Getting into Cal Poly Pomona

Hey guys, I'm thinking about applying to California State Polytechnic University Pomona. Anyone here know what the admissions process is like? What GPA or extracurriculars do I need to stand out?

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona for short, is renowned particularly for its "learn by doing" philosophy, and is a primarily STEM-focused school, with strengths in engineering, environmental design, and business.

To evaluate your fit for Cal Poly Pomona, we should look across multiple areas including academic standing and extracurricular activities.

Firstly, the academic piece. It's important to note that the CSU system is test-blind for the 2024-2025 application cycle, which means SAT and ACT scores are not being considered. Rather, Cal Poly Pomona admits students through a process called Eligibility Index, which is a combination of high school GPA (based on A-G courses) and other specific factors related to the student's family and school environment. Recently, the middle 50% GPA range is around 3.4 - 3.9. However, higher GPAs are always better, and will increase your chances of admission.

As for extracurriculars, quality is better than quantity. Admissions committees for CSU system schools like Cal Poly Pomona are looking for involved students, so make sure you have a good mix of activities that highlight your interests and leadership. As noted above, Cal Poly Pomona is known for its "learn-by-doing" philosophy, so showing that you've applied your knowledge and skills outside of the classroom (such as internships, part-time jobs, or real-world projects) can particularly stand out.

Also, since Cal Poly Pomona is a part of the California State University system, it uses the Cal State Apply application. This application encourages applicants to discuss a variety of factors about themselves, including their family, school, and community environments, incomes, participation in programs like TRIO or AVID, and senior year coursework, which all play into the Eligibility Index and help you stand out.

In sum, you'll need a strong GPA, deep involvement in a handful of extracurriculars (preferably that demonstrate real-world application of knowledge), and need to present yourself well across the multiple areas that the Cal State Apply application covers.

If you want to know how your application as a whole stacks up at Cal Poly Pomona, I'd check out CollegeVine's free chancing engine, which accounts for all quantifiable elements of your application, including GPA, course rigor, and extracurriculars to give you personalized odds of acceptance at Cal Poly Pomona and hundreds of other colleges: https://www.collegevine.com/admissions-calculator

This tool will also give you suggestions on how to improve your chances, for example by raising your GPA slightly or earning a leadership position in one of your extracurriculars. Good luck with your application!