<p>Does Cal Poly ever send “the big envelope” or is everything posted on-line or by e-mail? Specifically, is the information regarding computer requirements that’s posted on the web site as specific as we’ll ever get? </p>
<p>A lot of schools have sent big packets of information by mail during the last few weeks and I’m just curious if CP does the same.</p>
<p>My son has never gotten anything like a big packet by mail. I think it is all on the portal and the main site. It makes better sense that way. Being Green! I would ask someone in your particular major about computer requirements.</p>
<p>I don’t think Cal Poly does the big envelope thing like the UCs.
The admissions offered letter I received in February was a single sheet of A4 paper (tri-folded) delivered in a regular sized 10 envelope, which placed me in panic mode because that was how a UC rejection letter looked like. There were postcards now and then regarding the open-house, the bookstore deals, and the engineering dept’s preview day. Then everything else was done on the portal.</p>
<p>I actually think some of these other schools would save money if they generated far less paper. Especially in these economic times. And, as momofmv said, it’s better for the earth.</p>
<p>Sure, it was fun getting that HUGE, thick acceptance envelope from USC. No wonder it costs so much to go there! 
This stuff adds up. Same with all the other schools she was accepted to…fat envelopes. UC Davis could save that money to pay more teachers. 
And, I can’t tell you *how *much literature we got from places like UOP and Indiana University! </p>
<p>But, yeah…I guess Cal Poly’s acceptance letter is a bit anticlimatic. Oh, well. It least it *was *an acceptance! ;-)</p>
<p>We had this same thought about the lack of a big view book. So many private schools send fabulous, slick books with pop-ups, glossy three-and-a-tree photos, and inspiring messages from current students. We finally had to embrace the website. As stacks of unwanted paper kept filling our mailbox, I appreciate Cal Poly’s style more and more. </p>
<p>I do wish we had some kind of admitted student info book though. There’s something about flipping through every page that makes you feel you haven’t overlooked something important.</p>
<p>You will receive plenty of materials at SOAR :)</p>
<p>And, yes, I agree with some schools sending out waaaaaay too much, ie, USC and WASHU.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your responses. I appreciate Cal Poly’s paperless approach, too. I was just confused by an e-mail from the architecture dept. that my son received in March right after his acceptance. It said: </p>
<p>“This is one of several communications you will be receiving in the next few months. Your department will also be contacting you shortly with more details about the department and the major you have selected. These communications, and the others you receive, will contain information that will be important to your future here at Cal Poly, so we recommend you set up a file to organize all the information you will be receiving.”</p>
<p>So far, his file contains his acceptance letter and his housing confirmation. I told my son that he could get his computer as soon as he got the “big packet”, but I started thinking we were waiting for something that wasn’t coming and that was the reason for my original post. There are computer requirements posted on-line that seem pretty good until you get to the Apple store and realize that there’s some holes.</p>
<p>riverrunner said: I do wish we had some kind of admitted student info book though. There’s something about flipping through every page that makes you feel you haven’t overlooked something important.</p>
<p>Good point!</p>
<p>I could grow a forest in my backyard from all the paper that WASHU has generated just to my house, alone! ;-)</p>
<p>momomom remarked: And, yes, I agree with some schools sending out waaaaaay too much, ie, USC and WASHU.</p>
<p>We didn’t receive much information in the mail at all from the school or the architecture department, but my daughter got plenty of emails through the summer, so I guess you could print those out and start a file They do give parents and students lots of printed information at SOAR.</p>
<p>Architecture and computers: My daughter is a first-year arch major and says most of the arch students have MacBook Pros. It should have at least 4GBs of RAM and I would say at least a 500GB hard drive. The arch students use their computers a lot and run heavy duty software programs on them. Also a good back up drive is essential. My daughter’s hard drive crashed during the school year, but thank goodness she had all her work backed up! The school book store sells Apple computers and peripherals.</p>
<p>yeah you will get an email that sends you to a link to tell you that youre accepted, then you will get a letter from cal poly like a week or so later.</p>
<p>Thanks, momomom. We’ve got your recommendations for the memory and hard drive covered. Does your daughter have a preference for either iWork or Microsoft Office? Does she use AutoCAD or Revit? If so, what does she use to make them Mac compatible?</p>
<p>She uses MS Office. There is a list of computer requirements on the arch website. The students use Form Z and Sketch Up as well as Adobe Creative Suite. They all work on the Mac. She says most arch students prefer the Mac computers.</p>
<p>Oh, there is also a list of “Drawing Equipment and Materials” that students need. It’s a long list. We purchased it over the summer, mostly online, so she didn’t need to stress about finding it all there in the fall. I think it was cheaper that way, too!</p>
<p>Almost done one year in arch – can’t believe how much she has learned and accomplished in her first year. It sure is a great program!</p>
<p>Thanks! My son is so excited about Cal Poly and architecture, and I’m excited for him. I’ve heard so many good things about the program and I’m glad he’s going there; I just wish it wasn’t so far away. </p>
<p>We’ll look into the drawing equipment. Do you have a favorite on-line source. We’ve used Blick Art and have found their prices to be very good.</p>
<p>Yes, Blick is who we ordered from. I know it’s hard that it is so far away, but I guess it’s the price we pay for them to get such a good education. Just wish it was closer to home and not so hard to get back and forth from! It’s definitely worth it though…</p>