Hey everyone! I'm thinking about applying to Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) next year, really excited but also stressed. Could someone share their experience with CPP's admissions process - like what they look for in an applicant, acceptance rates, etc? Thanks in advance!
Hi there! It's understandable to feel a mix of excitement and stress during the college application process. Being clear about what a university looks for certainly helps.
Cal Poly Pomona is a public polytechnic university, part of the California State University system. Its admissions process can be characterized as somewhat competitive. For the fall 2021 admissions cycle, Cal Poly Pomona reported an acceptance rate around 51% which makes it moderately selective.
One key point about CPP is that it follows a Comprehensive Review process. This means that CPP considers each part of the application in evaluating the potential success of a student. Unfortunately, CPP (like other California State schools) does not look at essays in the admissions process, so you won't be able to share more about your personal background or interests through writing.
Some factors that CPP looks at during admissions include your high school coursework, GPA, leadership in extra-curricular activities, work experience, and special talents. For example, if you have an upward trend in your grades, it demonstrates improvement, resilience, and growth. CPP, following the CSU system policies, is test-blind for the 2024-2025 application cycle, which means CPP does not consider SAT or ACT scores at all.
Admissions at CPP also focus on the rigor of your high school coursework - taking challenging classes like Honors, AP, IB or Dual Credit shows readiness to tackle college-level work.
However, don't be discouraged if you haven't been able to take advanced courses or engage extensively in extracurriculars for whatever reason. CPP also values diversity and resilience, so maybe you held a part-time job to contribute to your family, or took care of siblings, or overcame personal challenges - all of these count in painting a complete picture of who you are.
Remember, the comprehensive review approach CPP follows ensures it doesn't depend solely on your academic achievements, but instead considers the whole person and their unique experiences, and takes into account the environment from which the student comes.
Best of luck with your application!
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