stuckinillinois

I like what I'm hearing as far as how good of a school cal poly is. I love how the weather sounds. This school is still mysterious because there is only so much that I can learn online. I probably would not be able to make a visit until I get accepted (if I get accepted). There are a few other schools I like and because this isn't a one horse race I want to keep my options open. Should I not apply early decision and if I took this route when would I get my acceptance letter (hopefully acceptance letter) at the earliest and latest dates? A few other questions, I hear housing is tricky to find outside of campus, would it be worth staying in the dorms for four years (or five if it is true that most don't graduate in four)? Also, how did you set up your loans? Did Cal Poly help you out? One more question, what is an In and Out Burger, I don't think we have those in the midwest lol.
Happy New Year and thanks for answering my questions

Oop

In my opinion... If you are set on coming to California, definitely apply ED. The UC's tuition rate is really high for OOS students, like around 30k for tuition alone. And I think Cal Poly's is like half of that.

If you apply E.D you hear before December 15.

Theres brand new housing on campus. Most likely you'll stay in on-campus housing for 2 years than have a group of friends to get a house with.

In N Out Burger is an awesome fast food restaurant, its only in CA, and is a big hit.

Overall if Cal Poly isn't your number 1-2 choice college, dont apply ED. Everyone I know that goes there loves it and is completely satisfied with their decision.

Good Luck

stuckinillinois

Of course I'm only a junior so I have a while until I get to apply, but let's say if I don't apply ED then at what time would I expect to hear a reply?

Stone35

Cal Poly is an awesome school and the location could not be better, great weather, 5 min ride to the beach, mountain biking and hiking in the hills behind campus and a "college town" feel downtown. As for you lack of knowledge on In N Out, my deepest apologies. As a Californian we are very fond of our In N Out and refuse to share them with any other states (Nevada and Arizona being the exception). I warn you, if you visit Cal Poly and are not 100% sure you will be attending, DO NOT TRY In N Out, you will become addicted and will suffer withdrawals when you leave California. If however you are on the fence on whether to attend Cal Poly or not, A Double-Double (Their famous burger) might just sway your decision. You will however need to drive about 15 minutes north on the 101 to Atascadero for the nearest one. You have been warned. Good Luck in your college search.

Malligator

Neopolitan milkshakes... MMMM.

You actually can't stay in dorms for all 4 years. You don't want to stay in dorms all 4 years Finding off-campus housing sucks, but is doable so don't fret! You'll be able to find a place... it just might not be your favorite or you'll end up sharing a small room, lol.

And if you're going in as bio, you will be able to graduate in 4 years no problem. It's engineering that typically takes 5.

stuckinillinois

Malligator,
Do you think I have a shot to get into Cal Poly with a 3.76 Cal Poly GPA and the following activities:

Football
Basketball
National Honor Society
International Relations Club
Spanish Tutoring
Technology Club

Leadership
Football captain sophomore and senior year (just named a few eeks ago for next year)
75 hours community service

Projected 30 on the ACT

Are you guys recruiters for Cal Poly because you certainly do a good job enticing people to go there lol. Thanks for the help

Malligator

I honestly have no idea!

I'm a 5th year now, and the only thing I know is that admissions is way more competitive now than it was back then. When I was admitted, it was basically a numbers game... I had a 4.3 weighted GPA/3.8 unweighted, 1320 SAT (none of that writing nonsense then, haha), 7 APs, + whatever typical activites high school kids have, lol. I was accepted ED for Biological Sciences. There were lots of bio majors in the dorms with your stats (and less!) on my floor who got accepted ED

The other thing that happened with some of the bio najors-- they applied for Biological Sciences, but were admitted under some sort of environmental biology degree instead even though they didn't list it in their application. Basically, when bio filled up, they started squeezing good applicants into a similar major. I think the school killed that separate environmental track a few years ago, but my point is-- make sure you pick a second choice major. It's really easy to change majors within colleges... you just need to have a decent GPA and take and pass the classes required to switch. When I was in the dorms, Statistics seemed to be the least popular major in COSAM, so that might be the way to go as a second choice, and then switch into what you want if it comes to it :P

And lol@being a recruiter! I'm just bored because I've been reading the grad school forums faster than new posts are made lately to relieve the stress of applying @@...hahaha. I'll be gone once school starts again... studying + beer.. MMM!

stuckinillinois

One other thing, how do I get scholarships from Cal Poly? Do they notify you when they send an acceptance letter or do I have to go out and apply for those seperately?

slosteve

Cal Poly Financial Aid

dreagal

I got accepted ED for Fall of 2009. And what is good to remember about poly is that since you are required to choose a major, you are only competing for admission against others of that same major. So, if you were to apply for an easy major with good stats, you'd be very likely to get in. Whereas, more difficult majors would be more difficult to get in.

historymom

on the other hand if you apply to an easier major to get in then try to change after acceptance it can be extremely difficult. One poster on these boards chose to switch schools because she couldn't switch majors easily.

Oop

I know many people that have easily switched majors at Cal Poly.. All you have to do is keep your gpa above a 2.5 and your fine... The only tough major to switch into is Business.* Here is the criteria for each major: Change of Major Policy - Academic Programs - Cal Poly

Malligator

Actually, historymom is correct...generally speaking, it's easy to switch into a less impacted major, and difficult to switch into an impacted major (business isn't the only one). It's easier to switch within a college as opposed to between colleges as far as I know. Lots of majors (especially the impacted ones) require more than just keeping your GPA above 2.5... ie: College of Engineering Advising Center - Changing Majors into CPE

rxcat85

I wonder how hard it is to change from BRAE (bioresource/ag engineering) to Mech Eng? Figuring BRAE is easier to get into since it's in CAFEs, and it shares many crossover classes with Mech eng...it would be an easier switch? This is of course keeping a cal poly GPA above 2.75.

pioneer

Im not sure if this has been said, but I find it is the most important part of this thread.

In N Out is also in Arizona and Nevada, so apply to schools in those states too.