<p>Now planning to go CalPoly Slo, I was wondering what the common consensus on things were at CalPoly. </p>
<p>Like are people more liberal or conservative?
Are people more of the study type or do people go out and have fun?
What do people do to have fun considering its in a small town?
Do people tend to hang out with their own race (not to be racist) or are people sociable and like to mingle with everyone? I’m sure it’s the last one.
Speaking of race, what are the common ethnicities?
Is bringing a car pointless? Where is there to drive?
I’m sure theres a bajillion other questions, but these are a few to start of with.</p>
<p>From what I have heard, the average student is Caucasian, Republican, and Christian.</p>
<p>there are mostly republicans but there are some democrates. It's mainly a college town with not too much to do. There is a movie theater run by solar powere (the palm) which plays independent films. There are lots of good restaurants and cafes. There isn't really a mall close by but there are some stores to go shopping out downtown. Slo just got Urban Outfitters and abrocombie but there are good local stores as well. For better shopping most people drive down to Santa Barbara which is about two hours away. The beach is about 15 minutes away and there is good surf. The water is cold and there are a lot of tourist on weekends. If you like to sure I sugest going in the morning because the waves are better. There are a couple bars and a dance club. Cal Poly is more of a party school and it has a high percent of anorexic girls. There are busses that can take you to pismo and there is a free trolley around downtown slo so you can get by without a car. Theres not very many concert around though cal poly does have a few, Santa barbara does have some at the santa barbara bowl.</p>
<p>hey i am the daughter, cp graphic design student. about cal poly... well yes there are many republicans but a very good percent of democrats too. there is a cp republican club as well as a democrat. as for race, well i think the only black students at the school play basketball or football, other then that its pretty much white kid central. everbody is accepting its not like its a raceist school. there are asian kids as well, one of roomates is and she is an awsome girl. party school, yes. usually the only boring night of the year is Mardi Gras weekend now because of police officers on pretty much ever street corner. although there arn't that many frats they have some pretty fun parties... tends to be freshman girls and junior/senior boys though. the older girls tend to be friends with all the frat boys if there are there. as for the beach sitch, yes water is cold but if you are from norcal like me it is as good as being in SD. avila is the cleanest beach and just got a new places to eat and improved. avila is more of a hang out beach if you want good waves. well you gotta learn the local spots. wink wink, some are pretty hidden. shopping, there arn't that many places but Therapy on Higera is great local place and the Urban Outfitters is great except now everybody shops there and as for the preppy/poly dollies there is abercrombie, banana republic, Lucky LuLu's(local place) and a rumor has it we are getting an American Eagle. Food: Natural Cafe is great if you have that hippy in you, Mondeo's has amazing wraps and salads, and Grappolo's is the best italian food around. and my Fav for sandwichs is High Street Deli and Ben Franklins. No car is nessary one of your friends will have one or you just take the bus which is free with your poly card, and takes you to the beach downtown anywhere in the city or even sometimes to avila. Or ride your bike... beach cruisers are the best. There are a lotta good coffee shops... and amazing local places but i am not telling you my secret spots. Would you really wanna go somewhere else, cause im def. never bored in this place!</p>
<p>Thanks, that was super helpful!</p>
<p>What do you think of the gfx design program? I got in, but am not sure if I am attending for sure. Are the classes difficult in general?</p>
<p>how hard is it to double major? and if im doing electrical engineering, is it possible to double up with CS?</p>
<p>its me again, the graphic design department is sweet. we lack a little in typography classes (we only have two). other then that there a lot of good classes, symbology, classes in maya, flash, etc. the cool thing is we are gettting a new professor next year, and if we get the lady that i liked and the rest of the students did, the department is gonna be great! the professors are very quirky but all have very very good connections. i have an interest in Apple, Inc. which our department has at least 10 alum in the design department there. The head is an Alum so they are always looking for CP students. We just got a new painting teacher D. Dove, who is a great guy. very fun to talk about music with if you are into the indie scene. Painting is an elective, but such a fun class. Ok, so I am not gonna lie the first year in the department is a little slow with the 130 series which includes color theroy and 2-D Design, I complained through it, but it has become base that helped me in SOOO many classes. P.S. you have to take those classes at any school so don't put that in the CON's column. I highly recommend coming to Open House because you can meet all the teachers, Micheal Miller (drawning) is one of the funniest guys ever, Kaity a Design teacher is amazing she used to work for Adidas... crazy she did a lot of ads and work you would recongnize. The work that comes outta my department makes my head spin sometimes... so orignal, unlike the cloneish work that comes outta CCA or Academy of Art. I highly recommend it there is only about 200 students in the dedpartment so you get to meet everyone and have good connections which will help you in the long run after school. P.S. we have ART PROM... and art kid partys rock! If you have any other questions feel free to ask. P.P.S People would kill I was one of 33 students the year I got in out of 500 Portfolios.... people would kill to be you. If you got in you have great potential!</p>
<p>AHH! Thank you so much! I'm super excited about SLO now. The professors sound great, as does the small program, and tight-knit community. </p>
<p>What dorm should I try to get in? Is there one where most of the art kids are? THANKS SO MUCH AHH SOO EXCITED NOW!</p>
<p>Yeah if you say the liberal arts dorm you can live with all the art kids... I didn't do that I lived in Yosemite, which was really fun, but I also think it would have been an advantage to live with the art kids cause my friends that lived there all stayed up and worked at the same time on projects... that way you aren't spending late nights by yourself. But, I also met two of my best friends at Poly in Yosemite. We all lived in the same tower and they were GD Students too. So I think either option is pretty good. P.S. late nights happens, thats when the best art gets done... UnderPressure. Haha. Oh, buy a PowerBook if you can! Saves your life and don't buy Adobe Creative Suite until you take 181, that way you get the newest version. Your comupter is your best friend by your second year. Good to hear you are excited about Cal Poly. Its awsome. Oh yeah, if you like concerts/shows SLO Brew is awsome, had Pretty Girls, Jackie O, and we even had NIN on campus at Poly.</p>
<p>P.P.S Where you from?</p>
<p>Wow both dorms sound great. I'm from South Pasadena, a small city in Los Angeles. The dorm pictures look kind of outdated. Is the TV lounge reall that ghetto? haha.</p>
<p>well the dorms have been there forever and yes they are a lil bit old but they are still pretty good. the rooms are bigger and you get more storage space in Yosemite. Red Bricks are crammed, I stayed in them two summers for soccer camp. Also Yosemite is less people to showers and bathrooms which is awsome I never had to wait to shower. Yosemite is a hike, but I thought it was worth it. I still live on campus in the new Cerro apartments, they are pretty great cause you get your own room and this is only the third year they have been open... just something to look forward too. Just avoid North Mountain dorms...those have been there the longest and the Ag Dorms (Smells Like COW). Trinity was the Liberal arts dorm last year. I think it is this year too.</p>
<p>kirbysanmom,</p>
<p>What are the differences between the Sierra Madre and Yosemite dorms? Which would you recommend for a freshman in engineering? I don't want to live in any other dorms (the other dorms seem so small), so are these dorms easy to get into if I apply early? Thanks!</p>
<p>either is good for what you want... both dorms are mixed with all majors because people have to request to live there. the chances of getting in are really good if you apply first thing. by first thing i mean like the day it lets you apply for housing. the difference is that Yosemite you have less people sharing a bathroom. there are less people on each floor, which can be better because I felt that it was less noisey then floors in Sierra Madrea. I had friends that lived over there. Both are a good treck from campus but I felt it was worth it. both dorms are coed but if I remember right there are boy floors and girl floors in Sierra Madrea. Yosemite was mixed boys and girls on the same floors. One side was boys other was girls each side had there own bathroom. It was just easier to hang out and stuff. everybody is gonna have there own opinion though.</p>
<p>p.s. to all yah out there... dont think that Poly has sports to watch like UCLA or anything... the football is good and baseball too. but we are no match for large groups attending games. its not a big social thing on campus or at least thats how most kids feel about it.</p>
<p>Thanks kirbysanmom! I think I'm leaning more towards Yosemite now (because of the bathroom aspect). Another question: how's the food at SLO? Does the buffet (if there is such a thing) get disgusting after a while?</p>
<p>Well acutally food is gonna change next year yet again... they are doing away with meals supposedly and everythign will now be plus dollars. Just means everything costs instead of all you can eat at the light house, which was the only place you could do that. Light house is no more, its called the Garden Grill now and its supposed to be pretty good, way better now then when i ate there. The best known spot that most people dont find until spring quarter is Veranda its across from Mott gym. Has the best frign' burritos, the chef is pretty fun there, and i recomended the toasted grilled cheese. Just a lil inside. But, sadly yes the food does it get boring after a while but you just re-energize by eating out one night. Also, Vista Grande resturant is really good I have friends that work there, that is the closest to real food you can get on the whole campus, we went there alot and I never ran outta plus dollars i had 16 left on the day i left. So eat up!</p>
<p>I know you said "No car is necessary," but if my parents are offering to buy me one should i take the offer? Originally i had planned bike and bus would be my transport the whole time until recently they brought up that maybe i should bring a car. So i don't know. Also What types computers or laptops are widely used around campus? I know you talked about Apple..but is that just because of your major? Does Cal Poly suggest or prefer Mac's over PC's (or vice Versa)?</p>
<p>Hi, I am hoping to get some advice for myself and my daughter, She has waited and waited and FINALLY today, she got her answer from Cal Poly for the FALL term. It was a NO. However, She feels she might have a good chance at the Summer term, It was reccomended to apply for it, as her grades from this most recent 1st semester of SR year were all A's. that would have raised her gpa alot. So, we are hoping to hear YES for Summer. Then she would be automatic re-enrolled for Fall. She has been accepted to SDSU and needs to tell them yes by May 1st. She has not been down to SDSU but has heard the campus is great, but she's not a "Barbie Doll" (her words) and is not a spoiled little rich girl ( again, her words ) and is afraid she would not feel nearly as comfortable at SDSU. Also, likes the small town feel of SLO. We have been down there twice and LOVE it!!! We live in Santa Cruz. I want her to go to SLO as well, but not sure, She's been turned down twice (early decision, and now reg. decision) from Cal Poly... Is There any chance ya think of getting in this summer? </p>
<p>What differences does anyone know about the two schools. </p>
<p>actually she is white, republican and christian so that is appealing to her, but she is also, laid back, simple, not preppy or materialistic, very hardworking, very driven, very clean cut. NOT a partier! Actually voted Most Innocent from her SR Class, and is very much NOT interested in the Greek life or Parties, She is worried that SDSU would be a bad fit....</p>
<p>She applied for Communications at Cal poly, BUT< Got into SDSU's Psychology dept. She has no idea if she wants to study either fields! SO, How can we know which is the better school choice?</p>
<p>Please help, I so appreciate anyones input. I'm a mom. I worry.</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Sorry about the rejection.. I'm not sure if appeals exist in the CSU system, but if they do, you could try that. As I recall, there was no personal statement required for applications - you MIGHT be able to convince them, assuming they accept appeals. Good Luck.</p>
<p>latenightbust+kirby - i got into gd program as well! superexcited, and am def looking forward to it. slo's my top choice so far; just waiting on some privates. are you going to open house, hmm? maybe i'll see you there.</p>
<p>ooh ah and thanks for the advice you.. and mom?..have been giving. good stuff.</p>