Here’s the hilarious twist: Cal Poly is famous for its hands-on, applied learning. Their motto is literally “Learn by Doing.” But the admissions process is the opposite—it’s pure theory and guesswork. You can’t “do” your way into a decision; you can’t build a robot to impress the committee.
Cal Poly Pomona - Viviana Kim's Graduate Portfolio 2012-2013
I once met an applicant who submitted a video of themselves fixing a tractor just to show “doing” spirit. Did it work? No idea, but it probably got lost in the server alongside 10,000 other desperate attempts. The admissions team probably watches those videos during lunch breaks for comedy relief.
