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California College Tour 2026

On this tour, students visited:

  • UC Berkeley
  • Stanford
  • UCLA
  • USC
  • Caltech
  • UC Santa Barbara
  • UC Irvine
  • UC San Diego
  • Loyola Marymount 
  • Pepperdine

2026 Tour Impact

  • 10 universities visited
  • 7 days across California
  • 20+ students from across the U.S., Singapore, and Ukraine
  • 100+ admissions questions answered
  • Thousands of miles explored
  • Countless friendships formed
July 6-12, 2026
San Diego, Los Angeles, & San Francisco, California
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Watch student insights from some of the campus tours in 90 seconds!

NSHSS Scholars Share Their Favorite Part of UC San Diego

NSHSS Students Share Their Thoughts on UC Irvine

See why students say this was the highlight of their summer!

Tre B.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"This trip was probably the best trip I’ve ever taken. Being able to see the colleges was very helpful, because online you can’t really feel how it looks and feels. I feel that if you are going to spend years of your life somewhere, you should choose a place where you like almost everything about that place. That place for me was UC Berkeley. The people that I met on this trip were also very meaningful, as I built such strong connections in such a short amount of time. All in all, the people and places I met and saw were fantastic, and I would absolutely recommend this great experience to any high schoolers."

Eden L.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"So grateful I got to experience this opportunity. I made friends whom I will miss and think about even months later. I’m happy I got to see campuses and get more advice on my college decisions."

August R.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"This was my very first college tour with NSHSS and was my first experience touring any of the California schools. Overall, this tour shared with me a broad perspective and general consensus of the schools in California. The experience that I had meeting students my age from around the country who share the same ambition of attending California schools was truly wonderful. The connections that I made and the memories that I have made on this trip will forever have an impact on my life."

Braydon O.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"I had a great time. The tour helped me understand what college life could look like. Through this tour, I was able to meet students from all over the world and make friendships that will last a lifetime."

Sophie M.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"Going to all the schools was so fun and helpful for my college application process, but we also had a lot of free time to have fun and enjoy the city we were currently in. I made so many friends and had a great time!"

Jacob I.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"I am glad I went on this tour. My college decisions are more informed, and I made friends that I got super close to!"

Victoria A.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"This was a good and well-planned tour. I visited a lot of places I was already interested in and others I didn’t know a lot about. I made friends and had a good time."

Rishika S.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"I absolutely loved it, and it helped me more with my decisions on which college to attend"

Ian S.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"This tour was great, would 100% recommend, also loved the friendships made"

Chloe C.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"It was helpful to visit the different universities since it helped me get a feel for the campus!"

Vanessa S.
2026 CA Tour Attendee

"I feel like I connected with everyone instantly, and it feels like I've known them for longer than a week."

We asked students:

  • Did this tour impact your college decision process?
  • Would you recommend this tour to other high school students?

100%

said YES
it impacted their college decision process!

100%

said YES
they would recommend this tour!

10 California universities visited in one week!

University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

University of California, Irvine (UCI)

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

University of Southern California (USC)

Loyola Marymount University (LMU)

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Pepperdine University

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

University of California, Berkeley (Cal)

Stanford University

Ranking student favorites

  1. USC
  2. UCLA
  3. Pepperdine
  1. Santa Monica Pier/Beach
  2. Irvine Spectrum 
  3. Griffith Observatory with Hollywood Sign view
  1. Day 4 - LMU, UCLA, Beach, Santa Monica Pier, & 3rd St Promenade
  2. Day 6 - UC Berkeley, Stanford, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf & Ghirardelli Square 
  3. Day 3 - Caltech, USC, Old Town Pasadena, Griffith Observatory, and Universal CityWalk
  1. In-N-Out Burger
  2. Mr. Moto Pizza
  3. SLO Public Market
  1. Embassy Suites San Diego Seaport Village
  2. Embassy Suites San Francisco
  3. Element Santa Clara

Where are they applying?

Schools students became most interested in after the tour:
  1. UCLA
  2. USC
  3. Stanford
  4. UC Berkeley
  5. Pepperdine

 

Before the tour, students were most looking forward to visiting UCLA, UC San Diego, USC, Pepperdine, and UC Berkeley.

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Tour itinerary recap

NOTE: This itinerary is not final and is subject to change. 

Arrival Day

The adventure kicked off as students arrived in San Diego and met their fellow travelers before heading to the Embassy Suites San Diego Bay.
After settling in and receiving NSHSS backpacks, the group gathered for a welcome meeting and then enjoyed a memorable evening by the waterfront with a picnic pizza dinner, ocean views, and time to explore the lively Seaport Village.

San Diego & Orange County

Our first full day was packed with college discovery, beginning with a tour of UC San Diego's innovative campus.
After lunch at UC Irvine's Anteatery Dining Hall, students explored UCI, visited the bookstore, and got a taste of campus life.
The day wrapped up with free time at both the vibrant Irvine Spectrum and Downtown Disney, a classic In-N-Out dinner, and an evening swim at our Pasadena hotel.

Los Angeles & The Inland Empire

Students experienced two world-renowned institutions in one day, starting with Caltech's cutting-edge campus before enjoying lunch and free time in downtown Pasadena.
The afternoon featured a tour of USC, followed by breathtaking views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign from Griffith Observatory.
To top it all off, the group spent the evening exploring Universal CityWalk, enjoying dining, shopping, and the energy of Hollywood.

Los Angeles

The day began with a visit to Loyola Marymount University, offering beautiful campus views and insight into student life.
After lunch at UCLA, students toured one of the nation's top universities before heading to Santa Monica.
There, they enjoyed free time along the iconic Santa Monica Pier, beach, and Third Street Promenade, soaking up the Southern California atmosphere.

California Coast

Traveling up California's scenic coastline, students toured the stunning cliffside campus of Pepperdine University overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The journey continued with a boxed lunch for the road trip up the coast to UC Santa Barbara, where they explored another premier university and its vibrant campus community. 
After a dinner stop to stretch and shop in San Luis Obispo, the group arrived in Silicon Valley, ready for the next stage of the adventure.

Bay Area

The final full day featured visits to two of the world's most prestigious universities: UC Berkeley and Stanford.

After exploring both campuses and bookstores, the group headed into San Francisco, stopping for unforgettable photos at the Golden Gate Bridge.

The tour concluded with an evening of exploration, dining, and fun at Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf, providing a perfect finale to an incredible California college and sightseeing experience.

San Francisco - departure day

Students enjoyed breakfast at the hotel and said their goodbyes before heading out to the airport for their flights home.

See more on Instagram

Check out the social media takeover of NSHSS's Instagram to follow along with the 2026 California College Tour!

Ready for the 2027 California College Tour?

You'll:

✅ Visit world-class universities

✅ Meet ambitious students from across the country

✅ Gain confidence in your college search

✅ Experience iconic California destinations

✅ Create friendships that last beyond the tour

Don't Miss the Next California College Tour! Registration for 2027 opens soon.

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Check out the previous California College Tours

Look back at our first few California College Tours! See pictures, tour participant reviews, and more!

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