What is the least impacted major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo?

There isn't one single "least impacted" major, as it changes yearly, but recent data (Spring 2025) shows majors like Dairy Science, City & Regional Planning, Plant Sciences, Agricultural Science, and Food Science consistently have lower freshman acceptance rates (more space relative to applicants) compared to highly impacted majors like Engineering or Computer Science, with Dairy Science often being the least competitive for freshmen, notes the San Luis Obispo Tribune. For transfers, Agricultural Systems Management, Industrial Tech & Packaging, and Plant Sciences have also been among the least impacted.

What are the least competitive majors at Cal Poly SLO?

Here are the last 5 least competitive majors for freshman applicants at Cal Poly in 2024-25 (based on % of seats available vs. applicants): 6️⃣ Plant Sciences – 23.8% 7️⃣ Agricultural Science – 23% 8️⃣ Food Science – 22% 9️⃣ City & Regional Planning – 21.8% 🔟 Dairy Science – 21.4% What does this mean?

What majors are not impacted at Cal Poly SLO?

At Cal Poly SLO, liberal arts and humanities majors generally have less competition compared to engineering, architecture, and certain disciplines in the sciences. Examples of less impacted majors include English, history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology.

How do I increase my chances of getting into Cal Poly SLO?

Because this school is very selective, strong academic scores are critical to improving your chances of admission. If you're able to score a 1420 SAT or a 33 ACT or above, you'll have a very strong chance at getting in. For a school as selective as Cal Poly, rounding out the rest of your application will also help.

What are the best majors at Cal Poly SLO?

The most popular majors at California Polytechnic State University--San Luis Obispo include: Engineering; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Agricultural / Animal / Plant / Veterinary Science and Related Fields; Social Sciences; Architecture and Related Services; Computer and Information ...

Top 10 College Majors That Are Actually Worth It

What are the easiest majors at Cal Poly?

What are the easiest majors to get into at Cal Poly? Here are the top 10

• Plant sciences: 176 applicants, 53 spaces available — 30.1%
• Agricultural systems management: 101 applicants, 30 spaces available — 29.7%
• Dairy science: 52 applicants, 15 spaces available — 28.9%

What are the top 5 most popular majors?

The top 5 most popular college majors consistently include Business (admin, finance, accounting), Health Professions (especially Nursing), Psychology, Engineering, and Computer Science, though rankings vary slightly by source and year, with these fields drawing the most students seeking strong career prospects or fulfilling personal interests in technical or helping professions. 

Is a waitlist basically a rejection?

No, being waitlisted is not the same as being rejected; it's a "maybe" status, meaning you met the qualifications but there's no space yet, so you're on hold for potential acceptance if spots open after accepted students decline their offers. It's a better position than outright rejection, but you should still plan to attend another school, as admission from the waitlist isn't guaranteed and often happens later (e.g., after May 1st). 

What is the 25-35 rule at Cal Poly?

The Cal Poly "25-35 rule" is a guideline recommending students study 25-35 hours per week, or about two hours of study time for every one hour of class time (2 hours/unit), treating coursework like a full-time job (40-50 hour work week) to manage the demanding quarter system. This means dedicating significant time outside of class for self-learning, reading, and assignments to keep up with the fast pace and build deep understanding. 

Is it harder to get into UCLA or Cal Poly?

UCLA is generally harder to get into than Cal Poly SLO based on overall acceptance rates, but Cal Poly becomes extremely competitive, even harder than some UCs for specific programs like Computer Science, making the choice depend heavily on your major and qualifications. While UCLA's overall admission is tougher (around 9-10% acceptance), Cal Poly's selectivity has surged, with some majors seeing <4% acceptance rates, rivaling top UCs. 

Does Cal Poly SLO admit by major?

We evaluate and admit students by their major and admission is competitive in all majors. Each major, other than those within Cal Poly Maritime Academy, has its own selection criteria and required coursework for transfer students to have completed in order to be considered competitive during the selection process.

What major is best for pre-med?

While biology and chemistry are typically considered the best pre-med majors, pursuing a non-traditional path can set you apart from other applicants. Majors such as English, anthropology, or even art history might not seem like the obvious choice, but they allow you to develop a unique set of skills.

What are the most impacted majors?

Science

• Biology.
• Biotechnology.
• Environmental Biology.
• Chemistry.
• Computer Science.
• Kinesiology (General)
• Physics.

What is the hardest major to get into at Cal Poly SLO?

The hardest major to get into at Cal Poly SLO depends on whether you're a freshman or transfer, but Psychology is consistently the most competitive for freshmen, with acceptance rates often below 3%, followed closely by Biological Sciences and Aerospace Engineering; for transfers, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Engineering/CS majors also become extremely difficult, sometimes with virtually no spots available. 

What are the top 3 hardest majors?

While subjectivity plays a role, Medicine, Engineering (especially Aerospace, Chemical, Biomedical), and Physics/Mathematics consistently rank among the top 3 hardest majors due to intense workloads, complex problem-solving, deep analytical skills, and demanding coursework, often involving advanced concepts in math, science, and critical thinking, with Chemistry and Architecture also frequently cited. 

Is UC Davis or Cal Poly SLO better for engineering?

In conclusion, if you prefer a more theoretical and research-oriented engineering education, UC Davis might be the better choice. If hands-on, practical learning and industry readiness are your priorities, consider Cal Poly SLO.

What majors are easiest to get into at Cal Poly SLO?

The "easiest" majors at Cal Poly SLO, meaning those with higher acceptance rates or more applicant-to-space ratio, tend to be in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) (like Plant Sciences, Dairy Science, Agricultural Systems Management, Wine & Viticulture, Ag Communication) and some within the College of Engineering (Industrial Engineering, Industrial Technology & Packaging, Bioresource & Agricultural Engineering) or Liberal Arts (Liberal Studies, Recreation Parks & Tourism), though "easy" is relative as all majors are competitive. Programs like Psychology, Computer Science, and some Engineering fields are notoriously difficult to get into. 

Does Cal Poly look at extracurriculars?

Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience

Cal Poly takes activities such as work experience, internships, volunteer programs and extracurricular activities into consideration. We are also interested in any leadership roles you may have held in these activities.

What percent of Cal Poly is white?

The racial composition of California Polytechnic State University includes 57.13% White, 16.8% Asian, and smaller percentages for Black or African American, other race, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.

What not to do when waitlisted?

Top 10 Things To NOT Do After Being Waitlisted

1. Don't email an update to admissions that you've been named a National Merit Finalist. ...
2. Don't call the admissions office to find out why you didn't get in outright. ...
3. Don't send off a short note to admissions thinking you'll send a longer note later.

Is it better to be deferred or waitlisted?

Generally, being deferred is better than being waitlisted because deferral means your application gets a second, full review with the regular decision pool, offering a stronger chance to improve your standing with new materials, whereas waitlisted means the school couldn't admit you but might if space opens up after accepted students enroll, a much less certain outcome. Deferral implies potential, while waitlist implies a backup, dependent on others declining, making deferral often more promising. 

Why is everyone getting waitlisted?

Many schools look for a balanced makeup of their freshman class in terms of area of study. If there are too many students with your intended major, you might be placed on a waitlist while the school attempts to accept more candidates from other majors.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

The most prominent "$400,000 job without a college degree" discussed in recent news is a Walmart Supercenter Store Manager, where compensation can reach that level through a combination of increased base pay (around $128k average), significant bonuses (up to 200% of base), and annual stock grants (up to $20k) for top performers, making the role lucrative for those rising from hourly work. Other paths to high income without a degree include skilled trades, tech sales, and specialized roles like power plant operators, often achieved through skills-based training, certificates, or apprenticeships rather than a traditional four-year degree.
 

What degrees is Gen Z getting?

The big reveal… what are the most popular majors we're seeing?

• Business administration & management. ...
• Engineering & computer science. ...
• Nursing. ...
• Environmental science. ...
• Sociology. ...
• Education.

What is the #1 easiest major?

There's no single #1 easiest major, as it depends on your strengths, but Psychology, Education, English, and Criminal Justice frequently rank as the easiest due to higher average GPAs and less demanding technical skills compared to STEM fields, often focusing on human behavior, societal structures, and communication. Majors like Sociology, Social Work, and Communications are also commonly cited as easier liberal arts options.