<p>So I'm accepted at the American University of Paris and Santa Clara University, I'm sorely tempted by both, and there aren't really aren't any major factors that can make the decision for me; distance is not a major concern, and they are fairly equal in expense. I feel that while of course AUP doesn't have the reputation of SCU, it may be seriously underrated. I was wondering if anyone who's familiar with either of these institutions would be able to shed some light on the pros and cons of each, and offer some advice! Thanks, y'all!</p>
<p>SCU isn’t really that prestigious, to begin with, so prestige shouldn’t be a factor in your decision making. </p>
<p>I have friends who’ve attended the AUP and they’re all quite satisfied with the quality of teaching instruction of the school – all of them are from very wealthy families. Being fluent in French isn’t a requirement to attend the AUP, but all foreign AUP students whose first language isn’t French would eventually learn to speak French fluently. </p>
<p>If you’re an American who come a wealthy class, I’d recommend the AUP. Studying abroad would be quite enriching especially when you’re doing it in Europe.</p>
<p>A lot of it depends on what you want to study. In some fields (pre-med, computer science, business-related) SCU would be the clear favorite because it would offer you internship/job opportunities likely much harder in Paris. If you want to study humanities, languages, political science, Paris would be very good for that. </p>
<p>Note, however, that while SCU has SOME reputation in the US, AUP has NONE. And those who do know about it share RML’s opinion that it’s a school for rich kids who aren’t necessarily all that academic but who can afford to live in Europe for four years.</p>
<p>Prestige is in the eye of the beholder. And for some its rather superficial, as in USNWR rankings in the National Category and cluttered up with scientific nonsense about numbers of PhD’s in bio chemistry or transnational national security in computer science…I am kidding of course. But its a point I am making.</p>
<p>Santa Clara is a wonderful Jesuit college which very strong ties to the Silicon Valley. Its a gorgeous campus. You would be well served attending there, no matter your major. </p>
<p>Your moniker is “Stanford hopeful” so I presume that you have an application RD pending to Stanford and that is your trump card if you get in? </p>
<p>I love Paris. I love French. I despise French politics. Spending a year or a semester in France is one thing. Spending four years there is another. What are your objectives? Work intentions? Grad school ideas? </p>
<p>Some kids (very few) go to college overseas (as in Americans going overseas) for four years and love it. But 99% of Americans do a semester or year abroad and then return home to base camp and get on with their lives. Lots of expats live overseas and send their kids to AUP or other “prestigious” colleges. </p>
<p>Charles DeGaulle once quipped , “how do you govern a country with 300 kinds of cheese?” LOL. </p>
<p>In the end, its your personal choice…and all choices and decisions have consequences, good, bad and unanticipated. Do your best to think it through, and then go with that decision. Either school is wonderful for very different reasons.</p>
<p>Nobody here, nor even your parents, can really decide for you. Its your decision and you are the one who must go and live on that campus and do the work,long after the honeymoon is over, and regardless of things that may come up. And they will…as they always do at every campus. </p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>