California, here we come! Northern California (NorCal) offers natural attractions that range from Yosemite National Park to Monterey Bay. The Bay Area and Pacific coastline are also home to a number of prestigious colleges and universities. Prospective students and their families can easily visit a range of schools in just a few days, though we recommend renting a car for logistical ease. In between campus visits and info sessions, get to know this scenic region, its college towns, and its largest cities—San Francisco and San Jose.
CAMPUS VISITS: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SAMPLE ITINERARY
Day 1: Stanford University and Santa Clara University Campus Visits
Begin your college trip with Stanford University, located in California’s “Silicon Valley,” 35 miles south of San Francisco and 20 miles north of San Jose. As you drive up Palm Drive, lined with Canary Island palm trees, you’ll reach the Oval—a central meeting place on Stanford’s campus and the gateway to the university. Throughout campus, you’ll notice Stanford’s distinctive Richardson Romanesque and Missions Revival architectural style—don’t forget a photo op by Memorial Church in the Main Quad! This Quad, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, houses the School of Humanities & Science. In addition to Stanford’s academic buildings and athletic facilities, check out other campus destinations like the Cactus Garden, designed in the 19th century, and the Rodin Sculpture Garden, which includes 20 statues by the famous sculptor Auguste Rodin.
With approximately 7,000 undergraduate students and more than 69 major fields of undergraduate study, Stanford offers the benefits of both a large research institution with the community and advising of a liberal arts college. Note that all campus tours require pre-registration (available under the “Engage” tab at admission.stanford.edu). If the official tours are all booked, you can still check out Stanford’s many self-guided tour offerings.
Read more about Stanford’s admissions statistics here.
In the afternoon, drive 20 minutes from Stanford to Santa Clara University, where you can begin your visit with a presentation by an admission counselor, followed by a campus tour with one of SCU’s student ambassadors. SCU, a private Jesuit university with roughly 5,000 undergraduates, is located around the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asis and includes beautiful academic buildings built in the Colonial Revival style. SCU is organized into six professional schools, but the five most popular majors are Management, Biology, Computer Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Finance. SCU is well known for its active and loyal alumni network. While you’re on campus, you can learn more about the Alumni Association’s quarterly webinars, alumni book club, and career resources.
After your visit, check out Ulistac Natural Area—a 41-acre nature preservation with several natural habitats. Walk along the Guadalupe River, check out the butterfly garden, and enjoy the nature trails as you digest the information from your first day of visits. If you’re staying near Stanford, you can end your day with dinner in downtown Palo Alto. Restaurants like Bird Dog highlight the local culture and cuisine with flavors that blend Northern California produce with a Japanese influence.
Day 2: UC Berkeley Campus Visit
UC Berkeley (better knowns as “Cal”) has earned its reputation as the #1 public university worldwide (according to U.S. News and World Report). Cal is well known for its Division I athletic program and history of activism and service, which is reflected in its title as the #1 all-time top producer of Peace Corps volunteers. Although Cal is a large urban school, with more than 1,600 faculty, 35,000 students, and 130 academic departments, it backs up into the Berkeley Hills, which provide a wealth of green space and parklands. Before you go, sign up for Berkeley’s free guided Campus Walking Tour, led by student ambassadors. These 90-minute tours are available seven days a week but book up fast! Tours begin at the Koret Visitor Center (2227 Piedmont Avenue) and include landmarks like the Sather Gate and the Doe Library. For a memorable view of Berkeley and the entire Bay Area, climb up the Campanile, the third-highest bell tower in the world, and enjoy the view from the observation deck.
With enough advance planning, you can buy tickets for a performance at Zellerbach Hall after your campus tour. This multi-venue performance facility on UC Berkeley’s campus attracts well-known dance companies and artists and is one of the largest university-based arts presenters in the United States. Or, visit Downtown Berkeley—the home of the protest movement in the 1960s—where you can check out local music venues, go shopping, try a donut filled with ice cream at local favorite, Milkbomb, or have a meal at Chez Panisse, a restaurant that originated “California cuisine.”
Read more about how to Get into Berkeley.
Day 3: UC Davis Campus Visit
From Berkeley, drive an hour north towards Sacramento and you’ll reach UC Davis, a tier one research university located in “California’s College Town.” Davis is known as a laid back, bike-friendly community with art galleries, farmer’s markets, and accessible trails. Your 90-minute campus visit will begin at the UC Davis Welcome Center, where a student guide will lead you through the core of the 5,300-acre campus and share their undergraduate experience.
During your tour, you might notice the hammocks and hydration stations available—part of UC Davis’s commitment to wellness—or walk past the Social Sciences and Humanities Building, known as the “Death Star” by students due to its shiny metallic façade and maze-like interior. Watch out for cyclists! Bikes are the primary mode of transportation on campus and there’s even a student-run bike barn (a full-service repair shop) in the center of the university.
As one of the top 10 public universities in the country with close to 22,000 undergrads, UC Davis combines the public research university opportunities with a collaborative culture and safe community. It also prides itself on its research opportunities. Every year, 700 students present their work at the annual Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference and many others publish in Explorations, the UC Davis undergraduate journal.
For a quick snack or meal on the go, take advantage of UC Davis’s partnership with local food truck vendors and sample a variety of cuisines. From there, check out the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, a beautiful space that inspires students to become environmental leaders and a place to learn about sustainable gardening and natural land management.
Depending on your time, interests and school range, we suggest amending the itinerary above by adding (or replacing) campus visits to California State University-Sacramento, UC Santa Cruz, Saint Mary’s College of California, California Polytechnic State University, or the University of San Francisco.
STAY TUNED
In our Campus Visits Clusters series, we are highlighting different regions of the U.S. with our suggested itineraries. We’ve covered Boston, SoCal and now NorCal. Next up: the Midwest!
Liz graduated Magna Cum Laude with high honors from Dartmouth College and earned her MA and PhD in Art History at the University of Virginia, where she taught undergraduate courses, earned the All-University Graduate Teaching Award, and received a Fulbright Research Grant.
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