The Western College Tour Trail - CA & OR
Sep 14th, 2006, 03:08 PM
#1
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The Western College Tour Trail - CA & OR
As some of you may know, and thanks to all your help, we took the "road to college" trip, literally speaking, stopping at 9, count 'em, 9 colleges and universities between L.A. and Portland. If you have any questions about any of the following (or all of them!) we visited, including our impressions -- and for those of you with kids who need "accommodations" as they are called in college (and I'm not talking dorm rooms, although I checked all of those out thoroughly as well!), let me know and I will try to answer them. The Fabulous 9 were:
Cal. State Channel Islands
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
Cal. State Monterey Bay
UC Berkeley
UC Davis
Southern Oregon University (Ashland)
University of Oregon (Eugene)
Oregon State University (Corvallis)
Cal. State Channel Islands
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
Cal. State Monterey Bay
UC Berkeley
UC Davis
Southern Oregon University (Ashland)
University of Oregon (Eugene)
Oregon State University (Corvallis)
Sep 16th, 2006, 11:44 AM
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I'm anxious to hear about Cal State Channel Islands since it is on the campus of a former State Hospital. My dad was a physician on staff there and it was beautiful out there... wonder how it looks now. Which, in your opinion, had the most beautiful campus?
Sep 16th, 2006, 03:04 PM
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Dixie, have you seen all the campuses or are you guessing that by her screen name she'll like Santa Cruz most? There are certainly plenty of surfers at UCSB. UC Santa Cruz is a beautiful campus but I haven't been to the ones in Oregon myself so I wondered. I guess we'll have to wait and see!
Sep 16th, 2006, 05:47 PM
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http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34821095
Here's the original thread...
Here's the original thread...
Sep 20th, 2006, 06:02 PM
#14
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Well, for California, I felt the most beautiful campus, ding ding ding, Dixie Chick you win the prize, yes, Santa Cruz for location and smell alone (pine trees).
Sorry for the delay, starting with the California schools:
Channel Islands:
Great location, free sailing and kayaking, beautiful campus surrounded by produce farms; loved the dorms - large and all inclusive; close to rail to get back to L.A. on weekends; adding additional curriculum to current curriculum. Fab. Gym. The admissions counselor who also conducted the tour was very knowledgeable and is really interested in getting the student population up.
Downside: lack of breadth of curriculum and majors. However, this is the newest of the Cal States, so room to grow.
UC Santa Barbara:
Isla Vista is a hike to get to from SB, but the transit is good. Pretty campus with a lagoon; modern concrete and glass buildings, miles of bikes and bike paths (the best way to get around campus), usual UC majors; laid back; beach community. Didn’t see the dorms but were told there were plenty and they were good.
Cal. State Monterey Bay
On the old Fort Ord site just north of Monterey near the city of Seaside. On the hill, nice ocean view (the place where in the movie, Private Benjamin, Goldie Hawn remarked was the place that had the “yachts”). Most of the former barracks have either been torn down or converted, with plenty of work underway. In fact, when we were there they were just installing for the Fall, new fiber optics embedded in the road for the state of the art internet. Large, beautifully located campus; very modern buildings; the biggest dorms of all of the ones we saw, totally self-contained. It’s own theatre. Curriculum is very different than all other State College campuses. For example, if you wanted to major in Spanish, you would major in “World Languages and Cultures” and you work in groups – almost like the way UC Santa Cruz used to be. You are not just learning, you are in the trenches experiencing.
Sorry for the delay, starting with the California schools:
Channel Islands:
Great location, free sailing and kayaking, beautiful campus surrounded by produce farms; loved the dorms - large and all inclusive; close to rail to get back to L.A. on weekends; adding additional curriculum to current curriculum. Fab. Gym. The admissions counselor who also conducted the tour was very knowledgeable and is really interested in getting the student population up.
Downside: lack of breadth of curriculum and majors. However, this is the newest of the Cal States, so room to grow.
UC Santa Barbara:
Isla Vista is a hike to get to from SB, but the transit is good. Pretty campus with a lagoon; modern concrete and glass buildings, miles of bikes and bike paths (the best way to get around campus), usual UC majors; laid back; beach community. Didn’t see the dorms but were told there were plenty and they were good.
Cal. State Monterey Bay
On the old Fort Ord site just north of Monterey near the city of Seaside. On the hill, nice ocean view (the place where in the movie, Private Benjamin, Goldie Hawn remarked was the place that had the “yachts”). Most of the former barracks have either been torn down or converted, with plenty of work underway. In fact, when we were there they were just installing for the Fall, new fiber optics embedded in the road for the state of the art internet. Large, beautifully located campus; very modern buildings; the biggest dorms of all of the ones we saw, totally self-contained. It’s own theatre. Curriculum is very different than all other State College campuses. For example, if you wanted to major in Spanish, you would major in “World Languages and Cultures” and you work in groups – almost like the way UC Santa Cruz used to be. You are not just learning, you are in the trenches experiencing.
Sep 20th, 2006, 06:04 PM
#15
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UC Santa Cruz:
Will preface my comments by saying if I had to do it all over again (I went to UCLA), I would have gone here, hands down. While all of the other UC campuses we visited had this feel of intensity and competitiveness, UCSC felt like it would be 4 years at summer camp in Yosemite. Loved the vibe. It might be a bit too laid back and liberal for some, but I thought it was intellectually cool and hip in a very existential Donovan Mellow Yellow sort of way. The people were all nice, for one thing. The campus smelled of pines for another. It’s surrounded by farmland for a third. And it’s 10 minutes from the Santa Cruz beach and boardwalk. The buildings are all hidden, and rather far apart from one another. Residence halls are located close to where your area of concentration is located. A shuttle bus is used from one location to the next, but all little residential/department “hubs” are accessible by walking paths or, if you have strong legs, bikes (it’s very hilly). They even had their own El Camino Real bell.
UC Berkeley:
My son loved it; I found it intimidating. There was nothing about Berkeley that does not impress. It has old, gorgeous buildings, it has history, it has the biggest and the best research departments, library, and on and on. All these Pulitzer prize winners and Nobel prize winners and they invented all this great stuff. It even has it’s own dinosaur or t-rex (ok, a lifesize plaster mold of one). We did not get to see the dorms, but were advised there are a lot of them and pictures of them are all on-line. It is surrounded by the City of Berkeley, with lots of street vendors and transients, lots of ancient hippies selling bumper stickers about peace. For really focused students who are well rounded and confident and like a challenge, this would be a great place to soak up knowledge. Lots of grassy areas.
UC Davis:
Way out there and probably the most conservative politically of the UC campuses we visited. There was a great little university town just outside the school itself, and like most of the UC’s, plenty of acreage to get lost in. There is a very pretty river with ducks on the campus itself, surrounded by what we city folks would call a park or commons areas, great for walking, sitting, communing with nature. Excellent theatre, law school, and medicine-related studies. The wine industry has spent a fortune here on concert halls and it does have a wine making major. Lots of agricultural majors and a working farm. Well landscaped and great produce gardens all over the campus. This came across as a campus where the students were very serious about learning, but also kind vs. intellectually elitist.
Will preface my comments by saying if I had to do it all over again (I went to UCLA), I would have gone here, hands down. While all of the other UC campuses we visited had this feel of intensity and competitiveness, UCSC felt like it would be 4 years at summer camp in Yosemite. Loved the vibe. It might be a bit too laid back and liberal for some, but I thought it was intellectually cool and hip in a very existential Donovan Mellow Yellow sort of way. The people were all nice, for one thing. The campus smelled of pines for another. It’s surrounded by farmland for a third. And it’s 10 minutes from the Santa Cruz beach and boardwalk. The buildings are all hidden, and rather far apart from one another. Residence halls are located close to where your area of concentration is located. A shuttle bus is used from one location to the next, but all little residential/department “hubs” are accessible by walking paths or, if you have strong legs, bikes (it’s very hilly). They even had their own El Camino Real bell.
UC Berkeley:
My son loved it; I found it intimidating. There was nothing about Berkeley that does not impress. It has old, gorgeous buildings, it has history, it has the biggest and the best research departments, library, and on and on. All these Pulitzer prize winners and Nobel prize winners and they invented all this great stuff. It even has it’s own dinosaur or t-rex (ok, a lifesize plaster mold of one). We did not get to see the dorms, but were advised there are a lot of them and pictures of them are all on-line. It is surrounded by the City of Berkeley, with lots of street vendors and transients, lots of ancient hippies selling bumper stickers about peace. For really focused students who are well rounded and confident and like a challenge, this would be a great place to soak up knowledge. Lots of grassy areas.
UC Davis:
Way out there and probably the most conservative politically of the UC campuses we visited. There was a great little university town just outside the school itself, and like most of the UC’s, plenty of acreage to get lost in. There is a very pretty river with ducks on the campus itself, surrounded by what we city folks would call a park or commons areas, great for walking, sitting, communing with nature. Excellent theatre, law school, and medicine-related studies. The wine industry has spent a fortune here on concert halls and it does have a wine making major. Lots of agricultural majors and a working farm. Well landscaped and great produce gardens all over the campus. This came across as a campus where the students were very serious about learning, but also kind vs. intellectually elitist.
Sep 20th, 2006, 06:27 PM
#16
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Oregon:
Ashland is a town that is really very unique. It’s so perfect you think you’d think you’re in Stepford, but without the scary vibe. In fact, this town is so safe in the great scheme of things in the U.S. today, that young women are riding bikes home at 10 or 11 p.m. ALONE. Isn’t that something! The first thing I noticed about Oregon is that people eat early and go to bed early. This lifestyle would not be a great combination for international students coming from, say, Spain, unless they were willing to dine about 6 hours earlier than what is the norm for them. We had a long haul between Davis and Ashland, so it was 9 p.m. and we hadn’t eaten. There were about 2 places in the entire town that were still serving food at this time of night. Will discuss more about that later. But I thought I would preface my comments about the university with an understanding of how really pretty this town is and how safe it seems. And I talked to a lot of the town’s people, and they all confirmed what I’m telling you. Our first experience with this town (I know I’m backtracking again) is that we arrived here with about a puff of gasoline left in the Prius, and coasted off the freeway to a gas station. Would you believe that in Oregon there is this LAW that prohibits the customer from pumping their own gas?!? I mean, there was a sign that said this was true. Can you believe Oregon made this law to give the poor consumer a little bit of the 50's called CUSTOMER SERVICE?!? We were so impressed by the hospitality and, wait, it gets better!!! They even clean your windows!
Good first Oregon impression. Plus, everyone was so nice. Really sincere, sweet, nice, no California attitudes. I was in a very happy place in Oregon.
Ashland is a town that is really very unique. It’s so perfect you think you’d think you’re in Stepford, but without the scary vibe. In fact, this town is so safe in the great scheme of things in the U.S. today, that young women are riding bikes home at 10 or 11 p.m. ALONE. Isn’t that something! The first thing I noticed about Oregon is that people eat early and go to bed early. This lifestyle would not be a great combination for international students coming from, say, Spain, unless they were willing to dine about 6 hours earlier than what is the norm for them. We had a long haul between Davis and Ashland, so it was 9 p.m. and we hadn’t eaten. There were about 2 places in the entire town that were still serving food at this time of night. Will discuss more about that later. But I thought I would preface my comments about the university with an understanding of how really pretty this town is and how safe it seems. And I talked to a lot of the town’s people, and they all confirmed what I’m telling you. Our first experience with this town (I know I’m backtracking again) is that we arrived here with about a puff of gasoline left in the Prius, and coasted off the freeway to a gas station. Would you believe that in Oregon there is this LAW that prohibits the customer from pumping their own gas?!? I mean, there was a sign that said this was true. Can you believe Oregon made this law to give the poor consumer a little bit of the 50's called CUSTOMER SERVICE?!? We were so impressed by the hospitality and, wait, it gets better!!! They even clean your windows!
Good first Oregon impression. Plus, everyone was so nice. Really sincere, sweet, nice, no California attitudes. I was in a very happy place in Oregon.
Sep 20th, 2006, 06:40 PM
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Thanks Surfergirl for your description of the colleges so far. That must have been a fun but overwhelming trip. I am a UCSB grad but love the feel of most college campuses. I could just picture each one as you described it.
I have two years before I begin this adventure with my eldest and I can't wait!! She has her heart set on Stanford but we'll check a lot out anyway. I can't wait to hear about the last two.
I have two years before I begin this adventure with my eldest and I can't wait!! She has her heart set on Stanford but we'll check a lot out anyway. I can't wait to hear about the last two.
Sep 20th, 2006, 06:43 PM
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I got ripped off at a gas station near Ashland off I-5 a few years ago. All gas stations in Oregon as you found out pump your gas...but a few like this one still have "full service" (for 50 cents/gallon more!) and "regular service" (they pump your own gas). Driving to California, I stopped to fill up around Ashland, not even bothering to read the sign on the lane. Apparently it said "Full Service" The attendent did wash my windows and ask me if my oil was OK(?) to which I said, "Uh, yeah, it's fine." For washing my windows, I paid $9 to fill up my 18 gallon tank. Didn't realize it until 20 miles down the road when I looked at my receipt!!!! I was furious, but it wasn't worth turning back for at that point.
Naturally the attendant never asked me if I realized I was in the "full service" lane, and I'll bet they snare dozens of drivers a month with this scam - and many, probably, never even realize it.
Andrew
Naturally the attendant never asked me if I realized I was in the "full service" lane, and I'll bet they snare dozens of drivers a month with this scam - and many, probably, never even realize it.
Andrew
Sep 21st, 2006, 08:23 AM
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Surfergirl,
Great report. Thanks for taking the time to post your impressions. CS-Monterey Bay sounds intriguing.
Did you happen to see this report about the priciest college dorms? Three out of the top ten are in the UC system. #1 is UC Berkeley, UCLA and UCSC are also on the list.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14333684/
So, your DS is leaning toward Cal?
Great report. Thanks for taking the time to post your impressions. CS-Monterey Bay sounds intriguing.
Did you happen to see this report about the priciest college dorms? Three out of the top ten are in the UC system. #1 is UC Berkeley, UCLA and UCSC are also on the list.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14333684/
So, your DS is leaning toward Cal?
Sep 23rd, 2006, 12:10 PM
#20
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Son liked all of the schools, but the top three, in this specific order, are:
1. University of California at Eugene (ha! Had to say that!) -- okay, University of Oregon (go ducks!)
2. UC Santa Cruz (go slugs!)
3. Cal (Berkeley) (go blue?!)
laurenzo -- think you'll love checking out the colleges as much as your child. Downside is, you end up wanting to give up your profession, and going back to school (which is completely wasted on the young, IMO).
lvk - Thanks for the heads up on the dorm prices (grrr)
mms - loved OSU, but I think my son felt the better match for him was UO.
1. University of California at Eugene (ha! Had to say that!) -- okay, University of Oregon (go ducks!)
2. UC Santa Cruz (go slugs!)
3. Cal (Berkeley) (go blue?!)
laurenzo -- think you'll love checking out the colleges as much as your child. Downside is, you end up wanting to give up your profession, and going back to school (which is completely wasted on the young, IMO).
lvk - Thanks for the heads up on the dorm prices (grrr)
mms - loved OSU, but I think my son felt the better match for him was UO.
