How does Saint Marys of California compare to other northern california csu’s and uc’s in terms of education
Since it is a private with under 3000 undergrads, you would a very personalized education experience there vs the CSU’s and UC’s where you have anywhere from 18-42K undergrads attending. I suggest you look at some of the reviews on Niche and US New but if interested definitely consider visiting to get a better perspective of the campus, academics and social life.
You might want to post your questions here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/saint-marys-college-california/
It is the sort of place that inspires devotion from its many dedicated grads. It is a Catholic school but not in an overbearing way. It is a bit remote from the SF/Berkeley scene. Lamorinda [Lafayette/Moraga/Orinda] are bedroom communities that haven’t quite figured out how to be towns. That is changing, but Moraga is the farthest [from easy BART access to the rest of the Bay Area] of the three. Depending on your area of study, it would probably rank above most of the CSUs and on a level with the second or third tier of the UCs. It’s an excellent school, and @Gumbymom gave you good advice.
My friends who have attended St Mary’s have enjoyed their time there and felt like they have learned a lot. I don’t really have any quantifiable data, but it’s a nice area (albeit a bit lonely without a car).
^^ Exactly. It’s very suburban, and a car is almost a necessity to get off campus.
it is small, somewhat religious and pretty expensive. tour the school and talk to some students to see if it is for you.
I understand that not last May but the year before, St. M of CA was offering $17K off tuition by telephone to certain people it was trying to attract. I’m not more clear on who that group was, whether that was per year for the duration or a one-year-only offer or anything, but I heard this from a well-informed, reliable source.
I don’t agree with post #3 that St. Mary’s is on the same level as the 2nd or 3rd tier UC’s or the even the top tier CSU’s, The UC’s admit the top 9% of CA high school students. St. Mary’s admission standards are lower. If you were talking about Santa Clara U., I would agree. The academic standard pecking order for the private schools in the Bay Area is: 1. Stanford; 2. Santa Clara U.; 3. USF or UOP (if Stockton counts); 4. or 5. St. Mary’s and then Golden Gate U.
There are very successful people who graduated from St. Mary’s. If you decide on St. Mary’s, you do your best and make the best of it.