<p>^^ I’m giving your post a huge LIKE. My daughter is a freshman at Cal Poly SLO and absolutely loves it. She, too, turned down UCs and USC, as well as other good schools. For one thing, it’s more affordable for us. But, we also feel that she’s getting an awesome education at a school that generates tons of positive comments from past alums or parents of students, past and present. Yes, it’s in the CSU system, but it also seems to be in a category of its own, as well.</p>