***HELP!!! SCU vs UCSB - Undergrad econ and aspiring law student***

College Search & Selection
1

Hi all,

After the ordeal of college acceptance letters, I have narrowed down my top two school choices to UCSB or Santa Clara University. I have been accepted for a major in economics for both (UCSB as pre-econ) and I am having struggles in picking between the two. My future plans will be taking the LSAT and pursuing a career in law after my undergrad studies.

I have received financial aid/scholarships for both schools. (SCU: ~$51,000 and UCSB: ~$36,000)

As a Bay Area (Fremont) student, what I am concerned about the most is the education and experience I will receive at each school.

SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY:
Pros:
-small classes sizes
-able to develop close relationship with professors
-known for their school of business
-good internships opportunities (heart of silicon valley)
-most likely to graduate within four years
-can transfer to their law school if need be
-small community
-beautiful campus
-school statistics: great rentention, graduation, and post-college job prospects

Cons:
-less recognition than a UC school
-a small community, may feel like i’m still in highschool with class sizes of about 30 people
-slightly lacking in diversity
-thirty minutes from home (feel like i’m still at home, won’t have feeling of independence)
-seen other students review about how the econ program at SCU will not be challenging (almost high school level)

UCSB:
Pros:
-major is relatively strong
-away from home, get to meet new people, experience new surrounding
-more recognition outside of California
-great nightlife and close proximity to beach
-beautiful and modern campus

Cons:
-large school, will be a number to professors
-unsure about internship opportunities
-will be challenged in econ classes (as pre-ecno student will have to retain certain gpa to officially claim econ major)
-may struggle to get classes, not graduate in four years
-known as a party school

In general, I am looking for a well-rounded college experience, both educationally and socially. I am also concerned about the reputation of each school and workload of the classes. I have been pretty studious my whole life, consistent A/B student, and taken many honor and AP classes. I am willing to work hard in college and be challenged as well. As someone who is slightly introverted, I am hoping to break out of my shell with a fresh start in college.

I would also greatly appreciate any information about the programs of each school (if any alumnis want to speak up) as well as advice, either for choosing with school or just for college in general.

Thank you so much for reading up to here, and good luck to any other fellow seniors struggling with the same problem!!

2

Congratulations! Great choices, and I’m envious of your weather the next four years, whichever one you choose. You live close to SCU so that won’t be new, but don’t take it for granted. There are lots of college students who will get up on Monday morning with very cold temps and snow on the ground, as the spring semester is just a few weeks from wrapping up. I know a recent Notre Dame grad who had to wear gloves to the spring graduation ceremony.

I love SCU, agree with the strengths you list, and suspect the econ classes will be more challenging and closer to the ones at UCSB than you suggest. Econ students study pretty similar material, at least up to the highest level classes.

For you, it sounds like a trade-off between the smaller classes and greater opportunity to get desired classes at SCU, on the one hand, and perhaps the opportunity to be more on your own at UCSB. That’s for you to decide.

A couple of things to consider: 30 minutes away can be plenty far away, depending on how you and your family handle it. I went to a residential college 45-50 minutes from my house. I went home one weekend fall of freshman year for a very big high school football game. Otherwise, I never went home, except for holidays. I think my parents stopped by maybe two times. But think about how that would work for your family. And I think SCU might actually offer more of a chance to meet people since it is more of a national university than a CA one, though I don’t the numbers for OOS students.

Also, I know it can be tough to get classes at UCs these days. It can help, in general, if a student is willing to take classes during less popular hours–early morning, late afternoon, evening. Would this be okay with you?

Also, do think about how important small classes are for you. It’s important for some students as the best way to learn, less so for others.

Good luck!

3

For Fall 2016, College Navigator shows:

  • 44% out-of-state enrollment at SCU
  • 15% out-of-state enrollment at UCSB

The out-of-state enrollment at SCU has been increasing steadily in recent years, and so the 44% number is probably too low. The Class of 2021 specifically was 49% out-of-state. Over the next few years, out-of-staters will probably become a majority at SCU (as they already are at other private schools in California, like Stanford or USC). For out-of-staters, SCU is likely to be a better deal than a UC. Obviously the private school tuition at SCU is high – but out-of-state tuition at a UC is equally high, and the UCs won’t offer any financial aid to out-of-staters, while SCU will.

Under current UC policy, UCSB is capped at 18% out-of-state enrollment. They will probably max out at that level over the next few years. Since the enrollment at UCSB is heavily in-state, it wouldn’t surprise me if the percentage of students from the Bay Area is actually higher at UCSB than it is at SCU.

4

It looks like the cost of attendance at Santa Clara is $18k more than you’re getting while you wouldn’t have any costs at UCSB. Is that about correct? Can you afford that difference if so?

I don’t see your cons about Santa Clara as a big deal nor the last 2 on your list for UCSB. Nice choices to have, congratulations!

5

^^ the financial aid reported is $15K more for SCU, so that looks like pretty much of a wash. :slight_smile:

6

OP, you are looking at the right things. I’ll just offer a couple of thoughts. As someone who hires lawyers and law clerks in San Francisco at least every other year, I don’t place a lot of weight on the undergraduate school as long as it’s a reasonably good one. Santa Cruz and Santa Clara both qualify, and I would not give the former an edge on the latter. And Santa Clara is a very good law school with a known track record and a lot of support here in the Bay Area, so the ability to transition easily merits a few points.