We'll be in Palm Springs in mid-June, with 2 high school juniors in tow. I'd like to visit a few colleges. Any suggestions within an hour or so? Any suggestions for activities for that age in the area?

University of California Los Angeles

University of California Irvine

University of California San Diego

California State Universities Long Beach, Fullerton, etc.

University of Southern California..

these are the top universities in the LA/OC area.

But none are within an hour of Palm Springs (unless you're practically flying on I-10 and there's no traffic in the city).

And of course, UC San Diego is not in the LA/OC area. Also in San Diego is San Diego State University and the University of San Diego.

gplimptnis right, none are within an hour of Palm Springs. However, if you're interested, the web site for California State Universities is www.csu.edu. Also look at the University of Redlands; the Claremont Colleges (www.claremont.edu); Loyola University; Pepperdine University

Pepperdine is in Malibu...and is about 2 1/2 to 3-hours WEST on I-10 from Palm Springs. I think the biggest college closest ot Palm Springs is probably U-C Riverside. Claremont College is close, too. (relatively speaking.

CalTech should be seen if your two kids are extremely bright Harvard/Yale types.

What about Whittier College?

Within an hour of PS the pickings are fairly slim unless you drive REALLY FAST. ;-)

The closest schools are probably Redlands and the University of California at Riverside. There are five Claremont Colleges - Claremont McKenna, Scripps, Pitzer, Harvey Mudd and Pomona, plus a graduate school, all independent but sharing certain facilities and with limited ability for students to take courses in other colleges - have excellent academic ratings; Pomona (liberal arts) and Harvey Mudd (science and engineering) usually falling in the top 5 private colleges in the country in their respective fields. The Claremont complex is lovely and the town itself very attractive, except for gawdawful heat and smog from time to time. Might be a good destination.

Whittier and the big colleges closer into central LA are probably outside your range. UC Irvine in Orange Co. is another possibility. Home of the Anteaters. ZOT!

I personally think UC Irvine will take longer to get to from Palm Springs than Whittier College. YOu can come straight in on the 60 Fwy and exit on Hacienda Blvd. and go south to Colima and over the hill into Whittier. It is over an hour but not really long and definitely not any longer (and I think less) than it would be to UC Irvine. Cal State Fullerton might not be too far either.

U or Redalsnds (private, liberal arts) and UC Riverside (large state university) are the only two that I think meet the requirement.

Redlands is a nice University - I went there 1967-71. Redlands is a pleasant town - once the 'navel orange capital of the world'

Occidental College in Glendale. Cal Poly in Pomona.

As a life long resident of Southern California I have always felt that The Claremont Colleges were world class.
I am not an alumnus.