<p>I’m a NY mom whose surfer son has been accepted in Cal Poly SLO as a computer engineering major. This was the only Cal school I let him apply to because of its cost (even out of state) and the quality of its computer engineering dept. </p>
<p>We really like everything we have read/heard about the shool and will be visiting next month. </p>
<p>I have two concerns, firstly that it is a suitcase school and secondly that my son would spend too much time surfing and not enough time studying. Although he has not fallen into this trap on Long Island, NY (where he surfs year round…brrrr!), he was at home under our watchful eyes.</p>
<p>I notice that there is not a surf club at SLO so I do not know how big the surfing scene really is. Does anyone have any thoughts to share on how surfers fare at this school?</p>
<p>I take it by "Suitcase school" you mean commuter school? Well, if you do, let me tell you it is not. I know many people (roughly 10 people from my San Francisco Bay Area school go there every year) who go there and I have never head once that it is a commuter school. They get kids from all over CA because in-state it is sooo cheap....yet it is just as good of a school if not better than the mid-tier UC's. </p>
<p>Surfing...the beach is about 15 minutes away by car, so it is not right on the beach, but I assume there is plenty of surfing. I can't think of any reason to be so worried about him surfing...if he got into Cal Poly he is a great student...good luck...</p>
<p>Usually only the Freshmen live on campus here, so in that sense it is a commuter school. However, the town of SLO has many area where only students reside. For example, my apartment complex only houses students and is a ten-minute walk to campus. If your son likes to surf, he might end up living in Pismo or Avila Beach, which are absolutely beautiful. There are a bunch of students here who like to surf, but they seem to balance their studies w/ fun, just like the rest of us.<br>
One thing to consider is that CP is very well respected within CA, but seems to have little recognition outside the state. Chances are, he'll probably find a job inside CA. I'm not a computer engineer, so I'm not entirely sure about recruitment, but chances are a CA company will recruit him. He might might to consider where he wants to live as an adult. However, I'm sure he'd love the California Coast and get an excellent education at the same time.</p>
<p>After thinking about it, I take back my comment about national reputation. In general, Cal Poly is only known only in the West. But for CP's top fields, it is nationally renown(computer engineering is one it's best fields). I actually met recruiters from back east at the last job fair, so I have to withdraw my comment.</p>
<p>My friend is a surfer up at Cal Poly this year. His mom won't let him have his board until next year if he keeps his grades up right now. I'm from San Diego, and I don't know how the surf is on the east coast, but compared to SD, the surf isn't that good at pismo or the other beach. Also, it's not really a commuter school. Schools like UC Irvine or SDSU are a couple of the commuter schools in California.</p>