https://ir.calpoly.edu/content/publications_reports/targets/index
Also, remember this is only part of the equation. The quality of the pool of applicants also has an impact. I would expect the CS pool to be VERY strong. Couple those two and you end up where we are at.
When my 2 kids were applying to Cal Poly a few years ago (both got admitted) we were told to make sure they take AP science and math classes sophomore and junior year of HS so they would have grades for these classes when applying. Also at that time we were told CP preferred the ACT over the SAT. I know things have changed since then. My S is in ME and has friends in CS and they were told last year they were having trouble hiring professors for CS.
@eyemgh This is a fantastic resource! Thanks for this.
The number of spots for CS major in California colleges has not increased in years! Only 130 spots for CS? Really? No wonder there’s shortage of high tech workers in California. The number of high-tech jobs has increased exponentially whereas the number of spots for CS/Engineering schools has remained the same for like 10-15 years?
University of Washington has the same problem but they are now expanding the engineering program, which is good for the future. What about California?
This is very interesting reading the admission theories.
People quote ACT scores like 33, 35, etc. From my understanding CP only looks at english & math superscore.
For example my S (accepted Bus Ad) had 30 ACT but 34 english & 30 math. This could be a big factor.
Also, I imagine CP looks at senior classes where they see how rigorous the senior year is and weigh that somehow.
You can’t look at straight facts when the admissions must have algorithms no one knows about.
@Tabitha18, that’s true, but my understanding is that it’s very hard to find high quality CS professors, even at the most elite of institutions–the reality is that they make way more money in the private sector. It’s not easy to expand if you have that kind of nationwide shortage of qualified professors.
@MelloG. Yeah, she was seriously bummed. She accepted her spot on the waitlist so we’re keeping our hopes up that some miracle happens and she’s gets an acceptance down the road. She does already have some great options and she’s waiting on 4 more. 
The pay is particularly abysmal for CSU professors. I think many CA public school teachers make more $.
@Commish2g, CP doesn’t have an “algorithms no one know about.” They publicly presented on the algorithm in 2013. It’s called the MCA (Multiple Criteria for Admission). It may or may not be in place now. I haven’t seen anything suggesting they are doing otherwise, but they could be. It is why comparing “stats” is really meaningless. The 2013 version is summarized below. It has certainly changed at least in small part, because they don’t offer ED and the SAT is different.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19077718/#Comment_19077718
Heck my husband works at UCSD and the pay at any state university is pathetic. People used to work there for the benefits but those are mostly long gone unless you were grandfathered. At least the CSU folks get discounts on tuition for their kids as well as bonus points if their parents work for the university on admissions while the UC system does not give that benefit at all. So I would think at a minimum CSU would have a better chance of grabbing faculty over UC if they at least have a family. Who the heck knows.
@SC Anteater
They got rid of ED supposedly because it was unfair to low income students. But, this was never true because Cal Poly specifically allowed you to back out of the ED commit if your financial aid package was not to your liking.
The state is also pressuring Cal Poly to switch to the semester system because somehow it is unfair to first generation students because of its quick pace. What an insult to the amazingly talented first generation students that attend Cal Poly and elsewhere!. Cal Poly has resisted the switch from quarters because it will cost tens of millions of dollars to make the switch- money that could be used to hire more CS professors!
I opted to stay on the waitlist, but I have no confirmation of it, is that normal or should I re-do they waitlist survey?
@eyemgh thank you. I agree. My point was the high stat students that didn’t get in with a 35 ACT may have had a lower english score than someone with a 32 ACT for example. Maybe their high ACT composite was mainly derived from science and reading? From the tour/presentation we attended late 2017, the presenter seemed to really stress the importance of rigor and senior class schedule along with saying they only look at english/math ACT.
great question @03miata Wondered the same.
I realized all of that. It’s all come down to budget. But I think they need start working on some kind of a solution. It will not happen quickly but do we really want to see the same problem 10 years down the road? It’s so disheartening to see so many qualified applicants shut down from the own state schools and have to apply out-of-state.
Waitlisted
Biomedical Engineering
In-State
1420 SAT (~1430 superscored?)
31 ACT
~4655 MCA
Pretty bummed since this was my top choice, but I have to admit I had no clue how competitive my major was until I started following this thread. During the application process I didn’t realize CP was a reach for me, I was under the impression it was a match. Does anyone know how the alternate major comes into play? Could I be admitted to my alternate major off the waitlist? My alt. is Architectural Engineering. Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Reasons why your “high stat” student didn’t get accepted:
Fortunately, most schools do not use this MCA formula and these high stat students will get admitted w/ scholarships at comparable schools. However, these are some of the reasons why some students find themselves on the waitlist despite stellar credentials.
@Commish2g, all that is true, at least according to the last presentation of the MCA in 2013. That’s why I’ve tried to emphasize comparing MCA to MCA in the Final Status threads each year, because test scores and GPA alone are meaningless in this context. For example, weighted GPAs are all over the place and, as you stated, the ACT composite score is meaningless. They only use English and Math.
Cal Poly though for certain majors, is simply emblematic of a broader problem in higher education, too many students are applying to too few slots, because they have been conned into believing that’s the only way to succeed. Study after study has shown that it’s what you do that counts, not where you go. Apple hires more people from SJSU than any other school, including UCB, Stanford and Cal Poly, by a long margin. Tim Cook went to Auburn.
@Tabitha18, students aren’t shut out from their own state schools just because they don’t get into the most popular ones, Cal Poly being one of them. There are 22 ABET accredited CS programs in CA. Of those, 19 are public, many of them non-selective.
@kyleeslifee did u get your news today or yesterday?