your stats, I’d encourage you to look at USC as well.

Good luck.