<p>For those who have researched Cal Poly SLO extensively or attend what are your favorite things about Cal Poly SLO?</p>
<p>Location-only ten minutes away from the gorgeous Pismo beach
It is also in a nice town and you could easily go to LA or San Francisco. It is also in California and it has always been a dream of mine to live there. The weather is great too and it just seems like a great school overall.</p>
<p>LOCATION: 2-3 hours from SF. 2-3 from LA. Not smoggy like SoCal, and not cold like NorCal. Central California is awesome, and it truly fits the outsiders imagined image of California, a sunny city surrounded by golden hills, and sunny beaches.</p>
<p>CITY: I have friends at UCB, UCLA, UCSB, SDSU and pretty much all the other major CA colleges, and they wished they had applied or went to Cal Poly SLO. The students tend to be laid-back and chill, and friendly. San Luis Obispo isn't very urban. There are a lot of grassy lawns, and a lot of seperated houses. Downtown SLO is unbelievable.</p>
<p>REPUTATION: Cal Poly SLO is definitely the best CSU. I would say that it would be a middle to upper tier UC if it was in the UC system. A lot of students pass up Ivy's to go to CP's engineering and architecture programs. </p>
<p>Architecture is in the top 10 in the nation. Engineering is probably top 20.</p>
<p>Im surprised that a lot of OOS students are finding out about Cal Poly. I'd say its pretty unknown outside of CA. </p>
<p>Overall I would say Cal Poly SLO is California's hidden gem.</p>
<p>It's probably easier to make a list of my least favorite things about SLO:
-No Target (closest is in Santa Maria)
-Closest In&Out is in Atrashcadero, and there's no Wendy's (FROSTIES :<). There's no drive-thru's, and only one escalator (goes up, but not down :P)
-Off-campus housing is REALLY limited so landlords can charge whatever they want
-It gets FREEZING at night; makes for good beach bonfires, though
-GEs are a pain to register for
-50/50 chance that Pismo is foggy :( At least there's Avila.
-Comcast is the only internet/cable provider (at least close to campus), and their customer service is awful
-When it rains, it RAINS. Parts of campus turn into lakes, lol.
-On-Campus parking SIGH :(
-SLO is super-sleepy and small... which can be good or bad. It is pretty hilarious running into you professors at bars on Saturday night, though.</p>
<p>In & Out burger is pretty close dude. Like 10-15 minute drive up the coast. Off campus housing is relatively cheap compared to most other universities. 500-600$ for a room in a house, close to campus.. At UCSB you have to pay close to 700-800$ for a shared room in cramped Isla Vista.</p>
<p>Yeah, 15 minutes away, except you have to go up the grade :P</p>
<p>And 500-600$ for your own room in a house? Let me know where the houses YOU'VE been living in are :P Shared, sure. I'm paying $460 for a shared room in a house 4 miles from campus at the moment. The apartments within walking distance to campus are easily $600-800/room. Close houses are like 700-800$/room, especially when you get onto Hathaway and such...as you get further away (ie, Madonna and LOVR), the price will drop to ~600$/room. I've NEVER seen a room in a house for 500, close to campus though :P...and I've looked at a lot of houses.</p>
<p>I too have not heard of a room in a house for 500 except for some specific cases. (student studying abroad renting out his room for a couple quarters for less than the price of rent in order to get at least some money back)</p>
<p>My favorite thing personally is the food, the quality of education, and the people here. Not a huge fan of the area though. Oh and LA's more of 3-4 hours away given that there is usually traffic in SB or LA.</p>