California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Reviews

  • 73 Reviews
  • San Luis Obispo (CA)
  • Annual Tuition: $28,229
95% of 73 students said this degree improved their career prospects
93% of 73 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Student & Graduate Reviews

Margaret Derk
  • Reviewed: 10/9/2013
  • Degree: Civil Engineering
"I have been throughly enjoying numerous aspects of the graduate program at Cal Poly. The university provides useful academic resources, including a comfortable and quiet Library, an abundance of research tools and accessible faculty and professors. One unique element of the program is that the graduate program at Cal Poly is fairly small, therefore grad students receive additional benefits such as private study space, exclusive labs and a chance to develop personal relationships with the faculty. The surrounding area also provides students with the chance to engage in a vibrant social scene. There is a charming downtown area with local coffee shops, pubs and restaurants, several hiking spots and opportunities to get involved with native community organizations. Navigating your way through campus and the surround city is fairly simple once you are acquainted with the area by car, bus or bike. I would say the only negative aspect of my experience at Cal Poly so far, is a lack of cultural and ethnic diversity. In my graduate program of about thirty students, we have two non-white students. I think students as well as the university as a whole would greatly benefit from making cultural diversity a top priority in the future. Besides that, I would highly recommend the City and Regional graduate program at Cal Poly to any prospective students."
Christina Azruei
  • Reviewed: 10/2/2013
  • Degree: Counseling
"The pros of this program are the "learn by doing" approach, highly competent professors that know how to present course material in a relatable and efficient manner, and the intensity at which we are expected to work. The cons are the expenses and cost of living of going to school here. More grants and fellowships should be available for this program."
shaina thompson
  • Reviewed: 9/9/2013
  • Degree: Elementary Education
"I really enjoyed my experience in the multiple subjects credential program at Cal Poly. I feel like I received a quality education and subsequently feel that I will be ready to be an elementary school teacher once I complete my last quarter of student teaching. Thank you Cal Poly!"
Grace Voorheis
  • Reviewed: 6/11/2013
  • Degree: Nutrition
"Overall, I've really enjoyed my time at Cal Poly. The one major problem I have with the program is the lack of graduate student community within the department. I have no cohort of other students with whom to network and share common experiences. There is a lot of independence in the program, which for me is ok but might be a challenge for other students. That said, my instructors have been fantastic. I would recommend the program, but with some reservations."
Kristin Lewis
  • Reviewed: 5/22/2013
  • Degree: Teaching
"We get a hands-on learning approach to teaching and what it is like in a classroom. The downside is that we are not in a classroom full time, and will likely have to move to a different school before experiencing the classroom atmosphere full-time"
Nikki Sager
  • Reviewed: 5/2/2013
  • Degree: Accounting
"The professors, community and network make this school top notch."
Molly Weiss
  • Reviewed: 4/5/2013
  • Degree: Accounting
"I just finished my bachelor's degree at Cal Poly, and am going to start my master's degree this fall. Cal Poly is becoming more and more competitive, and the student body shows it. Cal Poly has some of the brightest students in California."
Adam Abudra
  • Reviewed: 3/3/2013
  • Degree: Liberal Studies
"The faculty are often burdened with excessive teaching loads and do not provide the support graduate students need to conduct research. They are often caught up in their work or research that they either do not have the time nor the interest for students. The program is not very rigorous however the San Luis Obispo area is phenomenal and provides a bounty of active and social opportunities."
Robert Read
  • Reviewed: 1/29/2013
  • Degree: MBA
"I really like the program. It works for me."
Hayley Metz
  • Reviewed: 1/3/2013
  • Degree: Psychology
"The graduate program that I am attending for the helping profession really strives to prepare me in the best ways possible both clinically and academically. The program offers perspectives from a multicultural standpoint which I appreciate and think is highly critical in the field of Psychology. The program also offers a great deal of hands-on training through an on-campus clinic where we see members from the community as well as a traineeship out in the community to get more relevant experience. My cohort is also very close and we work together to help each other be the best therapists that we can be by providing honest feedback and constructive criticism. The professors are also accessible to answer any questions or concerns and when working in the clinic, they are available 24/7. There really aren't a lot of cons for my program and I wouldn't change going anywhere else if I had the choice. I would say that some of the classes taken are a little repetitive, but there is no harm in extra training. Also some of the professors aren't as prepared as others for certain classes but again we can't always have the perfect teachers. Overall, I definitely think that I will feel accomplished and prepared to head into the real world once I have graduated and am looking for a job."
Adam Abudra
  • Reviewed: 12/25/2012
  • Degree: Health Sciences
"Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo offers a lot in terms of its graduate programs. They are very adamant about their Learn by Doing philosophy and uphold it in many courses. My only issue is the student body is not very diverse."
Grace Voorheis
  • Reviewed: 12/22/2012
  • Degree: Health Sciences
"So far, people seem supportive, but students need to be really independent. I haven't received much support from advisors or the university around the logisitcs of starting a new program. But, other than that, so far so food!"
Danton Spina
  • Reviewed: 12/2/2012
  • Degree: Fine Arts
"This is a growing program that has a lot of potential. Its best attribute is probably the value. This is a fantastic program for the minimal price, even for out-of-staters like me. The disadvantage is that Teaching Assistantships and other grants for Graduate students are few and far between. The social aspect depends on you. The program is small with between 6 and 10 people. So if you want a bigger social circle, you'll need to expand outward a little. San Luis Obispo, CA is a beautiful place, but it is small (about 40,000 people including the students)."