2012 graduate in Chemical Engineering. I have an +$100k/year job with a trade association in the Washington D.C. area and my current co-workers are graduates from other top-ranked engineering programs (Rose-Hulman, Purdue, Johns Hopkins). I know Cal Poly Pomona engineering program is up to, or even above, their level. I’m certain that if Cal Poly Pomona was located in a different state, I’d be the flagship state institution. California, is so blessed to have state colleges such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly SLO, that Cal Poly Pomona is not as talked-about as it should! Cal Poly Pomona has an amazing location, it lacks social scene, but it was starting to have more of a traditional campus vibe when I left. I’m sure that there will be further growth in campus housing in the future–as it should, because it was definitely lacking in the past. The campus is located near Downtown L.A., Orange County, the beaches, the mountains, etc. It’s a gorgeous campus on rolling hills of greenery. I’ve visited prestigious colleges (Georgetown, Texas A&M, UT, Rice, Claremont Colleges, USC) who would kill to have such beautiful scenery and tranquility. Most colleges are beyond crowded and there’s no room to study or just hang out. Most importantly, Cal Poly Pomona has such an excellent reputation outside the state. It’s shocking.
Anyways, I wanted to give you my salary, not to boast, but to give you hope. See, when I attended CPP, I suffered from generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks, I had a major panic attack at the Ontario Mills that landed me in the emergency room, I had another in my room and ended up at Pomona Valley Medical Center. Cal Poly Pomona offered me counseling services that allowed me to continue and eventually graduate. I didn’t graduate with the greatest grades, as a matter of fact, I almost failed out. However, I never gave in. I continued forward and reached my goal. So, to all of you who might be wondering to come here, DO IT. Come here. You won’t regret it.