Cal Poly

saltine · Apr 25, 2009

Hi, I read online and people say that if you want to get into graduate school, pick UC over Cal Poly. Why is that? What is missing in Cal Poly that doesn't prepare students to transfer to graduate school after undergrad?

Wellesley · Apr 25, 2009

saltine said: ↑

Hi, I read online and people say that if you want to get into graduate school, pick UC over Cal Poly. Why is that? What is missing in Cal Poly that doesn't prepare students to transfer to graduate school after undergrad?

It really depends on the major you want to pursue. What kind of degree do you want?

saltine · Apr 25, 2009

Hi, I am already in a graduate program. I am just asking in general. The context is engineering. Say you want to get a PhD in Civil, Mechanical, or Electical Engineering.

I read posts saying that the education (engineering) at Cal Poly (California Polytechnics) is very hands-on and practical, and many recruiters would not hesitate to hire undergrad from there. But if that is the case, what is missing there that makes people say, "Oh, but if you plan to go into research you should pick UC (University of California)."

Why isn't it advisable to just get the practical knowledge and transfer to a research university? What is missing that makes the valuable practical knowledges undesirable/uncompetitive if they were to apply to graduate school? What is missing that make them "less ready" for research?

Is there an actual deficiency in what they learn? Or is it simply a matter of not being able to connect with a professor early and do undergraduate research in undergrad, so you don't get a head-start?

Wellesley · Apr 26, 2009

saltine said: ↑

Hi, I am already in a graduate program. I am just asking in general. The context is engineering. Say you want to get a PhD in Civil, Mechanical, or Electical Engineering.

I read posts saying that the education (engineering) at Cal Poly (California Polytechnics) is very hands-on and practical, and many recruiters would not hesitate to hire undergrad from there. But if that is the case, what is missing there that makes people say, "Oh, but if you plan to go into research you should pick UC (University of California)."

Why isn't it advisable to just get the practical knowledge and transfer to a research university? What is missing that makes the valuable practical knowledges undesirable/uncompetitive if they were to apply to graduate school? What is missing that make them "less ready" for research?

Is there an actual deficiency in what they learn? Or is it simply a matter of not being able to connect with a professor early and do undergraduate research in undergrad, so you don't get a head-start?

I can't give you a definitive answer, but I'll try,

Personally, I think classes are taught with a slight emphasis on either practical or theoretical topics. Anything that is totally inconsequential in the real-world, would be most likely to be removed at a school like Cal Poly. Likewise, in research, I think knowledge of the theory and principles behind a certain topic matter more than practical applications.

Hope this helps!

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Cal Poly

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Wellesley

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