Santa Clara University

Core is extensive.

Anything in the liberal arts is bound to be great, especially political science. Great profs, interesting classes, and lots of work. (The political science department is well known among graduate schools)

English, Math, History, Classics, and Religious Studies all have excellent faculty. Art History is a small department with good faculty.

I've heard that engineering is pretty good too. Surprisingly, the worst comments have come from business students at the Leavy School, our best "ranked" school.

STUDY ABROAD at SCU is a really good deal. If you go for fall quarter, the school will hold all of your aid for the entire year for winter and spring quarters. Specific direct exchange programs also allow students to transfer all SCU aid to a year-long program.

Washington Semester is available for political science students.

Scholarship:

School meets 85% of demonstrated need, (soon should be 95% after funding campaign). Many athletic scholarships. $8,000 dean's academic scholarships; $5,000 Jesuit scholarship (for students from Jesuit high schools), and other minor academic scholarships. $2,000 - $4,000 music scholarships

Quarter Schedule:

fast and furious. The first two weeks of fall is the only time available for daily partying. After that, the first set of midterms come and… students get to work.

Facilities & endowment:

$420 million endowment. A new library ($75 million) and business building ($40 million) will be finished in three years. Another $170 million should be tacked on to the school's scholarship endowment. New residence halls are great.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Getting better. The Residential Learning Community system (new) is beginning to work, despite the gripes of upperclassmen. There is a ton to do on campus if you look for it. Events are not well publicized or grouped effectively.

The music program for piano and voice is really good—getting better for ensemble and instrumental. Theater and dance have lots of funding.

Social life:

Its not dead, but its not really groovin' either. Parties happen on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

San Francisco and Santa Cruz are within driving/CalTrain distance—once CalTrain reopens for weekends during the winter of 2004. The city of Santa Clara has a small downtown; however, the university is closer to San Jose, which has a good number of cultural/social events. (Requires a car or bus)

Classwork is heavy, and any extensive social time must be planned.

Spirituality:

Jesuit school with typical spiritual options—a well attended mass, regular retreats, social justice groups. Religion is not a dominating force within the education unless a student chooses to get involved with it.

The people:

All of my professors except one have been excellent and approachable. Perhaps this is different in the business school.

Students can get caught up in self-contained groups…Once you get involved with a major or extracurriculars, though, you'll find a plethora of nice and fun people. (I have good friends from poetry, political science, and the Society of Music).

Students are not particularly politically active—that is they don't tend to be radical. Many, especially political science majors, are interested in political involvement, but not activism.

There is, however, a small yet noticeable group that conducts on campus protests.

Note: The male to female ratio has become imbalanced. Class 2006 = 41% male and 59% female. Class 2007 = 34% male 66% female.

Overall: Good school; high price; good financial aid, great academics (Arts and Sciences). Campus is pristine. SCU has many opportunities for those who like a smaller student body, midsize classes, and a private school setting.