California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Reviews

"California Polytechnic State University is known for its "Learn by Doing" motto. The observance of this motto all across campus prepared me to be a productive and knowledgeable professional. The networking opportunities are the best because you're required to have an internship in your field of interest before graduating."

"This school provides the best valued education. Cal Poly is a highly competitive engineering school and has produced a lot of successful practicing engineers which gives recognition and therefore numerous networking possibilities. One of the best parts of this school is the campus community and camaraderie. Everyone is so friendly and level-headed which has created so many lasting friendships. I would highly recommend this school for anyone who is willing to put in huge amounts of effort and time. You will not regret attending this great University."

"California State University- East Bay is a commuter school that benefits some people. The people at this school are nice and their are some teachers that really care about the students and their education. However, when it comes to support on this campus, I feel that it is lacking. Some teachers do show support, but through my 4 years of coming to this school I have been told twice, one from a teacher and one from my major advisor, that I should change my major or choose a different career paths. I feel that They never took the time to see what I was struggling with and help/support me but looked at one class where I got a B- and thought I wasn't competitive enough for my career path. If you are looking for a school that supports the students I wouldn't recommend CSUEB."

"Cal Poly well-prepared me for my Doctor of Pharmacy program. My involved professors were a fundamental part of my success as a student. On my very first day of college, I found myself immersed in labs as a biology major. Cal Poly's "learn by doing" philosophy gave me invaluable real-world experience that I will take with me in my Doctor of Pharmacy program."

"Cal state Fullerton is an excellent school for those seeking a financially affordable school. I highly recommend it to those who are applying as a business, nursing or athletic training major. Many majors at Cal State Fullerton is impacted, which makes it difficult to get classes, however, I highly recommend applying for the Finish in Four program, which will give you priority registration. I was able to graduate from Cal State Fullerton within 4 years. Overall, the school has upgraded many of its building over the years, especially the newly opened Titan Student Union. Keep in mind that this school is a commuter school, so there is a lack of the "college" feel. Overall, I highly recommend this school for those that want to not be in as much student loan debt."

"Great learn-by-doing mantra, excellent teachers, opportunities for extra-curriculars, amazing college town!"

"I went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for my undergraduate degree in communications and went back to get my teaching credential. It was an incredible experience that I would highly recommend to anyone deciding on where to go to school. It was an excellent education that prepared me fully for my career in education."

"I chose Cal Poly because of the "learn by doing" philosophy, and the skills I developed during my time as a student have helped me be successful in Graduate School. The fast paced quarter system helped me hone my time management skills, and the hard and soft skills I learned on a variety of projects come in handy everyday."

"I attended Cal Poly for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university was a great place to learn with their "Learn by doing" philosophy. This hands on approach to education very effectively prepares students for the workplace in their respective fields."

"Cal Poly is located in a wonderful city with a great environment which fosters learning. The class materials are accessible and easy to understand, professors genuinely care about the success and well-being of their students, and the students are friendly and eager. My only complaint was the seeming disconnect from elective classes and major courses- elective classes are often taught at a level of rigor above where they should be considering their decreased relevance to selected majors."

"I enjoyed my time at CSUSB, overall I had great teachers and mentors. I felt safe on campus and things seemed to run smoothly there."

"Located close to the Pacific coastline, Cal Poly has offers great engineering degrees as well as great scenery four one's tenure there. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable on the subjects they teach. As an architecture engineering student, this school is probably the best fit for me as well as the best decision I have made to date."

"I love Cal Poly. The only thing about it is that it is very hard to get classes you need early on. A lot of the classes are too impacted and some people have a hard time getting the required units to be a full time student, but your career counselor can help you with that."

"At Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo you will truly "Learn By Doing". In the Orfalea College of Business, you will be required to complete a project for each course in the Business major, from developing a complete marketing plan in Marketing, to developing Access databases in Information Systems. Although not all the instructors are world class, you'll gain valuable real world experience and confidence in yourself to succeed in the workforce upon graduation."

"Cal Poly's architecture program has continually been rated among the top programs in the nation. During my time at Poly, our architecture school was rated no. 1 and no. 2 (behind Cornell). Which is interesting, considering Cal Poly is located in a sleepy surf town surrounded by agriculture fields. The quality of our program comes from the university motto of "Learn by Doing", encouraging a hands-on approach to learning. Architecture, in general, is not for the faint of heart. You have to be really motivated...and Cal Poly's architecture program is no different."

"Economics isn't an easy major to jump into. It has a rigorous workload and challenges even the brightest minds. However, it is one of the most satisfying majors of the college system. Not only is this knowledge invaluable to modern day society, it is also immensely applicable to professional day life down the road. It teaches analytical skills and reasoning that other majors lack, and it was a great experience for me. One unique thing about the Econ is that instead of covering a broad spectrum of ideas throughout the multitude of classes taken, you spiral deeper into the mechanics and inner-workings of the way that an economy works--from environmental to labor to international economics. They all mesh together to form an intricate pattern. Some advice to incoming Economics majors--make sure to really grasp the basics of the concepts. Once you delve further into a topic, the professors don't slow down and rewind to cover previous classes. Another piece of advice is to not be afraid to ask questions, if you don't understand something, speak up. chances are half the class has the same questions and is also afraid to ask. Make sure to clarify challenging topics and really grasp the concepts thrown at you. Lastly, develop a positive experience and relationship with the professors on campus and in your department. Friendly recommendations go a long way."

"I am not a fan of my college's degree program, however if you are at the school for a different major (primarily agriculture, engineering, or business), then you will definitely enjoy your experience here. The reason I don't like it is primarily in the teaching; most students are lost during instruction, and higher grades are earned regardless of actual material earned. I have a B average GPA and feel as though I have a D amount of information in the subject."

"I could not imagine myself attending college at any other school than Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. The people who live in the area and go to school here are friendly and all around wonderful. The professors at Cal Poly are extremely knowledgeable in their area of instruction and care so much about the students, not only regarding our academics, but our overall wellbeing. They reach out to us in every way possible and help us achieve our academic and life goals. The professors in my area of study, nutrition, are particularly exceptional. I have never taken a class in my department where I either didn't enjoy it or didn't learn something helpful and applicable to my career development or my life. As a graduating senior, I feel very prepared to start my career, and employers and grad schools recognize that Cal Poly is exceptional and greatly prepares its students. SLO is also the most beautiful little town ever. Everyone here is so nice and we have wonderful weather typically 365 days a year. The location is perfect, with a 15 minute drive to the beach, hikes all around the county, and fairly close access (4-5 hour drive) to the mountains and snowboarding, etc. I would strongly encourage everyone who interested in a great college experience and a great education to apply to Cal Poly."

"Tight-knit community of professionals and resources available to students. Quality of professors and program is above and beyond what I was looking for. Surrounding area is very college student friendly and supports students throughout their academic career."

"Cal poly was some of the best four years of my life! This is a great university if you're interested in any major one of the things I would keep in mind is try to know what you want to do it's not the easiest college to switch majors but San Luis Obispo has a lot to offer from the beach to the downtown area a beautiful campus lots to do outdoors amazing professors and overall just a great culture I highly recommend cal poly"