<p>I've been looking into Cal Poly SLO for their Mechanical Engineering program; the "learn by doing" philosophy attracts me a great deal. Also, my financial situation is not by any means ideal, so the lower cost is particularly attractive. However, I want to go to get a graduate degree (probably not immediately) and, from what I've read, SLO is not ideal if you want to get a graduate education... for whatever reason. If someone could tell me why, that would be great.</p>
<p>I've also been looking into UC Santa Barbara and Davis. I would consider going to Berkeley or UCLA, but I think I'd rather go there for a graduate education if at all.</p>
<p>I'm leaning towards SLO, but it's really SLO vs. Davis vs. Santa Barbara at this point. Which school will give me the best education? What other factors should I take into consideration when making my decision?</p>
<p>*However, I want to go to get a graduate degree (probably not immediately) and, from what I’ve read, SLO is not ideal if you want to get a graduate education… </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>That is silly…who told you that?</p>
<p>Are you a senior? </p>
<p>Have you applied to any of these schools? If so, which one?</p>
<p>I’ve seen some people post messages on College Confidential and some other places about how it would be better to go to a UC for a bachelors if you wanted a graduate education afterwards. There wasn’t any explanation for why.</p>
<p>I haven’t applied to any of the schools yet. I’m in my 2nd semester at my local community college after testing out of high school. The financial aid office and my counselor have required/requested me to make an academic plan to commit to.</p>
<p>*I’ve seen some people post messages on College Confidential and some other places about how it would be better to go to a UC for a bachelors if you wanted a graduate education afterwards. There wasn’t any explanation for why.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Sounds like some students guessing or wrongly assuming based on…nothing.</p>
Don’t believe that. It can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff on this board, since anyone can have an opinion.</p>
<p>And the remedy for “opinion” is fact. You can contact one of the advisors in the Mech Eng dept at Cal Poly and ask them what people do after undergrad; heck, maybe you can find that online. I’d bet a good number of them go on for a MS degree.</p>
<p>As for where the rumor comes from, the CA master plan for education has the PhD degree awarded by UC schools, the highest degree given by the CSU system is the Masters (although things have changed a bit since the 1950’s when the master plan was initially formulated). So people may be connecting the degrees offered with opportunities for undegrads, but they’re by no means the same thing!</p>
<p>Since this is an advice forum, let me add mine. First, if possible visit the schools you are considering. Cost isn’t the only differentiator; the feel of the campus and the type of student it attracts will differ among Davis, Santa Barbara, and Cal Poly. Second, if at all feasible, take part in the 5-year Masters programs. It takes one extra year but then you’re done and have the degree forever; in engineering it is going to be very difficult to work for a few years and then go back for a MS since the opportunity cost of lost pay is so high. Some people do a part-time MS while still working, but that takes 2-3 years at least and consumes pretty much all your free time.</p>
<p>About getting into graduate schools, people might say the UC’s are a better choice for undergrad because of their more theoretical approach. UC’s are considered more “theoretical” while Cal Poly is considered more “hands on.” Does it really make a difference for grad school? No idea. Graduate school might be more theoretical in nature, making the UC’s better preparation, though I don’t know if either type of school will give you a leg up in the admissions process.</p>
<p>When the OP says graduate school, does he mean Masters or PhD? Any engineering masters program is going to be a slam dunk after Cal Poly. You’ll be doing a 12 to 18-month project as the main part of your masters, which will correlate very well to the project work you did as an undergrad at Cal Poly. If you mean PhD, then you will be at a disadvantage when compared to other PhD candidates who had a deeper theoretical undergraduate experience. That doesn’t mean it’s not possible, just that it will be much more competitive.</p>
<p>I want to pursue either/both. At the moment I’d rather go after a master’s first and then a PhD, but I expect that my interests will change at some point in the future. Right now I just want the best possible undergraduate education.</p>