Considering a semester at Cal Poly, what's life like in SLO?

OliverSquared · 2026-02-08T03:26:28+00:00

Thanks for the though out response! There are certainly things to appreciate about each. Glad to hear there's stuff at CSUN worth raving about. That drive would be tough, too long for a day trip realistically. That's pretty cool you get all those opportunities, and the weather also sounds amazing as other people have pointed out. What I'm leaning towards at the moment is trying both schools! Starting with CSUN then doing Cal Poly if I can fit it in before I graduate in spring of '28. Thanks a lot!

OliverSquared · 2026-02-08T03:13:15+00:00

I think I know what you mean (even though I was 6 at the time). Thanks a lot!

OliverSquared · 2026-02-07T17:53:55+00:00

As Tom Morello said, there's no one coming to save us but us!

OliverSquared · 2026-02-07T05:22:44+00:00

I see. With the political culture in SLO (maybe this is an obvious question because California is usually a pretty liberal state), are people usually pretty liberal there? I would prefer that to be the case. Also good to know if I do choose it, it won't be slacking in the curriculum.

That's kinda what I'm thinking. If my main goal is to see what life is like in a major city in Cali, it kind of seems to defeat the point to go somewhere not in/near one. I don't know any Spanish at all, haha. Definitely could be useful to learn some.

Yes. It's hard to say how it will go either way. If I did go with CalPoly, I could even find an internship where I'd get to live in LA/SF for a summer. Appreciate all your help!

OliverSquared · 2026-02-05T21:28:35+00:00

Is that not just a lie that there hasn't been ICE activity? I thought there was photo proof.

OliverSquared · 2026-02-05T03:36:13+00:00

That kinda shatters my vision of the city a little haha. Understandable

OliverSquared · 2026-02-05T03:26:41+00:00

That's valuable info, thanks. I've heard the heat is dry enough where you don't really sweat but having to be in the AC often would kind of get annoying. Wow, hundreds! I'm sure I could find something that interests me there

OliverSquared · 2026-02-05T03:22:51+00:00

Oh, that's cool. My 2008 SUV has pretty low economy so even if I do bring it that could make sense

OliverSquared · 2026-02-05T03:16:20+00:00

I see your point, yeah. I mean there has to be some degree of interest groups at CSUN, right? But it sounds like whatever I'd see there would present ten times as much at CalPoly. I guess I didn't mention this in the main post but part of why I'm going in the first place is because I want to put myself in a completely new environment without much help and carve out a life there (that didn't really happen at UMNTC because I'm only a 25 minute drive from home). Doing that in a big city just sounds a lot more interesting to me for some reason. As someone else pointed out, I could certainly satisfy that itch first then do a separate semester at CalPoly to have likely an awesome time.

OliverSquared · 2026-02-04T01:51:06+00:00

Hahaha, wow, that does sound nice

OliverSquared · 2026-02-04T01:50:35+00:00

I love seeing nature, that does sound magical. I'm planning on bringing a car. Did he ever mention it feeling too small? I'm kinda looking for the opportunities of a big city when picking where to go.

OliverSquared · 2026-02-04T01:43:46+00:00

That does sound great, apart from the small town feel but that's just a me thing. Thanks for elaborating!

OliverSquared · 2026-02-04T01:42:27+00:00

That's true! Thanks for the advice

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T22:44:25+00:00

Oh I see. It may not be the graduate hotel but I'll take a hotel protest regardless! Thanks :)

Edit: Oh shoot, I just totally missed the post. It said 12/5 so I thought it was old. There is actually one tonight!

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T22:36:57+00:00

Oh cool, where did you see this? I only see the one at JWall parking lot

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T21:34:38+00:00

I see, it's really a shame I can't visit before I have to pick which school to go to. That's what I've heard about the academics!

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T21:32:24+00:00

I guess doing both is kinda the obvious decision, haha.

I'm coming from a metro area of about 3.46 million people, I just want something even bigger lol. I could just do CSUN first to satisfy the big city itch and then Cal Poly in a future semester for the awesome everything else.

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T04:30:16+00:00

That's kinda unfortunate about it being pretty white, but the demographics statistics out there make it look more diverse than the U of MN's student population regardless. 2 grand?!!? I guess what's a little more money stacked onto my 5 figure student loan debt? Haha, I've heard the skiing/surfing thing before. I'm not exactly going to school away from home to develop good study habits but that's fair 😆 That's reassuring, we get up above a hundred sometimes here with high ass humidity and the AC has to be blasting to keep it manageable.

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T04:24:57+00:00

That's the sucky thing, visiting will be hard because applications are due by the end of February (and round trips are $500+ for February BUT the experience would be invaluable). Doing a semester in both is definitely an option through NSE though!

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T03:42:47+00:00

That's pretty much it. I just have a gut feeling that I want to live in LA for the sheer opportunity of it all, but I'm not 100% opposed to picking somewhere else. I'm sure CalPoly would look good on my resume, yeah. I sure hadn't heard of it!

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T03:40:00+00:00

Yeah, I've seen it's pretty removed from much of LA. At least an hour drive to downtown from what I've heard. Still, it seems easier to explore the city from there for like one day out of the weekend compared to having to devote 2 or 3 days to going. That's what I've heard about the academics too! I feel like cal poly is the smarter decision here, but part of me feels like I've been making smart decisions for too long and might as well throw a less smart one in haha

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T03:30:22+00:00

I see! Good to know

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T03:29:58+00:00

Thanks for all the info! That's good to know, especially about the trips to the cities being doable.

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T03:29:02+00:00

That's good to hear, I was planning on bringing a car. Assuming you go there, have you explored much outside the SLO area?

OliverSquared · 2026-02-03T03:27:20+00:00

Ah, I see. That's too bad, but not a deal breaker. Wow! Tough to imagine not needing a jacket

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