251. Cal Poly - Melissa Furlong - Executive Director of Admissions and Enrollment Development

The College Admissions Process Podcast

Cal Poly Admissions

Cal Poly, Learn by Doing

Cal Poly Admissions

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🎙️ In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Melissa Furlong, who is the Executive Director of Admissions and Enrollment Development at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Melissa shared valuable insights about Cal Poly's unique academic programs, the vibrant student life, the comprehensive support services, and the intricacies of their application review process. This conversation is packed with essential information for students and parents navigating the college admissions journey.

Biggest Takeaways:

Cal Poly's Unique Academic Programs 🎓:

• Melissa highlights the uniqueness of Cal Poly's "Learn by Doing" philosophy, which integrates hands-on experiences with academic learning. This approach prepares students for real-world challenges and sets Cal Poly apart from other institutions.

Student Involvement and Retention 🎉:

• With a 95% freshman retention rate, Cal Poly excels in keeping students engaged and committed. Melissa attributes this to the strong sense of community, abundant extracurricular opportunities, and robust support services available to students.

Comprehensive Support Services 🛠️:

• From academic advising to career services and mental health resources, Cal Poly provides a wide range of support services to ensure student success and well-being. Melissa emphasizes the importance of these services in helping students thrive both academically and personally.

Application Review Process 📄:

• Melissa provides a detailed walkthrough of Cal Poly's application review process, including how they evaluate GPA and she offers tips on avoiding common application mistakes and key factors to consider when determining if Cal Poly is the right fit.

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