<p>Okay, so I am a high school senior. I never thought of myself as the best student nor the worst student. I always took honors/AP classes, I maintained a 3.8 GPA, and I got a 32 ACT score. I had some mediocre EC, nothing out of the ordinary. I took AP Calc BC, AP Statistics, AP Environmental Sciences, and 11 Honors.
I knew that I wanted to apply as an engineer. I realized this was impacted, and while i'm above the stats for my ACT score and such, I thought my GPA was a little low. I didn't realize how badly applying for this major would affect my admssion rate.
I applied to all the UCs this fall, and the Cal Polys. I really wanted to get into UCI, UCD, UCSD, UCSB, or UCLA. I got rejected from all of them. It's a little tough for me. However, I managed to get into UCSC, and Cal Poly Pomona. Now those schools aren't bad, in fact CPP is ranked #14 for engineering which is the major I want to study. UCSC is really only in question because it is a UC. I know that for my future, CPP is probably the ideal choice, as I want to pursue engineering, and it is ranked at the same levels as UCI, UCD, UCSD, and UCSB. However, I can't shake the fact that I wasn't admitted, and while it is higher ranked, I don't know what to do. My dream is to go to a UC (and I don't think UCSC works for me). So i'm wondering, should I go to CPP and then try to transfer to graduate school for engineering? Should I go to UCSC and make the best out of it? Should I go to a CC for two years and transfer? Is it even easy to go to Cal Poly and transfer to a UC after getting undergrad?
At this point, i'm really confused. I know that it's much harder to get into anywhere as an engineering major, but I would really appreciate if someone can help me figure out what to do.
I'm leaning toward going to Cal Poly and finishing my undergraduate school, and applying for graduate school at a UC (although I don't know very much about the process).
My parents are basically scoffing at the idea of a CC, so I don't believe that's likely. Money isn't really an issue for tuition either.
Anyways, if someone can help me figure out some thing I can do, that would be great.
I'm currently appealing to the UCs, hoping I can try to get in as a non-engineer.
Any input would be great!
Also if you know a lot about Cal Poly (I got into the Kellogg Honors Program) or UCSD, let me know any pros and cons!
And If you know anything about graduate school after CPP, that would be great.</p>
<p>Both Cal Polys are known for their engineering programs so as far as prestige, I’d say CPP gives you much more for engineering than UCSC. Also, the atmosphere between the two are quite parallel. I hated UCSC’s campus (outdated) where as CPP’s facilities were cleaner and overall nicer. Santa Cruz is also on the shorter end of the UC system also, so the UC title isn’t much.</p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with UCSC, if you tour the school and think you’d excel there, by all means go but, I think your instincts are right. CPP will provide a solid foundation for your engineering career. Don’t get hung up on who didn’t take you. Look forward and embrace the opportunity fully. </p>
<p>I’m not an engineering student at Cal Poly Pomona (math student & graduating senior), but 95% of my friends are. Not in Civil because there’s this rumor that it’s the easiest here other than industrial, but they’re in Mechanical. I should be entering the master’s in mechanical this fall. Anyways, CPP will take you far if you do well here! A lot of people don’t do well here. They’re great students coming in from high school and they just tank. A lot. It’s a tough program at least for MechE.</p>
<p>You’ll get a good/great education at Cal Poly Pomona. I went the community college route and as far as general eds go I hated them because they were so watered down a monkey could pass them and I even took honors classes at CC while prepping for UC. When I had to take my upper-division synthesis classes here, I learned A LOT. I did however get a good math education at CC since most people were preparing to go into engineering/hard science at UC or Cal Poly’s, so you might be interested in going that route since you intend on being an engineer. I don’t regret choosing a Cal Poly over a UC. You have great earning potential coming from here after graduating. </p>
<p>A UC name won’t give you THAT much edge over a Cal Poly Pomona graduate, especially since you’d be doing engineering. You do well here you’ll get great employment. Almost all of my friends have internships and 20 something an hour isn’t that bad at all for an intern.</p>
<p>CPP has the superior engineering program. I like your plan of attending there, then going to a UC for grad school if that’s what you decide to do.</p>
<p>Yes, go to CPP!</p>