California Colleges

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So my parents suddenly have a short vacation from work and we're taking a roadtrip up to San Francisco. (I'm from SoCal.) We've decided to kill two birds with one stone and are thinking of visiting some colleges on the way up there. I'm gonna be a senior next year, and still have no idea where I wanna go, what I wanna major in... yadda yadda yadda. I'd like your guys' help on some random colleges to visit. I've only heard of the big ones - Stanford, Berkeley, Davis.. and not much else besides that. Any colleges you think I should visit while I'm around/heading to that area? Preferably north of LA, because I can visit the SoCal colleges at a different time. </p>

<p>Here's some quick stats, so you can see what colleges I can realistically apply to (but I'd still like to visit some colleges that are 'above' me):</p>

<p>SAT : 2020 (700 CR, 630 Math, 690 Writing) - (that's one sitting - just add 20 points to the CR for the best combined score)
GPA – 4.1 weighted (will go up with this year’s scores), 3.9 unweighted
Rank - 13/514 (will go up with this year’s scores)</p>

<p>This isn't a chances thread, mind you (so I'm not gonna bother posting my ECs).. but more of a 'what colleges should I plan to visit and learn more about thread'. I'd like a range of safeties, reaches, and matches, but mainly focusing around the Northern California area. </p>

<p>Sorry for the life story. :P I've already attempted to search the threads, but there wasn't anything I found that I was looking for, but if there's something I missed, please point me to it. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Your stats put you roughly in between the average at Berkeley and Davis, so I would definitely visit those two. Stanford would be a major reach unless you have some impressive ECs or athletic ability.</p>

3

<p>mcdewan:</p>

<p>UCB/UCLA: Slight Reach
UCSD: Match
UCI/UCSB/UCD: Safe Match
UCSC/UCR/UCM: Safety</p>

4

<p>Here are my suggestions for your trip up to NorCal... I would generally allow a half day or more for each school. Plan your trip and contact the admissions offices of each school to arrange for a tour/information session.</p>

<p>With your GPA and test scores (BTW, the UC's only count SAT score from one sitting, as you may know), I think you are a slight REACH for UCB/UCLA, and solid MATCH for UCSB/UCD, with SAFETY for UCSC. Stanford is a REACH, depending on your EC's. CalPoly SLO is a MATCH to SAFETY.</p>

<p>From SoCal, take Hi. 101 up to Santa Barbara to visit UCSB. While you're there be sure to visit La Super Rica Taqueria, 622 N. Milpas St, Santa Barbara. It is superb!</p>

<p>From UCSB, go up to San Luis Obispo to visit CalPoly SLO.</p>

<p>(If you plan, it is easy to visit both UCSB and CalPoly SLO on the same day; you and your parents may like Solvang, a quaint replica of a Danish village.)</p>

<p>From here, go up to UCSC, about 4.5 hours up Hi. 101, and then you'll need to cut over to Santa Cruz. A lot of people are surprised by UCSC. It deserves a higher reputation than it has, in my mind, especially with health sciences, biology, and their evolving computer engineering programs. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful campuses in America, a lush environment where students can take walks through the redwoods to get to the main library. In Santa Cruz, on Pacific Mall, check out the Walnut Street Cafe.</p>

<p>From Santa Cruz, it's about an hour over the hills of Hi. 17 to Stanford, off Hi. 280. If you can bring up your test scores, you will stand a better chance at Stanford, which is a REACH for almost everybody. Stanford is gorgeous, and you'll fall in love with the campus. (BTW, if business is your interest, there's a gem of a school in the Silicon Valley -- Santa Clara University -- that has an excellent Accounting program that is virtually guaranteed to have recruiters camping on your doorstep by your junior year (all the Silicon Valley companies need accountants, due to increased influence of the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, and Santa Clara is the best school for pumping out Accounting grads for the high-tech companies in the valley.)</p>

<p>From Stanford, it's another 45 minutes up to San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area. Personally, the two primary colleges in S.F. (USF and SFSU) are not high on my list. I think SFSU is a school that has seen decline over the years, and USF is a fine private school but not high on my "bang for the buck" list. It also has a disjointed campus environment.</p>

<p>Crossing the SF/Bay Bridge, you can get to UC Berkeley, which is the No. 1 public university in the U.S. Definitely plan a more extensive visit for UCB -- contact the admissions department and get an official tour/information session. I think this is a slight REACH for you, but your chances are reasonably good (your SAT score is about average for them, and your GPA is right in the mix).</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>There's not too much in North California, besides what flopsy already mentioned:</p>

<p>Stanford is still quite a reach unless you have some hook, but I'd say still shoot for it.</p>

<p>Santa Clara University, University of San Francisco, & University of the Pacific are all pretty safe matches with UofSF pushing on the edge of safety.</p>

<p>I would say that Santa Clara is worth a visit, and UofSF could be combined with a nice day trip. If you are a girl, I would add in Mills College.</p>

<p>I'd also definitely take a trip to UC-Santa Cruz.</p>

<p>However, I think University of Pacific is a bit out of the way to be worth the visit. I'd visit the other three before visiting Pacific.</p>

6

<p>Thank you all so much. </p>

<p>Are there any other private/liberal arts colleges up north that I'm not aware of? </p>

<p>And do you think UCSC is a 100%, fail-safe safety? I was thinking of applying to SDSU just in case - do you think it's worth the money, or should I not bother?</p>

7

<p>UCSC is pretty much a 100% safety. According to my UC guide a person with a 4.0+ gpa has a 95.2% chance of getting accepted and with your sat scores, there is now way they will reject you.</p>

8

<p>mcdewan,</p>

<p>I'm very familiar with UCSC, since I'm an alum from '73, and have participated in a host of activities since then. I've seen the campus grow considerably, but the cluster college concept is still terrific. I believe that with certain majors, you will get exceptional preparation for anything you want to do. And yes, I think you are as SAFE as can be at UCSC. SDSU is very different (one of my nieces attends there for Nursing presently) from UCSC. You'll see why when you visit.</p>

9

<p>Did you figure your GPA on the UC method? Will you fall in the top 4% (ELC...) of your school-sounds like you will.</p>

10

<p>I second the suggestion to hit UCSB and CalPoly-SLO on the way to the bay area.</p>

11

<p>Follow Norcaldad's advice word for word. Excellent post! Definitely reserve plenty of time to see Berkeley: it's a big campus by a vibrant city. If you're economizing on your trip, here are the highlights I would take: UCSB, Stanford (I went to see it today; it's amazing), Cal, Davis--pretty much what you were already thinking.</p>

12

<p>Superb post from NorCAl dad!</p>

<p>Also, if you are looking for a smaller safety (and are female), I suggest Mills, which is very close to the Cal campus. I loved the school when I visited, and I have a friend who will be attending Mills in the fall (I am going to Stanford). They are very very good with Merit aid if that is an issue.</p>

<p>Davis is about twenty minutes away from where I live, and is a nice campus. If you decide to come further in-land to the Sacramento area, it is about a 3 hour drive during the day from San Fran or Oakland up the free-way. If you drive down at two it the morning it will take an hour in 15 minutes. It is a lot closer to the bay then you think. Personally, I couldn't wait to get out of here and into the Bay Area, but you might really love Davis, so if you have the time come check it out. Try to be here when we are not having a heat wave. Davis is always investing to improve the campus dramatically and I think it has gone up in stature in the last few years. </p>

<p>Good Luck on your trip!</p>

13

<p>I would definitely look at Santa Clara with your scores and GPA. It's a very good school, and right near Stanford.</p>