<p>Here's my deal:
I'm transferring to somewhere in the fall for Electrical Engineering. I am looking at Cal Poly SLO, UCSB, UCB, and UCLA. I got into Cal Poly. I'm waiting to hear back from UC campuses (they won't notify me 'till April). Even if I get into UCB and UCLA, I'm thinking I might still choose SLO. I'm looking for input from students who recently went there, or who currently go there. Give me some insight into the campus life!</p>
<p>I love the fact that there are a ton of outdoors things to do there. I am a very outdoorsy person, not the normal shut-in engineer. How is campus life there? Are the students cool? I hear that there are a lot of religious students there, which isn't me, so that worries me a bit. I'd like to go somewhere that the party scene isn't completely dead. I'm not a heavy partier, but every now and then I'd like to have the option... Also, I hear that there isn't much to do in the town. Is it boring there? I'm coming from Sacramento, which is an extremely boring town. Everything is closed by 9:00. I'd like to be in a lively, physically active environment. What do you guys do for fun? What do you do for fun in the winter?</p>
<p>I'd especially love to hear from engineering majors. How is the workload? How are the engineering students? Are they frighteningly awkward? How is the program? Professors? Job placement? </p>
<p>Really, i'm looking for anything that could give me a better sense of the school, and what it could and could not offer. Thanks!!!!!</p>
<p>… to give you info on what the students there are like…you might want to duplicate this on the Cal Poly board.</p>
<p>But generally, if you’re outdoorsy, SLO would be just right for you. Very nice, wide-open country; a very nice place to hike or ride your bike with your friends. In fact when I think of CPSLO students, I think of people in bicycle gear, etc. This is California, so you can do these things in many places, but SLO would be especially good for you regarding the outdoors. </p>
<p>For EE, SLO’s undoubtedly top notch also, with excellent job placement. There are plenty of people who choose SLO over the UCs, so don’t even give it a second thought.</p>
<p>Cal Poly is a great school with the highest starting salaries of any UC or CSU – this is the truth see the SLO web site. My contacts in industry confirm this. Otherwise, the school sounds like a perfect fit with your preferences. UCSB would also be good as it is a rival school to SLO with many of the same natural features. Forget UCLA if you are outdoors oriented. Yes, you can get to the beaches but is it inconvenient and you must have a car and maintaining one at UCLA is a nightmare due to traffic and serious lack of parking anywhere near campus. Parking tickets in LA can run from a low of $50 to a high of $150 or more (personal experience). You will have to buy parking passes. Cal is good but I hear it is located near some of the worst neighborhoods in Oakland. Also, if religious folk bother you then the opposite extreme at Cal may bother you too.</p>
<p>Cal is NOT by any means located near the worst neighborhoods in Oakland.</p>
<p>Cal is called UC Berkeley, because it’s in Berkeley…</p>
<p>SLO is wonderful, but note that as a CSU it is more practically-oriented than the UC’s, whose programs tend to be more theoretical - leading toward grad school rather than directly to the work force. That said, I agree with the poster who said that the starting salaries for SLO grads tend to be high.</p>
<p>National recognition would favor the UC Berkeley undergrad for EE grad school admission, but would favor the SLO EE grad for job recruitment.</p>
<p>It is very easy to get to Santa Monica and Venice beach from UCLA, the buses run frequently and it’s a short trip. That said, UCLA is a pretty campus in an upscale urban neighborhood.</p>
<p>Berkeley is a large campus in a great area.</p>
<p>Cal Poly SLO is in a sleepy town, the sidewalks also roll up at 9, things may be different on campus. But the outdoor activities are rich and the area is beautiful.</p>