Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara University

Like any place SCU certainly has its pros and cons. The small campus makes it easy to get around, and the classes are generally small enough that the professors will learn your name. However, the housing department is always a logistical nightmare, the dining services are absurdly overpriced, and the culture is very P.C./portentous.

I couldn't be happier with SCU. As soon as I toured that campus my senior year of high school, I knew that I was going to the right college. I am a first generation college student so I am part of SCU's LEAD Scholars program. It has definitely helped me to succeed in college and I couldn't be more grateful for the support. In terms of academics, the classes are challenging but fair. I even loved the chemistry series because although it was difficult, I felt like I learned a lot and the classes were set up for me to succeed if I worked hard at it. Most teachers have office hours and are available to meet outside of those hours; small class sizes also help. For the classes that people commonly struggle with, there is free tutoring available. The food is very good, and the dining hall was just updated. Some people are not fond of the food but it is all cooked fresh and there are lots of healthy options. There is also a mini store in the basement so you can cook your own meals. The housing is nice; some dorms are older than others but all of them have a theme so that you can choose the one that is the best fit for you. There are many clubs and nightly/weekly activities to keep busy on campus as well as greek life that is directly next to the campus. Possibly the area that is lacking the most is diversity. Still, SCU offer many clubs that bring people together and provide safe spaces to find diversity on campus. Overall, it is an amazing school and I would recommend anyone apply and visit here!

Santa Clara University is a gorgeous school. I was impressed from the moment I walked in and met the first ambassador waiting for me at the steps. I pray that I make a lot of good friends and get a good education out of the school it’s my number one choice.

I really love the school. I am a first-year and live in a dorm (Residential Learning Community). Within your dorm, there are a ton of activities to get involved in, whether they be dinner and discussing current events, or just eating ice cream with the rest of your floor. The school is social, but works very hard and the academics are rigorous. The professors seem very kind and are willing to find time to help you succeed. Go to SCU!!

I graduated from the university and without much effort, I found a job as a technician in Cisco. Recommend it.

I am 100% confident that I made the right college decision- even though after first committing I constantly worried whether I had made the right decision. The community at Santa Clara is so welcoming and warm and everyone is so friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand. It truly feels like home and I am so excited to be able to spend three more years there!

Overall, SCU is "meh." SCU is not intended for transfer students or commuter students. The events and activities are primarily geared towards those who do not have outside jobs and can stay on campus late. The amount of friends you make, particularly as a commuter student, is dependent on much effort you put in. Generally the teachers are nice. Biology is a heavily impacted major. You really can't get any FUN/popular upper division classes until the end of junior year/senior year. Once you choose a major, pre-registration does exist, but it is only one class for biology majors.

I love my school! Santa Clara University was my top choice ever since I began high school. I am currently a teacher and I am so excited to be a Bronco because my knowledge had tremendously increased in my field of study. The professors are very knowledgeable, understanding and accesible to help on a daily basis.

It's a good as school.

As a person who routinely struggles with depression, I sincerely wish I'd picked a different school had I possessed the credentials to be admitted elsewhere. From the get-go of my college search as a high school Junior, I was immediately suspicious of the clean, easily marketable campus attractiveness (it truly is a beautiful campus, don't get me wrong), the seemingly always upbeat student groups (if anything, I envy them), and the fact that no one really mentions the academic rigor, so the image of campus and student marketability completely overshadows the rigor and dedication truly required to excel here. The fact that the school never mentions its rigor over its student appeal must be alleviated in the foreseeable future ASAP; maybe then, I could relate more to the students who end up finding this school appealing. The school's constant state of happiness reminded me of the book "The Happiness Industry," which analyzes happiness, comfort, and the pleasures of life as mere commodities. As a result, when depression hits me, as it often does, it hits hard. And the school atmosphere has never been the least bit alleviative of this. Additionally, as an introvert, the student body is exactly the wrong size for me. It's not small enough that I can easily tune out the distractions I may run into, and it's not big enough that I can slip into the background as a face in the crowd without feeling guilt due to knowing that I could never truly be acquainted with everyone I run into anyways. That isn't the case here. You can't simple blend in; you'll recognize nearly everyone, and vice versa, but without the sense that there are still a preponderance of students beyond your eyesight as you walk from class to class. If you'd prefer to be a face in the crowd sometimes, avoid this school at all costs. Also, the school is stupidly expensive, its acceptances preponderantly coming from affluent families who could pay for rigorous college prep education for the decade leading up to their admission processes. Not exactly encouraging for someone who considers himself lucky to even be accepted here having recovered from autism no more than six years before finishing high school. Before I blow a gasket, I must stress that I'm clearly in a group of one-hundred students at most in this school who have all of these issues put together. But for those of you who I'd be lucky enough to run into if you attend this school, please take their marketing with a massive grain of salt. I'd be happy to run into you, but make the decision that's best for yourself. In other words, do what I clearly didn't.