<p>Jolynne it would be nice to keep them close. Though they are both also looking at wonderful schools in three or four other states, it will be nice if one or both of them settle closer to home. I have my fingers crossed for a couple of choices but I am keeping my mouth shut!</p>
<p>They also look at the male/female ratio and accordingly guage the liklihood of being able to get a date :)</p>
<p>Pitzer is worth a look. Thanks for the rec.</p>
<p>USD has an equestrian team, strong sciences. Redlands has some great programs in music, creative writing, and the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies. I loved Oxy when D visited -so did she but decided she didn't want LA</p>
<p>hey^^^ you remember the specifics!!! :) I'll mention the equestrian angle at USD. Unfortunately, Redlands is one of two campuses which has been given the thumbs down by DH because of location. It's not an absolute "no" by any strectch but he really wouldn't be on board with it the way he will be with all of the the other schools so the girls decided to take it off of their lists. I think mine will decide that Northern California and Oregon are more their style too. But if I'm wrong it sure wouldn't be the first time.</p>
<p>Redlands is actually easy to get to (Ontario airport) if that is his concern--and the campus and town are very pleasant. Air quality of not worse than Claremont. But perhaps he has some other objection....</p>
<p>Redlands was pretty much under the radar for us but D kept insisting she wanted to visit. Turned out to be among her top 4 choices. Was accepted with great FA and scholarships but decided to turn it down because it was "too close to home" (only 10 hours away) and felt it wasn't going to push her out of her comfort zone.</p>
<p>I have been reading up on Oxy and it seems clear that it would be a great place for either of the girls. I did see on their website that their selectivity rating went up this year because of a bunch more applicants so we'll see.</p>
<p>On her own TwinE told me that she wanted to check out USD too. Fickle little thing. One of her best friends is applying to SDSU so all of a sudden USD is on her good list.</p>
<p>We will be so close to Redlands it seems silly not to check it out. DH was there many years ago and found it horribly hot and smoggy. We'll be there in July so air quality won't be at its best but we may as well give it a look. Their website looks promising.</p>
<p>csleslie too funny that 10 hours wasn't far enough from home! I love that kind of independence. She made a great choice. I hope her second year went even better.</p>
<p>about Redlands: Yes, it will be hot, smoggy and unappealing during your July visit. That's when we went, and I was surprised that we all liked the school, even after the baking tour. The tour guide was the BEST that we have seen at any college, she had lots of practical info, fun antecdotes, and made sure that we all had plenty of water. When we asked where we should eat lunch, she gave us free passes to the cafeteria, and it was great food. </p>
<p>It is worth the drive to go on the tour. </p>
<p>By the way, in the winter, the view of the San Gabriel Mountains is gorgeous. Also, S liked the Redlands location. An easy drive to Big Bear for snow!</p>
<p>I could go on, as I keep having flashbacks of some of the really cool things that the student activities department organizes. And how nice the admin folks were, and the generous financial aid that they offered, etc. etc.</p>
<p>Chapman maybe?</p>
<p>BTW, I really like all the schools that folks are suggesting in this thread. Interesting, as most of them were on son's list, also.</p>
<p>Since your Ds are considering Scripps, you may want to have a peek at Mills College, N.Calif women's LAC of about 1500 students. One of the top majors is Biology. Woodsy area in Oakland foothills. Good percentage receive finaid. Might be an option to look into if they don't want So Cal.
Named one of America's best colleges 2008, USNWR. </p>
<p>Mills</a> College for Women, Coed Graduate Programs, California college</p>
<p>(oops sorry, you were asking about Southern California only)</p>
<p>I second Oxy as a good school to investigate. Two of D's HS classmates are at OXY and really enjoy it. When we visited, we were impressed by the students whom we met - lots of diversity and very enthusiastic about their experiences there. D (Pomona) has a good friend from HS who attends Scripps and received a great financial aid package that includes summer internships. Definitely consider visiting at least a couple of CCs while in Claremont. We visited Pitzer, CMC, and Pomona just to be able to compare and contrast.</p>
<p>Happy visiting!</p>
<p>Karens Colleges: Our kids have similar taste. I will definitely come back and let you know what the girls and I thought about the Southern California schools. </p>
<p>By the way all you helpful posters have caused me to fall hard for Occidental. So thanks for urging us to look into it.</p>
<p>Sequoia: Thanks for recommending Mills. They has been in touch but neither DD wants to attend an all-female school without boys somewhere close by. Interesting because neither has had a boy-friend but I guess they are holding out for college men :D I have urged them to look at because it is closer to home and a good school it but neither will give it a second glance. </p>
<p>The girls will be attending soccer camp and staying in the dorms at Claremont McKenna so they will look there and at Mudd but realistically speaking, Unless they both have a huge jump in Math scores on the June SAT Mudd is probably out of the picture.</p>
<p>Historymom- I know your husband objects to Redlands but you are so close it is worth a look. My husband also was not thrilled at the idea of Redlands but after reading so much about it on CC I insisted they look. Both liked it enough that it was one of the final choices.
I would not say the weather and terrain of the Claremont Colleges is much nicer then Redlands. They both will be smoggy and terribly hot in the summer. They should definitely consider Pitzer. The campus is not as pretty but the girls I know who attend are fun, slightly quirky and down to earth.</p>
<p>fun, quirky and down to earth describes my girls :) I sent you a PM and now I am off to college board.com to see how the girls stack up.</p>
<p>historymom--</p>
<p>If your Ds are interested in northern California, they might want to consider Santa Clara University.</p>
<p>Little Mother ^^^ SCU is great! The girls have done soccer camp there the last two summers and though they like the camp, neither is interested in applying. I think it's because they love Saint Mary's and well...you can be a Gaels' fan while being a Bronco :)</p>