So I was recently accepted to Cal Poly as a transfer student and I was really happy since it was one of my top schools! I wanted to hear from current Cal Poly students, recent graduates, or really from anyone who might be able to give me some insight on the school and the major. Some things that would be helpful for me to include in your replies: Why choose Cal Poly over a UC? Was it easy to find jobs/internships in your field?
What UC(s)? They aren’t all generically the same.
I haven’t heard back from any of the UC’s but they should be sending out decisions before the end of this month. I applied to UC San Diego, UC Davis (TAG), UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, and UC Irvine.
For BME, I’d recommended SD/LA over Cal Poly. Both are in major cities that can offer a lot of research opportunities for undergrads. At UCs most research opportunities get eaten up by graduate students. At Cal Poly, research opportunities are few but they’re more accessible to undergrad.
Internship-wise, Cal Poly offers strong opportunities due it’s reputation as a hands on engineering school, whereas most UC hires get positions later in their bachelors and often during graduate.
@NLinsanity wait… if research opportunities are more easily accessible for undergrads at Cal Poly wouldn’t it be a good option to choose? I’m aware that SD has one of the best programs and reputations for bioengineering, but I applied as Chem E because I didn’t think I’d even get in for its bioE lol.
Anyways I’ve been giving it a lot of thought and now I’m really wanting to switch into Mechanical Engineering, but specialize in the biomedical field. I just hope the schools I applied for, will let me do this.
If that’s the case go to Cal Poly hands down over the rest. Just know that you can’t switch immediately and will have to jump through a few hoops to switch within the CENG. It happens regularly. ME and Aero are the hardest to move into with a required GPA of 2.75. Good luck.
@eyemgh Yeah I’m just more excited about Cal Poly than I really am compared to other places I applied to, but I’m just thinking about it still because it could take me 3 years to graduate if I choose SLO, whereas it can be done in 2 years if I choose to attend a UC instead.
I’m aware of the gpa requirement, however when do they look at my grades, after my 1st quarter? I’ll have to give them a call. If worse comes to worse I can always stick it out with BME. Do you know how many times we can request for a change of major? Say the Mechanical change doesn’t work out would I have the option to try changing into another one?
As a transfer, if you bounce around, you will delay your graduation no matter where you go. The curricula are very specific for each major.
Let me explain. Hypothetically, CP will have 10 spots open, but they’re equally open to 30 candidates. A UC might have 100 spots open, but there will be 300 candidates and the spots will lean towards Graduate students.
I see, but at the same time smaller class sizes would allow for better interactions/connections with your professors to help land you a research position or even recommend you for an internship. I’m just happy to hear they are readily available at CP if you want them, I just always thought UC’s were much better in this aspect.
@ryan0378, I sort of glossed over the fact that you are a transfer. I knew it, but I didn’t verify whether or not the rules are different. They are and in a way that could materially impact your ability to switch out of BME at Cal Poly. You certainly won’t be able to switch twice. If you’re planning on doing it, plan your first quarter classes accordingly and initiate the process as soon as you’re eligible. I’d let your advisor in on the plan immediately too. They’ll help plan your first classes so they won’t be wasted in either major.
From the CENG:
Transfer students must be able to prove they can graduate in 3 years and a quarter or less with a quarter-by-quarter graduation plan.
@eyemgh I’ve already planned my classes just to get an idea of how many units I would be taking each quarter for ME, and although I could technically graduate in 2 years, it would be be pretty stressful taking a full load of classes each quarter, so I might just stay an extra quarter or 2.
Thanks I’ll try to talk to the adviser in my major because when I tried contacting the engineering adviser center they told me they couldn’t really help me since I’m only a newly admitted student.