<p>as a 17 year SC resident, does anyone have any questions about this uber boring city? i'll answer</p>
<p>When and why did all those beautiful homes on the Alameda, the street leading up to SCU from 880 freeway, go business instead of residential. Looks like some law offices, not sure about the others. Pretty street though. Been in Alameda county 15 years but I know only a little about that area.</p>
<p>ya, how hot are the ladies?</p>
<p>What are the best things to do in SC? What kind of entertainment options are there? Any transportation (like buses)? What is the general type of person who lives in SC?</p>
<p>Zelda, perhaps you could share some information about the pluses of Santa Clara. I know it seems like an uber boring place to you, but to the folks who have been accepted to SCU, this city, and the college are a welcome change from what they are used to. Please share the positives...thanks. Of course if there is something awful we should know...let us know that tool. Re: transportation, DH's recollection is that SCU is very close to the BART train station to the bay area. And from there there is rail service all up and down the CA coast. Is that correct? Also, SCU is all of ten minutes from the San Jose airport...and Southwest flies there!</p>
<p>It's a nice campus, but the town is pretty bland... If you go there chances are you won't go off campus much unless it's to go up to the city which is about 1 hour away.
I'm considering going here as I live in the area and it's close from home, but otherwise I would look at schools in bigger cities like LA and SF....</p>
<p>There's really nothing to do in Santa Clara itself :-P (the city, not the college)</p>
<p>in order:</p>
<p>houses on the alameda: you know what, i don't really know. i bet my dad would though (he's lived here since the 60s) but my best estimate is late 80s. its funny; i've often wondered the same thing too. i love all the victorians in santa clara.</p>
<p>hottness factor: well it depends on where you're thinking. on SCU, i suppose ther are some decent girls, but i am a girl and cant really judge that. lots of preppy abercrombie kind of people go to SCU, so i guess that's the best indication i can give.</p>
<p>What are the best things to do in SC? What kind of entertainment options are there? Any transportation (like buses)? What is the general type of person who lives in SC? :</p>
<ol>
<li>there really isn't much to do. there is a large mall/ritzy shopping area (santana row/valley fair) but most of the action happens in downtown san jose (about 10 mins from SCU) or in SF (a 40 min drive). Entertainment wise, again, SC won't offer much. you have to travel outside of the town to have decent fun. (I mean, we have movie theatres and minigolf, but honestly, it gets old.) There are a lot of local venues shocasing bands and such, lots of concerts at the SJ arena, plus the SJ hsarks if you like hockey....SCU gets a lot of great concerts though. i just saw Death Cab for Cutie there last month. We have busses (valley transit, for the whole south bay) and SCU is across the street from an amtrak station that can take you pretty much anywhere. Types of people that live here: lots of immigrants and lots of long time residents. some families...most of my friends don't live here, they live in San Jose...but at the university, see above....</li>
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<p>THE PLUSES: ok ok ok...granted, SC is a nice small town, but honestly, there isnt much nice things to say because a lot of the down has gone to the dogs. yes there are extremely nice areas, but on the outskirts, things are kinda bad. there fire and police depts are good, but lacking funding...we do have great shopping, and we are relatively close to a lot of exciting cities. if you like small suburban towns, SC is for you. the campus of SCU is very very nice, but it's too close to home for me to consider, even though my dad wants me to go there (i live 5 mins away....)</p>
<p>Thanks for the info Zelda. I suspect my daughter would give the same negative views about any college within a local phone call's distance from here. I have to say...my daughter's perspective of the town, surroundings, accessibility to other places, and SCU were very very positive...but she's coming from 3000 miles away.</p>
<p>Thanks for answering my questions, its very helpful. As long as its near a city that I can get to easily, I don't mind the small town thing too much.</p>