TouchUS
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Mission Statement
•
•
•
•
Academic Solutions 88 allows students to visit and experience life at several prominent
California Universities For many students, the process of figuring out which school best fits
their needs is an overwhelming and confusing task. The Academic Solutions 88 Tour
transforms this experience into an enriching and fun adventure, in which students take campus
tours, have meetings with admissions representatives and receive materials to help evaluate
each school.
The Academic Solutions 88 Tour is a wonderful opportunity for students to tour numerous
college campuses and evaluate their college options. Students visit a wide variety of
campuses, including private and public schools in both urban and rural areas. Participants will
be able to determine if a large or small school is appropriate for them, and, with the
comparison materials we give them, they will be able to review their opinions once they’ve
returned home.
During their 12 day tour, students have the opportunity to experience the major cities of Los
Angeles and San Francisco plus the college towns of Palo Alto, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo
and Pasadena. We encourage students to enroll with friends, but even those who don’t arrive
knowing someone will end up with a group of newly-found friends, usually from across the US
and around the world.
Hotels are provided to students each having their own bed, usually in doubles or triples. All
overnight stays are at business class hotels, and are always at least rated as 2.5 star
properties, but most are 3 star properties and better. We stay in the main areas where
attractions are when feasible. All essential items of room and transportation are provided
during the trip.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
CALTECH
•
•
The California Institute of Technology (or Caltech)[5] is a private research university
located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with
strong emphasis on science and engineering. Its 124-acre (50 ha) primary campus is
located approximately 11 mi (18 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Although founded as a preparatory and vocational school by Amos G. Throop in 1891, the
college attracted influential scientists such as George Ellery Hale, Arthur Amos Noyes,
and Robert Andrews Millikan in the early 20th century. The vocational and preparatory
schools were disbanded and spun off in 1910, and the college assumed its present name
in 1921. In 1934, Caltech was elected to the Association of American Universities, and
the antecedents of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which Caltech continues to manage
and operate, were established between 1936 and 1943 under Theodore von Kármán.[6][7]
The university is one among a small group of Institutes of Technology in the United
States which tends to be primarily devoted to the instruction of technical arts and applied
sciences.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
jpl
•
•
•
•
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center
and NASA field center located in La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States.
JPL is managed by the nearby California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The laboratory's primary function is the
construction and operation of robotic planetary spacecraft, though it also conducts Earthorbit and astronomy missions. It is also responsible for operating NASA's Deep Space
Network.
Among the laboratory's current major active projects are the Mars Science Laboratory
mission (which includes the Curiosity rover), the Cassini–Huygens mission orbiting
Saturn, the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the
Dawn mission to the dwarf planet Ceres and asteroid Vesta, the Juno spacecraft en route
to Jupiter, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) X-ray telescope, and
the Spitzer Space Telescope.
JPL's Space Flight Operations Facility and Twenty-Five-Foot Space Simulator are
designated National Historic Landmarks.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
usc
•
The University of Southern California is a global university, and America’s leader in
international education. It has the largest number of international students of any U.S.
university and a worldwide alumni network. With programs of research, study and service
that span countries and continents, USC prepares students to thrive in the global
marketplace.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
UCLA
•
The University of California, Los Angeles is the premier academic institution in Southern
California. Its commitment to academic excellence has propelled UCLA to be among the
top universities in the world and is widely regarded as the best university founded in the
last century. The summer weather is moderated by the nearby Pacific Ocean, located
only a few miles from the campus. UCLA and nearby Westwood offer campus visitors a
variety of recreational, cultural, shopping and entertainment attractions. The beautiful
campus is a favorite of Hollywood directors and has been featured in a variety of
television programs and major motion pictures.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
UCI
•
•
•
•
The University of California, Irvine (UCI, UC Irvine, or Irvine), is a public research university located in
Irvine, California, and one of the 10 general campuses in the University of California (UC) system. UCI's
Orange County campus is the fifth-largest in the UC system, with over 29,000 students, 1,100 faculty
members and 9,000 staff. Times Higher Education in 2013 ranked UC Irvine 1st among all US
universities and 5th among the top 100 global universities under 50 years old.[7]
UC Irvine is considered a Public
Ivy and offers 80 undergraduate degrees and 98 graduate and professional degrees. The university is
designated as having very high research activity in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher
Education, and in fiscal year 2012 had $350 million in research and development expenditures according
to the National Science Foundation.[8] UC Irvine became a member of the Association of American
Universities in 1996, and is the youngest university to hold membership.[9] The university also
administers the UC Irvine Medical Center, a large teaching hospital; the UC Irvine Health Sciences
system in the City of Orange; the University of California, Irvine, Arboretum; and a portion of the
University of California Natural Reserve System.
UCI was one of three new UC campuses established in the 1960s to accommodate growing enrollments
across the UC system.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Cal Poly
•
•
California Polytechnic State University or California Polytechnic State University, San Luis
Obispo,[5] also known as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo[5] or Cal Poly,[6] is a public university
located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. Founded in 1901 as a vocational
high school, it is currently one of only two polytechnic universities in the 23-member
California State University system.[7] Comprising six distinct colleges, the university
offers 147 bachelor's degrees, 49 master's degrees, and 7 teaching credentials.[8][9] The
university does not confer doctoral degrees.[8]
Cal Poly is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities
(AASCU) and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Cal
Poly is known for its "learn by doing" educational philosophy that encourages students to
solve real-world problems by combining classroom theory with experiential laboratory
exercise. Cal Poly is one of four California State Universities that participate in the Big
West Conference in athletics.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Stanford University
•
•
Education Unlimited® programs located at Stanford University include A+ Summer
Achievement Programs, Sally Ride Science Camps, Computer Camps, Video Production
Camp, High School Actors Workshop, Emerging Writers Institute and the Public Speaking
Institute.
Stanford University is located on a large, suburban campus south of San Francisco,
famous for its mild weather, attractive setting, and palm-fringed quadrangles. Stanford is
consistently ranked in the top five universities in the nation according the U.S. News and
World Report, and is widely considered a pre-eminent international center of academia.
With its beautiful palm-lined entrance, its famous Oval in front of the quadrangle and the
picturesque mission style buildings, Stanford is the perfect place to learn and live this
summer. University attractions include the Hoover Institution, the world famous Rodin
Sculpture Garden and many prominent museums and libraries.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Berkeley
•
The University of California, Berkeley, is the flagship campus of the University of
California system. The campus is located in the vibrant and eclectic city of Berkeley and
is widely considered among the most picturesque of all the campuses. The school is
consistently ranked among the top public universities in the country by the annual U.S.
News and World Report survey and has undergone a major renovation project over the
last several years to offer among the nations finest library system, Business School
buildings and a brand new Basketball Arena. Area attractions include the Lawrence Hall
of Science, world renowned bookstores, an exciting collegiate atmosphere and close
proximity to San Francisco.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
USF
•
•
The University of San Francisco (USF) is a Jesuit Catholic university located in San
Francisco, California, United States. Founded in 1855,[1] USF was established as the first
university in San Francisco. It is the third oldest institution for higher learning in
California, the tenth-oldest university of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and
Universities, and the eighth largest Jesuit university in the United States.
The school's main campus is located on a 55-acre (22 ha) setting between the Golden
Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. Its nickname is "The Hilltop" as the campus is located
at Lone Mountain, the peak of one of San Francisco's major hills. Its close historical ties
with the City and County of San Francisco are reflected in the University's motto, Pro
Urbe et Universitate (For the City and University). USF's Jesuit-Roman Catholic identity
is rooted in the symbolic vision of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
UCSB
•
•
The University of California, Santa Barbara (commonly referred to as UC Santa Barbara or UCSB)
is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of
California system. The main campus is located on a 1,022-acre (414 ha) site near Goleta,
California, United States, 8 miles (13 km) from Santa Barbara and 100 miles (160 km) northwest
of Los Angeles. Tracing its roots back to 1891 as an independent teachers' college, UCSB joined
the University of California system in 1944 and is the third-oldest general-education campus in
the system.
UCSB is one of America's Public Ivy universities, which recognizes top public research
universities in the United States. The university is a comprehensive doctoral university and is
organized into five colleges and schools offering 87 undergraduate degrees and 55 graduate
degrees. UCSB was ranked 41st among "National Universities"
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Intel
•
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation
headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Intel is one of the world's largest and highest
valued semiconductor chip makers, based on revenue.[5] It is the inventor of the x86
series of microprocessors, the processors found in most personal computers. Intel
combines advanced chip design capability with a leading-edge manufacturing capability.
Though Intel was originally known primarily to engineers and technologists, its "Intel
Inside" advertising campaign of the 1990s made it a household name, along with its
Pentium processors.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Apple
•
Apple headquarters, located at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, Calif., is one of
the most exclusive buildings in the world. It's the home of many of today's
greatest innovations, including the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac computers.
The sprawling six-building campus, which occupies 32 acres near Interstate
280, is designed to look like a perfect infinite loop, reflecting the design
tastes of the company's founders.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Palo Alto
•
Just south of San Francisco, Palo Alto is home to some of today’s most
influential Silicon Valley companies, including Facebook and Hewlett Packard.
Stanford University adds another intellectual element with its vibrant research
and academic community. Biking is popular in this affluent California city on
the cutting edge of many tech developments. We use a quality facility in the
Palo Alto area near Stanford University. Past locations have included the
Stanford Terrace Inn, Palo Alto High School.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Disneyland
•
Enter a magical kingdom where you can sail with pirates, explore exotic jungles, meet
fairy-tale princesses, dive under the ocean and rocket through the stars—all in the same
day! Disneyland Park is a beloved Southern California destination where generations of
families have made their Disney dreams come true. Opened in 1955, Walt Disney’s
original theme park is divided into 8 extravagantly themed lands—Main Street, U.S.A.,
Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Mickey's Toontown, Frontierland, Critter Country, New
Orleans Square and Adventureland.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Knott’s Berry Farm
•
Looking for California’s best theme and amusement park? Look no further
than Knott’s Berry Farm. Take into account all that Knott’s Berry Farm has to
offer: Ghost Town. The one minute, 30 seconds of head-over-heels fun of
Boomerang. Take a ride on the Calico Railroad. For water fun, there’s Bigfoot
Rapids. And let’s not forget why Knott’s Berry Farm is California’s best
amusement park–Boysenberry Pie and famous chicken dinner. Just a few
reasons it’s California’s best amusement and theme park. Knott’s Berry Farm.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Universal Studios
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Get into the Movies!
Face heart-pounding rides and shows that put you inside some of the world’s biggest
movies.
Ride now open! Join the Minions on the new ride, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.
Prepare for the greatest battle you’ll ever ride on Transformers™: The Ride-3D
Brave the world’s scariest indoor roller coaster: Revenge of the Mummy℠ - The Ride
Hang on for your life as you crash your way through the animated world of The
Simpsons™ on a revolutionary virtual roller coaster!
Experience a tidal wave of explosive action at WaterWorld® – Universal Studios’ #1 rated
show.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Universal City Walk
•
•
•
•
•
Universal City Walk Hollywood is a Three-Block Entertainment, Dining and Shopping
Promenade
Where is LA’s best place for unexpected excitement? Universal CityWalk. Live music,
movies, clubs, great food and always something new to discover. More than 30 places to
eat, six hot nightclubs, 19 screen theater with state of the art IMAX® and more than 30
unique shops. It’s LA’s favorite place to play.
Check out 5 Towers on Universal CityWalk, state-of-the-art concert venue. Experience
a jaw-dropping explosion of over 5,000 LED lights and a sound system that will blow you
away.
CityWalk Always Unexpected.
CityWalk is located directly next to Universal Studios Hollywood. Visit the CityWalk
website.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Entertainment
•
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half (2.4 km) stretch of Sunset
Boulevard[1] that passes through West Hollywood, California. The Strip is probably the
best-known portion of Sunset, embracing boutiques, restaurants, rock clubs, and
nightclubs that are on the cutting edge of the entertainment industry. It is also known for
its trademark array of huge, colorful billboards.
•
The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado
Avenue in Santa Monica, California and is a prominent, 100-year-old landmark.[2]
•
Venice Beach was founded in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city
until 1926, when it merged with Los Angeles. Today, Venice is known for its canals,
beaches and circus-like Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half-mile pedestrian-only
promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, artists, and vendors.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
•
•
Griffith Observatory is a facility in Los Angeles, California sitting on the south-facing
slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles' Griffith Park. It commands a view of the Los
Angeles Basin, including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the
south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. The observatory is a popular tourist
attraction with an extensive array of space and science-related displays. Since the
observatory opened in 1935, admission has been free, in accordance with Griffith's will.
Rodeo Drive /roʊˈdeɪ.oʊ/ is a two-mile long street, primarily in Beverly Hills, California.
Its northern terminus is its intersection with Sunset Boulevard and its southern is its
intersection with Beverwil Drive in the city of Los Angeles. The name is most commonly
used metonymically to refer to a three block stretch of the street north of Wilshire
Boulevard and south of Little Santa Monica Boulevard, which is known for its luxurygoods stores. The larger business district surrounding Rodeo, known as the "Golden
Triangle," which extends from Wilshire Boulevard to Santa Monica Boulevard, is both a
shopping district and a major tourist attraction.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
•
Beverly Hills is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, surrounded
by the cities of LosAngeles and West Hollywood. Originally a Spanish ranch where
lima beans were grown, it was incorporated in 1914 by a group of investors who
had failed to find oil, but found water instead and eventually decided to develop it
into a town. It is now home to 34,290 inhabitants. Sometimes merely known by one
of its primary ZIP codes, "90210", it has been home to actors and celebrities. The
city also includes the hopping district Rodeo Drive and the Beverly Hills Oil Field.
•
The Grove Los Angeles is a shopping and entertainment complex built adjacent to
the historic Farmers Market. It centers on a landscaped park and a dancing
fountain.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
•
•
Fisherman's Wharf is a neighborhood and popular tourist attraction in San Francisco,
California. It roughly encompasses the northern waterfront area of San Francisco from
Ghirardelli Square or Van Ness Avenue east to Pier 35 or Kearny Street. The F Market
streetcar runs through the area, the Powell-Hyde cable car lines runs to Aquatic Park, at
the edge of Fisherman's Wharf, and the Powell-Mason cable car line runs a few blocks
away.
The Camarillo Premium Outlets is one of the popular outlet malls in California. There are
about 160 outlet stores at Camarillo Premium Outlets. These include popular brand name
clothing such as coach, michael kors, vinyard vines, nike, gucci, ralph lauren, adidas,
coach factory, burberry, kate spade, hollister, zara, banana republic and calvin klein.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Accommodations - Holiday Inn Express
•
The first Holiday Inn Express was started in 1991. By the year 1996, Holiday Inn Express
Hotels reached 500 properties. What made these hotels so popular? Holiday Inn Express
offers a free continental breakfast to all of its guests. Coining it the "Express Start
Breakfast Bar", Holiday Inn Express guests can expect to find Smart Roast Coffee, toast,
juice, bacon, eggs, and delicious cinnamon rolls. Offering free high speed internet access
in every hotel room, Holiday Inn Express Hotels comes with an online concierge called
eHost. Through eHost, you can learn about local attractions, common hotspot, and vital
local information about the city you are staying in. Many Holiday Inn Express Hotels offer
in room microwaves, swimming pools, same-day laundry and dry-cleaning services, and
fitness centers to keep guests in shape. If you are a traveler on business, feel free to
take advantage of Holiday Inn Express Hotels fax and photocopying services. There are
over 1,700 Holiday Inn Express Hotels in North America and South America alone.
Throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, another 180 plus Holiday Inn Express
Hotels are in business. In Asia Pacific, Holiday Inn Express has 24 hotels currently in
business, with many more in the works.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Accommodations - Best Western
•
•
•
Best Western International, Inc., operator of the Best Western Hotel brand, operates about 4,000 hotels
with over 1,000 employees.[2] The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona,[3]
operates 2,163 hotels in North America alone.
In 2002, Best Western International launched an upscale brand for some properties located in Europe
and Asia known as Best Western Premier. By 2011, the chain's branding was;[4] the basic Best Western
name is now complemented by Best Western Plus and Best Western Premier properties offering
progressively improved dining, recreation, and room guarantees.[5] The hotel descriptor categories are
now used by Best Western hotels around the world. Since it no longer operated under a single brand,
Best Western concurrently modified its slogan in 2011 from "the world's largest hotel chain" to "the
world's largest hotel family."
Unlike other chains, which are often a mix of company-owned and franchised units, each Best Western
hotel is an independently owned and operated franchise. Best Western does not offer franchises in the
traditional sense where both the franchisee and franchisor are operating for profit. Instead, Best
Western operates as a nonprofit membership association, with each franchisee acting and voting as a
member of the association in the manner of a marketing co-operative.
ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS 88
Transportation – US Coachway’s
•
As a family owned and operated corporation, US Coachways redefined the definition of quality
transportation enabling them to operate their bus charter services with absolute confidence and pride.
As a leading national bus charter company they can provide a wide range of transportation services. We
are aware of the importance of providing our clients with as much benefit as possible, such as, a
twenty-four hour dispatchers, professional, safe and courteous drivers, and most importantly, reliable
and well maintained equipment. All vehicles are inspected on a monthly basis to make sure you and your
group are receiving a safe and reliable vehicle. All carriers used are checked with the USDOT-FMCSA
(United States Department of Transportation – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)