Last week was the Study Hut College Tour Cal Poly Pomona. As a graduate from the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, I wasn’t sure what to expect from our sister school in Pomona. Aside from normal rival bashing, I tried to keep an open mind when I toured their campus with my fellow college counselors from Study Hut.
I can say that Cal Poly Pomona is just as nice a campus as its sibling school to the north. The land was donated by W.H. Kellogg, founder of Kellogg cereals, who used it for his Arabian horse breeding program and renowned rose garden, which are still running as a part of the terms of the donation. There is also plenty of new architecture being built to keep things modern, yet the campus feels as cemented in the local scenery as it ever was.
The tour guides touted the campus’s small class sizes (35 on average), state of the art engineering labs (including a wind tunnel and earthquake simulator), and partnerships with firms such as NASA and Edison. The opportunities for all its students are substantial, but the most impressive statistic is that more than 50 percent of students are able to graduate in 4 years or less! For a state school, that is no doubt unparalleled.
As a true polytechnic university, Cal Poly Pomona keeps its reputation as one of the preeminent engineering schools in the state. Obviously their Biology and Environmental programs are among its most popular as well, but the surprising discipline they bragged about was for hospitality management. The Collins College for Hospitality is ranked #2 in the nation, and has its own hotel right near campus!
From its rustic scenery and accessible location, to its rich history and unrivaled academics, Cal Poly Pomona (not to be confused with Pomona College) has earned its place as a top institution in our state. Any California resident should be proud to add this campus to his or her potential target schools.
