Trip Report: CalPoly SLO

<p>Junior S and I visited [url=<a href="http://www.calpoly.edu%5DCalPoly"&gt;www.calpoly.edu]CalPoly&lt;/a> SLO<a href="California%20Polytechnic%20State%20University,%20San%20Luis%20Obispo">/url</a> on Monday. Since he's interested in the Engineering school there, we took two tours: the morning Engineering tour (with ~30 people: the guide said last week the tour had 3), and the afternoon general tour (with <em>300</em> people! broken into 3 groups, still too large for a decent tour and little interaction with the tourguide unless you are assertive... which luckily we are). We drove to SLO from the San Jose area, about a 3-hour trip, on Sun. night and stayed in a nice B&B in town. There are several hotels and B&Bs available.</p>

<p>The campus was a good size, very clean and with gorgeous California hills on several sides. It didn't seem crowded anywhere (except in the lobby waiting for the tours to begin!). The buildings were mostly cinderblock or nondescript brick, with some exceptions (performing arts center, library...). The tourguide explained that this is because of earlier-decade concerns about nearby Vandeberg AFB and a nuclear power plant which led to the desire for "bomb shelters" (more likely air raid shelters). The architecture was not consistent, but was utilitarian. Construction of a large new engineering complex is underway; a new science & math building is being designed. Cars are NOT recommended on campus, it's just not possible to get a parking space (literally as a freshman/sophomore unless you live in some outlying areas, figuratively later). The guides mentioned that the school is "best" and "#1" for several departments on several lists. (I didn't know Burt Rutan, John Madden, and Weird Al Yankovic were alums!)</p>

<p>Regular (general) tour
The school motto is "Learn by doing", hence there are many hands-on opportunities. The school has ~18K undergrads, who apply by the college they are interested in: Agriculture, Architecture, Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Science & Mathematics, Education (masters only). Most students in Engineering take 5 years minimum to graduate; Architecture can take up to 7 years (and still only result in a Bachelors degree). The guide claimed that this is not because of problems getting into required classes, but because it's not possible, from a workload standpoint, to handle more than 3 courses per term. I found this hard to believe, but the students we talked with seemed to think 3 courses was the max. It is close to impossible to double-major or minor in anything else if your major is Engineering or Architecture: you may not double-major within your school, and both schools have to agree to you doubling, which is apparently a non-trivial exercise. ~75% of students live off-campus, within 2 miles of school. Most of the town is school-focused. Most freshmen live on-campus, but it tapers off fast after that. There is a choice of dorms segregated by major, or mixed-major apartments. We were not able to see the dorms. Food services on-campus are nothing special, several eateries (one with really good pizza).</p>

<p>Engineering tour
I <em>HIGHLY</em> recommend this if your student is interested in any of the engineering disciplines, even though it means two tours. Our guide was a "graduating senior" (fifth year), who took us through many lab areas: embedded systems lab, networking lab, foundry, welding lab, fabrication labs, robotic systems lab, machine shops, wind tunnel, flight simulator, civil engineering construction lot... Juniors and seniors work on a big design/build project, and there is heavy job fair recruiting for graduates. Three professors and six students were called into action during the tour to tell us about their work, all were very engaged, enthusiastic, knowledgeable. We saw excellent equipment, the labs seemed very heavily funded, all were well appointed with modern equipment. Lots of industry involvement (naming classrooms and labs, lending equipment for testing, etc.)</p>

<p>SLO seems to exist for the college, and vice-versa. There are lots of shops, several hotels and B&Bs near the school, good transportation around campus & town (free with student ID). The Ag School runs a store on-campus selling student-produced meats, cheeses, dairy products, produce, and CHOCOLATE!</p>

<p>My son thought it was a pleasant school and nice little town, very pretty. Pismo Beach is about a half hour away, and lots of students do learn to surf while there. :) S also thought it sounded like students didn't do much other than their coursework, and <em>still</em> couldn't graduate in 4 years. As a Cal State U, there are some standard admissions requirements, but selectivity varies depending on the school you apply to. S will likely apply.</p>

<p>Great review Mootmom!!</p>

<p>S#2 is a sophomore, not quite sure what he wants to major in, but engineering is a possibility. Cal Poly is only a 3 hour drive from us, too!</p>

<p>We went on the same tour about a year ago. I would agree it was very impressive. The school is in a such a beautiful location, and has a small school setting. Great weather, lots and lots of things to do nearby. My son received the 'acceptance' today, via their website. For him, it will depend upon which schools he is accepted to, and which offer financial aid (scholarships, grants, etc). Good luck to all.</p>

<p>wonderful report mm!</p>

<p>fwiw: a couple of young adult neighbors both went to SLO and graduated in four years....parents said that they would only pay for four- haha.</p>

<p>But, yes, Architecture and engineering school are tough</p>

<p>Great report. I am thinking about taking my son to visit over spring break. Did the engineering tour give average GPA for admitted students?</p>

<p>Regarding courseload- I went to Cal Poly many moons ago and even back then it was tough to graduate in 4 years. Most majors had very specific and numerous required courses with few electives. It was difficult to take classes just for knowledge. I also worked my butt off and often walked away with a C. I then transferred to another state school and it was a breeze compared to Cal Poly.
Are there any plans to build more housing? I heard that this past year 500 freshman who wanted housing were not able to get it.</p>

<p>Add my nephew to your list of distinguished alumni! ;) he majored in Computer Science and now has a great job with Apple Computer in the Bay Area.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/Pdf/Profile05.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/Pdf/Profile05.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks Dstark- Do you think the GPA is weighed? I know that Cal Poly is the most selective of the Cal States but those average GPA's seem high if they aren't weighed.</p>

<p>I think they are weighted.</p>

<p>Cal Poly also looks at ninth grade which is different than most state schools in Cal.</p>

<p>Lots of information.
<a href="http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/undergrad/prospective.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/undergrad/prospective.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Cal Poly has one of the easiest applications.</p>

<p>Choose a major in the link for more information.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/undergrad/prospective_freshmen.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/undergrad/prospective_freshmen.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Here is an example:</p>

<p>Selection for the majors of:
Architecture
Landscape Architecture
City and Regional Planning
Fall 2006
These majors accepts freshman applications for the Fall quarter only.</p>

<p>Freshman applicants compete to be selected only against other freshman applicants applying for the same major through a point-based evaluation of four academic categories and one non-academic category. The five categories are weighted differently for different colleges/majors and combine to provide a final result used in conjunction with other applicants applying for that major.</p>

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<p>Was more than 25% of your work related to your Cal Poly choice of major? (yes or no)
3. Average number of hours per week involved in community service, arts, clubs, and other extra-curricular activities during the last 12 months?
4. Do you hold or have you held any leadership positions in the activities from question #3 (examples include Senior Class President, Yearbook Editor, etc.)?</p>

<p>This is the only information taken concerning extra-curricular activities and work experience. Personal essays, letters of recommendation, and statements of purpose are not used during the admissions selection process.</p>

<p>The information for all five sections comes from the supplemental information obtained by the CSUMentor online application.</p>

<p>All information is subject to change without prior notice.</p>

<p>Thanks again. I should have looked at the website before asking. He hasn't gotten the idea yet that he needs to start getting some idea as to where he wants to look and apply. Cal Poly is 2 hours from home and he hasn't expressed much interest but we are going to make him at least look. His sister refused to even consider it. She thought it was the ugliest school she had ever seen.This was her I am not getting out of the car school. I think the real truth was she wanted something further from home.</p>

<p>I'm trying to get my son to look at Cal Poly, but your daughter's comment that "it was the ugliest school she has ever seen", isn't going to help. :)</p>

<p>My son thought the architecture was kind of mixed up, but the location was gorgeous. It was nowhere NEAR the ugliest school we have ever seen. So please don't give your son the impression that everyone thinks this, 'k? :)</p>

<p>Actually, If "I" tell my son the school is the ugliest I've ever seen, he will love the school. :)</p>

<p>mootmom, nice report. I didn't realize the school was one-half hour away from Pismo Beach. Pismo Beach is a very nice beach.</p>

<p>Mootmom. I have this vision that TJGH will go to CalPoly, will absolutely rip the joint apart, will transfer to Caltech and become the true academic of the family. Or maybe not. But it is possible. Anyway, thanks for the great report.</p>

<p>dstark- The kiss of death for Cal Poly probably was that I went there and the parents thought it was a great choice. Whenever we head north we have to drive through San Luis and we always asked the kids if they wanted to drive through the campus. I would be shocked at the changes and they would not even look up from their gameboys.
I agree it is a nice location. Close enough to get to the ocean but inland enough that you don't get the fog. Nice downtown and easy to get around even if you only have a bike. We used to ride our bikes from SLO to Avila beach on a frontage road. It is also just 20 minutes to Morro Bay. I love San Luis Obispo and if I didn't love living in SB I would want to live in SLO in one of those old house's on those beautiful tree lined streets.</p>

<p>mom60, my wife and I took my son and 2 of his friends down to Morro Bay for a vacation. We also spent a day at Pismo Beach. The boys had a very good time, fishing, surfing, and playing golf. When I mentioned we should stop off and look at Cal Poly, my son said "No". So, I have never seen the campus. (And we can see who is the boss. :))</p>

<p>I agree the area is beautiful.</p>

<p>The one downside, and for some people I think a very large one, is it is not near a city.</p>

<p>MootMoom, if your S winds up going to CalPoly, I need to give you my cheat sheet of terrific restaurants in Templeton, Cambria, and Solvang, all in about a 40-minute radius. </p>

<p>I think CalPoly is an unknown gem and getting <em>quite</em> difficult to get into. I'm not a fan of its architecture. And, finally, it's not Smith. But as a (nominally) SoCal school, it's a great choice. Beware of impacted majors and getting the classes you want when you want.</p>

<p>I second TheDad; in our area Cal Poly is NOT an easy admission for a bright kid! It is much more selective than it used to be. My D had friends applying ED to Cal Poly last year. I was so shocked, because back in the day it was a slam dunk for a B student. Not anymore. But moot, I think for northern Cal kids it might be a little less tight.</p>

<p>I have also heard stories of kids who wanted CalPoly and didn't get in. One was a younger sister who had virtually the same profile as her sister a couple of years older, slightly better even, but the older sis was admitted and attended, and the younger sister applied a couple of years later and didn't get in--it was quite a disappointment. My former neighbor sent both of her kids to the CC that feeds CalPoly (Cuesta?) and both transferred to CalPoly and got the CalPoly degree--that's another option.</p>

<p>Went to rehearsals for a Mozart festival there 2 summers ago and fell in love with the town, mission and all! I only saw the campus at night. My son and I were walking around trying to figure out how to gain entrance into their new music facility where he had an appointment to meet an oboist. We finally gained access: that building was great.</p>