I was accepted to Cal Poly, but since I’m out of state I have not been to the campus yet. I am going to be visiting in about a week since I can’t miss the amount of school to go to the admitted students weekend event in April. I’m signed up for both the general and housing tours but there is a good chunk of time in between them, so I was wondering is it possible to meet with the financial aid office or sit in on a class during this time? Also just in general is there any must see things to do or see around the campus or San Luis Obispo in general? I’m only staying in the area for 1 night so I would like to get the most out of my visit as possible so I can make my college decision soon! Thanks for any help/advice!
What major?
@eyemgh English
@ParksAndWrecked Don’t know if you are aware but Poly is on spring break next week 21-25 if that is when you will be there so no classes opportunity. Don’t know how much of the campus will be open. Sounds like you will be seeing what is available then. Your tour guides should be able to give you some tips on must sees in the area.
@swimdogmom yes I am aware, unfortunately, it was the only time I was able to take off from school, I wish I could visit during a better time!
Let’s assume that you’ll hit the campus highlights on your tour. For the surrounding area, it’s nice to see downtown. I’d eat at Luna Red which is on the border of downtown and the park, right on the creek. I’d also go to Avela Beach. It’ll give you an idea of the proximity and relaxed nature of the beach on that part of the coast. My son is very busy, yet he finds time to go to Avela and watch the sunset to unwind fairly frequently.
With as little time as you’ll have there, I’d consider skipping the dorm tour. Dorms are dorms. The nicer ones are a little more remote and have fewer freshmen. The culture at Poly is to move off campus after first year anyway. Having been through that tour, your time could be better spent.
Also, as @swimdogmom mom recommended, your campus guides will give you good advice.
@eyemgh Thanks for the advice! I will definitely check out that beach!
If you have time, Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Solvang and Santa Barbara are nice places to visit nearby. What other schools are you considering?
Have fun on your trip out to SLO! Definitely take time to explore the city and surrounding area as much as you can. My S really liked the small college town - others might find it to be way too rural for them. I am surprised that the admitted student Open House is held during the school week - we are only a couple of hours away, but my S can’t miss school on that Friday to attend. I wonder why they don’t do these Open Houses on the weekend? It looks like most of the important information given during the Open House happens on Friday, with mostly entertainment on Saturday. Oh well.
@cadave We were actually already planning on going down to Santa Barbara, ha. I’ll look into the other places too! And as of right now my other top choice is Fordham University, so somewhat of a complete opposite.
@calmom2016 Thanks, I will! And yeah I was surprised about that too, unfortunately it’s also during the week after my spring break, otherwise it would have been perfect!
I second Hearst Castle, but too much to squeeze all into a single day. If nothing else, enjoy your visit. Good luck on admission to Fordham too.
Here are a few of my recommendations and favorites.
If you have questions post below, or ask around campus, people are more than willing to help you out.
Buildings:
-Engineering Buildings:
Engineering IV (building 192)
Bonderson Projects Laboratory (Building 197)
Industrial Manufacturing Engineering Laboratories (Building 41A at corner of campus)
-Rec Center (Building 43)
-Baker Math and Science (Building 180)
-Kennedy library (building 35)
-Housing areas: north mountain, redbricks, poly canyon village, cerro vista apartments, Yosemite/sierra madre towers
-Performing Arts center (PAC) building 6
Hiking:
-The Poly P
-Poly Canyon
-Leaning Pine Arboretum ( head north on Via Carta Ave and it’s near the end of the road on your right)
-Madonna Mountain
-Bob Hope trail
-Johnson Ranch
-Purfumo Canyon (if you’re feeling gutsy)
Food:
-Farmer’s Market: downtown every thursday night starting at 6pm on Higuera Street
-Urbane Cafe: 952 Higuera St
-Woodstock’s Pizza: 1000 Higuera S
-Splash Cafe: 893 Higuera St and also at 1491 Monterey St
-Firestone Grill: 1001 Higuera St
-Mo’s Smokehouse BBQ: 1005 Monterey St
-Slo Donut Co (“SloDoCo”) 793F Foothill Blvd
Although Hearst Castle is very interesting, I would not recommend it if time is short. It isn’t too representative of the campus since it’s a tourist location.
@r77r77 Thanks for the ideas! I’ll be sure to look into them (especially the food ones! ha)
We are arriving on a Sunday to visit campus all day Monday. Where would you recommend staying? Downtown? Any suggestions are appreciated.
@tuckcar, that’s what we’re doing too. We’ll be staying at the Avenue Inn Downtown. It’s convenient to check out the town and the bus to campus doesn’t look like it’s too far away.
There are several on Monterey that are convenient to downtown and campus. Since it’s spring break, campus parking shouldn’t be a problem. Get a visitors pass so you don’t get ticketed. Have fun!
visiting as an admitted electrical engineering major who cannot attend the admitted student days, any suggestion where else I should be seeing?
@newapplicant, the previous posts, especially #11 by @r77r77, cover a lot of good options.
Personally, I wouldn’t waste time on dorms. Dorms are dorms. Yes, some are nicer than others, but it’s FAR more about the group you’ll be living and learning with than it is about amenities. The culture at Poly is to move off campus after first year anyway.
Hit Kennedy Library, poke around all the engineering buildings. I’d go see The Silo in the Business school too. It’s the largest classroom on campus (approx. 200). Visit the rec center and the pools.
Go downtown and poke around. Finally, go to the beach, Avila or Pismo or both.
Enjoy!
@eyemgh Thanks for the suggestion. Should I join any school tour/make appointment for anything or it won’t make much difference?
@newapplicant, my son and I found all of the tours to be helpful in one way or another. I would suggest the Engineering Tour, the General Tour, and the Housing Tour. The Recreation Center Tour was also interesting. Some of it depends on your purpose for the visit. We visited twice. Last year (Spring of my son’s Junior year), we just went on the Engineering Tour, as we didn’t have time for anything else. This year (son now admitted and committed for Mechanical Engineering), we did the other tours because he wanted a better sense of the campus, where things were, what would be available, etc. While it’s true that housing shouldn’t make or break your decision, the tour did help my son with his order of preferences on his housing application. So, really it’s about what information would be helpful to you to have in making your decision.