<p>So it’s my second week here as a freshman and I am already discouraged. I didn’t realize how low the 4-year graduation rate is. I didn’t realize how tricky it is to even get the classes you need. I didn’t realize how screwy administration and advising is to navigate through. And I didn’t realize how ■■■■■■■■ the quarter system/chain of pre-reqs just to take a class can be. </p>
<p>That being said, as a Microbiology major, and NOT an engineering major (I know they most certainly will take longer), is there any possibility that I will be able to finish in four years while also sculpting my major around a pre-med route (most of the pre-reqs for med school are within the micro major)??? I got my calculus 1 done with AP credit. I ready satisfied my D2 with AP econ. And I got 9 elective units for AP environmental. I live close to Mira costa community college so I have that for back-up…so what’s the final verdict. What are those darn GEs and support courses that screw you over because they are impacted??? Is there any sneaky/interesting way to get around those depressing limitations at Cal Poly??</p>
<p>Also does anyone have statistics on the graduation rates for the specific majors?</p>
<p>My son is a second year EE major and he is so far on track to graduate on time. He is even a few classes ahead of schedule. Although he did have a few AP classes under his belt when he arrived. He really has not had trouble getting his classes, although he has had some time slots he did not like. You could take GEs at a CC, if need be.</p>
<p>By the way you mentioned that you want to go to medical school and you already had AP credit for calculus. Well, I don’t know if this is true or not, but I heard somewhere that many (if not most) medical schools require you to take calculus in college, and a passing AP score will not count. You might want to check into it.</p>
<p>Firstly, I think you need to give the entire university a little bit more time for you to get used to your new life as a college student. 2 weeks is really no way to judge whether the school will work out for you or not. You could be saying to exact same thing if you were at UCLA (also on quarter system) and their administrative maze is just as convoluted. </p>
<p>Secondly, quarter system can be a shock to many freshman since they all came from a semester system. The pre-req linkages for classes in Cal Poly can seem to be very complicated at first but they actually work out okay if you follow the flow chart.</p>
<p>In terms of graduating in 4 years, if you don’t care about ever doing an internship/co-op while you are in Cal Poly, you can take every summer quarter available and you will more than likely graduate 4 years or less. The overall 4 year graduation rate is low because the school has a VERY large population of engineering students and most of whom does internship and co-ops which easily put them back at least 6 months. Also, # of units required for engineering graduation is very very high, so naturally this slows the graduation rate. Taken together, the engineering and architecture college (which has a 5 year program, not 4), completely skew the 4 year graduation rate for the entire university.</p>
<p>Lastly, I am a bit surprised at your lack insight into Cal Poly’s 4 yr graduation rate prior to enrollment. Cal Poly is well known for its low 4 year grad rate. Didn’t you research a little bit into this prior to coming? </p>
<p>Also, 8 out of 10 UCs and a lot of the CSUs are on the quarter system. Did you look examine whether the quarter system fits you prior to coming?</p>
<p>God damnit, I finished up typing my reply and CC logged me out, erasing it. To summarize what I said: ANYONE can graduate in <4 years, heck, even three, depending on how badly they want it. You will almost always be able to get the classes you NEED, but often these will differ from the classes you WANT. To make a schedule happen, you may have to take a harder class, tougher professor, wake up early, go to class on Friday, or suffer from any combination thereof. As far as getting the classes – it’s easy with some common sense:
- Keep an eye on key pre-reqs and high demand classes and secure them during your good rotations.
- Save one priority for your last quarter and if you can afford it, as many as possible for senior year. If you think you have it bad now, getting courses is worse when you only have a handful to choose from.
- You will find yourself at end of rotations once every year. Plan ahead and prepare your priorities accordingly.
- GEs are easy and easy to find. Spread them out or take them over summer breaks. There are some GEs that nail the English, GWR, and USCP requirements in one course. As you might expect, they fill fast – grab one during a priority.
- Bad rotation? Waitlist for what you can, write down available classes with small lines (<15 people) and classes held in lecture halls. The lecture hall classes always have room and it’s not uncommon for all crashing to be admitted. And here’s a dirty secret that most students don’t realize: you can get into classes you don’t qualify for when crashing. Instructor add codes override pre-reqs.</p>
<p>Above all, know your limits. Pre-med classes are demanding. Piling the on the lab courses to graduate early won’t help you if your gpa suffers from it. GL</p>