<p>I love the west coast, especially California. I am in the college search process right now and I am seriously considering applying to a few colleges in Cali. My mom however believes that there are enough excellent colleges in New England, where I live. My question is: Is it worth it for an east coast boy to go to college in California? I am thinking about applying to Stanford and Berkeley, maybe a couple more.</p>
<p>Yes, give it a shot at Stanford, Berkeley, USC, and UCLA</p>
<p>We’re in the east too and my son applied to two CA schools in UC system, and got into both. The cost, even with a presidential scholarship to one, was just too much out-of-state. We knew when he applied and were ready to pay it, but at decision time other offers were much better in comparison (when you take the 50K cost of OOS to UC schools,or 44K with scholarship). It depends on your own family situation --what’s your EFC, do you qualify for much in the way of need based aid, or would you be a full pay student from OOS? If so, then focus on the private CA schools that offer better merit aid. Now that being said, I think you should be able to decide where you go to school and see no reason to limit your choices based on proximity. However, as a parent, cost is going to be the main determining factor, so that’s why I say apply to schools that will give you good aid, and your mom will be much more apt to giving you her blessing to go 2,000 miles away to school :).</p>
<p>UCs will be expensive and not very generous with financial aid for OOS students. CSUs will be less expensive, though only a few (e.g. Cal Poly SLO and SJSU) may be attractive from an OOS point of view (and perhaps only for specific majors).</p>
<p>Stanford is generous with need based aid for those who get in, but getting in is the hard part.</p>
<p>Smaller good schools include the Claremont colleges and Caltech.</p>
<p>University of Washington is another good public school whose OOS costs are not as high as many OOS publics.</p>
<p>if you like LACs, also consider the Claremont Colleges.</p>
<p>Stanford likes East Coast kids since they are trying to become more national. </p>
<p>As a californian, I would end up paying 27k a year at berk. As an out of state, you would pay 55k</p>