<p>From this: <a href=“https://www.careers.calpoly.edu/search.php[/url]”>https://www.careers.calpoly.edu/search.php</a>. I have noticed that a majority of computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering graduates go into the work force. Now, my goal is not to go into the private sector, but to go into academia. Idealistically, I want to be able to undergrad research and I wonder if CP SLO or CP Pomona are the best institutions to go for. Undoubtedly, those two campuses will probably the most affordable ones for me and would probably have to consider them. I also want to know why the graduates that do go into grad school usually do not get into such prestigious programs such ans Caltech and MIT (I know there was like one that went to Princeton and Harvard, may be two that went to Stanford).</p>
<p>I know most students’ ambitions are different from mine and that can account for the majority going into private sector jobs, but still does not explain grad school admissions.</p>
<p>I’ll chime in as an engineering graduate student here. Professors do less research here than other major research universities such as the UCs. However, as a student you won’t be competing with doctoral students for a professor’s time like you would at other institutions. When a professor gets a grant for a research project, he or she usually looks to undergraduates for help. You could also come to professors with research ideas and most would be happy to advise a project. Also as an undergraduate you can take graduate level courses that are more research oriented. Projects from graduate courses can usually lead to a publication with a little bit of extra work.</p>
<p>I’d suggest looking at other schools (the UCs in particular if you can afford them) first if your interested in research.</p>
<p>I think the graduate school admissions are about right given the few students who apply for doctoral studies. I think that it would be difficult to find a school out of the top 40 or so that consistently sends a significant amount of students to doctoral programs at top universities.</p>
<p>You are mostly right that Cal Poly is very focused on post-undergraduate professional development. Most of CP’s engineering grads do immediately enter the industries. So on first glance, if you desire is to become a research scientist, you are probably better off going to a private research university or a top ranked UC. </p>
<p>However, with that said, Cal Poly does produce some excellent Phd students here and there. For instance, one of the mission specialist/astronaut on the last space shuttle flight was a Cal Poly engineering graduate. He went on to get his graduate degrees in Cal Tech and MIT. In fact, Cal Poly produced several very accomplished astronauts/scientists.</p>