Open House Questions!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
1

<p>So my family and I are attending the Open House this April to get a better feel for the school before I decide to commit there. I just had some general questions about hotels, transportation, etc.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How should I get there? I’ve heard that CP recommends that you take an alternate method of transportation instead of driving since the city gets really congested. What would you guys recommend? Also, how’s parking? Do we park somewhere in the city? On campus? Leave our car at the hotel?</p></li>
<li><p>Speaking of hotels, are there any good hotels near the CP campus? Do most people stay at hotels, or is there some different housing program for the weekend?</p></li>
<li><p>Is day 1 necessary, or is the admitted students day (friday) the most important?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>All answers appreciated! :slight_smile: Also, if there’s any other important things that you feel would be important for me to know, please do tell! Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Um drive there. They are full of **** for telling you to not drive here. Parking is a mess. I went for a campus tour last year and I think the time getting parking was longer than the tour.</p>

<p>For hotels I would suggest the cheapest and nicest place you can get. Marriot and Embassey Suites are in the city.</p>

<p>The parade is cool and the admitted students day is good if ur freshmen or not from the area.</p>

3

<p>My daughter and I are planning on attending Open House this year and have already booked our flights and hotel (we are coming from Colorado). If you are out-of-state, we highly recommend flying into Santa Barbara airport and driving up to SLO (about a 2 hr drive) - it’s much cheaper than flying directly into SLO airport. We have been to Cal Poly many times to visit my older daughter and our favorite hotel is the Quality Suites - it has great amenities and it’s only about a mile from campus (on Monterey and California). We’ve stayed at the Embassy Suites which is nice, but it’s located in a shopping center next to the freeway and further from campus. I’m assuming there should be enough visitor parking that weekend, but the Quality Suites hotel is also within walking distance as are a few other hotels, and they provide shuttle service around town. I’ve never been to Open House so I don’t know how bad traffic/parking can get. I think Thursday is mostly a trip to Farmer’s Market which is great fun but not necessary. If you end up choosing Cal Poly, there will be many more opportunities to go since it’s every Thursday night. Sounds like the main events are Fri and Sat. We’re really excited about going!</p>

4

<p>I just got an email from Calpoly:</p>

<p>If you have been recognized as a: </p>

<pre><code> >National Merit Finalist
>Achievement Scholar or a
>National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
</code></pre>

<p>Please submit a copy of the letter confirming your recognition to Cal Poly by April 1.</p>

<p>It is strange because open house is 12-14 April, so how I can decide if I like school or not.
I still didn’t get all my acceptance.</p>

<p>Also it is strange because I didn’t get any email that I am a NMF or Achievement Scholar. Where I should go and check for it? I am white so I can’t get HRPS.</p>

<p>I was on wait list for a month, then they accepted me. So what is going on?</p>

5

<p>It says that “if you have been recognized… submit a copy of the letter” The email wasn’t saying that you were recognized as a National Merit Finalist or an Achievement Scholar, it was only telling you to send the letter in the event that you were one. Since you haven’t received anything, chances are you are not a National Merit Finalist or Achievement Scholar.</p>

<p>I received the same message.</p>

6

<p>Back in 2010 when my daughter was admitted, she couldn’t be at Open House, so I went! I had read about parking out near the Agriculture area off Highland, so that’s what I did. This was Friday. It was quite a walk into the main part of campus. That evening I parked on the main lot on Grand to attend the Parents Coffeehouse. No problem. The next morning around 11 AM, I checked out of the hotel and drove up and parked in the Grand Ave. lot for Open House. No issues at all! Last year when my daughter was a freshman, I drove down again—this time only on Saturday. Drove right into the Grand Ave. lot around Noon. Easy as pie! I’m going to do the same thing next month when I drive down on Saturday. I’ll have my dog with me this time. Looking forward to seeing her in her sorority booth at Open House. I didn’t find any parking issues both years.</p>

<p>If you’re going to spend the night or two, you need to act on it FAST! I booked the Days Inn a couple months ago because it’s dog-friendly and was only $79 w/AARP discount. Stayed there last month with our dog. It was fine and close to campus. My favorite hotel is Quality Suites (not pet friendly), but they charge an arm and a leg during important events at Cal Poly. And, if you don’t need a suite, no sense in paying extra. We stayed there twice during Move-In because our daughter was with us. For Open House 2010, I waited too late, so stayed at a cheapie motel on Monterey Ave called Villa Motel. It wasn’t bad. Huge room and close to campus. Last year I stayed out on Madonna Rd. at the Best Western which was also nice, but too far away from the action for me. Across the street from a shopping center, though. Pet friendly, but didn’t have my dog.</p>

<p>I felt that I learned a lot on Admitted Students Day. Since my daughter was away at a jazz festival through her h.s. she couldn’t be there, so I went for her. It was nice to be able to visit the dept. she was majoring in, as well as meeting the professors and seeing some hands-on stuff. I really liked the Parents Coffeehouse—a LOT! I was so impressed by the Cal Poly Parents group, as well as the WOW leaders (students). Really made me feel at home. They had a separate event for the admitted students. For me, BOTH Friday and Saturday were enjoyable and equally as important (although certainly not necessary to attend the school.) But, I highly encourage anyone to attend both if they can. Saturday is open to the public and the campus is bustling with activity. I really enjoyed seeing all the students running their various booths, and that includes a variety of food booths, as well. Try to go if you can!</p>

<p>Speaking of housing for families—when you attend SOAR, they will offer Poly Canyon Village apartments for families if they want to stay on campus. We were going to do that, but decided to stay in La Cuesta Inn hotel instead. We wanted a few more amenities and comfortable beds. :slight_smile: But, it’s a nice option for students and/or their families if they want to get a feel for staying on campus. I think they offer complimentary bagels from Einstein Bros. bagels in PCV.</p>

<hr>

<p>balling916 had asked:</p>

<p>"So my family and I are attending the Open House this April to get a better feel for the school before I decide to commit there. I just had some general questions about hotels, transportation, etc.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How should I get there? I’ve heard that CP recommends that you take an alternate method of transportation instead of driving since the city gets really congested. What would you guys recommend? Also, how’s parking? Do we park somewhere in the city? On campus? Leave our car at the hotel?</p></li>
<li><p>Speaking of hotels, are there any good hotels near the CP campus? Do most people stay at hotels, or is there some different housing program for the weekend?</p></li>
<li><p>Is day 1 necessary, or is the admitted students day (friday) the most important?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>All answers appreciated! Also, if there’s any other important things that you feel would be important for me to know, please do tell! Thanks! "</p>

7

<p>COparent said:</p>

<p>“We have been to Cal Poly many times to visit my older daughter and our favorite hotel is the Quality Suites - it has great amenities…”</p>

<p>We love Quality Suites. The complimentary evening wine reception is my husband’s favorite! I really like sitting in the lobby–beautiful decor. Or out near the pool on a nice day. And the complimentary full made-to-order breakfast in their nice “cafe” is wonderful.
Great location and walkable to downtown or take their free shuttle down there.</p>

<p>The only thing—they raise the rates HIGH for big events at Cal Poly. I just can’t justify spending that kind of money, so have stayed elsewhere during Open House. Love it, otherwise! If money isn’t an issue, I highly recommend it! Hurry and book, though! Hotels fill up quickly for Open House!</p>

8

<p>Hey everyone, is it mandatory to attend all three days? Unfortunately open house is during tax season and both of my parents are accountants, so I can only go on Friday (Admitted Students Day).</p>

9

<p>We only attended the Friday of Open House. We also visited Cal Poly events in the summer and for Wow week. Both have lots of information for admitted students and parents.</p>

<p>Hotels: Please look at past discussions on hotels as well as online hotel reviews. Tried at least 6-7 different hotels in the area. Oftentimes, we couldn’t get the hotel we preferred, because hotel rates were way too expensive during Cal Poly events, the hotels were booked, or there were restrictions. As others have said, if there is a major Cal Poly event, begin booking early and sadly many of the room rates will be higher than normal.</p>

10

<p>We were late booking a hotel for the Open House last year and we stayed in the Arroyo and Pismo Beach area instead at a Best Western. It was great and inexpensive. If you can not get a hotel room don’t be too worried about it. You could stay as far away as Santa Maria or Paso Robles and still have a great time in SLO. It just comes down to if you are willing to drive for a bit. Pismo Beach was a 15 minute drive. We are from Los Angeles and it takes 30 minutes just to get to the supermarket. So were were not put out one iota by not staying in SLO where hotels are limited.</p>

<p>You really do want to be there for Thursday night for the Farmer’s market. It is not required, but it is really fun and a great intro to this lovely college town. Bring lots of quarters for the parking meters in the city of SLO or use the public parking structures which are cheap. Do not worry about parking on campus for the Open House. We parked in the open lot near the Agricultural area. Do not come in at the main entrance off the 101! You will get stuck at the main gate and this will take time. Going North on the 101 get off at Santa Rosa (ie. Highway 1 to Morro and the Hearst Castle). Make a right on Highland, left on Mount Bishop and another left into Parking Lot H1. It is a walk to the main campus. But you avoid traffic and they have shuttle buses that will take you back and forth.</p>

<p>Here is a campus map: <a href=“http://www.afd.calpoly.edu/facilities/mapsplans/map/PolyMap_LAYERED.pdf[/url]”>Maps - Facilities Management & Development - Cal Poly;

11

<p>Thanks for the info! :D</p>

12

<p>Here is the link for all you need:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.studentlife.calpoly.edu/orientation/openhouse/[/url]”>http://www.studentlife.calpoly.edu/orientation/openhouse/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Also check for schedules for your kid’s major. You need to be there for the entire thing if you can make it. The first day is a must. We stayed for all three days and we went to the Framer’s Market too. Not one moment was a waste of time.</p>

13

<p>I’ve lived in the SLO area all my life, and the only day that there is bad congestion is when all the students move here to Cal Poly SLO. </p>

<p>Bring your car during open house! It’s free parking on campus after all.</p>

14

<p>Does anyone know which driving route is the best and safest way to get to SLO from Sacramento area?</p>

15

<p>I also didn’t find it difficult finding parking at Open House the past two years. I just drove right into the lot and parked. No problem at all. That was mid-morning/noonish. Heck, even on Move-In Day, we just made sure we got up there by 7:30 AM and didn’t run into any traffic or lines. Parked right across the street from my daughter’s dorm, Yosemite. Granted, we were fortunate to get up there early because things did get busy soon after. It was even easier when we moved her into Poly Canyon Village. In fact, it was almost TOO quiet up there. :)</p>

16

<p>giggslegend: Take 5 south, at Kettleman head west to Paso Robles, then south on 101. This is the fastest but the Kettleman-Paso R road is a bit more dangerous; wouldn’t recommend it at night. 680 and 101 is another possibility. Why not try both ways, one down and the other back?</p>

17

<p>eduparent: Thank you for the information! I will try the 5 south route and return back on 101.</p>