American Holiday, and University Tour

[aging one]

We left a few days ago to visit the states, mostly California to take a road trip visiting universities my kids might attend next year.

We went via Seoul and spent 10 hours there. lWe took h free tour offered by Asiana Airlines of the Incheon area.

Arrival in San Francisco was smooth and we picked up a brand new Toyota Corolla as our trusty vehicle. Nice stereo, blue tooth for the phone, and a GPS which is very necessary when you have to be in specific places at specific times.

The weather is typical Bay Area weather, light fog in the mornings and about 19 degrees, but by noon the fog has burned off and the highs have been about 27 or so.

So a few shots of old Incheon. I was told this is typical old Korean housing.


Nice little waterfall behind the house.


I think this is called Simpo Market.


The wife had never even seen this fruit.


So after the 10 hours in Seoul and a 1.5 hour flight delay due to the typhoon holding up connecting flights we flew 11 hours and arrived in San Francisco before we left Seoul because of the time change.
I was happy when we picked up the car



Half way slept the first night and we were off for a 10am tour of UC Berkeley.

The bell tower in the center of the campus. A carillon of bells is played on the hour.



One of the main Sciences buildings, where if the girls are accepted they just well might be. Environmental Biology, Marine Biology, or simply Environmental Sciences.


The main Library, over 3 million books on the shelves. The university has 28
libraries on campus.





Sather Gate, the actual entrance to the campus itself.

One more of the Science buildings.


Time to shower and get off into San Francisco to see the University of San Francisco, the GG bridge, Nob Hill, Lombard st, and the Embarcadero area.

[thaimeme]

Nice, AO!

Hope your girls do well in all their future pursuits.
Good luck to them.



[Cal is a good choice!!!]

[somtamslap]

Excellent stuff mate - looking forward to more...

So you'll be relocating too?

[aging one]

slap,

I dont think we will, dorms for the first year, we have to stay and make the $$ to pay for it. Twins make it a bit harder.

[rickschoppers]

Great pictures AO. I am about 300 miles to your east near Lake Tahoe. Do you plan to head down the California coast? If so, be sure to take a look at UC Santa Barbara. Berkley is a nice university, but would not be my first choice.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have gone to UCLA and lived near the beach. UCSF has a lot of Asians who are into the health field such as pharmacy and chemistry. I have known a lot of pharmacists that graduated from there, but they are all Chinese. May be a bit of a culture shock for your girls. There is also a good UC in Santa Clara that is not far from SF.

Good luck to you on the college hunt.

[aging one]

I will be up in Tahoe on the 8th and 9th of August staying on South Shore, a friend gave us a house. I turn 62 on the 8th. Meet up?

[rickschoppers]

Definitely a possibility. I am down on the Nevada side just south of Carson City. You can PM me with some details, if you like. My parents have lived in the Tahoe area for over 40 years and I did a lot of skiing at Heavenly Valley and worked the casinos.

Tahoe is a very nice place, with lots of great scenery.

[aging one]

I love Tahoe. I used to spend my summers in Chambers on the west shore. Love the east shore and hidden beach for swimming in august.

[rickschoppers]

Yes, it is a great place to vacation. I have sailed and water skied on the lake as well. A little cool, even during the summer, but plenty of fun. I lived in South Lake for several years and liked the fact that I could snow ski on one day and then go down to Lahaton Reservoir and water ski the next.

If I could afford it, that is one place I could live and be very happy. You should take the girls on the MS Dixie over to Emerald Bay, if you have time.

http://www.zephyrcove.com/play/cruis...27034&mp_kw=ms dixie lake tahoe&mp_mt=b&gclid=CLnxlpuu2b

[S Landreth]

where if the girls are accepted they just well might be. Environmental Biology, Marine Biology, or simply Environmental Sciences.

Congratulations to the girls if they are accepted to UC (Berkeley) and great choice of majors. All sciences. Hope they will make a difference.

Seems like your family is going to have an enlightening trip while in California.

I know a young one who will leave for USC to start her studies towards the end of next month and she can not wait to get out to California.

Wonderful opportunity for your girls and good luck to them.

[ltnt]

Good news A.O.. Are you going to stick with Northern California Uni's? Why not a scholarship to Stanford as long as you're there and looking? If the twins have the grades as you've mentioned they most likely would find it pretty easy to get one there? Of course Stanford accepts only the top 1% scholastically I'm told. Santa Clara University is an excellent school. Jesuits run it. Great law school.

Thanks for sharing A.O. good hunting.

[buriramboy]

How much does it cost to put 2 kids through University in the US?? My daughter is only 11 so got another 7 years before she goes but the costs here in the UK are starting to look frightening now never mind what will happen over the next 7 years.

[Davis Knowlton]

^That's a really tough question. There are lots of factors. Private top-end universities can go around $40,000 a year, with another $15,000 for living expenses, books, etc. Public Universities can be as little as $10,000 a year, plus expenses.

A major factor for public universities is whether the student is a resident of the state; in-state tuition costs can be half (or less) of out-of-state costs.

But, some public universities, like UCLA, cost almost as much as high-end private schools.

So, up to say $55,000 a year (all inclusive) to a low of maybe $20,000-$25,000 (all inclusive). If it's a state school and you're a resident, maybe less.

You can also go to a two-year junior college, which are generally much cheaper, and then transfer to a four-year college for your last two years.

There are also a wide variety of scholarship options out there for diligent students who seek them out.

So, four years for one kid..........$100,000 to $250,000. Double for twins, like AO and I have.

[RangsitRiot]

here in the UK are starting to look frightening now never mind what will happen over the next 7 years.

Tell me about it! Depends where your kids end up in the UK. London will cost and arm and a leg. Just finished I year here myself and I have no idea how I will pay this stint of school back. Main issue in the UK will be the housing. Can't see rents going down unless more houses get built in that time. All the best to your girls AO. Looks like a nice part of the world

[pseudolus]

So, four years for one kid..........$100,000 to $250,000. Double for twins, like AO and I have.

Holy cripes.

Time for you and AO to get together and start your own university.

[Loy Toy]

I am so proud of you mate. You are certainly a great Dad.

I really hope your two girls get a seat at the University of their choice.

You and your wife have certainly provided them both with a great opportunity.

All the very best from the Loy Toy clan.

[bsnub]

Nice AO! Those girls are really going to do some growing up in the dorms.

Have a great time and if you get up to Seattle we need to get a beer.

[armstrong]

looking good ao. do they ant to do the same course? or do they have separate ideas about what they want to do?/where they want to go?

[terry57]

Top Uni fees in Perth run at 25 K. That's just to sign up.

Then add uniforms, books, over seas excursions and what not one is looking at serious dollars.

If one is not a resident and is paying for accommodation its silly money.

Only the seriously cashed up Parents need apply.

One hopes the kids excel in Academic excellence when parting with this sort of money .

[Norton]

UC Berkeley

My ole Alma Mater. Only a couple of semesters. Enoyed the protests. Good times. Managed to escape being shot,
Nice thread AO.

[aging one]

iW We will look at most of the UC campuses along with St Marys, Santa Clara, Claremont McKenna and the university of Oregon.

We will drive down highway one to visit Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and San Diego as well. Off to Sonoma to have a mutual birthday party with a guy I was born and grew up with in Saudi Arabia.

I had no time to download any photos of a San Francisco tour we did yesterday, but will get them up soon. I hope to keep the thread running for a while.

[thaimeme]

So, four years for one kid..........$100,000 to $250,000. Double for twins, like AO and I have.

Holy cripes.

Time for you and AO to get together and start your own university.

It's insane, actually - the ruse and con which is the beloved university education in the States.

Most buy into it so easily.

[aging one]

Scholarships, grants, loans, work aid, this is all a major part of the visit. along with the the tours we are spending time with each admissions office submitting tons of documents in paper form. One large suitcase full.

Claremont Mckenna is tendering a figure of 50,000 dollars a year in scholarship if the documents match the transcripts. But yes sleep is lost thinking about it times 2.

[Norton]

Go a bit further up the road from SB to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Majors - Admissions - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

[rickschoppers]

Scholarships, grants, loans, work aid, this is all a major part of the visit. along with the the tours we are spending time with each admissions office submitting tons of documents in paper form. One large suitcase full.

Claremont Mckenna is tendering a figure of 50,000 dollars a year in scholarship if the documents match the transcripts. But yes sleep is lost thinking about it times 2.

AO, you are definitely doing it the right way by visiting all the campuses and talking with the admission offices. That should give you all a good idea of environment which is very important.

I went a very different route since there was not a lot of scholarships and grants during my time. Out of high school I had a 4 year full ride football scholarship to Idaho State University which I threw away by flunking out my first semester. After that I told my parents I would take care of it. Went to Santa Barbara Community College for 2 years while working at the US Post Office. Then transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno while working in the casinos at Lake Tahoe and finally finishing a Pharmacy Degree at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy while working at Snowbird ski resort. It was not the easiest pathway, but I did it to myself and it has paid big dividends.

I envy you and your family looking around at colleges together and think that is the best way to start a college education. Your girls are very lucky to have such caring and considerate parents.