Hello! I am currently an incoming college freshman who was admitted to Cal Poly SLO and U Mich for computer science in each school’s engineering department and I am having trouble deciding which to accept to. I live in California, so SLO is much closer to home, and the distance and cold of Michigan intimidate me. That said, the reputation of U Mich for engineering is hard to turn down. Are there any current students or alumni who could give me any guidance on which school to go to?
Alumnus of Michigan. Live in California. Daughter admitted this year to both of your choices. She’s going to school in Arizona.
Ann Arbor is great, but so is SLO. It’s a great college town, maybe a mini Ann Arbor. The weather is bad in Ann Arbor not because of the cold, but because of the gloom from lake effect snow. It’s not a bitter cold like Minnesota, where I went to grad school, but at least there it’s sunnier. I came from the Midwest and even for me, the first winter was tough on me in A2.
Michigan is great in nearly everything. National reputation. Big time sports. A very cool college experience. You won’t have the same school spirit experience at Poly. But graduating from SLO, especially in CS, will likely mean you will get a good job upon graduation. Another thing to think about is the engineering school at Michigan is on North Campus. Nearly all of the social life revolves around Central Campus. So you live near there, and take a bus every day to classes. In my book, not ideal.
Then there is the cost difference over 4 years, which is huge. For me, it’s the biggest difference. Approx $120,000 at SLO vs $300,000 at Michigan. For that reason alone, I would pick SLO. You likely won’t make much more, if anything, graduating from Michigan than SLO. But for these purposes, let’s say it is $15,000 more/year. Your breakeven is 12 years. You won’t be at your first job more than 3-4 years, if that, and then moving on. At that point, for your next job, it won’t matter where you went, but what you did at your job. (it likely won’t matter where you went anyway)
I love my alma mater, and root for it whenever I can, but that’s my honest take.
I heard High Tech companies ( we are in Sol Cal) post of hiring graduate school student would actually hire Uni. of Michigan undergraduate student because of their solid knowledge and practical skills.
Anywhere you go is either hotter or colder than California. My son chose to go east coast this fall. Like he said, worst case he would just tough out 3 winters:) My Dad is a retired professor of University of Michigan, he can’t stop talking about the big college atmosphere at M is unbeatable! His grandson is pursuing Marine Biology, so M was not the best choice for its geography, neither he wants to stay locally, like SLO. Big price difference though 
It is all personal choice, whichever one you choice will land you a great career! Good luck.
My California-raised son had a similar dilemma b/t some large Universities outside and inside of California and Cal Poly SLO. He was leaning towards leaving the State until the SLO Zoom presentations and the break out sessions with his professors. The “learn-by-doing” approach is not only so much more engaging for a student, but also highly valuable to employers, as evidenced by the high employment rate of Cal Poly grads right out of college, as well as summer internships. The largest percentage of students being recruited to the Silicon Valley area, with multiple offers.
I attended UCLA as an undergraduate which I very much enjoyed at the time, but access to professors was minimal and most did not know your name. The value of the Cal Poly students having direct interaction with their professors who ultimately help place them into professions is unparalleled, and also holds the students accountable. At large research universities, they are just a number. Although, I had initially imagined for my son to have a large Pac12-type experience, I realized that was really not an ideal learning environment. He will grow exponentially on an academic level at Cal Poly SLO while also enjoying a very large school experience with 20,000 vibrant undergraduates in an area that is a true paradise geographically… very much a plus for students who need stress release. I am absolutely thrilled that he will be a Mustang!