From Stanford, a premier private institution, to UCLA, a public powerhouse, to the distinctive liberal arts colleges — this multi-day campus tour spanning Northern and Southern California gave students an immersive look at the diverse ecosystem of American higher education, and helped them build a more multidimensional understanding of what “university” truly means.

Top Private Universities: Where Academic Depth Meets an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Stanford University, ranked 4th nationally in 2026, was undoubtedly one of the most impressive campuses on this trip. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley and founded in 1885, Stanford has long ranked among the global leaders in computer science, engineering, business, and biomedicine. Google, Hewlett-Packard, and other renowned companies all trace their origins to this campus, where a strong entrepreneurial culture thrives, numerous interdisciplinary research centers abound, and deep collaborations with tech companies provide students with exceptionally rich internship and employment resources. The students visited iconic landmarks such as the Hoover Tower and the signature cross-shaped Romanesque archways. The campus's classical architecture, set against expanses of lush greenery, exudes a serene yet grand atmosphere.

The University of Southern California (USC), ranked 28th nationally in 2026, is a quintessential large comprehensive private university. Its School of Cinematic Arts enjoys worldwide renown and is hailed as the"Cradle of Hollywood Talent", while the Marshall School of Business, Viterbi School of Engineering, and Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism all rank among the top in the nation. Leveraging its urban location, USC offers students convenient access to internships in the film, technology, and finance industries. The students toured the university library, dormitories, and various academic buildings in succession. The campus features elegant architecture and comprehensive facilities, giving students a firsthand sense of what a comprehensive university offers: a full spectrum of disciplines, a larger campus footprint, and a richer array of academic platforms.

The University of San Francisco (SFU), ranked 110th nationally in 2026, represents another type of private university. Its campus is compact and refined, with a warm, relaxed, open, and inclusive atmosphere. The university's most distinctive feature is its strong multicultural environment, with a wide variety of student clubs and communities where students from different circles interact closely and participate in rich collaborative activities. Nursing, data analytics, finance and business, and public administration are its standout programs. Taking advantage of its central downtown location, SFU offers students abundant local internship and social practice opportunities, making it an excellent fit for students who prefer small-class teaching and a strong humanistic atmosphere.

Public Universities: A Concentrated Showcase of Scale, Resources, and Research Strength

The University of California system stands as a benchmark for American public higher education, and on this trip the students visited several of its distinctive campuses.

UC Berkeley, ranked 15th nationally in 2026, represents the academic ceiling of public universities. Its computer science, electrical engineering, economics, statistics, and Haas School of Business are all world-class flagship programs. Nestled against hills with redwoods and greenery throughout, the campus fosters a free-spirited, intellectually open academic culture and has served as a major wellspring of American campus intellectual movements and innovative research. Backed by its prime location adjacent to Silicon Valley, UC Berkeley offers top-tier and abundant research resources, tech entrepreneurship opportunities, and internships at major tech companies, making it a dream school for countless STEM and social science students.

UCLA, ranked 17th nationally in 2026, is the flagship campus of the UC system and has long ranked among the top public universities in the nation. The campus is situated in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, adjacent to Santa Monica Beach and the Hollywood tech-industry corridor. Its programs in film and media, computer engineering, business, and biomedicine are all top-tier. During the self-guided exploration, the students experienced the campus architecture and the texture of university life firsthand. With over a thousand student organizations and comprehensive on-campus facilities, UCLA left a deep impression on everyone.

UC San Diego, ranked 29th nationally in 2026, has produced 28 Nobel laureates in just over sixty years since its founding, earning global renown for its strength in science, engineering, and research. On campus, the students visited landmark spots in succession: the main plaza Town Square, Warren Hall classroom building, the Price Center student activity center, and the iconic Geisel Library — a futuristic structure that not only served as one of the inspirations for the film Inception but also stands as a spiritual landmark where countless students burn the midnight oil. Along the way, students took the initiative to ask UCSD students for directions and engage in conversation, showing marked improvement in their spoken English confidence and social courage. This kind of "beyond-the-classroom" growth is precisely the hidden value of university visits.

UC Santa Cruz, ranked 88th nationally in 2026, presented an entirely different landscape. The campus is situated between pristine redwood forests and the Pacific coastline, regularly earning a place on lists of America's most beautiful campuses. Astronomy, marine biology, environmental science, and game design are among its standout programs. Located just an hour's drive from Silicon Valley with moderate admission thresholds, it offers strong value for prospective students. During the visit, the students happened upon two wild deer grazing on the lawn, squirrels scurrying about everywhere, and towering redwoods blanketing the campus. From the athletic field halfway up the hillside, they could overlook the entire sports complex and the Pacific coastline in the distance — a truly memorable sight.

Liberal Arts College: The Nurturing Warmth of Small-Scale Education