<p>My d is a junior in high school from Colorado and is interested in the CalPoly Engineering . I am a little confused on the CSU requirements listed on the CalPoly site. What exactly is Visual and Performing Arts?? Do they really need 2 years of it? Is there a little give-and-take for out-of-state applicants for CSU requirements? If not, I can see Ceramics and Photography in her future…as well as 2 English classes her senior year.</p>
<p>Hi!
I was recently admitted to Cal Poly as an OOS. To answer your question, you don’t need 2 YEARS you need 2 SEMESTERS in order to fill the entrance requirement (aka 1 year, but 2 years are desired). Visual/performing arts can be ceramics and photography like your d might want to do, but it can also be anything that involves art or music. I fulfilled mine by being in band for 4 years.
Keep in mind that they require semesters not years. Basically 4 years of English, 3 years of math, 2 years of foreign language, science and social sciences (including 1 year of US history/government), and a year of arts and electives. This is what CSU requires, but Cal Poly likes to see more, especially in math in science since taking more than the required courses will help your chances.</p>
<p><a href=“Cal Poly Admissions”>Cal Poly Admissions;
Here’s the list from their website - note it lists number of semesters not years.
If you don’t meet the minimum, you won’t be admitted, regardless of GPA and test scores. Extra points are awarded for ‘cal-poly desired’ but most students don’t complete them all.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the info!! She have been taking a lot of science and math courses, so I was a little surprised by the arts requirement! I was also little confused by the “desired” versus “required” terminology. I wasn’t sure if she should even bother replying if she hadn’t met all of the “desired” requirements…</p>
<p>Basically Cal Poly operates their admission process on a unique “admission algorithm” so the more science and math classes your d takes (not so much other classes), the more “points” she earns which will help her get accepted. This formula puts a ton of weight on GPA and test scores and puts very little weight on ECs </p>
<p>Link: <a href=“http://www.act.org/epc/ppt/EPC%202013%20F1.2%20Maraviglia%20Amos.pdf”>http://www.act.org/epc/ppt/EPC%202013%20F1.2%20Maraviglia%20Amos.pdf</a></p>
<p>The minimum, as stated previously, is a deal breaker if not met. Most California schools use the a through g (or what ever it is) course types in determining eligibility for admission, so most Cali HS students are familiar. Out of state students can get hung up by not having any performing arts. I believe at least one has to be performance based (choir, band, drama, etc.). Good luck.</p>
<p>My son fulfilled his Performing/Visual arts requirement with Graphic Design. We are in-state so being OOS may be different. Also I heard Yearbook could be used. If unsure, I would call admissions to clarify. Good Luck</p>
<p>Maybe the person advising my son was being overly cautious, misinformed or maybe I misunderstood. I think having no art hangs some OOS students up because they don’t realize it’s mandatory.</p>
<p>My son is taking a college class called the HISTORY OF JAZZ at a local community college to satisfy the the visual arts requirement. He came from out of state and will be graduating from a California HS, but does not have time to do a full year, 2 semesters in an art. One 3 semester hour class equals one full year or two semesters of a HS class.</p>