I recently got off the waitlist for Cal Poly Slo for Engineering. I am currently committed to USC as a spring admit. I really don’t want to start school in the spring semester - I feel like it will put me behind both socially and academically. I will have less experience to apply for internships, and be behind in applying for club leadership positions. I am a very extraverted person and thrive on socializing, so spending 4 - 5 months in my room taking community college classes is not my idea of fun. However my parents are saying that USC is much more prestigious/has always been our dream school and that I shouldn’t give it up just because I will be a spring admit. Am I crazy for wanting to SLO instead on this basis alone? It’s also many other factors - I believe SLO engineering is better, it’s farther from home (which is a plus), I will still have small class sizes, it’s closer to the beach, and a nice change of pace from the city life. Also in terms of “prestige” I am going to attend grad school anyways. Any advice is appreciated. Btw costs are the same for both
What type of engineering.
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Engineering - in most / many cases, prestige isn’t relevant. Alabama works with Ga Tech; USC works with San Diego State - they get the same jobs, etc. What matters in many disciplines is ABET accreditation and little else.
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In engineering, I don’t see USC more prestigious than Cal Poly. Even in general terms, I’m not sure that USC is more prestigious. Apparently your parents think so - good marketing, etc. I suppose.
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It’s very difficult to get an engineering internship after the first year, even after the 2nd year - so I wouldn’t worry about that.
You clearly want SLO.
So let me leave you with this for your folks.
My son turned down Purdue engineering for Alabama. I thought he was crazy. He told me I was wrong - rank is to sell magazines but the real world isn’t this way. He was right.
First off, he interned with two Georgia Tech kids. He was invited back for the next summer. They weren’t.
Secondly, he had 19 interviews and 5 job offers by Xmas Senior year - and a 6th offer from his intern company was coming before he told them he accepted a job.
He’s in a cohort at an aero company that hires 150 kids each year - not sure how many of the 150 are engineers - maybe 60 or 80. The others are supply chain and health and safety. His company has hires from UCs, Case Western, Michigan, Purdue, Washington, NC State, CPSLO and other high ranking engineering schools. They also have Utah, Western Michigan, Alabama, Akron, Auburn, Buffalo and more (I think there’s an Oregon State) - they all make the same salary, etc.
So in this case I strongly disagree with your parents. Besides, you, not your parents are going to school.
And assuming you’re in state, CPSLO will cost them less and likely get a similar outcome and who knows, perhaps even better.
Perhaps your parents would be interested to know that CPSLO is the #5 rated engineering program in the country that doesn’t offer a PHD.
USC is #25 - but again, it really doesn’t matter.
CPSLO is also the #1 rated regional university West - it’s got no shortage of accolades.
As for grad school - it’s a bit early to know - but you might consider grad school at the other school.
I would push for CPSLO - and if you preferred it and both were Fall starts, I’d still push it.
You lose nothing vs. USC - other than a different environment (city types etc. ). Quarters vs. semester.
Best of luck.
Calling @eyemgh who had a son graduate from SLO’s CoE.
Besides the academics, USC is a BIG sports school in the B1G. SLO is not.
USC is located in a very large city, SLO is located in a small somewhat isolated town in Central CA.
The Spring Admit program at USC has been offered for a very long time. I assume it’s a well-oiled machine where there are opportunities available just for the Spring Admit cohort.
And it’s entirely possible that by the end of summer, USC may offer you Fall Admission with the inevitable “summer melt.”
My D21 attends SLO. She is not in the CoE, but she loves it. She loves the SLO vibe. She’s got her LOR’s lined up for grad school with her two favorite professors. Lots of opportunities available, like being an LA (learning assistant, like a TA), workshop leader, lab grader. etc.
Getting classes can be tough for some SLO students, but hasn’t been a problem for D21. I have no idea if it’s like that at USC.
Whose dream was it?
Getting classes within Viterbi is not a problem. Students are required to meet with advisors prior to registering, so the school knows how many students they need to accommodate for each course. If they need to open a new section they will. If they need to add an additional seat to an existing section, they will.
I assume cost isn’t a concern for your parents.
Many spring admits connect with other spring admits and rent an apartment adjacent to campus (Gateway is popular). Some do study abroad for a semester (Paris and Rome are popular).
This is an older thread, but still has good information. USC Spring Admits 2022 -2023
For comparison sake, here are career reports.
For CPSLO, go to page 14 of the book - but it’s page 15 of the PDF.
Here’s USC too.
You can’t just compare salaries as different areas have different costs of living - but this should give you a guide.
Of course, past results aren’t reflective of future results.
Who knows - you might start at one and do your Masters at the other!!
Best of luck.
Cal Poly Career Services 2022-23 Annual Report (content-calpoly-edu.s3.amazonaws.com)
My son graduated in '19 with a BS/MS in ME. He attended from out of state and decided against even applying to USC after visiting. He’s had a very successful career thus far. Feel free to PM me for details.
I think your reasons for preferring SLO are absolutely valid. And I don’t think USC confers any clear advantage for an engineering student. If you preferred USC, I wouldn’t try to change your mind, but I see no reason you should go to USC if you prefer SLO. “Has always been our dream school” is not a good reason - this is your college education and experience, not your parents’.
If you’re still conflicted, go visit both again. Cal Poly has smaller classes and very impressive facilities. There are over 80 stand alone labs in the college of engineering alone. You will come out with a lot of immediately useful experience.
If big time athletics and city life are important to you Cal Poly might not be the place.
@dreamysleepypanda hasn’t said what engineering. This matters.
For most Viterbi majors, classes are small. Class sizes for CS, however, are larger.
How is this? Are you OOS for SLO and NM for USC?
Would sc honor natl merit on a spring admit ?
Yes. Regardless of whether you are admitted for fall or spring start, you are admitted to USC and are awarded the Presidential Scholarship.
Transfers are a different story.
I have a scholarship, it is not national merit but the equivalent in that I get free tuition at USC. I will also get a small scholarship at Cal Poly I think for being a National Recognition Scholar. I am looking into going to SLO in the fall semester as a “visiting student” and then returning to USC in the Spring, or pursuing Study Abroad instead. My biggest gripe is just being a spring admit. I like USC and SLO equally otherwise. My major is Civil Engineering. I am in state
If you are planning on attending USC after fall semester, I think education abroad (especially at a school that has a relationship with USC) will be a better experience from a social stand point.
From USC’s Spring Admit Next Steps page
Study Abroad
USC has established agreements with these five American institutions in Europe. Each is U.S. accredited and provides instruction in English. Each school has its own brief, fast-tracked application in the links provided below. Students will stay connected as a USC-bound cohort, o upon returning to the U.S., you will have an instant network of fellow Trojans. Space may be limited, so apply soon.American University of Paris
Franklin University Switzerland
Richmond, The American International University in London
John Cabot University, Rome
Anglo-American University, PraguePlease do not hesitate to contact sdpesd@usc.edu if you have any questions about one of our agreement institutions.
And
Four-Year Options
Do not enroll in a four-year college under the false pretense of finishing your degree there. Doing so may take up a valuable space for someone else who wanted to attend the school. Enroll as a non–degree seeking student or in a continuing education program.
If you plan to live on campus and food matters to you, CalPoly’s food is really bad. It gets a C- on Niche and it is a well-earned grade (I honestly think a D would be even more accurate). It has a nice new food court-like dining hall that serves expensive fast food quality meals.
I do agree that graduating off-cycle would be problematic, but if you can take classes in the fall that can transfer and then slide into spring semester with a whole semester elsewhere under your belt, I think you will be fine.
If the only reason you wouldn’t choose USC vs CalPoly is because of the spring admit I wouldn’t let that stop you. If you hate L.A. and want to be in a small town then that is a different issue.
Spring admits don’t necessarily graduate off cycle. Many take courses that transfer and keep them on track to graduate on time.
First semester Civil Engineering at USC includes general chemistry, calculus, a writing class and a couple of intro classes. While you can’t take the intro courses abroad, you could take the others as well as a GE. Definitely talk to an advisor at USC about your plans.
If you’re going to go to USC, don’t take a spot at Cal Poly from a student on the waitlist that actually wants to be there. I’m not even certain you can, because it requires a SIR to two institutions.
I was going to suggest doing CCC for the Fall semester and do the Spring Admit admission, but this letter from Reddit makes me feel otherwise. Reddit - Dive into anything
I know others disagree -
I just see Spring as being 2nd class. They didn’t want you right away but need you to fill a hole for drop outs, early graduates and those abroad or on co op.
I know many have great experiences - but I just don’t see why someone would want to be in this position.
There are many great colleges out there - these two and more. I’d want to be at the school that shows me love.
Remember, they were waitlisted by SLO. USC accepted them in March, with a full-tuition scholarship.