<p>Hey guys, so I originally only got accepted into Cal Poly SLO for Materials Engineering but I got off the wait-list for Davis for Chemical Engineering yesterday. I already SIR’d to Cal Poly, but now that Davis is a possible candidate, I am in a dilemma. I know that Cal Poly SLO is probably most prestigious in terms of engineering and that they are heavily recruited. However, coming from an Asian-background, I personally would feel more comfortable at Davis and feel that I would fit in more. I am also not really sure how the chemical engineering department at Davis is like. Any advice or suggestions would be nice! Thanks!</p>
<p>I think you could contact SLO and let them know that you were recently accepted at another school that is closer to what you’d like to do. You’ll lose your deposit, but I think if you really want Davis, you should go there. It does happen.
Davis is going to be more expensive, but it should be okay.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m sure you’d fit in fine at Cal Poly, so I wouldn’t let that influence your decision too much.</p>
<p>And UC Davis’s Chemical Engineering department is ABET accredited, which means it meets the standards for you to become a profession engineer.</p>
<p>My advice is to choose the school that fits your intended major best. If you want ChemE then go to Davis. That discipline is practically the only engineering major that Cal Poly does not offer. However, if you want Materials go to Cal Poly SLO.</p>
<p>UCD is a fine school worthy of consideration. However to choose UCD over Cal Poly because of a perceived lack of diversity (i.e. not enough Asians) is just plain ridiculous. </p>
<p>I believe that I have responded to your concerns over there not being enough Asians at Cal Poly on other threads. I strongly encourage you to drop that entire thought process. As our family has strong Asian roots, I can speak about this topic with authority. You will fit in at Cal Poly. If my kid does, you will too.</p>
<p>Let’s face it, as a ChemE major you will most likely end up in an industry that has a minority of Asian workers. This is particularly true in the petroleum industry. If BP, Shell or Mobil offer you an $85,000 to $100,000 a year job in Houston will you turn them down because in your opinion they don’t have enough Asians and you would be afraid that you might not fit in? That is just plain crazy.</p>
<p>If you want to move up in the World you are going to have to get comfortable with all races. Someday, you may be tapped for a management potion in your future company and you may have White, Latino, Middle Eastern or African American subordinates. Don’t you think that you might need to learn how to interact with these groups BEFORE you get to the management stage? Wouldn’t it be nice to have started working with other races in college? The sooner you get comfortable with all races (both men and women too) the better.</p>