<p>I wouldn’t be too quick to assume that the UCs are “higher” than the CSUs. It really depends upon the major. </p>
<p>For example, if you wanted to study film, the big 4 are USC, UCLA, San Francisco State and Long Beach State. If, like many deserving students, your daughter got into SF State and UC Merced - and wanted to study film, no doubt as to where she goes. </p>
<p>Similar argument for Cal Poly SLO engineering, San Jose State Aviation Management, etc. </p>
<p>In general, Cal Poly SLO is a very fine school - and certainly the equal of most of the UCs in my mind.</p>
<p>I am a PT as well and notice that discussion for PT or OT programs come up fairly frequently on cc which is great! Assuming that your daughter is committed to OT from the onset, I would suggest she go to the AOTA website and go to the student link. There is a list of all accredited programs. I noticed there is a combined BS/MS program at San Jose State which is a CSU. San Jose State has a reputable program that would allow a masters 1 yr after a bachelors and would be quite cost effective. I agree with anothercollege mom that where she gets her degree will not affect where she works. There is no “prestige factor”; if you are certified or licensed as a PT or OT your place of degree is of little importance.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap:
I found that very disturbing as well and sure hope it’s not typical in any way and also hope it was dealt with firmly if it’s true. I was hoping more posters would respond to that one.</p>
<p>One of the best educational investments is a community college or other state program after an undergraduate degree at a school that a student really enjoys. Most kids do change their minds on what they want to do. The number of changes in major the average student makes is waay up there, and so it should be at that age. It seems to me that your D is more concerned about her setting at school than her major when you related her reaction to Cal Poly. If she wants a school filled with certain amenities and that is a priority to her, she should go to such a school and take all of the courses she can that will be helpful for her career. Then she can get the professional degree later. Maybe even transfer if she finds that the focus on the training starts becoming more important than other things.</p>
<p>One of my son’s friends ended up that way. She went to Emory, and loved it there the first year. During the second year, she decided that for the field she wanted, she would either have to go another couple of years after college to get the training or she could transfer directly into a program that would train her directly. So she transferred to a state university and graduated three years later with a masters and bachelors in her field.</p>
<p>“I was hoping more posters would respond to that one.”</p>
<p>Yeah, me too, but I guess that’s not the point of this thread, and not a deal breaking criteria for everyone. Sure is for me. In fact, whenever CSU’s come up, I want to ask about comfort level for African Americans, then I think, “maybe you don’t need to go there” or “this is not the time/place”. I also assumed it would be better for Latino students. It’s California, for crying out loud! That’s creepy. This is not the first time I’ve heard something about CSU’s, but maybe it was the same school. or same story.</p>
<p>Regarding the story - I was shocked. The mom who told me about her child’s experience this year was shocked. I do hope her child’s personal experience was an anomaly, but the story about the party and its signage was not related to her child, so that makes me wonder and want to learn more.</p>
<p>I looked up the demographics for Cal Poly. The figure I found said 12% Hispanic, I think, which means they’re not a tiny minority. The figure for Asian students was similar. The percentage of African-Americans was much smaller - 1%. The source was College Board, so it’s probably a year out of date.</p>
<p>calmom, I mean I would love to find a place for my son at a CSU, I always want to ask about the “climate”. I should have said I had heard about A CSU, but I didn’t remember which one. It MAY have been the same story, or the same school. SLO would be a reach for my son, but I do pay attention to the SLO threads.</p>