@AMCdad, it took a LOT of restraint on my part. Interestingly, I vacillated daily about which was the best choice. What I’ve learned in retrospect is that they all would have been good choices.
Thanks for the perspective @eyemgh. That’s what I’m counting on: They are all good choices if he makes the most of his choice.
My daughter (now a Junior in Computer Engineering), chose it over UCSD, UW, University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, Rensselaer , USCB, UCD, UCI, Rose-Hulman. Has had a fantastic experience so far and was very likely the best choice for her, in terms of academic rigor, but more importantly industry exposure opportunities. Incidentally, the cost (out of state) is very close to what we would have paid in state for UW. Considering the money she’s making at her two consecutive summer internships at Apple, is is actually going to be much, much cheaper overall. Obviously, hard to predict what other opportunities she would have had at other schools, but at CalPoly she had many internship opportunities for sure.
I also got a full ride to Alabama, but I am definitely declining it for CalPoly! Im from the south and there is nothing but conservatives and small minded people and it is sickening. If you want a real out of state experience do not attend UA (although it is a good school, but not for the matter of being more “worldly”) there are plenty of other out of state schools (st.louis, chicago, etc) that will make you more worldly with diverse views. So in this matter I must agree with eyemgh.
There are a few of you who chose CP over UCSD. Could you elaborate on why? My son got accepted to UCSD and waitlisted at CP. We’ll see what happens but my impression is UCSD is a slightly better school for CS (if you want to go by rankings.)
My student passed up UCSB, UCSC, USC, Oregon and UW for Cal Poly Engineering. Learn by doing , location and very friendly students and outstanding job opportunities were the reason.
Daughter 1- current Electrical Engineering freshman passed up UCSD, UCSC, a 4 year full tuition scholarship to Lyle’s (Fresno State Engineering) and a few other schools. This was a hard one, but ultimately the environment, engineering reputation and “learn by doing” won. She is extremely happy with her choice.
Daughter 2- just committed to Cal Poly for Environmental Earth and Soil Sciences passed up CSUMB, Fresno, Chico. That wasn’t a tough choice for her.
For why my D passed UCSD for CP. We visited UCSD on the Triton open house day. We attended a cookie cutter presentation with a pattern that was virtually identical to what we have seen at other big schools: the dean of engineering gave a pep talk about how prestigious the school is, how much research it is doing, how high it is in the ranks, etc. Lasted an hour and that was it. No chance to talk to anyone, nothing. What stood out for me: the dean was a relatively poor public speaker. By contrast, the entire process at CalPoly was way more organized, we had multiple presentations with the chancellor, dean of engineering and head of the Computer Engineering department. Had a chance to interact with them and with some students, saw a robot competition they had, etc. To me the message was: Big Schools are all about graduates (all the research), CalPoly is nothing by undergraduates. The quality of the teaching is likely to be way better, Additionally, there are tons of big name companies that heavily recruit from CalPoly. Not sure how different is for UCSD, but I get a feeling it is perhaps easier to score good internship, since the school is closer to the Bay Area.
Thanks for replying @iulianc . Unfortunately Triton Day and CP SLO wknd are the same. Since my son was waitlisted at CP we will prob go to Triton Day instead unless we hear back from SLO beforehand. I have camping reservations there for that weekend just in case. 
sure looks like more fun since it spans a couple days.
@ZHB1999 UCSD is definitely the stronger CS school. CP emphasize their engineering programs, but CS is not as strong there. I think a lot of people choose CP over other schools because it is the cheapest or closest option but aren’t going to say that. I would be very happy with the choice you have.
@scotlandcalling , not trying to start a debate and not arguing about rankings in any way, there is way too much ambiguity on how they’re defined. Just wondering what makes you say CS is not strong, for someone that wants to go work in the industry? The empirical evidence I have is to the contrary, albeit it is admittedly biased. I work for a very well known software company and I have met many CalPoly graduates and interns, but I have yet to meet one from UCSD. Also, I work closely with people at Qualcomm, the largest employer in SD (within 5 miles of the UCSD campus), the school is not perceived as particularly good and I have not met anyone from UCSD there.
To be absolutely clear, UCSD is certainly not a bad school, I would have not been unhappy had my D chosen to attend there and yes price is certainly one of the factors, but not the determining one, not to my family at least.
@AMCdad , thanks for posting this input as dad to an English major. Also an English major too that was accepted to and thinking of CP. Just felt the most comfortable when we were there. Still waiting to see what UC’s say but leaning towards CP.
@iulianc since you asked and just my opinion, but the reputation of UCSD is much stronger as is the importance they put on CS. Having a grad program means access to more, plus at CP, CS seems an afterthought. I think the hands on is way over marketed, every CS program at a decent school is hands on, it has to be. The well rounded GEs based on the college you go within UCSD is much more rigorous resulting in a better educated individual coming out. CP employs people, no question, but over the career, I think UCSD carries way more weight and always has. It is just a smidge below UBC and UCLA in reputation for the sciences, CP is much farther removed from those top two. But it’s a great school for a lot of people, no question.
Where you went to school matters for your first job, not so much after that.
@scotlandcalling thanks for responding. I respect your opinion, but I think your reasoning goes in line with the marketing all big research schools do. The reality at all big school is that most GE classes are taught in huge amphitheaters of hundreds of students with the undergrad TAs barely 2 years older doing the teaching in smaller settings. Not sure how that could be more rigorous and can lead to a more rounded person. Virtually all teaching at CalPoly is done by PhDs that are there primarily for teaching and CalPoly has rigorous GE requirements.
I don’t debate UCSD is a great school, but most teaching staff there is primarily following the “publish or perish” mantra, with teaching one of the other activities they also have to do. Undergrads are not the top priority at these schools. It does not mean the schools are bad, or that the students that apply themselves don’t have the opportunity to get exposed to great stuff and succeed in life.
Can you elaborate why you think the CS program at CalPoly is an afterthought? I am not trying to start a huge debate, I acknowledge I could be wrong, just interested on learning what evidence you have,
Just for the record, my daughter will be this summer on her second consecutive internship at Apple, which she got on her own via the regular career fair events organized at CalPoly.
This exact question came up on the engineering forum (the conversation included UCB too) and none of them wrote off Cal Poly like @scotlandcalling is. They are different, all good programs. Job placement is good out of both schools. What it really boils down to is that people who write off CP for any CENG major are persuaded by UNNWR rankings and the graduate program “opportunities,” ignoring all the huge benefits of not offering doctoral degrees. Job placement and price are really the only two metrics that matter if you assess it as a long term investment, which is what it is. Overall experience though is important too. I’d visit both and choose the one he likes best.
I am passing up on Colorado State University, University of Minnesota, University of Pittsburgh, Colorado School of Mines, and still waiting to hear from UC Davis, University of North Carolina, and University of Washington.
My OOS ME student chose CP over University of Washington, Western Washington, Colorado School of Mines, SD School of Mines, Colorado State, Texas A&M, and Purdue.
So what did “family Decision Day” yield? 
My D passed on CU Boulder, Santa Clara, Univ of Wa, and Denver University (private college). Walking away from DU stung a bit because it would have been a great match and offered her $130k in merit. That being said, the moment she toured the Cal Poly campus, she became emotional because she felt like she had found “her people”. She also wanted to go OOS. Every day since, she wakes up feeling grateful and excited about next year. Admission to CP feels like a life game changer for her.