<p>So, I got accepted for Materials Engineering and accepted admissions. That is all well and good, but now I’m mulling over what to do about housing. You see, I live about 30 miles from Cal Poly (Paso Robles), and so I’ve been thinking about whether to stay on campus (Cerro Vista if I can) or to stay with my parents and make the drive every day. What do you all think?</p>
<p>Also, the deadline for the Fafsa for Cal Poly is March 2nd right?</p>
<p>March 2nd is the Fafsa priority deadline; however, student loans are first come first serve, so make sure you get everything done soon.</p>
<p>I think you should commute. Transportation costs may be discouraging, but you won't have to worry so much about food and whatnot. Pasa Robles is nice (HOT, but nice), I have relatives in Arroyo Grande, but I live in San Diego.</p>
<p>Congrats on acceptance. I still have to wait.</p>
<p>See, that's what I was thinking, it will be cheaper to commute as long as gas prices don't radically change, but what if I have a large gap between classes, or whatever. I don't particularly want to drive there and back more than once a day. I don't know though, part of me wants to get out on my own, but part of me wants to stay at my house with the good food, family, and all that. </p>
<p>Good luck on admission.</p>
<p>Well, family will always be there. So you can live in the dorms if you feel like you want to experience that, and you can always drive home to visit the family and eat. There's nothing wrong with that, you'll just have to worry about room and board costs. 60 miles a day, that's gotta mean a fill up every couple of days. It's up to you, but I think in this situation you may have your cake and eat it.</p>
<p>There is a lot to be said for the dormitory, total college experience. (there are some decent threads on the subject in this forum) If you can afford it I'd go for it. If nothing else its a decent transition to being totally on your own plus you will begin to learn how to compromise.</p>
<p>The more I think about it, the more I think I'm going to stay on campus.</p>
<p>So if Paso is 30 min each way, you just lost an hour every day. Are you planning on Dynamics, Statics, Physics, Calculus... You need that hour - unless you car pool and let someone else drive while you study! Besides, as a mom, I would worry less about you not calling me for a day (busy at the dorm ;-) ) rather than worry about you piled up in an accident on The Grade!</p>
<p>I have to agree with gotpeter. If you decide to live on campus you really have the best of both worlds. You can live on campus and get the "college experience" but yet only be 40 minutes from home if you need or want to be with family. And as you know the difference between Paso and SLO is more than just 30 miles. It's a different environment down the grade right? The climate difference is one thing but there is definitely a different "feel" between the two cities. You could experience being far from home but in reality be close to home.<br>
Good luck with the decision and congratulations on getting accepted to the Engineering School. Not an easy feat!!!</p>
<p>I agree with kirbysanmom too!</p>
<p>I agree with everyone suggesting you stay on campus. I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the 1987, and I went to high school in Cambria. Living in SLO gives you the opportunity to enjoy the entire college experience. You will join clubs, make friends, have study groups, and they will want to get together in the evening while you are thinking about that drive home. If you did live at home, I think you would find out quickly that you want to spend all of your time in SLO. Congratulations! You are going to a great school!</p>
<p>Alright, you guys have convinced me. After all, there is only so many times a station wagon with 230,000 miles on it could make it up the grade.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>Great decision. Now go to your mycalpoly.edu and input your 3 dormitory preferences ASAP.
My son's (ED, Aerospace Engineering) preference was for the "red brick" dorms but there are lots of great options. Just don't procrastinate or you could be left twisting in the wind. Oh, and you can even name your room mates as long as they do the same. Pretty cool!</p>