<p>^^I was wondering why the op passed the Claremont Colleges by. Their financial aid is much better than Cal’s, the chances of acceptance are greater than Stanford’s, and being from Illinois would be an advantage.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. I don’t know what made you think that I’m from Illinois, but I’m not. I’ll take your advice SlitheyTove about skipping the Steinbeck sites and check the website. Also, thanks phbmom for the info on Portland. In response to the questions about me being interested in Reed and Pepperdine, I try not to pay too much attention to the stereotypes of certain colleges, instead focusing on their academic programs, athletic programs, extracurriculars/clubs, and the surrounding area. Portland appeals to me because they have many vegan options and many exercise opportunities. Malibu appeals to me because it is right there on the beach in southern California. Academically, Reed is rigorous and intellectual. Pepperdine has many outstanding professors. Reed doesn’t have any official athletic teams, but they have club teams. Pepperdine has quite a few athletic teams. I have Reed in my Top 5; whereas, Pepperdine is more of a safety that is still a good school. I don’t perfectly fit with the either college, but I’d definitely say Reed seems to fit me better than Pepperdine. </p>
<p>One main question: Why should I go on 101 if it only takes 45 more minutes to go on the scenic Hwy 1? Is the 7hr 45min time misguided for Hwy 1? Also, could we take Hwy 1 for a few hours and then switch to a different highway later, so we could make it in better time, yet still experience Hwy 1 for an hour or two?</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone for your help!</p>
<p>
Lots of kids think that way…Our high school has had many kids denied admission who fit the statistics as far as GPA and SAT scores and other academic criteria.
Will you want to comply with this:
[New</a> Student Information | Seaver College | Pepperdine University](<a href=“http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/newstudents/academics/convocation.htm]New”>http://seaver.pepperdine.edu/newstudents/academics/convocation.htm)</p>
<p>And if your application is borderline, do you have anything in your application that would support it (letter from your pastor, from your Campus Crusade/Young Life group, priest, imam, rabbi…) They do take God seriously there.</p>
<p>Okay, here goes a California geography lesson–Hwy 1 is separated from 101 by the Coast Range from Salinas through San Luis Obispo (~125 miles on 101; ~150 miles on Hwy 1). The few connecting roads are very windy. The 7:45 you quote is from where to where, and what did they say was the difference using 101? (As a long-standing rule of thumb, from SF to LA via Hwy 5 is ~ 6 hrs, via 101 ~8 hours and you add at least an hour or two for Hwy 1–but then adjust for starting from Palo Alto and then going via PCH (1) to Malibu.)<br>
So, if you really need to go on 1, I hope that you’re driving with someone else and that you start from Palo Alto fairly early, because you do NOT want to drive that road at night. It isn’t a road to go fast on and besides, you will be watching the scenery! You will be arriving in Malibu VERY late.</p>
<p>If you really want to visit SoCal schools, bypass Pepperdine and look at LMU, Occidental, and the Claremont group of colleges.
And, quite frankly, from out of state, bypass any California state funded colleges because of budget problems unless you are a super-star beyond what the have home grown. This is a state in deep budget cutting times that probably won’t change in the next 4 years.</p>
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<p>It is good to get campus tours. But I agree with nemom that getting a feel of the surrounding area is very important also. The areas around Berkeley and Stanford are so different, like night and day.</p>
<p>I won’t be able to make it in time to go to the Steinbeck Center. Are there any other cool things, Steinbeck-related or not, that are in the Salinas/Monterrey area that would be worth about a 30-60 minute stop?</p>
<p>I have no idea why I thought you were from Illinois. :o !! A senior moment. What state are you from?</p>
<p>California driving distances are much further than you think. You will definitely hit traffic between Berkeley and Stanford. And you definitely must check out the neighborhoods, they truly are very different, as are the schools. BTW, if you like universities right on the beach, why not UCSB?</p>
<p>Realistically, I advise you to think of this trip as a college visit trip only. You really don’t have time to see anything else. 30 minutes in the Monterrey area? Just eat a sandwich and enjoy the view of the bay. You’ve got to get back on the road…</p>
<p>I second the suggestion to see LMU and Occidental. Yes, the Pomona colleges are great, but I’ve never understood how people breathe there–it is the smoggiest part of soCal. Whenever I’ve been in the area, I’ve been very uncomfortable doing any exercise, indoors or out. Oxy is not quite as bad, and of course LMU, Pepperdine and UCSB are right on the coast, and the smog blows inland (straight out to Pomona, San Bernadino, and Riverside). </p>
<p>Regarding budget cuts, the UC’s will fare much better than the CSU’s. But the price is very high for out of state students, and grant $ is nearly non-existent for out of state folks. </p>
<p>Good luck, you have a great trip ahead of you. Drive safely, and DO NOT take hwy 1 at night. Actually, most of us in CA will only do Hwy 1 northbound. Southbound is downright scary, especially as you look at the scenery.</p>
<p>We are in the Bay Area and have made a similar drive many times. As others have said, you do not have enough time to get to Stanford from Berkeley for your tour. I recommend taking the tour at Cal, it is a difficult campus to figure out with out it, but taking a self led walking tour of Stanford when you get there. The campus is beautifully laid out and easy to follow with a map. For lunch, grab a slice of pizza at Blondie’s on Telegraph. The drive time on Highway One assumes a drive at freeway speeds, but there are few parts of that freeway that you can go that fast on. The idea of going 65 mph on One makes me feel a bit ill. Monterey is gorgeous, and it is fun just to stop for lunch near the aquarium. If you love Steinbeck, Doc’s lab is still just a few doors down from the aquarium, and you can get a sandwich at Sly McFly’s. Parking isn’t bad and you can be in and out in an hour and a half. It all depends on your priorities.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the advice everyone. If I have time, I’ll make a stop at Occidental-that one intrigues me. I’m thinking about canceling the Stanford tour to allow more time at Cal-Berkeley (which I like better) and then checking out Stanford on my own. I’ll figure out something in Monterey or Salinas. Thanks again everyone!</p>
<p>“about me being interested in Reed and Pepperdine, I try not to pay too much attention to the stereotypes of certain colleges”</p>
<p>That’s fine, but these schools are such opposites; it’s hard to imagine someone liking both. :)</p>
<p>I live in N. Cal, and we’ve toured Cal, Stanford (soccer camp), Occidental and Pepperdine. My heart beats fast just THINKING about you trying to get from Cal to Stanford in that time. </p>
<p>Also, the thing to notice about Pepperdine is the essay prompts. High stats do not tell the story of what they are looking for. The essay prompts and the admitted students speech tells the story. And the beach isn’t really that convenient…</p>
<p>I believe this is one of the three from when my daughter applied…</p>
<p>“Pepperdine’s scholarly community equips students with a liberal arts education anchored in Christian values. Our commitment to integrating faith and learning challenges our students to understand that the gift of knowledge ultimately calls for a life of service. With this commitment in mind, please respond:
Tell us how the integration of faith and learning can prepare you for a life of service, and discuss the impact service-learning can have on the renewing of your mind, spirit, and community.”</p>
<p>When visiting both CAL and Stanford make sure you have the skinny on parking before you go.</p>
<p>I like the idea of doing the CAL tour and then just walking around Stanford.</p>
<p>One possible itinerary…</p>
<p>Start at CAL tour. After the tour, check out Telegraph (funky but fun). I suggest either Cafe Intermezzo, Cafe Gratitude, Herbivore, or Cha Ya (best vegetarian japanese restaurant) for lunch. Take the Bay Bridge ($5 toll) to 101 S and head down to Stanford. This will take 1.5 hours (including parking time) if traffic is not bad. Be careful of the S curve crossing the bridge.</p>
<p>Stanford is beautiful, but a bit restrained. If you like funky, then Stanford will seem up-tight compared to CAL. If you are orderly and more the OCD-type, you’ll love Stanford.</p>
<p>After a brief visit at Stanford, continue South on 101 as you head to So Cal. 101 takes you through the golden California landscape and some parts south of San Luis Obispo are at the ocean. Suggest you take a quick walk around UCSB. It has the best location of all the UCs (but not the nicest campus). </p>
<p>An alternate would be to go by UCSC (the most beautiful UC campus) after visiting Stanford. UCSC is off of Hiway 1. You can then head south on Hiway 1 and hook back to 101 around Monterey.</p>
<p>Another thing to keep in mind is that in some areas you will hit commute traffic, so try to schedule your driving accordingly. If you are going to LA, there will be traffic 24x7</p>
<p>My 2c is to do Portland and the SF Bay Area, and skip So Cal. In 7 days, you can enjoy the school visits and not be so rushed or harried.</p>
<p>Bay Bridge ($5 toll)…better hurry! About to go up!
<a href=“http://cbs5.com/local/bay.bridge.toll.2.1781079.html[/url]”>http://cbs5.com/local/bay.bridge.toll.2.1781079.html</a></p>
<p>"The toll for cars and other two-axle vehicles at six of the seven state-owned bridges will rise by $1 to $5.</p>
<p>But on the Bay Bridge, congestion-priced tolls will be introduced. Drivers crossing between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays will pay $6 while those traveling outside those hours will pay $4. Weekend tolls will be $5 all day. "</p>
<p>Thanks Shrinkrap, I commute on the S&M bridge (San Mateo) and the toll has been raised to just the flat $5 fee. </p>
<p>I suspect traffic on the S&M will increase as people are trying to save a $1 during commute hours.</p>
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<p>As was mentioned before, why on earth are you keeping Berkeley on your list?</p>
<p>I am from the Bay area and my D goes to Cal (for her class in computer) and Stanford ( for her volunteering in Stanford Hospitals) during her high school years, so I know both campus well. I think you guys are too harsh on bb, casue visiting a school does not mean his SD will apply for it. To me visiting a school prior to admission acceptance is just for the experience. I went to all Ivys with my D last year even though we know there is little chance for her admittance in MIT or Harvard. We went there to experience the school culture and the feeling of being in a top school. I may visit 10 schools and apply only 4 that I liked, in my mind, the schools bb seclected are all valid schools to visit, for a reason.</p>
<p>As an outside of the area visitor, bb is too aggrasive on the schedules. I will never be able to get from Stanford to Malibu in 7.5 hours via US 1, non-stop, and from Cal to Standford is certainly more than 1.5 hours. In fact, I drive between SF and LA all the time and I always plan for 7.5 hours via I-5 with 75-80 miles/hour. Going through US-1 will add another 3-4 hours at the minimum. As the other post indicated, in a week, it is not going to be comfortable to visit those schools you mentioned AND tour SF enroute. You need to cut out Portland or SoCal. Or, if you want spend the money, fly in between Portland, SF and LA, in that rate, you can visit all the schools and have a day in SF.</p>