Notes on the Fly: Cal Poly
*College campus tours are packed with information and always an amazing experience. On my blog, I share facts, information and images about the college/university that I write "on the fly" during my visits.*
California Polytechnic – San Luis Obispo
2/18/2020
Central coast of CA
College town
21,092 undergraduates - mid size
887 grad students - no Ph.D students which gives students the ability to do undergraduate research
best in the West Public Master's level university
No TA's teaching classes - all professor taught
Quarter system
learn by doing
upsidedown /blended curriculum
small class sizes - average 35
63 majors, 84 minors = 6 different colleges
50 grad programs
19:1 students to faculty ratio
College of Agriculture
College of Architecture - 5 year program
College of Business
College of Liberal Arts
College of Engineering
College of Science and Math
Everyone does a capstone project at the end of their senior year. A passion project that is not necessarily dictated by professors of class work. This is where "learn by doing" really comes to the forefront.
Curriculum
will enroll in classes your freshman year in your major
makes students more competitive for internships right away
must select major when applying to Cal Poly
Learn by Doing
Campus Life
400+ clubs and organizations
top rated orientation and new student programs
division 1 athletics
first time freshmen guaranteed on campus housing
Dorms have a 1 year requirement - looking at a 2 year on campus commitment
Students Services
academic advising
career services - career fairs are common and often, work on interviews, resumes and clothing if needed
student academic services
student abroad - 75 programs all over the world. Taught by Cal Poly professors.
There are specific major abroad programs and general programs
95% find jobs in their major. Career services and internships are top ways people get jobs
Admissions - students compete only with those applying to their college, not the entire school
Freshman criteria:
coursework and rigor
GPA - weighted, look at 9-12 grades. Not looking at middle school grades
ACT/SAT - only looks at math and evidence based parts of the test. They will superscore
Non-cognitive variables that are important to the campus
extracurricular activities and work experience, for example. Also look for leadership experience, and any major related work experience
audition for music
portfolio for art and design
CC courses help make students more competitive for admission. Must be in an academic discipline you are interested in.
can use middle school courses if you have taken HS level course work in middle school
Cal Poly semester are more than the CSU system
10 - English
10 - math
8 - language
8 lab science
4 social science
4 visual/performing arts
2 elective in and academic subject
Application opens October 1, closes November 30th. All students considered for merit based aid
Change of major - more of a process, must complete one quarter in that major first. Have to achieve certain benchmarks within the new major before being considered for a switch.
Couple of programs have 4+1 offerings
