UCSD vs Cal Poly SLO - Computer Science

Hey everyone! I know this is cutting it a bit close to the May 1st decision deadline but TBH I am a bit stuck on where to go for a CS degree for my undergraduate studies. I have gotten some fantastic offers from some of the best universities in the world but I have decided to stay a bit closer to home and go to a university in California. The two I have nailed it down to are Cal Poly SLO and UCSD (specifically Warren College). In terms of price they both are very similar so that isn’t the big issue for me.

Cal Poly SLO

Pros:

  • Smaller class sizes
  • Very hands-on and focused on internships
  • Seems like a super fun place to be (cool student life and experiences)
  • Located in-between the Bay Area and LA (two major hubs in California)

Cons:

  • When on campus, it doesn’t really feel like a university from the outside
  • Slightly less well known (but IDK if that matters)
  • Not super into research and not too many different options to explore

UCSD

Pros:

  • Got into the “engineering” college on campus
  • All the professors are very involved in their research fields and they are super well respected for that research
  • The campus had that WOW factor when I visited
  • Bigger school with more resources on campus (like a super computer and research institute) and a larger brand name (but IDK if that matters)

Cons:

  • Super huge class sizes with LOTS of people
  • Some labs are taught by TAs and it is a bit harder to form a relationship with a professor
  • Not as many internship opportunities and they are a lot harder to get

In terms of price they both are very similar so that isn’t the big issue for me.

I would be eligible for the Honors program at both school with my high school GPA (applied to Cal Poly’s honors program but waiting for a result and I am eligible for the honors society at Warren College)

Both schools are amazing and have the pros and their cons, but I was wondering if anyone had any advice or guidance on what to choose.

Thanks in advance!

Do you have direct admission to the CS major at both schools?

If not, see the following on the secondary admission to CS:

Yeah I do. I got into the CS program for both schools

Do you want to be a certain distance from home? Do you think you’d prefer being in a smaller town like SLO or more of a suburban/metro area like SD?

My son was accepted to both schools for EE and is attending UCSD, although Cal Poly had been his first choice all along. Because both programs are really strong, it boiled down to the fact that a couple of friends also got accepted at UCSD and all got Warren. He also felt like it was in the middle of nowhere (we’re from San Diego area), and felt the student population was not as diverse as UCSD, which was important to him.

I work for a large telecom and satellite company here in San Diego, and I can tell you that we recruit heavily from both schools. I consulted our recruiting team while S21 was in the decision process and they said you really can’t go wrong with either, it really does come down to whether you want more of that smaller classes, hands-on environment at SLO or the alternative environment at UCSD. It sounds as though you have a handle on what you’re getting with either option.

Both choices are great. Best of luck to you!

No bad choice between the two schools but very different locations and very different college experiences. Academically both are comparable so it seems which would be the better fit financially and socially for you.

Best of luck.

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Thank you so much for the information!

i agree - they are both academically excellent. I’d lean toward SLO for the college town and smaller campus. If you can, visit both again, talk to some students about their experience. I am sure one will feel like the best choice - go there and don’t look back.

Congrats and good luck.

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+1 with @NCalRent . Both good choices and respected. SLO is more of a college experience to me. It felt like a college town. UCSD felt like…I don’t know, but it didn’t resonate at all with me.

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