Are you California dreaming on a rainy spring day? Southern California (SoCal) attracts college applicants from all over the world thanks not only to its great weather, beach access, and celebrity sightings, but also to its world-class research institutions and top-ranked liberal arts colleges. The Los Angeles region, in particular, is a great destination for spring break or summer college visits since you can bundle together a number of schools in just a few action-packed days. Are you hoping to spend the next four years on the West Coast? Then this post is for you!
As with all campus visits, it’s key that you plan ahead as tours and info sessions book up fast—especially in the summer months! If you want to connect with a current student or professor while you’re on campus (something we strongly suggest you do!) you need to reach out well in advance to make these connections and coordinate the logistics.
CAMPUS VISITS: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SAMPLE ITINERARY
Day 1: LA Rivals Campus Visits
Drive 12 miles from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to kick off your time in SoCal with a tour of UCLA—the largest university in the UC system, and the most selective (along with UC Berkeley). At UCLA, campus tours last 90 minutes and are led by current students to highlight academic programs, resources and student life. The campus is known for its green spaces, world-renowned arts program, and vibrant student life. Because UCLA follows the quarter system, students are able to explore a variety of courses during the condensed 10-week terms. Given its size (over 30,000 undergraduates) freshmen often find themselves in large lecture classes. But by joining one of the many on-campus organizations, Greek life, or a club team, you can easily create smaller pockets of community on campus.
After your campus visit to UCLA, head 20 minutes south to its athletic rival, USC, where you can attend a student-led or self-guided campus tour seven days a week. USC offers another opportunity to attend school in downtown LA—though its 226-acre campus and recognizable brick buildings provide a distinctive community within the city. The undergrad enrollment hovers around 20,000, but the average class size is closer to 26 students, so there are still many opportunities to get to know your professors. USC also offers Academic Department Presentations, a great opportunity to learn more about specific undergraduate schools and courses of study. Ask your tour guide about the Sidney Harman Academy for Polymathic Study—part of USC’s “Renaissance Ideal.” The Academy is a place to explore interdisciplinary learning and critical thinking, core tenets of USC’s academic mission.While you wait for the tour to begin, read more about the Freshman Profile and Admission Information here.
After your first day of college tours, caffeinate with a latte from famous coffee roaster, Blue Bottle Coffee, not far from the USC campus. Then head to the Santa Monica Pier to enjoy the sunset, visit the small amusement park, and grab dinner at one of the many restaurants nearby. Don’t forget to write down your reflections and notes after each campus visit!
Day 2: The Liberal Arts in LA Campus Visits
We always recommend touring a variety of colleges to determine which school’s culture, size, curriculum, and location feels like the best fit. On your second day in LA, visit Occidental College to see if you can picture yourself at a small liberal arts college. While you’re walking around this picturesque campus and vibrant Quad, you might not even remember you’re in the heart of LA (in fact, it’s frequently featured in movies about college life). Oxy takes pride in being a racially and economically diverse college community, with nearly half the student body composed of domestic students of color or international students. On-campus institutes like the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute reflect Oxy’s emphasis on social change and community-based learning. Registration is open for campus visits and on-campus information sessions, so book your session in advance. Before you go: check out some of Oxy’s Virtual Events to get a feel for the campus culture and gain a unique perspective of the college experience from current students.
After your info session, explore one of LA’s greatest cultural sites with a trip to The Getty Center, designed by architect Richard Meier. Soak in the panoramic views of LA and tour the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum—best known for its European paintings, extensive photography collection and rotating temporary exhibitions.
Day 3: The 5Cs Campus Visits
Finish up your whirlwind SoCal college tour by driving 30 minutes east of LA to Claremont, a quintessential college town with restaurants, shops, green space, and students on every corner! The Claremont Colleges, composed of seven independent institutions (5 undergraduate and 2 graduate programs), operate as a single consortium. Students are able to enjoy the benefits of a small college but draw on the resources of all campuses throughout their four years.
Each institution has its own governance and campus culture—and selectivity! See acceptance rates, below, and consider booking tours at two or more of the colleges to compare and contrast.
- Pomona College (Acceptance Rate: 8.62%): One of the leading liberal arts colleges in the country with an undergraduate enrollment of 1,764. Half of Pomona students do research with faculty during their time on campus.
- Scripps College (Acceptance Rate: 35.14%): A small women’s college with an emphasis on leadership and student participation. Scripps is a top producer of Fulbright students every year.
- Claremont McKenna College (Acceptance Rate: 13.34%): A private liberal arts college with an emphasis on government, economics, and international relations.
- Harvey Mudd College (Acceptance Rate: 17.96%): A selective engineering, science, and mathematics college.
- Pitzer College (Acceptance Rate: 16.57%): A prestigious liberal arts college known for its programs in social sciences and environmental studies.
To close out your SoCal campus visits, put on your hiking boots and head to Hollywood! The Mt. Hollywood Trail (a three-mile loop starting from the Griffith Observatory’s parking lot) is a popular destination on the weekends and culminates with a view of the iconic Hollywood Sign. Take a deep breath and soak up the sun—this could be your home for the next four years!
Depending on your time, interests and school range, we suggest amending the itinerary above by adding (or replacing) campus visits to Loyola Marymount University, California Institute of Technology, Chapman University, UC Irvine, and Pepperdine University
Days 4-5 Bonus Campus Visits
If you have extra time, head two hours up the coast to Santa Barbara. Here you can see UC Santa Barbara, located just steps from the Pacific Ocean, or Westmount College, a small Christian liberal arts college in Montecito.
STAY TUNED
In our Campus Visit Clusters series, we are highlighting different regions of the U.S. each week with our suggested itineraries. We’ve covered Boston and now SoCal. Next up: NorCal!
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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