One sight of the green, grassy pastures; frolicking Arabian horses; modern skyline; well stocked plant nursery and I confess, I was hooked. My son was going to this school!Fortunately, as the price was within my budget and it offered him a wide choice of majors, my son applied and was accepted here.

This is California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, centrally located adjacent to Los Angeles and only 30 miles from Orange County. Its location allows the majority of students to commute for their college experience, though statistics show that more and more are living on campus, requiring the dorm rooms to accommodate three students.

There are about 17,500 students attending the university which offers a full curriculum from animal science, architecture, art, agriculture, business, education, engineering through Hotel and Restaurant Management. Cereal king W. K. Kellogg (of Frosted Flakes fame) donated the 1,400 acres and the Arabian Horse Farm with the understanding that these beautiful creatures would continue to be bred and shown. The various agricultural majors have made wonderful use of the farm and spring brings baby piglets, foals, lambs, and calves prancing in green fields. A trip to the farm store right on campus reveals their ultimate fate--sausage, chops, steaks, chicken eggs, along with oranges, avocados, freshly squeezed juice (the blood orange is my favorite).
The plant nursery is well stocked with wonderful varieties of familiar and unusual plants, reasonable prices, helpful sales personnel (horticultural and environmental science majors) and roses to die for. Each visit to the campus requires me to load up my car with flower, causing me unbelievable frustration--where to plant each new treasure.

The school has a reputation for graduating students who are competent and well versed in their specialty, due in part to the hand on tradition of learning and teach at Cal Poly. The undergraduate classes are typically small with 30 to 40 students. Professors and the curriculum are tough--it is apparent that slackers are weeded out quickly. This is a highly computer focussed school--professors are available by e-mail as well as office hours. Dorm rooms--cramped and small as they are--are all equipped with OC3 internet--145mbit/ps (or 145 megabits per second). Registration is done by phone and is a quick process. Unfortunately, for certain impacted majors it is difficult to enroll in required classes. There is a guaranteed four year plan offering priority enrollment to students who sign up as freshmen and do not flunk any classes nor change majors. Some majors, notably architecture and computer information science, require 5 or more years for an undergraduate degree.

The food in the commons is pretty miserable--though every so often they actually serve something good; cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory is an occasional dessert for dinner.

Cal Poly Technic University provides a unique college opportunity for the student who studies hard and wants to get a good education surrounded by animals, rose gardens, swan pond, and magnificent new buildings. And remember, it is less than 30 minutes from Raging Waters!


Recommended: Yes