Universities in So Cal

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hi, I live in Maryland and I hate the weather here. I want to be somewhere where it's warm and sunny all year round especially because I have seasonal depression. So fall, winter, and spring is very hard for me when it's all dark and gloomy.</p>

<p>So I was wondering, are there any good colleges in So Cal that accepts lots of people from out of states? I know Univ of San Diego and USC does. </p>

<p>I got 1720 on my first SAT try so I'd say 1800 to 2000 isn't a reach at this point. My HS GPA is about 3.8 weighted.</p>

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<p>Are you a junior or senior? If you’re a junior, then a significant improvement on your SAT is very possible. Also take the ACT. Some kids do better on that. :)</p>

<p>USanDiego doesn’t meet need, so you need to first determine your college budget. HOw much have your parents said that they will pay each year? </p>

<p>Do you know your Expected Family Contribution? If not, use this… [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml]FinAid”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml)</p>

<p>I totally understand your desire for more warm weather and sunny days! :slight_smile: There are other states that have sunny days nearly year-round, so if money is an issue, you might want to consider other states as well. :)</p>

<p>There are many schools in Southern Calif that accepts many OOS students…</p>

<p>LMU
Chapman
Azusa Pacific
USD (as you mentioned)
USC (ditto)
University of Redlands
Whittier College</p>

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<p>Thank you so much!</p>

<p>I’m a junior, haha yep I’ll be taking the ACT too. Probably sometime in the spring or fall. and thanks for the calculator, I’ll be sure to use it. But money probably won’t be too big of an issue for me.</p>

<p>Are there any other states with good colleges that have good weather that accepts a lot of out of state students? (Except for like the deep south like Texas, Alabama, not too fond of those places. lol…)</p>

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<p>Add:</p>

<p>All five Claremont schools
Occidental College
Point Loma Nazarene College
Mount St. Mary’s College</p>

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<p>Some Florida schools take many OOS students (not UF, but others).</p>

<p>Texas is not the deep south. LOL The two top schools UT and TX A&M don’t take many OOS students, but the other schools there do.</p>

<p>U Alabama is also not a “deep south” school. 40% of its students come from OOS because it is so generous with merit. While it does get many students from Georgia, Florida, and Texas, it has done a very good job getting students from all 50 states, and a growing number from many NE and midwest states (such as Illinois, NJ, NY, PA, etc.) </p>

<p>I have 2 sons at Alabama (we’re from Southern California - Orange County). The school is not “deep south” at all like Miss St or Ole Miss. Many of the profs are from Ivies and other top schools, so that also add to the cultural diversity of the school. :slight_smile: The school is gorgeous, has strong academic programs, doesn’t have economic problems like others, and has fabulous dorms. Alabama has mostly sunny blue skies and fluffy white cloud days -even during the winter when the temp does drop.</p>

<p>Both Arizona and Arizona St also will accept many OOS students. However, the weather can get to be tooooooo hot in Arizona (which is a fine state). LOL (we almost moved there, but the heat was toooo much for us.)</p>

<p>Glad to hear that money is not an issue. You are very lucky!!!</p>

<p>Other schools to consider…</p>

<p>Loyola Marymount (Los Angeles)
Loyola New Orleans
Tulane (New Orleans) but you’ll need to get your scores up (which I think you will! :slight_smile: )
LSU - Many schools in Louisiana won’t be too deep south in culture because of the high Catholic population there. Louisiana is not part of the Bible Belt because of its Catholic roots. However, Louisiana has its own unique (but charming) culture that can seem different, but not too shocking (until you see a street procession funeral. lol )</p>

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<p>What about the Cal Polies(SLO and Pomona)?</p>

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<p>^Since they are state schools they don’t take so many OOS kids.</p>

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<p>Cal Poly ups out-of-state recruitment effort
[Cal</a> Poly ups out-of-state recruitment effort | Mustang Daily - News for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo](<a href=“http://mustangdaily.net/cal-poly-ups-out-of-state-recruitment-effort/]Cal”>http://mustangdaily.net/cal-poly-ups-out-of-state-recruitment-effort/)</p>

<p><a href=“http://sanluisobispo.kcoy.com/content/cal-poly-revs-out-state-recruitment[/url]”>http://sanluisobispo.kcoy.com/content/cal-poly-revs-out-state-recruitment&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I like Cal Poly SLO, but it can be rather chilly there; it’s not like Southern Calif.</p>

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<p>Even after this planned boost in OOS enrollment, Cal Poly SLO undergrads will still be about 90% CA residents - not really a school that accepts a lot of out of staters.</p>

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<p>I would have said UC San Diego (UCSD), but I don’t think your stats are good enough to get you into the school. </p>

<p>Pepperdine and the University of San Diego are really nice schools to go to. But I’m not also sure how hard it is to get into those schools. </p>

<p>San Diego State University (SDSU) is another good option. [Welcome</a> to SDSU](<a href=“http://www.sdsu.edu/]Welcome”>http://www.sdsu.edu/) I’ve been to their campus and it looks very, very nice.</p>

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<p>Thanks all, lots of good ideas.</p>

<p>I love U of SD to death right now, but only problem that I have is they don’t seem to be too big of a school and don’t offer many varieties of majors.</p>

<p>If I worked my ass off this one last semester and get my SAT scores up, would that be good enough for UCSD or USC? I also have lots of extracurriculars… i worked at JHU bayview medical center over the summer as a volunteer this year and last year, I’m in Student council, and I’m big into art. If I send in my art portfolio, would that help my case?</p>

<p>also I’d like UCSD, but collegeboard only shows 4% of OOS students…</p>

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<p>*I love U of SD to death right now, but only problem that I have is they don’t seem to be too big of a school and don’t offer many varieties of majors.</p>

<p>If I worked my ass off this one last semester and get my SAT scores up, would that be good enough for UCSD or USC?<br>
also I’d like UCSD, but collegeboard only shows 4% of OOS students… *</p>

<p>I think for you to be a strong contender for USC, you’d have to get your (M+CR) SAT up to about 1380 (or 2100/2400) - that would put you in the middle of their "mid 50% percentile (If you were lower than that, you’d have to be an athlete or something like that to still be a good candidate.) </p>

<p>I don’t know if USC is “need aware,” but if it is and you can be a “full pay” (about $55k per year), then that would be something in your favor! :)</p>

<p>U San Diego has about 5,000 students - a third of their students are in some kind of business major, so that might be a problem if you’re not going to be a business major.</p>

<p>All the UC’s have a limited number of OOS students. I know that some think that the UC’s are going to accept large numbers of OOS students in the future to grab their OOS dollars, but California’s student population isn’t really going to allow for that. The California kids need to go somewhere - and the Cal States are already too crowded, so lessening in-state enrollment at the UC’s is not an answer. Perhaps there will be a slight increase in OOS numbers at UCs, but those seats will likely go to kids with hooks to justify their acceptances. Therefore, a UC an be a “reach” for you, but not a match. :(</p>

<p>If you are going to major in art, then I think you have to provide a portfolio. However, if you’re going to major in something else, I don’t think they’ll really consider a porfolio.</p>

<p>In addition to wanting sunny weather :slight_smile: what else do you want in a school? Big, small, quiet, rah rah big sports, Greeks, big city, med city, college town, rural…??? Can it be Christian or Catholic?</p>

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<p>^Thanks a lot! Whew I’m so glad I still have a shot at USC :D. Right now that I hear it, USD does seem kind of not in there for me… </p>

<p>as for other factors concerning school choice, I prefer a large variety of major choices, and I’m not sure on everything else, or I don’t mind it being big city or small town. Yes it can be christian or catholic, I’m actually attending a catholic highschool right now so maybe would that play more favorably to some colleges?</p>

<p>as for Greeks, I honestly don’t know. Sometimes it seems good, sometimes I hate it. I have not a slightest idea if I’m going to join a frat or not when I get to a college.</p>

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<p>Agree! USC just loves high test scores. But assuming a ~300 point increase in test scores (from 1720) is highly unlikely. If you are not in their test range, at best, 'SC might be a spring admit.</p>

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<p>Since you’re at a Catholic high school now, that is a plus for **Santa Clara U (Jesuit)<a href=“but%20that%20may%20not%20be%20warm%20enough%20for%20you%20because%20of%20it’s%20location”>/B</a>. My nephew was just accepted to Santa Clara (he’s also at a Catholic high school and SCU gives consideration to kids from Catholic schools.)</p>

<p>**Loyola Marymount (Jesuit) ** might be a good choice for you.</p>

<p>*I have not a slightest idea if I’m going to join a frat or not when I get to a college. *</p>

<p>You don’t need to decide that yet; I was just wondering if you have a preference right now. Some kids do. :)</p>

<p>I know that there are some smallish 3rd tier schools in So Cal that could be suggested, but I don’t think they’re worth the money. So, I would focus on LMU or Santa Clara (if not too cold/overcast) for you. And, I would extend my search to all of the states along the southern border of the US - since they all have warm weather and sunny skies. </p>

<p>Do you think you “might” be the type to watch your school’s sports games? (The reason I say “might” is because my older son had NO INTEREST in football AT ALL until he went to college, now he’s very interested. LOL )</p>

<p>What is your likely major and career goal?? That will also help define where you should go. :)</p>

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<p>Santa Clara U isn’t in SoCal. It’s a nice school but it’s often cold there.</p>

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<p>^^^</p>

<p>I know. :slight_smile: That’s why I put the weather caveat.</p>

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<p>thank you so much mom2collegekids, sorry for the late reply. I’d be all for football games actually, I’m a big football guy and I might actually tryout for college baseball spots if possible.</p>

<p>for majors, I’m into environmental science/studies, psychology, anthropology, something with sports management, visual arts, sports training… and I’ll probably get more as time comes but this is it for now haha…</p>

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<p>*I’d be all for football games actually, I’m a big football guy and I might actually tryout for college baseball spots if possible.
*</p>

<p>If you want a school that has football, then USC is a good choice…so would UAz and AzSt. Don’t know how easy it would be to be a “walk on” for college baseball at those teams. Anyone know???</p>

<p>*for majors, I’m into environmental science/studies, psychology, anthropology, something with sports management, visual arts, sports training… and I’ll probably get more as time comes but this is it for now haha… *</p>

<p>It seems to me that schools that have sports management and sports training tend to be schools with big sports. Is that what you’re finding?</p>