<p>Please tell me some of the pros or cons of UCI or Cal Poly SLO. How much research opportunities can I get from each school? Which companies offer jobs at each school? (I want to work near Los Angeles). I want to go to a good graduate school, so which school will help me get there. I dont want to drop out, so where will I be able to learn how the things work theoretically as well as hands on? Where will I have a better social life? </p>
<p>I went to the open house for SLO, and my family and I talked to a staff (one on one) for about 30 mins on why SLO is a good choice for me. He gave us his card, and we found out that he was the chair for the Electrical Engineering department. On the other hand, in UCIs open house, counselors instead of teachers were telling us about the programs. </p>
<p>Pros for UCI:
closer to home (45 mins)
I really liked the atmosphere
I am used to being around asians, and I like their culture
UC school (prestige)
It seems to me that I will have a better social college exp. there
City
Prepare for graduate school
Cons: large population-I will have a hard time standing out if I want to be part of programs and research, if I transfer major I will still have a good education, theoretical education-wont know how things work</p>
<p>Pros for Cal Poly:
Far from home (3-4 hrs)
Small classes- can stand out and interact with teachers
I might have more opportunities to take part in research or programs
Engineering is their specialty
Hands on learning
Prepare for work
I get full loan (not a big deal)
Cons: education for other majors are not as good, isolated, I went to the open house and I did not like the environment that much; does not prepare for grad. School</p>
<p>My mom wants me to go to UCI as it is closer and has the UC name
My dad wants me to go to SLO as it is more hands on learning</p>
<p>by the way, it is for engineering. And I would prefer current students and alumni to tell me about their experience at each school. Did you regret about the school that you picked?</p>
<p>The big issue is Irvine is a commuter campus. Cal Poly definitely has the much better social life between the two. It’s a college town and a residential campus. I’d choose it hands down. And is their a state college in all of CA without a huge Asian population?</p>
<p>Since I am a shy person, will it be harder to make friends and socialize in UCI? Does Cal Poly have a good social scene? I usually don’t stay away from my parents, so going to Cal Poly means that I get to visit them once per month max. Therefore I want to be busy with education and friends in SLO.</p>
<p>Anyone shy will have to put themself out there to make friends anyplace. Poly is the more social school and it seems to be a very social school. They also have freshmen trips before school starts which is a great way to make friends right from the start. I don’t know of any other school in the CA system that does that.</p>
<p>I think the academics would be about on par though reading through the boards, CP engineering seems to be a little more selective as several kids report getting into UCI but not CP.</p>
<p>It is not that I did not like SLO, I just thought it was really isolated being a city girl myself. I also thought that I won’t have a fun college experience in a small town. I don’t like going out to party, but I want to have a good college social life. After looking online, SLO seems to have a better environment because UCI is a commuter school, and I heard it is dead on weekends.</p>
<p>I am more worried about the research and program opportunities. It seems like I will be lost in the crowd in UCI, but there will be more things to do. In SLO, it would be easier to stand out to be part of the programs. I need to do a lot of internships and research to get into a good graduate school. And in the end, if I don’t go to one, I want to have security to find a good job. Talking to people, some say that companies jump at CP SLO graduates. While others tell me that neither they nor their companies have ever heard about SLO, and they would choose a UC graduate, hands down.</p>