<p>So I've narrowed my decision down to UC Irvine and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I got into UCI as a Business Economics major and into Cal Poly as an Economics major. I've visited both campuses and love them both. They both have the major/program I want as well which makes it an even tougher choice.</p>
<p>We were at Cal Poly yesterday and my mom and I checked out the Orfalea School of Business and it was incredible. The professors were very nice and said hello and talked with us as we were walking around. I really like Cal Poly's "learn by doing" approach to education. Undergrad business students get one million dollars to invest in the stock market. We saw one of those professors who said hello outside the student market so I went up and asked him about Cal Poly. He happened to be the chair of the finance department in the business school. He and another professor (who taught at UCSB) sat down with me for about a half hour. He said both are excellent schools, but have their differences.</p>
<p>Here's my list of pros and cons for each school so far:</p>
<p>UCI:
+great location, Socal, tons of stuff to do
+more prestigious university
+dorms, off campus housing are better
+fantastic rec center
+seems like a good econ dept, if i decide to switch majors they offer better programs
+close to home
-commuter school
-larger classes than Cal Poly</p>
<p>Cal Poly:
+campus is beautiful
+true business school
+smaller classes, professors are there for the students, not really to do research
+college town
-not as highly regarded as UCI
-getting a job might be easier out of UCI
-harder to graduate in 4 years</p>
<p>So there's my list, anyone else have any input or advice to give me that might make my choice a little easier.</p>
<p>I would give the edge to UCI. But, I am a bit biased.</p>
<p>UCI will be offering a BA in business in '08.(but please call them to verify). So really, the only con for UCI is that it is not really a college town. That was an issue for me, but not the end of the world and I really enjoyed my time there. UCI keeps getting better with time.</p>
<p>I had the same prob couple weeks ago
heres what i found out</p>
<p>want to go in research and better education? ----> Irvine
want to get a job and have better impression on employers?----> CAL Poly</p>
<p>I dont mean this literally but you know wat i mean..............UCs and other research universities publish what is taught at CSU colleges. Cal Poly is just another CSU college..but with better education and better impression on industry.</p>
<p>Sorry, but Cal Poly wont give you a better impression with employers. That maybe true with employers with who were Cal Poly alumni, but as a general statement that is not true.</p>
<p>I got into business as well at Cal Poly but prefer UCI over CP:SLO. If you get past the visual lure that cal poly has (no doubt that orfalea looks nice), you will see that cal poly is just a machine that wants to pump you out into the job world and add you too another statistic (96% students graduate and get jobs or w/e). For me, I dont plan on ending my education after I receive my undergraduate degree. If you look at the local businesses offering positions, many of the large firms are located right next to irvine. You cannot say the same for a school such as cal poly. I want to work after my undergraduate, and then consider graduate school to further my education in business.</p>
<p>Edit: And the learn by doing approach will be applied when you are actually in a job after you get your undergrad degree in business, regardless of where you go. Cal poly just wants to prepare students for a job. I think poly tailors their education for students who dont plan on going further than undergrad school.</p>
<p>Eh... I've actually spoken with a few companies in the silicon valley such as SVG, Intel, Cisco, Applied Materials, and some small semiconductor companies (I live there) and they tend to love the more local/state colleges. I was actually buying a pair of speakers off of someone on craiglist, and he happened to be a Cisco worker in management. We talked for awhile, and when I told him I'm heading to UCI for college he said "Hmm...you should go to Santa Clara University, Cal Poly, or SJSU for electrical engineering. We like to hire them because those UC kids don't know much. All they know is theory." My father also works at Cisco so I wasn't surprised. He has always told me to go to cal poly instead of UCI, but I have different goals only a UC can offer. My dad says that Cisco doesn't normally like UCD applicants either, but my cousin, who he got a job for, was able to get in after UCD. Even my cousin told me to screw UCI/UCD and go to Cal Poly.</p>
<p>Well, it seems like you are talking about silicon valley/engineer jobs - which is definitely a large part of the CA economy. However, trust me on this, UCI (and other mid tier/top tier UCs) will have the same (if not more) opportunities than a Cal Poly grad.</p>
<p>Not to be a snob, but having been out there... it is kinda true.</p>
<p>Ah, you definitely have a point. You are prepared for more things as a UC student. Being at UCI will offer me the opportunity to either join the working force of engineers or continue on with graduate school/research =].</p>
<p>There is no doubt that many companies prefer engineering students out of cal poly. It is a great engineering school, it prepares students for jobs, and they are ready to enter the workforce right out of undergrad. My mom works for an engineering firm and they hire from cal poly, berkeley, and davis. If you look at the big 4 (big 4 accounting and business firms located in irvine), they mainly hire from irvine. Although you may not be as prepared for a work environment, you will have time to grow and in the long run will have more knowledge than a typical cal poly student. If you also choose to go to grad school, you will be preferred as opposed to a kid with a BS in business admin. I just think the connections are a little bit stronger at UCI because it is located in the epicenter of the financial district containing the big 4 and other firms in orange county. Engineering is another story...</p>
<p>Fycus, your info definitely makes sense for business.
If someone could provide similar kind of info for eng.......
especially about all the silicon valley companies.........do they like nocal colleges or socal colleges better?.......( basically, UCI or UCD?)</p>
<p>But what I have learned from going to different colleges is....
w.e college you go to doesn't make much diff..
what makes diff is what you do at the college you go to..
so for example...
-if you participated in any undergrad research...
-if you really know your proff. who can write letter of recs for you .....
-if you actively participated in any projects going around your community that are in concern with your studies.....
-and more importantly, the homework you have done about the company before going there for interview.....
stuff like that</p>
<p>I'm also debating between these 2 colleges. I'm majoring in Computer Science. Being asian myself, I feel more at home at UCI after touring both campuses. After graduation, I would like to move back to the Silicon Valley, but I'm scared that it will be hard to find a job if I go to UCI. I know my chances will probably be higher if I go to Cal Poly SLO. What should I do?</p>
<p>Whatever you feel is more comfortable. Either way you will be able to get a nice job, as long as you work hard and have the grades to prove it. Make sure you get involved in the school you choose as well.</p>