This Cal Poly building was toured by the AVID students on Thurday, April 10.

AVID students visit Cal Poly
Marissa Martinez | 4/15/08 | Feature

“Learn by doing.”

That is the famous California Polytechnic University quote that generations of students get to use. On Thursday, April 10,  95 AVID students and six teachers went down to check out the college that offers 66 bachelors degrees, 26 masters degrees, one doctoral degrees, 68 minors, and 14 credentials.

This year about 19,777 students get to experience all that Cal Poly has to offer on 1,321 acres of land in San Luis Obispo. Cal Poly offers a variety of majors from architecture to liberal arts

Tour guide Jen Hajar led the students through an hour and half tour around the campus. The first stop was at the Rec Center, which will double in size over the next three years.

“It is such a great school,” sophomore from Granite Hills Brianne Wagner said. “I honestly think this is one of the better colleges to go. The campus, the people, the majors are all amazing.”

Hajar then took all the students to visit the building of Cal Poly’s award winning newspaper the Mustang Daily. The newspaper is produced daily by only students.

But, an award winning newspaper is not all that Cal Poly has to offer. Cal Poly is also famous for its architecture and engineering department. Every year seniors from Cal Poly are required to have a “senior project” reflecting what they have learned over their college years. According to Hajar, one student decided to add the campus of Cal Poly by getting rid of stairs and building a bridge.

Cal Poly also has over 400 clubs ranging from rock climbing to poetry. And Cal Poly also has the only bowling alley in San Luis Obispo. To say the least, students usually have something to occupy their time throughout the day.
 
To wrap up the tour Hajar took the group down to the campus center which had a crowd of around 100 students. With clubs such as the Zeta being promoted and live bands performing, it seemed as through Cal Poly couldn’t get more exciting.

“It’s a good school,” said journalism major Amber Kiwan. “There’s always something going on campus – it’s always fun.”

After the trip 95 AVID students and six teachers from Granite Hills headed down to Avlia beach for some fun in the sun. After a short period of relaxation, the group headed back home late in the afternoon.

“This trip was a good way to give students a first hand experience on college life,” Granite Hills counselor Andrew Plyman said. “It’s a way to get a fell of campus, whether it’s a match for them.”