Review of California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
from Merced, CA
Describe your college in three sentences.
the campus is beautiful and there are so many helpful students and staff (and plus all of the student programs they offer!). there are plenty of ways to get involved on campus through clubs or greek life or even a job on campus. the academics are a little harder (i'm a pre-vet major), but i can honestly say that i look forward to every class that i get to take here!
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
try to know what you want to major in! you can become part of the 4 year pledge that guarantees that you will graduate in 4 years. i would recommend living on campus your first year as well, and also try to get involved in at least one club (even if it's just the one from your major). also, use the resources they offer here! most are free, and can be very helpful when you're struggling with a subject or you need help practicing for a job interview.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
i would say that the classes offered here can be very difficult. that is, if the subject matter is new to you, you aren't interested in the subject, or you have a very difficult professor (thick accent, doesn't curve the grades, etc). i really enjoy most of my classes, but it is a lot of extra work you have to put in (some say 2-3 hours for every 1 hour you're in class). most people do not graduate in 4 years, but rather 5-7. it's difficult (but not impossible) to take 18+ units every quarter. the quarter system is great. i love having only 10 weeks of classes at a time (3 quarters in each year), although it goes by very fast and you can't slack off.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
the dorms are really fun, especially if you are a more outgoing person. the dorms are pretty old and outdated though. most people living in the dorms are friendly, and every keeps their doors open for people to stop by and just hang out. in the suites though, it's a little more anti-social, but you do have a much better living space! you have a small kitchenette and a bathroom that you share with only one roommate. the kitchen is very nice, especially if you like to cook instead of always eating somewhere on campus. there are study rooms in both the dorm buildings and the suites. laundry is also $1.75 per load (wash & dry).
Describe the food and dining at your college.
i have heard that the food at the dining commons is pretty good, but i haven't eaten there often enough to say how good or bad it may be. there are plenty of other places on campus to eat (panda express, taco bell, round table, sushi, subway, starbucks, denny's and a few campus markets). there is also the farm store across from the campus that has really good food! it is pricey if you don't live on campus though.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
there isn't a lot to actually do around campus. they have events on campus such as plays, and clubs will hold various events throughout the week too. for people who live on campus, the housing staff puts on different kinds of events to help with stress or just to get out of your room and meet some of the other people in the building. they have an art walk every so often in downtown pomona, and there is plenty of shopping in walnut, west covina, and san dimas. you are 30 minutes or so from disneyland (i would recommend a season pass!), and you are about an hour (maybe less) from magic mountain. hollywood and la are not too far either. there are buses that have routes to places like walnut and west covina, but having a car or knowing someone with a car makes it much easier to get off campus.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
things are expensive on campus(food especially). parking passes are also really expensive. they don't offer all the classes at the same time, which makes it difficult to graduate in time if you don't take a class in time. compared to slo and other csu's and uc's though, it isn't that expensive. the school does offer you aid if you have applied for financial aid (fafsa). i do believe that i am getting a good education and that most of the professors here are quality, but it still is expensive to attend here (but what school isn't anymore?). you get a lot of hands on experience in class (they offer plenty of labs, but seem to offer a lot less lectures), and it is really helpful when you are applying for jobs and internships to have that experience already. this school is still affordable despite the rising costs.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
the rose float is a huge part of cal poly's traditions. every year students build a float for the rose parade, and most of the time they receive awards for it (1st place, people's favorite, etc)! there is also the kellogg arabian horse stables on campus. yes, the horses actually live on campus, and they are bred and shown in various horse shows. also, the rose garden and the japanese garden on campus are big places to go and study or hang out. there is a lot of interesting things that kellogg did here on campus.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
anyone who isn't real big on greek life or a big partier (it's very small here), and anyone who wants to study engineering, architecture or animal science. this school has so many opportunities to get involved within your major! and coming from a pre-vet major, the classes offered are really good and you get so much hands on experience! hence cal poly's motto, learn by doing. if you are a student who really wants to focus more of school and your future, this is really a great school.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
there are so many things to do with clubs! there are so many to choose from in the first place, from your major's club to the pride club to the sports clubs to the leadership clubs to the christian club to the rose float. it's hard to not get overwhelmed with all the choices. each of the clubs will hold events during the u hour and many do off campus activities that are really fun! it's hard to not get involved here!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
greek life isn't that big here, but it does exist! plenty of people get involved, but there are not official houses and there are not a lot of parties all the time. most of the time you will here about the greeks from seeing them out during u hour holding some kind of event for fundraising or awareness of something. the people involved in greek life are very involved on campus.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
i would say that campus is pretty safe, although i have heard of some things happening around here. the campus police will escort you back to your dorm or your car if it's later at night. there are these blue emergency posts throughout campus as well that you can press the button if there is an emergency. the campus police also patrol campus later at night. i have never had an issue with safety before, but it has not been unheard of. i have actually heard before that this is one of the safer campuses compared to a lot of other schools.
the campus is beautiful and there are so many helpful students and staff (and plus all of the student programs they offer!). there are plenty of ways to get involved on campus through clubs or greek life or even a job on campus. the academics are a little harder (i'm a pre-vet major), but i can honestly say that i look forward to every class that i get to take here!
try to know what you want to major in! you can become part of the 4 year pledge that guarantees that you will graduate in 4 years. i would recommend living on campus your first year as well, and also try to get involved in at least one club (even if it's just the one from your major). also, use the resources they offer here! most are free, and can be very helpful when you're struggling with a subject or you need help practicing for a job interview.
i would say that the classes offered here can be very difficult. that is, if the subject matter is new to you, you aren't interested in the subject, or you have a very difficult professor (thick accent, doesn't curve the grades, etc). i really enjoy most of my classes, but it is a lot of extra work you have to put in (some say 2-3 hours for every 1 hour you're in class). most people do not graduate in 4 years, but rather 5-7. it's difficult (but not impossible) to take 18+ units every quarter. the quarter system is great. i love having only 10 weeks of classes at a time (3 quarters in each year), although it goes by very fast and you can't slack off.
the dorms are really fun, especially if you are a more outgoing person. the dorms are pretty old and outdated though. most people living in the dorms are friendly, and every keeps their doors open for people to stop by and just hang out. in the suites though, it's a little more anti-social, but you do have a much better living space! you have a small kitchenette and a bathroom that you share with only one roommate. the kitchen is very nice, especially if you like to cook instead of always eating somewhere on campus. there are study rooms in both the dorm buildings and the suites. laundry is also $1.75 per load (wash & dry).
i have heard that the food at the dining commons is pretty good, but i haven't eaten there often enough to say how good or bad it may be. there are plenty of other places on campus to eat (panda express, taco bell, round table, sushi, subway, starbucks, denny's and a few campus markets). there is also the farm store across from the campus that has really good food! it is pricey if you don't live on campus though.
there isn't a lot to actually do around campus. they have events on campus such as plays, and clubs will hold various events throughout the week too. for people who live on campus, the housing staff puts on different kinds of events to help with stress or just to get out of your room and meet some of the other people in the building. they have an art walk every so often in downtown pomona, and there is plenty of shopping in walnut, west covina, and san dimas. you are 30 minutes or so from disneyland (i would recommend a season pass!), and you are about an hour (maybe less) from magic mountain. hollywood and la are not too far either. there are buses that have routes to places like walnut and west covina, but having a car or knowing someone with a car makes it much easier to get off campus.
things are expensive on campus(food especially). parking passes are also really expensive. they don't offer all the classes at the same time, which makes it difficult to graduate in time if you don't take a class in time. compared to slo and other csu's and uc's though, it isn't that expensive. the school does offer you aid if you have applied for financial aid (fafsa). i do believe that i am getting a good education and that most of the professors here are quality, but it still is expensive to attend here (but what school isn't anymore?). you get a lot of hands on experience in class (they offer plenty of labs, but seem to offer a lot less lectures), and it is really helpful when you are applying for jobs and internships to have that experience already. this school is still affordable despite the rising costs.
the rose float is a huge part of cal poly's traditions. every year students build a float for the rose parade, and most of the time they receive awards for it (1st place, people's favorite, etc)! there is also the kellogg arabian horse stables on campus. yes, the horses actually live on campus, and they are bred and shown in various horse shows. also, the rose garden and the japanese garden on campus are big places to go and study or hang out. there is a lot of interesting things that kellogg did here on campus.
anyone who isn't real big on greek life or a big partier (it's very small here), and anyone who wants to study engineering, architecture or animal science. this school has so many opportunities to get involved within your major! and coming from a pre-vet major, the classes offered are really good and you get so much hands on experience! hence cal poly's motto, learn by doing. if you are a student who really wants to focus more of school and your future, this is really a great school.
there are so many things to do with clubs! there are so many to choose from in the first place, from your major's club to the pride club to the sports clubs to the leadership clubs to the christian club to the rose float. it's hard to not get overwhelmed with all the choices. each of the clubs will hold events during the u hour and many do off campus activities that are really fun! it's hard to not get involved here!
greek life isn't that big here, but it does exist! plenty of people get involved, but there are not official houses and there are not a lot of parties all the time. most of the time you will here about the greeks from seeing them out during u hour holding some kind of event for fundraising or awareness of something. the people involved in greek life are very involved on campus.
i would say that campus is pretty safe, although i have heard of some things happening around here. the campus police will escort you back to your dorm or your car if it's later at night. there are these blue emergency posts throughout campus as well that you can press the button if there is an emergency. the campus police also patrol campus later at night. i have never had an issue with safety before, but it has not been unheard of. i have actually heard before that this is one of the safer campuses compared to a lot of other schools.