Pepperdine, Univ of San Diego, LMU (though don’t be fooled by its Catholic affiliation), Reed in Oregon if you like a bit of a hippie atmosphere. I guess being from the East Coast you are used to “weather,” but I am hearing this year and the last few years when my kids have been involved in the college process of students from California (including Northern California) being dismayed at the rain and overcast in Oregon (and somewhat to a lesser extent) Seattle, but especially Oregon. I think weather in the East is real weather; the Pacific Northwest is a lot of rain, but also a lot of “almost” rain, so a lot of gloom. You sound like you really like Los Angeles, so I would hesitate on Oregon; they are very, very different. Everyone is going to Oregon from California and western states because it’s the new cool place to be (everyone thinks it’s the new San Francisco, the new hippie movement, arts/crafts, and laid back). Only exception to that would be Willamette which I hear is more serious and has many opportunities being in the capitol. Occidental may be good, too. Have you thought Pomona, Pitzer, or Scripps.
If the smell of pot is so bothersome, don’t apply to University of Denver. And accept the fact that you WILL smell it, to some extent, at every college/university – unless you go to BUY or Liberty or some such.
Whittier would be a solid safety for you, and you might qualify for merit aid.
If you want to be in LA, then consider LMU and Pepperdine (the later is very Christian so only go if you fit that). Both are good schools in great locations. Pomona/Claremont would be even better but you’re quite unlikely to get in.
In Washington, look at U of Puget Sound and Whitman.
In Oregon, check out Willamette. (Reed is excellent academically/intellectually, but perhaps too “weed-friendly” for your taste).
Although all terrific schools, Whitman, and Westmont (and to some extent Whittier, Pepperdine and St. Mary’s) are either not near cities and/or can be difficult to travel to from the East Coast.
My vote goes to Pepperdine. Sounds like it would be the right fit for you based on what you said you like and don’t like
@hop Pepperdine is a 40 minute drive to LAX, so quite easy (by LA standards).
I didn’t think it was important to mention before but I am half Jewish and I don’t think I would feel completely comfortable attending a really religious school.I have no probably with religious people,I admire their devotion but I do not know anyone who talks about their religion on a daily basis or really in public.My mom is really religious and goes to church once a week but does not really push her religion on to me.I read on a forum here that on a tour the guide told the visitors about how everyone has bible readings together and being in that kind of environment I think I would feel isolated.By nature I am just a more conservative person because of my strict parents and their values.I think I am a really open minded person and would probably be fine anywhere but I want to go where I would be happiest.Although I’m currently not very religious I would want to go somewhere somewhat religiously diverse.Probably like 15% of my school is Jewish and most other people are Christian.Nobody I have ever talked to in my town has been super religious or recited bible quotes or referred to Jesus as “him”.I understand really religious people but just don’t think I would like that environment.
A poster above mentioned Mills College. I’m not sure if it’s representative of the whole student body, but I know a couple of students at Mills and they are probably the most liberal people I know (and I live in a very liberal part of the country). The one time I was on that campus, it seemed to be a very liberal environment. I’m not sure if you would feel a good “fit” there. I second the vote for taking a look at St. Mary’s; I think it might have what you are looking for if you are interested in the SF Bay Area. Of the colleges I know in southern California, I think Cal Lutheran and LMU might be a good fit, also. I think the poster that mentioned weather is spot-on. The Pacific Northwest is absolutely beautiful, but there is a lot of rain and gloomy weather. If you want lots of sunny days, your best bet would be looking at schools no farther north than the SF Bay Area.
USF has a very active Hillel.
@pinkpink103 based on your comment #27 I would scratch Pepperdine from your list.
LMU would still be a fine fit, as though a Catholics school, isn’t not “religious” is that same sense.
Agree, Pepperdine is out now for the same reason it was out for my son. I have no idea if this is true, but my son’s college counselor really felt he could get into USC. Reading the stats I doubted this was true, and when we both read about USC we didn’t think it was the right fit for him. But maybe that is a school to consider too. You and my son have a lot of similarities but he’s quite liberal. All the Jesuit west coast schools I would look at and Puget Sound ( though I think the students at UPS are going to generally be more liberal than you are it’s my sense they are the live and let live more than the in your face types). We are all interested in your search!
You may find the Hillel list a helpful starting point:
http://www.hillel.org/college-guide/search#radius=10&select=top60
Thank you everyone for all of the suggestions,I honestly appreciate it so much!I have so many tests this week so I don’t have much time to research colleges but I have next Monday off so I will research like crazy then.I have tried to start studying for the SAT but it hasn’t been going that well.On the PSAT I think I got a 1300/1520 which is pretty solid so I am hopeful for a decent score.I was originally going to do the ACT but decided to do the SAT because of the new format and the no wrong answer deductions.TBH I am a pretty lazy person and a huge procrastinator but once I really sit still I can get a ton done which I have been trying to force myself to do.I definitely eliminated Pepperdine from my possibly list because it is too religious.I will definitely consider Hillel enrollment at each school even though I don’t think I will join because that will let me guage how religiously diverse it is.Even though I’m not super religious half of my family is Jewish and are really religious so I get to experience 2 religions which definitely has its pros and cons.