My D is interested in attending college in California (we are currently in state in Virginia). She is a junior with a weighted GPA of 4.23 and first SAT scores of 650CR, 660 M, 610 W. She will retake the SAT and will take the ACT, which she actually scored higher on with the practice tests. She is interested in computer science and would like to work in the television/media industry. However, her interests may change so we need a school that offers a wide variety of majors.
We are planning to retire to California, but that won’t happen in time for her to get CA in state tuition. We won’t get need based financial aid and don’t want to spend 50k upwards per year for an undergraduate degree.
Of course, we’ve heard of USC, UCLA etc., but I was wondering if there might be some other schools that would give merit scholarships to a kid like this. From what I’ve heard she would not qualify for merit at USC or any CA publics.
We currently have two other kids in college - one at UVA and one at Elon University. An Elon type university in SO CA would be great.
Any help that you all could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hmmn, I think there are two different things: one, are there schools she can receive merit aid with her scores, and two, a place similar to Elon?
Her SAT at around 1800 is low for merit aid. Can’t think of a similar school to Elon. The ones that come to mind are the Pomona Colleges (but it’s very selective), Santa Clara (about 50% admission, and 5500 ) and maybe Occidental, (smaller, near 2500, and more selective around 35% admission rate)
Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I will look into these schools. I suggested a school similar to Elon because their tuition is a bit lower than average and she might get some merit $$ there.
Her first SAT is actually 1920 @boolhi and will probably go up. In addition, I think her ACT scores will be even higher.
Religious schools are fine. She would like a school with “spirit.” She has toured a lot of schools (with 2 older brothers) and says she can “see” herself at any of them. She’s very flexible.
CSUs (including the Cal Polys) would be in the mid-$30,000s for out-of-state. Most are commuter,based, although San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Monterey Bay, Humboldt, San Diego, and Chico are more residential. San Jose, San Francisco, and Pomona have a large number of both residential and commuter students.
The prominent private schools like Stanford, USC, Caltech, and the Claremont colleges would probably be difficult to get admitted to and expensive. Perhaps more reasonable would be schools like Santa Clara, but the cost would still likely be an issue if she is not in the merit scholarship zone.
Thanks @ucbalumnus! so do you think her best option would be to find an affordable CSU (not commuter based)? I’m not clear on the difference between a CSU and a California public like UCLA. Is Santa Clara a CSU? For example, are you saying there are two separate public university systems in CA?
I was thinking Whittier and Redlands because they might provide merit aid even with an 1800 SAT and the fact that her interests might change from computer science. I wonder if Loyola Marymount would be an option?
University of California: PhD-granting research universities, mainly residential, higher price. 9 campuses with undergraduate study.
California State University: bachelor’s and master’s degree universities, most mainly commuter, lower price. 23 campuses.
California Community Colleges: open admission two year community colleges for students to transfer to UC or CSU as well as students studying for associates degrees, vocational certificates, and personal interest.
Of the more residential CSUs named above, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, San Diego, San Jose, and Pomona are probably the more complete ones in terms of CS offerings.
Is she not interested in the Virginia public universities?
Ok. I understand now. Thank you for explaining @ucbalumnus
She does like the Virginia schools. We went and toured JMU on Tuesday (3rd time for me!). She really liked it. I think she wants an adventure and to maybe do something different. Her brother is a cinema major (at Elon) and may move to LA after graduation. In addition, she knows that we will eventually be out there, so the CA schools are on her radar.
She may end up in Virginia, but she’s exploring her options right now.
OP, be aware that your D may be considered an OOS student her entire time if she attends a public U in CA, even if you move there. They are extremely strict about that.