Study in California
There are so many reasons to study in California: world-class universities with a welcoming attitude towards international students, a sun-kissed climate, world-famous beaches, exciting cities, a high standard of living, an assortment of cultural riches and an undisputed position at the cutting edge of modern technology.
The home of Hollywood, the entertainment capital of the world, and the US’s largest city by population, California is known as the ‘golden state’ due to its history in gold mining and its characteristic golden-brown hills in the summer. Nowadays, this golden nickname also seems an apt reference to the state’s renowned glamor; until recently it was even run by a movie star – Arnold Schwarzenegger (or ‘the Governator’), famous for his roles in action films such as The Terminator and Predator.
Why study in California?
The state’s considerable music scene has produced artists such as *deep breath*: The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Guns and Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 2Pac, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Carlos Santana, Frank Zappa, Mötley Crüe, Thirty Seconds to Mars and Iron Butterfly, along with a number of established orchestras. As well as its central position in contemporary pop culture, California is also a significant contributor in the agricultural, aerospace, biotechnology and manufacturing sectors, and is famously home to ‘Silicon Valley’ – the world’s leading center of high-tech innovation.
As well as having a diverse spread of talents and contributions to industry and technology, California is also diverse in terms of its cultural and ethnic composition. According to the most recent US Census data (2010), approximately 38% of the state’s residents class themselves as Hispanic or Latino and 13% as Asian. Just over 6% are black, and almost 5% have two or more races. California is considered one of the most liberal US states, with a tolerant attitude towards LGBT policies, and was one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage.
In addition to vibrant metropolises like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco, California also has some of the US’s most stunning and diverse natural scenery, ranging from beaches to snow-capped mountains. It’s no wonder, then, that California also has a reputation for its environmentalism and conservation efforts, and some of the strongest environmental laws in the US.
Indeed, California’s numerous national parks, including Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park (the native home of the giant sequoia trees – the largest living organisms on earth), alone would be reason enough to visit. The state’s stunning natural attractions include imposing cliffs, clear streams and waterfalls, groves of giant redwood (sequoia) trees, an inland salt lake, two large lakes (Lake Tahoe and Clear Lake) and a diverse range of habitats and wildlife.
In short, whatever your passion to study in California – be it technology, music, world cultures, conservation, acting, photography or computer programming – California is a fantastic place to be, providing an environment conducive to all forms of discovery, exploration, adventure and entrepreneurship.
California facts
- Located on the west coast of the US; borders with Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, Mexico to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west
- State capital is Sacramento and largest city is Los Angeles
- Total population is just over 38 million, the largest population of any single US state and almost 12% of all US residents (2010 census data)
- State motto is ‘Eureka!’ (an exclamation of discovery, as in ‘I have found it!’)
- About 45% of California’s total surface area is covered by forests
- Of the thousands of companies headquartered in Silicon Valley, those in the Fortune 1000 include Apple Inc., Adobe, eBay, Google, Facebook, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Netflix and Yahoo!.
- Cultivates at least half of the fresh fruit produced in the US
- Has the largest trees (giant sequoia), the tallest trees (coast or California redwood) and the oldest trees (bristlecone pine) in the world
- Per capita energy use is one of the lowest of any US state
- Fastest growing solar energy market in the US – with several solar power plants and the capacity for 1.2 gigawatts, the equivalent of two large conventional power plants
- Several dams across the state provide hydro-electric power.
- Contains both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous United States
- Known for its car culture, California’s well-known bridge Golden Gate Bridge was once the longest suspension bridge main span in the world
- Famous actors and actresses born in California include Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood and Gwyneth Paltrow
Universities in California
As you might expect, given the state’s impressive track record in innovation, universities in California include many of the most prestigious institutions in the US. In the 2013/14 QS World University Rankings®, California’s Stanford University is ranked 7th in the world (3rd in the US), while the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is 10=.
Stanford is located in the northwest of the Silicon Valley region, while Caltech is in Pasadena, close to Los Angeles. Both are the top private research universities in California – but another two of the top universities in California are part of the state’s public university system. The public University of California system has 10 campuses, and its two main universities, the University of California, Berkeley (known as UCS, UC Berkeley or just Berkeley, and widely known as ‘Cal’) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) rank at 25th and 40th in the world respectively.
Other top universities in California include: the University of California, San Diego (ranked 63); University of California, Davis (85); University of California, Santa Barbara (130=); University of California, Irvine (149); University of California, Riverside (268); University of California, Santa Cruz (307=); University of California, San Francisco (701+); University of San Diego (701+), University of San Francisco (701+) and University of Southern California.
Choose to study in California, and you really will be spoilt for choice!
Written by Hasna Haidar
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