Currently, I am stuck between Cal Poly SLO and UCI, both of which I have been accepted to as a history major.
I would like to become a high school history teacher, and I was wondering which of the two schools would
be better for such? I do not particularly care about the “prestige” of the schools. I have also visited both of them, and enjoy the feel provided by both campuses (however I am a bit more inclined to San Luis Obispo as a town).
Cost differences? If you like SLO more, then go there. You will get a good education at either school so what is was important are social and financial considerations. Pick the one that you see yourself attending for 4 years.
A Happy student= Successful student
UCI has a much better history program. It is nationally known. Its faculty includes someone who won a National Humanities Medal. It has a nationally known emphasis in World History. Excellent faculty in the following areas: Latin American history, Europe, South Asia, Asia, Jewish history. It also runs a special program to train high school teachers. In other words, high school teachers go to UCI for workshops. I do not recommend SLO for the humanities. But those are purely academic considerations. I do agree with Gumbymom that you also need to consider a place were you will feel comfortable financially and personally. It does not matter how good a university or program is if the student is not happy and able to do good work.