Cal Poly/ U Washington/ UCSB

susanle
Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:00:23 +0000

I am an UW grad, live 3 miles from the university and have a son at CalPoly.
Here are additional thoughts – UW out of state tuition is high, while CalPoly in state is cheap.
It can be over emphasized – during the first two years at UW the grade competition is brutal. Everyone is competing for grades in order to get into their programs. Many classes are on curves (something I don’t agree with --you either mastered the material or did not), which makes the competition more fierce.

Cal Poly has a nice college town feel. Most of the students stay on campus for the weekends. The beach is nearby, but not so close that people are always there. Lots of school events, but not many are heavily attended. Small greek system, but seems to be the focus of the social life. GREAT WEATHER. no too hot or cold. Big enough to avoid people you don’t want to socialize with.

The University of Washington campus is beautiful – I mean unbelievably beautiful. Great building and tons of libraries and places to study. The campus empties out on weekends. Red square looks like a ghost town on the weekends. Large greek system. One of two universities in the country where most greek members live in all four years. The social life resolves around greek row. One plus, almost anyone can get in a house – just don’t be too picky. Some years the sorority system has a 100% pledge rate. There are two or three fraternities that are 100% serious students Not much student attendance at theater and Olympic sports, but great attendance at football and men’s basketball.

At both schools , people where their school sweatshirts. Lot’s of school pride.

If you were an engineering student - I would say go to Cal Poly. As a business student – go to the less expensive school.