Anonymous
02/18/2026 15:49
Subject: East coast families: did you and your DCs tour colleges in California?
Anonymous wrote:Kid is at Loyola Marymount studying poly sci and loves it!
Our whole family loved LMU when we toured - there is a lot to like there! Campus size is great, the campus itself is beautiful, and the proximity to Silicon Beach is fantastic for internships. We were very impressed.
Anonymous
02/18/2026 15:46
Subject: East coast families: did you and your DCs tour colleges in California?
Anonymous wrote:If so, which ones?
Based just on reputation, it seems UCLA and Berkeley are too large and "sink or swim", the other UCs are too expensive for OOS students, Caltech is too hard and cutthroat, Stanford is too impossible, Claremont Colleges are too small or too niche. What are other schools that east coast families found have to be worth long the trip to visit in person? DC is a high stat junior at a top private; above are schools college counsellor and friends of older kids mentioned for campus tours.
Toured and accepted to UCSD, UCSB, LMU
Toured and rejected from UCLA and Pomona
Never toured but accepted to SDSU, University of San Diego, Chapman
Toured and did not apply to Pepperdine, UC Irvine, USC
Kid ultimately decided to stay on the east coast - at UVA
Anonymous
02/18/2026 15:36
Subject: East coast families: did you and your DCs tour colleges in California?
Anonymous wrote:If so, which ones?
Based just on reputation, it seems UCLA and Berkeley are too large and "sink or swim", the other UCs are too expensive for OOS students, Caltech is too hard and cutthroat, Stanford is too impossible, Claremont Colleges are too small or too niche. What are other schools that east coast families found have to be worth long the trip to visit in person? DC is a high stat junior at a top private; above are schools college counsellor and friends of older kids mentioned for campus tours.
What if kids want a university that is "too" large? Or want one that is "too" small or "too" niche?
Anonymous
01/17/2026 22:36
Subject: East coast families: did you and your DCs tour colleges in California?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids have *applied* to these schools but we never toured. In my mind, the only reason to tour a school before senior year is to figure out where you want to ED. Those schools weren't in contention so we didn't visit. In reality, the kid will get into just a tiny fraction of where they apply so there's no reason for the time, expense, or frankly getting their hopes up until it becomes a real choice.
OP: I'm interested in this approach. DC is a junior. Do most families here mostly tour potential ED schools? Do you wait to tour other schools after getting acceptance?
How about safeties? Do you tour those too so DC can know there is a safety they would like?
If you can afford it, time and money wise, visit as many schools as possible.