<p>I’m answering based on one visit and accounts from my girlfriend, who’s a freshman there, so it may not be entirely accurate, but I think I got a good idea.</p>
<p>-Town is pretty small, but there’s a very nice downtown area within walking distance of campus. Not empty, not too busy.</p>
<p>-Social life, I’d imagine, is as good as you make it. I hung out with my gf and marching band people (she’s in it, and I plan to be if I make it in), and it’s a really tight-knit group. I’d think any other student group would be just as good. It’s just on you to become a part of them.</p>
<p>-I’m guessing you’re not from California, but I am (a couple hours south of SLO), and the weather changes all the time. There are plenty of sunny periods, but just as many random cold days. Given that Cal Poly’s farther north, it can get pretty cold. Nothing a jacket can’t help, though.</p>
<p>-I saw the Redbrick dorms, which are admittedly small, but it seemed like a cozy place. The people are cool, so I wouldn’t mind living there. If it’s not for you, I know there are apartments on and off campus.</p>
<p>-The beach is something like 10-20 minutes away, I think. It’s actually not far at all, but the campus is situated in the hills slightly inland, so there’s that to go through to get there. Not too far at all, really.</p>
<p>-It is predominantly white, but there’s a fair mix of ethnicities given that it’s still around southern California.</p>
<p>-It’s about three hours from LA (judging by the distance between me and SLO, and me/LA.), and I want to say something like 8-10 hours from San Francisco. There’s not much in between either, to be honest. Still a decent road trip for after you get there, I suppose.</p>
<p>-Nightlife, I couldn’t really tell you, but I’d imagine that as a college town, there’s something there. Again, downtown is really nice.</p>
<p>-Campus is big, but everything’s pretty logical. I didn’t feel overwhelmed at all while walking around, even not knowing the place.</p>
<p>Again, I’m in the same boat as you wanting to go there, so I’m probably not 100% accurate. Still, out of any school I’ve been to (visited places like USC, UCLA, NYU, Columbia, etc.), I feel like Cal Poly is the best place for me. It’s away from big cities, but it’s enough of a community in itself that I can live without that. I’m a suburban kid that always wanted to be in the city, but when I went to SLO, I knew that versus somewhere like Los Angeles or New York, it was the right place. So if that’s you, wanting a small place with a tight community, I’d say go for Early Decision. I did, and I don’t regret the possibility of cutting other options.</p>