My lights not so bright, but its sunny outside

[tdanielle]

Hello, I am not a parent (thank God! At seventeen, so not on my list right now!)... But I'm thinking you guys would have some helpful insight on this issue:

I love california and do not plan to leave it, yet the ivies are the end all and be all of high academic reputation.

What schools (if any) in california still have that same (or close to the same) sparkling reputation, yet are over here by my ocean and still will allow me my fun in the sun?

(I do not think I am capable of surviving weather that goes below 65 for more than a quick snowboard trip)

USC?
UCLA?

Please help, for I do not know.

[Handyandy58]

Stanford and Cal Tech come to mind first and foremost.

[Schmoomcgoo]

UC Berkley

[tdanielle]

Thanks! I'm applying to Stanford. Oddest supp qs ever.

[tdanielle]

I am also applying to cal berkley.

[swimcatsmom]

Hello, I am not a parent (thank God! At seventeen, so not on my list right now!)...

Don't have any answers for you but you made me chuckle

[1of42]

Stanford, Caltech and Berkely have reputations close or on par with the Ivies. That's about it.

[wjb]

There are several small schools in California with "sparkling" reputations: Harvey Mudd, Claremont College, and Pomona come to mind. What "sparkles" for one student, however, may not sparkle for another. It all depends on what's important to you (besides California sun).

[siliconvalleymom]

It depends on how heavily you weight "fun in the sun" versus national reputation. If you really want fun and want to be near the beach, think UCSB, UC Irvine and UCSD. At all three, the academics are what you make of them...there are students who mostly party and students who seek out a great education.

[mathmom]

Stanford and Caltech (for the science minded) are right up there reputation-wise with the Ivies. Berkeley is probably the Best Buy in CA. Harvey Mudd, Claremont-McKenna and Pomona aren't as well known outside of CA, but ought to be. USC and UCLA are better known, but from the East Coast perspective, which is pretty biased, they aren't on the same level.

My son really hated the Stanford supplement.

[momstl4]

Have you looked into Pepperdine or University of San Diego? The Ivies aren't everything!

[1of42]

Yeah, I ought to have said that while Harvey Mudd, Pomona and so forth are also of very high academic quality, they aren't known for it really, outside of California.

[tdanielle]

The school is definetely MORE important than the sun and sand. I just happen to be very fond of my state and have no desire to leave it. I just sent in my app for USD monday(?) but decided against pepperdine. As for stanfords supplement, yes, quite odd... I just decided to throw out what I think they want to hear and put down what I really think (I know, what a concept).

[tdanielle]

... and as for "sparkling", anything that is happy or positive, I tend to describe as sparkling (except on my college apps)

[tdanielle]

siliconvalleymom, I do not seek to party, I simply grow increasingly unhappy as the weather grows cold. Do you know anything about SCU?