My son just came home for the first time this school year. His first two months as a freshman at Cal Poly have had the usual assortment of growing pains: getting used to dorm life, figuring out where the best food is, adjusting to college rigor, making new friends, etc. He is still very happy with his choice of schools. His friends from high school are making similar adjustments to their college situations. Some are more successful than others. So much of what makes a school a “fit” is starting with a place that you are drawn to academically and geographically, that also fits your budget and lifestyle. After that, it’s all on the student to make the most of the experience.
A healthy dose of realistic expectations and a certain amount of resiliency will be necessary to be successful anywhere a person attends school. Cal Poly offers a great environment, a high end education, and the usual assortment of college problems. As parents, we are very pleased with our son’s situation in our limited time associated with the school.