~ April Issue ~
 

Leaving the Nest: Schools Within 50 Miles from El Segundo
By Lauren Stabile, Managing Editor

           California is a great place to spend college years.  There’s no need to buy new winter clothes (which may be a drawback for some) and shoveling snow will almost never be a problem.  Also, it’s always nice to have Mom and Dad only a short drive away for laundry emergencies and home cooking.  For those who want a little more independence, these colleges are still too far away for concerned parents to make surprise visits, for there’s no telling how long it will take to drive 50 miles in LA traffic.  Be sure to check out these schools as alternatives to the better-known Californian colleges. 

Harvey Mudd College

            Located in Claremont, California, Harvey Mudd College is a small (only 700 undergraduates), very selective (30% admissions rate) school.  Because it is so selective, Harvey Mudd College caters to a select type of students.  Its list of majors is limited, boasting only 9 or so disciplines based in math or science.  While this may be a dream school for a few, it is most likely not a universal first choice.  For those who are interested, the competition is fierce; the average freshman who entered in the 2006 fall semester had an SAT Critical Reading score of 680-760, Math score of 740-790, and Writing score of 670-740.  There is no doubt that Harvey Mudd boasts students of the highest caliber, and the price reflects it.  Expect to pay around $33,000 per year for tuition and $10,000 per year for room and board. 

California Lutheran University

            California Lutheran University is less selective than Harvey Mudd, but offers a more palatable degree program.  The Thousand Oaks based school offers its students around 70 majors focusing on both liberal arts and science.  It has a comprehensive education program, graduating students with degrees designed for teaching art, physical education, early childhood, and the normal core curriculum like math, science and social studies.  However, Business/Marketing draws the most students (about 21% of CLU’s 2100 students) of all majors offered at California Lutheran University.   Another positive aspect of this school is that the average SAT score is close to the national average, between 490-580, 500-610, and 480-590 for Critical Reading, Math, and Writing, respectively.  These scores make California Lutheran a more practical choice than Harvey Mudd for most.