<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>Well it really is tough to beat cp slo for engineering, so I recommend coming here cause they have a great program for that type of stuff. But I’m not an engieering major so I don’t know about the coursework or anything. Most engineering students I’ve met are nice. There are definitely a lot more guys than girls. Some engineering classes have like 3 girls and the rest guys. There are some stereotypically awkward engineers, but most of them are not. I think the job placement is pretty good for engineering majors since cal poly has a strong engineering reputation.</p>
<p>The town is pretty small. The bars stay open till 2 am, but most stores are closed by 9. It definitely has a small town feel. So if you’re looking for that city energy, you’re probably not gonna find it here. It’s pretty relaxed though and there are a lot of places to go hiking, or you can go surfing, biking, kayaking. </p>
<p>I personally don’t party. It’s just not my thing. But there are plenty of students who do, so if you wanna party, you can find one. But it’s not like a huge party school.</p>
<p>There are quite a few christians, but they tend to mostly be friends with each other and everyone tends to get along whether you are religious or not. I’d say overall most students here are pretty cool.</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman, however not in engineering. Her major is kinesiology. She REALLY likes the campus atmosphere, as well as the town of SLO. And, she and her dorm mates have spent a lot of time at the nearby beaches. They also have hiked in the surrounding hills. And, they bike around, as well. As for “religious” students, I haven’t heard anything about that. I think like with *any *groups, there will be kids who are part of cultural or religious groups, but nothing dominant. Everyone seems to blend just fine from what I’ve seen. </p>
<p>I know the daughter of a friend who is a 2nd year industrial engineering major. Also, she’s an RA this year. She’s involved in projects and engineering clubs/groups and really is enjoying it. Yes, she’s definitely in the minority gender-wise! But, she can hold her own!</p>
<p>What’s nice about Cal Poly SLO is even though it’s in a medium-sized town set away from the city, you can feel the vibe from the university. Many businesses and restaurants are geared around this age group from what I noticed the several times I’ve visited. I also have generations of my own family from the area. So, it’s a nice mixture of family and college students. Also, you’re not that far from Santa Barbara/LA area for a weekend trip. Or even the Bay area. If you don’t drive, you can hop on a train or bus to get away.</p>
<p>Thanks a ton for your input, guys (or gals). I do like the fact that it’s a small-town atmosphere with the big cities not far away. One thing I am worried about: food. Everything which I have read says that the food there is horrible and ridiculously expensive. Also, I heard that the city banned drive-thrus, so there aren’t any fast food joints there. I almost never eat fast food, but it sure is convenient every now-and-then. I could certainly live without it. Have you guys heard of/experienced any problems with the food?</p>
<p>2Leashes, tell your daughter’s friend that I’m sorry. As an engineering major, I repeatedly have seen the one girl in a class get swarmed by a raving herd of undomesticated engineering majors. It’s funny watching the girls who really capitalize on their power, though. They live like queens- they have guys to carry their books and purses, open their doors, and chauffeur them around. Sometimes, it makes me a bit jealous! :)</p>
<p>But anyways. How’s the food? I went to a place in SLO that served clam chowder in sourdough bowls that was DELICIOUS, but from what I’m hearing, most places are pretty mediocre and overpriced…</p>
<p>I don’t go to Cal Poly but I’ve lived here in SLO for 17 years. There’s plenty of great places to eat, and plenty that will make your food fast. Just because we don’t have drive thrus (which I love! It’s because the city doesn’t want car pollution) doesn’t mean we don’t have any quick restaurants, and we do have two Taco Bells, plenty of Starbucks/Jamba Juice, one McDonalds, and a Carls Junior if that’s really what you’re looking for. Cork 'N Bottle is also a close-to-campus popular burger spot, and Nucci’s pizza is delicious and down the street from the dorms. There’s also a Panda Express within walking distance of Mustang Village. Downtown SLO does not have a city feel, but is very comfortable, clean, and unique. We have lots of great boutiquey shops and many cafes. </p>
<p>I live near campus and work at a grocery store that’s 5 minutes away from Poly. Almost all of my coworkers are Poly students and several of them are engineering majors. They love Cal Poly, and they’re all really social and funny. I would never have been able to stand working at a grocery store without their humor and enthusiasm… we play hangman or paper football for the majority of the time on the job and joke around.</p>
<p>That said, engineering at Poly is not a joke. The students are fun, but the major has to be taken seriously if you want to do well. Poly is highly regarded for engineering, and the workload won’t be easy, but you’ll have a great shot at a great job if you make it through and you’ll definitely enjoy meeting the people you do along the way.</p>
<p>The on campus food is not very good and there is not a lot of variety and most of it is pretty unhealthy stuff and I don’t personally find the healthy stuff offered to be very appealing. Plus, most of it is over priced. Off campus you can find a decent amount of fast food options and there are a lot of restaurants. But just so you know, Cal Poly is pretty far away from a large city. I’m just making sure you know cause it’s a lot farther than I thought it was when I decided to come here. LA is at least a good 3.5 hours away, but it could take you longer to drive there depending on traffic. San Francisco is a minimum of 4.</p>
<p>Regarding the food on campus: My daughter prefers to eat fairly healthy, so I would say that she eats more salads than anything. But, she also likes the bagel sandwiches or bagels with schmears from Einstein Bros. Bagels at Poly Canyon Village on campus. Also, various pastas and wraps, as well as main dish items. I’m not exactly sure what she eats everyday, but she hasn’t starved or called home in desperation. :)</p>
<p>For breakfast, she usually eats cereal in her dorm (they have a small table in the little lounge outside her room). She keeps milk and other foods in their mini frig. I know she also eats downtown when she’s out and about. They have a Chipotles there now. Also, Firestone Grill is a big hangout. Or Woodstock Pizza. There’s a Thai restaurant I like down there. Lots of tasty eateries. But, I can understand not wanting to spend money off campus if you have a meal plan already paid for. I just think you have to be creative and look for food on campus that you’ll find suitable. Even colleges who serve better food can get old after awhile. Let’s face it, there isn’t going to be a huge variety of meals throughout the year. True, larger schools will have more chain, fast food type restaurants, if that’s what you’re looking for. You can also shop at the markets on campus for deli type foods or other stuff that can be eaten on the spot or heated in a microwave.</p>
<p>My daughter has a lot of Plus Dollars left and sometimes has to work to use her meal plan allowance. So, I know she’s getting enough! We bought the Freedom Plan. More Plus Dollars and less actual meals.</p>
<p>I am the parent of an out of state (WA) Mech E freshman. I am from the East Coast originally, and I am a university professor myself in an unrelated field. My son says the engineering school is hard but the kids are “very normal”. My son seems to get a lot of individual attention from professors, vastly more than I recall from college. He feels confident that he will be employable right out of school, and CP seems to have a good track record of job placement. My sister is an MIT grad in ME, and director of engineering at her company, i.e. she does the hiring. She has a high opinion of CP grads as potential hirees, though she is in NY. My son grew up in a larger city and he would tell you there is not much to do in SLO, but he seems happy with the more relaxed atmosphere. SLO seems like any typical college town to me. The town caters to the students, and their lives revolve around their own social circles and events, not around what is happening in the surrounding city. As for the food, I have heard that the on-campus food is not so great, but my son cannot eat on campus or at most fast food places because of food allergy. He lives off campus and cooks for himself. The raw ingredients he can buy for his meals are high quality, IMO, such as vegetables, fresh meats from Cal Poly meats, etc, as compared with larger cities. I have eaten some good meals at restaurants in SLO and was told by a colleague at Stanford that the central coast, and especially SLO, is considered a new “foodie mecca”. I have only visited Sacramento a few times, but personally, I found it less interesting and beautiful than the SLO area. Good luck with your decision! It may help to visit, if possible.</p>
<p>SLO is one of the very few educational institutions that are geographically close to a nuclear fission reactor. I’m still inquiring about the internship prospects at said job site, but it’s existence is going to play a key role in where I choose to attend.</p>
<p>"SLO is one of the very few educational institutions that are geographically close to a nuclear fission reactor. "</p>
<p>I think that is one of the coolest criteria for college selection I have ever seen!</p>
<p>As for the nuclear reactor, lots of Cal Poly EE students do Co-ops and internships there every year. PG&E regularly hires from Cal Poly for their entry level engineers at the reactor. An old roommate of mine who is an EE from Cal Poly worked there for his co-op and since graduation. So you should have no problem getting a gig there if you are studying engineering at CP.</p>
<p>@Wacker1990</p>
<p>SLO is not a dead town. You have to visit it during a regular school week. It has lots of bars, restaurants, movie theaters, and cafes. There is a giant farmer’s market every Thursday night where they closed off downtown to car traffic.</p>
<p>Also, weather is absolutely brilliant in SLO almost year round. </p>
<p>And although the campus is currently under massive construction, it is actually a very nice place. The engineering complex and labs are brand new. And the sports facilities and dorms are all nearly brand new. </p>
<p>Most CP students love the university and really enjoy being there. So there is abundance of school pride and spirit. </p>
<p>You should visit and see if it fits your personal preference.</p>
<p>I agree that the town is pretty lively for the size. Again, having a popular university certainly helps the vibe. There’s also Bike Night the first Thursday of every month. They have a monthly theme, which can add to the fun. And, the Farmer’s Market definitely livens up the downtown every Thursday night. No, it’s not going to be the urban feel of a larger city. But, I think it’s a sweet, little college town. And, it did get Happiest Place in the US, after all! :)</p>
<p>And, it seems that everyone I talk to (when I mention my daughter is going to there), brightens up when I say the words Cal Poly. They’re either a happy alum or had a child who attended or just know others who are graduates. Again, they always have a smile on their face. And, I notice that lately everyone I talk to says, “Oh, Cal Poly is hard to get into now! Your daughter is lucky.”</p>
<p>^^^ Well, it’s not Pac-10, by any means. We went to a game during Parents Weekend, so naturally, the stands were probably fuller than usual. There was a large “tailagate” BBQ for everyone before the game. But, I believe soccer is the big sport at Cal Poly. Again, it will never be like the schools who play in the Pac-10 or other large conferences. Even though it’s John Madden’s alma mater! Still, if you get active and join things like Mustang Maniacs or just go to the games and root for the team, I’m sure you’ll get that spirited feeling! Go to Facebook and check out some of the Cal Poly sports-affliated sites.</p>
Still, if you get active and join things like Mustang Maniacs or just go to the games and root for the team, I’m sure you’ll get that spirited feeling! Go to Facebook and check out some of the Cal Poly sports-affliated sites.</p>