Both UCLA and Berkeley have a little over 30% of the student population as being out of state or out of country. So there must be a lot of “insane” people out there. I sense that people on here think that a private school is always worth more than a public school. I still don’t get it.
Really? The only place my daughter has ever been in an ICE roadside check was in California (twice).
ICE is a Federal agency tasked by the executive branch.
My read was that the OP was referring to LGBTQ individuals whose rights vary state by state rather than immigration status which can be enforced by the federal government even in sanctuary cities or states. Either way if it’s his daughter’s preference to stick with blue states that’s her decision. Just like urban versus rural or big versus small or university versus LAC she will undoubtedly gravitate towards certain features like many kids do while looking for their place in the overwhelming list of college options.
My daughter has a friend that recently took his own life at 16 when his parents did not accept him coming out as bisexual to them. So, I think her preference for a state that is more tolerant of LGBTQ issues is pretty important to her.
Maybe graduate school or a future job/career will bring her to a red state, but as a high school junior who will be a college freshman in 18 months, I don’t think she wants to deal with that at this stage in her life.
Here are some maps on state laws regarding various LGBTQ issues: https://www.hrc.org/state-maps
and, I never said that UCLA, USC or UC-Berkeley are the very top schools on her list. We’re in a position in March to be able to travel to visit colleges and figured Southern California is a lot nicer of a trip in March than is Michigan, Illinois and the other states in the Upper Midwest. And, also nicer in March than Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington DC.
I’d be worried about driving through snow going from the Chicago area to Ann Arbor in March - the same with PA, DC and MD.
I’m fairly certain that the potential for a lot nicer trip in March weather wise is much higher in SoCal v Midwest…I’d guess sunny, highs in 70s/lows in 50s. The highs can occur in late AM/early PM after AM marine layer (June gloom) has burned off. I’d bring a light sweater/jacket. But just like Midwest, you can get great/awful weather in March which when combined with traffic can make commuting a challenge. In SoCal’s case, you could have rain. Hope for best, keep your eyes on forecast.
Just an FYI, but the last day of classes at UMich is 4/23, so don’t wait too long, unless you’ll be visitinig in the Fall. UMich ends much earlier than most. We visited in early March, but we only visited AA. Light snow and cold.
CA is a good call.
“But, at least most of the UC schools are better than the state schools in the Northeast - UConn, UMass, URI, UVm, UMaine, UNH, Rutgers, Penn State, Univ of Delaware”
I would not make this assumption. I wholeheartedly agree with the UC Forum Champion, @Gumbymom. For CA residents, they are a great value. To pay $250,000 for schools with massive classes, heavy reliance on TAs, and bureaucratic bloat, regardless of their “reputation” has never made sense to me. My son had the stats to get into all of them, and refused to apply to any of them.
It also makes no sense to spend $2 million dollars for a 1500 sq feet house in Silicon Valley, but you have multiple bidders all the time.
It’s already been stated numerous times that cost is not an issue for the original poster, so not sure why this is being brought up so much.
My point wasn’t about the money. It was about the quality of the experience at said institutions.
Ya and that doesn’t even include the existing home’s demolition cost. =))
Hi! I started my undergrad at USC and then transferred to UCSB, so I’m in a unique position to comment on the differences between public and private. Ironically, and surprisingly, I found the quality of education at UCSB to be just as strong as USC. I can’t think of any classes taught by TA’s (though perhaps that’s major specific?), and my class sizes were mostly similar. I did have a few very large classes at UCSB, however the “lecture hall” classss were almost always taught by some of the best professsors, so if anything, we sought those out. I did have to “crash” a few classes that were full after registration— but I had to do that at USC also. USC and UCSB both had some really great professors and provided a high quality education— very little academic quality differences were noticed in the transition. Perhaps unique to UCSB as a smaller UC, and non-STEM majors, but that was my experience.
hmm, thought I had responded, but I guess I didn’t hit that final “post” button.
If the UC schools are over-rated or don’t give you a quality experience, it seems that kids don’t know it yet - UCLA received over 100,000 applications last year.
"it seems that kids don’t know it yet - UCLA received over 100,000 applications last year. "
kids from Calif who CAN’T afford a private school education DON’T have the CHOICE of whether or not to apply to our public U’s and colleges. And the UC’s and state U’s and colleges DO provide a great education, at far less cost to Calif students.
36% of the applicants to UCLA in 2018 were from out of state or international. Around 42K out of 113K.
UCLA received a total of 113,779 application last admissions cycle. 42,192 were from OOS or international, about 37%. 7,245 of the total 15,790 admits were OOS or international.
http://www.admission.ucla.edu/Prospect/Adm_fr/Frosh_Prof18.htm
There’s a huge contingent from OOS, so these students and their families must find great value to being full pay at UCLA and other UC’s.
Edit: ProfessorPlum beat me to it. 
Most posters do not think UC’s are overrated but I think unless you have an unlimited budget and do not mind paying the high OOS fees, then the UC’s are great options but in my opinion I think there can be better options for many applicants .
Also as a long time poster, there are many OOS applicants that are not aware that the UC’s offer little to no financial aid and will apply without checking out the NPC.
Name recognition and prestige do play a large part in the International students and I am sure for many OOS students that apply to the UC’s especially UCLA and UCB.
My older son had 3 International roommates for Freshman year whom were very surprised he did not apply nor consider UCLA and UCB. My son asked them why they chose UC Davis at the time and they said they did not accepted to UCLA or UCB so UCD was the best UC option at that time. 2 did however end up transferring to some East coast schools which they considered more “prestigious”.
I know my younger son (CA resident) got a lot of flak from some of his friends for not even considering attending a UC over a Cal State. He chose a Cal State instead which was a very good fit for him academically, socially and financially.
Perception is different than reality.
I agree that there are lot of good schools out there, but UCB and UCLA are better than almost all the “state college” options out there on an academic basis. Maybe Michigan, UVa and UNC-Chapel Hill are close.
None of the state schools in the Northeast are at that level - UMass, UConn, URI, UVM, UNH and UMaine. Not to mention the SUNYs and Rutgers in NY and NJ.and my daughter would prefer to stay out of the South/Southeast and and central/lower Midwest
Since I’ve already stated my daughter is not that interested in LACs, the schools left that would still be at the UCLA/UCB level (top 30/35 or so) and also near a city are limited. Plus, in California, we can hit a bunch of good schools in 5 days in southern California within a short drive of each other. Harder to do that in most other areas