<p>Thumper1, I do think that the idea of seeing both parts of the state is a good idea if possible. I grew up near San Diego and now live in the aforementioned Bay Area, and I still find them extremely different, climate-wise (and I am using that word in a very broad sense--weather climate, environmental climate (smog, yuck), intellectual/cultural/social climate. Different people will prefer different places. For someone from far away, I tend to think that unless she really falls in love with a less urban campus, she might be far happier in a more urban environment even though Cal Poly etc. are wonderful schools. It is just so far to get to any kind of urban area with all of its offerings. I'll be really anxious to hear your report! Another plus for the San Diego schools is your relatives there--it is so nice to have people you can comfortably call on if needed. </p>
<p>With regard to the Southwest tickets--the full fare ones are fully refundable, but the Web specials are not, I believe, so if the trip is tentative, you might want to pay the extra money to get the refundability. I really like Southwest, hope you get a very funny flight attendant, they can sometimes crack up the whole plane......</p>
<p>Clearwater, congratulations on your award. I believe the most they give is 10,500 plus presidential unless you apply specifically for others so you are close to the top award. Have you decided yet?</p>
<p>Thumper, I think you are on target with your schools. In the bay area, we visited University of San Francisco (smaller Catholic U), St. Mary's College of Calif. and Mills in a day and a half. My daugher liked St. Mary's quite a bit but it is definitely quiet on the weekend with lots of students leaving for home. My daughter LOVED the Mills campus and the teacher we talked to there but she doesn't want an all-female school. She isn't interested in Santa Clara because her school sends so many kids there but I have heard very good things about it so it is definitely worth a visit. </p>
<p>USF was a huge turnoff to my daughter because housing is only guaranteed for freshman year --- sophomores can get housing but after that you're on your own to find an apartment in San Francisco! We were also less than impressed with USF's 4 year graduation rates, so check them carefully.</p>
<p>We have found that MOST of the colleges in Calif. have a lower resident population than those back east or in the midwest. Santa Clara, for instance, only has about 56% of the population living on campus. I think the numbers are similar for USD but since there is a large group of apartments right off campus there, it is not as much as an issue. So, make sure to ask how many students live on campus, whether housing is guaranteed ALL four years, and where exactly students do live (i.e., how far from campus - is a car necessary to find affordable housing? Average housing prices in the area, etc.) if housing isn't guaranteed.</p>
<p>One other school you might consider visiting is the University of the Pacific - about an hour and a half drive from San Francisco area. It is a school with an excellent music program and a very pretty "back east" feel to the campus.</p>
<p>Whittier, Chapman and Redlands are both easy drives from San Diego, especially if your relatives live in North County San Diego. The San Diego airport is very easy to get in and out of - Southwest has cheap flights to the Bay area (Oakland). So, I'd probably choose two of the LA/Orange County area schools and try to do them in a single day (long day of driving but definitely do-able) and then fly from San Diego up to the bay area on another day or two.</p>
<p>I wouldn't spend much time on the UC's or the cal states --- Most of the UC's will be a bit of a reach for your daughter as an out of state student and the cal states aren't worth coming all the way to Calif. for in my opinion. Financial aid and merit money will be pretty non-existent for an out of state student as well unless your daughter has outstanding stats.</p>
<p>Arizonamom - Re USD's male-female ratio: Remind your daughter that San Diego has a HUGE student population so the male-female ratio at USD may be a moot point in terms of dating opportunities once she factors in the boys at San Diego State, UCSD, and Point Loma Nazarene. And, also remind her that we have a HUGE contingent of young naval and marine officers anxious to meet date-worthy females. :)</p>
<p>Arizonamom--no, actually, I haven't decided yet because i'm still waiting to hear from the other schools I applied to. My first choice is Davis, but I still haven't visited the Redlands campus, i hear its nice.</p>
<p>Actually most of the SW internet specials are also fully refundable, for credit towards another flight (within one year.) When you make your next reservation you plug in the prior reservation number and the balance is credited to your new ticket.</p>
<p>SBMom--I don't consider that "refundable", unless you regularly fly on Southwest routes. I may be wrong but you don't see too much of Southwest on the east coast. If you're commuting in the western states a lot, then that's a different story.</p>