I am looking for some other college ideas on the west coast.I am a junior and so far on my list have LMU,Santa Clara,Chapman and UW.I thought about Oregon but I am not that outdoorsy so I’m not sure if it would be a good fit.I also considered Colorado but I really hate smoking so I don’t think I could handle parties there.I also considered U San Francisco but could not picture myself going there.I want to major in business so something near a city would be preferable.I have a 3.7 GPA and have not taken the ACT yet but predict a 27 or 28.Are there any “hidden gems” I should consider?
What is your financial situation? Home state?
I live in the New England region but there is no way I am staying around here.My parents are able to pay for any college so basically I can go to any college I get into but the only problem is getting in 
.
A few to look into perhaps:
Seattle U
U of Redlands
Willamette U (no undergrad business, but with the state capitol across the street, lots of opportunities)
U of Puget Sound
The West Coast and Colorado have much [higher rates of marijuana use among 18-25 year olds](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/08/05/where-americans-smoke-marijuana-the-most/) than many other parts of the country. If you go to school in those states it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll smell it at parties, but by no means is it forced upon those who don’t want to partake.
University of San Diego sounds like it could be a solid option for you, given that you’re considering LMU. You should also consider University of Denver and perhaps Regis University (outskirts of Denver).
@arc918 Thanks for the suggestions I will look into them!
@whenhen It really is upsetting and I do have a hard time dealing with it.Last time I went to California my sister had the genius idea of going to Venice Beach.I felt so naceous,uncomfortable and unsafe without the huge smell of weed.The only reason I know the smell is because a huge pot-head sat in front of me last semester which actually made it hard to concentrate.
I will look into U San Diego,I think I will try to look at semi-religious colleges b/c I feel like the partying might be less intense.
Seattle U may really fit the bill. It’s a Jesuit school, so not where people go for a big party scene. Campus is almost in the shadow of downtown, so lots of opportunities through the business school.
FWIW - my daughter didn’t want to apply to any schools in Colorado because she’s so anti-pot. She ended up applying to U of Denver, which is now toward the top of her list.
Just an FYI, you’ll still find plenty of weed at LMU. I have an extremely close relative who goes there and I know he smokes as do his roommates and friends in college. When I visited him, his hall smelled quite strongly of the stuff.
I’m not sure about weed, but since they’re religious, these aren’t big party schools:
-Azusa Pacific University
-Biola University
-California Lutheran University
-Gonzaga University
-Pepperdine University
-Point Loma Nazarene University
-Santa Clara University
-Westmont College
Also consider:
-Mills College
-Occidential College
I really suggest UW. Being in WA, there is quite a bit of marijuana, but being a big school, you will certainly find great like minded people. Also, it strikes a good balance between proximity to downtown and nature. In addition to Seattle U, as arc918 mentioned, there’s also Seattle Pacific University that shares many qualities with both.
Another vote for Seattle Pacific. Also Whitworth University in Spokane
What in particular draws you to wanting to study on the “west coast?” I’m asking because there is a huge difference between say, Denver and San Francisco. Is it weather, the “vibe” or just being away from New England that appeals to you?
Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
I knew when looking at colleges I would want a school in a completely different part of the country,I didn’t just to want to go to NY or RI.What drew me to the west coast was because I am really familiar with LA in particular.I know nothing about the Midwest but would be open to going there.I have traveled a lot and want to go somewhere near a city because that is where I am most comfortable.My grandparents live in LA and my dad grew up there so we visit a lot.I also like the nature aspect even though I don’t really venture to it.For example I like being surrounded by it and driving past the ocean to school.I like the diversity of the west but my family is really conservative.My dad is a doctor and is really strict.We are not allowed tattoos,piercings,need to shop at “nice and appropriate” stores,ex:banana republic.I guess part of me wants to make a big move to be independent but I know college is apart growing as a person which is what this will allow me to do.
For the record I am not extreme anti-weed I just hate the smell.One of my friends,the nicest person ever smokes but she never talks about it.I am totally fine surrounding myself with people who do it once in a while but not excessively like some people I know.It is people’s decision if they want to get sick and potentially hurt themselves I just don’t want to be near an extreme amount of people where there is a prevelant culture of smoking.
Don’t be so quick to discount Oregon. Eugene is a small city, but city-like nonetheless. Whitworth, even though it is in Spokane, is in the suburban outskirts and not city-like.
None of the colleges will allow pot in or around the dorms.
@Magnetron Thank you for the suggestion,I will look into it.I googled Eugene Oregon into google images and came across a suggestion for looking at pictures of hippies and was immediately turned off but then I realized that I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.I know there is odd people everywhere but it is hard for me to visualize what it is really like without ever being there before.Is the hippie population the majority or minority of people there?I’m fine with a more liberal population but if everyone is extremely hippie I don’t think I would like being there.My best friend is obsessed with Bernie Sanders and I am a republican but we don’t discuss our views and get along fine so it’s not like I am judgmental or anything.
We’re from WA and know a few kids at UO. One of my D’s good friends is a sophomore down there, conservative and pre-professional, 4.0 and a good athlete in HS. My oldest was down there in the fall for a football game. The student body would be typical of most any large state college with a few hippie-types sprinkled in. Less makeup, more fleece, but pretty typical.
Have you toured USF or spoken with an admission counselor? It is a Jesuit school, very focused on education, diverse and has a wonderful business program.
I second the suggestions of U Seattle (great business program), U San Diego and U Puget Sound.
To those I would add in U Portland, and Pacific Lutheran.
I didn’t see Saint Mary’s in Moraga mentioned. I think you could like that school reading these posts. We looked at almost all the schools in this thread I think you are getting good advice.
Also, read one of your posts again, and wonder if maybe you might even like Pepperdine? That was out for my liberal leaning son but it might be something you would like? Another school that was out for him we never looked at was Westmont in Santa Barbara.