<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>IMO both Cal Poly and UCI are the same. I don't view UCI as being more prestigious but quite equal. This is even more true since you want to major in business. What makes you assume that getting a job will be easier coming out of UCI? One of Cal Poly's strong points is that people love to hire their graduates due to the "learn by doing" way they have been educated. Cal Poly has an amazing rec center, I was just there during Easter break it's every bit as nice. I think Cal Poly has superior sports intramurals and clubs too. I have toured both schools and to me there is no comparison. UCI is so sterile it feels like an office park instead of a college campus. It is also quite dead on the weekends because it is a commuter campus. Cal Poly has the wonderful college town atmosphere. Just my 2 cents worth and totally an opinion (I have no agenda since I have no student attending Cal Poly. This is just my opinion after seeing both schools).</p>
<p>yeah, i have to agree with collegemom, that many companies actually like cal poly grads better BECAUSE of the "learn by doing" motto. it's hardER to graduate mostly if you're achitecture or some type of engineering, business should be ok in 4/4.5 years.</p>
<p>I agree, if fact, I think Cal Poly has a better reputation than UCI. The hands on approach is enticing to many businesses. I know many graduates from Cal Poly and they were all hired prior to graduation, and received great offers. </p>
<p>I think you need to determine whether you want a big school in an urban area near the beach....</p>
<p>or a medium size school in a rural area near the beach.</p>
<p>Good Luck, I am sure you will be happy with either school because they are both great.</p>
<p>i ended up having the same problem as you last year. uci? cal poly? well i ended up not liking the feeling of uci, everything seems so sterile and fake and the same. i just could not stand the feeling of it. and don't get all caught up in the fact that it's a uc, i know i did. cal poly could be a uc in the fact that the school is prestigous. the business majors i know here LOVEEEE it. but in the end it's up to you.
i chose cal poly because i liked the people a LOT more than uci, i liked the smaller class sizes and definitely enjoyed the hands on aspect of everything. i mean we make our own ice cream and chocolate here! i liked the weather a lot more, and i liked that the campus actually had some personality to it.</p>
<p>however there is no factual evidence to base my own personal opinion off of. just kidding.</p>
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<p>-getting a job might be easier out of UCI</p>
</blockquote>
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<p>One message I got consistently at the Calpoly Open house was the job placement from Cal poly. In Engineering it is like 90-95% placement and other depts also pretty high.</p>