Easiest Major To Get Into Cal Poly

Oop · 04-21-2008, 06:20 PM

Hey I am going to be applying for early decision next year, and am wondering which major is easiest to get into Cal Poly. I have a 3.77 UC GPA, but only a 3.34 Cal Poly GPA because I had a terrible freshman year. Well I know its gonna be in the aggriculture department. Anyone have any idea?

Thanks a lot

hockeyaero · 04-21-2008, 06:26 PM

I don't know if there is an easy major but Cal Poly GPA does not include your freshman year, so your UC and Cal Poly GPA should be the same.

hockeyaero · 04-21-2008, 06:38 PM

I found this link that might help
http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/Pdf/Profile08.pdf

It shows that the agriculture and food science has the lowest average (3.61 GPA and a 1132 SAT) so that is your best bet.

Just a heads up, if you are applying just to get in and then transferring to a major like engineering/architecture, it will be very hard so you might end up stuck in a major you do not intend to be in.

collegemom16 · 04-21-2008, 06:42 PM

From the Cal Poly web site:

Freshman applicants compete to be selected only against other freshman applicants applying for the same major through a point-based evaluation of three academic categories and one non-academic category. The four categories are weighted differently for different colleges/majors and combine to provide a final result used in conjunction with other applicants applying for that major.
>> Section one - College prep GPA
Calculated by Cal Poly for 9th -11th grade coursework designated on the application (with honors points granted for courses designated as "honors" on a high school transcript, for up to eight semesters.)
>> Section two - CSU required coursework taken during 9th to 11th grades and in progress or planned during 12th grade.

Oop · 04-21-2008, 06:56 PM

I would be only transferring to another major in the agg department. Maybe Rec. or Food Sciences.

Collegemom16: I dont understand what your trying to say

Ohnonomiss · 04-22-2008, 11:01 PM

i went to cal poly for open house this weekend and my tour guide was explaining to me how this isn't a good thing to do at cal poly slo due to the upsidedown cirriculum there.

at most schools, your first 2 years are GEs and such and then your last two years are your core classes for your major.

at slo, its the opposite - your first two years are your major courses and the last two are your GEs.

therefore, by taking one of your first quarter to switch your major, you waste that quarter and possibly future time as well because your taking courses that your not interested in/wont help you for the major you want.

wt8008 · 04-22-2008, 11:14 PM

If you pick your courses carefully, you maybe able to get away with changing majors costing you one or two classes. Pick classes that cover both majors, and try to avoid classes that only cover one. Switch as soon as you can, and keep a high GPA during the quarters before you switch. High GPA varies depending on which major, and how full they are.

Since you decided to only be within agriculture, it shouldn't be too hard to do that. Check out this page: Cal Poly CAFES : Advising : Changing/Choosing a Major It is information for changing majors to the ag department. Read the page and requirements carefully, and bookmark for your future reference.

collegemom16 · 04-22-2008, 11:42 PM

College prep GPA
Calculated by Cal Poly for 9th -11th grade coursework

I was correcting the poster who said CPSLO doesn't use your freshman GPA.

Ohnonomiss · 04-23-2008, 12:21 AM

plus if your in the college of agriculture, its still really hard to get into a better college, such as engineering or architecture.

hockeyaero · 04-23-2008, 03:34 PM

collegemom16:

CPSLO do not use your freshman GPA

"High school GPA for all approved college prep "a-g" courses taken in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades"

I took that statement from the application on the CSU mentor website

soccerchick11 · 04-23-2008, 04:03 PM

on the actually application, Cal Poly doesn't look at freshman year grades.. you just calculate your gpa using your sophomore and junior year grades.

Although, when they go through it.. they recalculate it and include freshman year grades and grades from college courses.. which are equivalent to one year of an honors course in high school.

and i got that information from the actual admissions department

hockeyaero · 04-23-2008, 05:22 PM

o ok thanks for clearing it up

collegemom16 · 04-23-2008, 08:04 PM

hockeyaero I was given this information directly from an admissions officer from Cal Poly during an infomational session for prospective students. They call it the Cal Poly GPA and it does indeed include freshman year grades in A-G courses. Additionally if you took any A-G courses in middle school (ie. algebra 1, geometry, or a foreign language) those grades will also be included.

hockeyaero · 04-23-2008, 08:21 PM

collegemom16

yeah you are right, I just thought it was not counted because on the application it asked for 10-12 only but now i know they do there own calculation when they look at the application. Thanks for informing me!

vgurl008 · 05-09-2008, 08:38 PM

technically, you don't take your major classes in the first two years & ge's in the last two. it's basically a mix. you have a CHANCE to take your major classes in the first two years but there are prereq's you have to get through before you can take some upper division major courses.