<p>I applied to Santa Clara University and was wondering if religion plays an important role in the education received in this school? How strict are the rules about underage drinking (coming from a country where drinking is legal at 18), visits (same sex and opposite sex), etc.? How is the night-life and parties?</p>
<p>Thanks for any help provided!</p>
<p>My son is a fourth year engineering student. Students are required to take 3 religion classes over four years, with no specific preference for Catholicism. There’s no compulsory church attendance. Jesuit philosophy (education of the whole person, engagement with the world, social justice) permeates every program, as far as I can tell. I would consider there to be almost a “zero tolerance” for underage drinking on campus, but there seem to be plenty of just-off-campus parties on Bellomy.</p>
<p>As a Santa Clara University student, religion does not really play a big role. There are 3 mandatory religion classes you must take before you graduate, but they don’t have to be about Christianity. You can learn about Islam, Buddhism, etc. </p>
<p>The rules are somewhat strict about underage drinking. If you are caught with alcohol in your room you will get a letter sent home, but the letter states a “general alcohol violation” they don’t talk about specifically what happened. The parties are pretty fun especially in the Fall quarter and spring quarter a lot of people go out to the off-campus houses and party. There are a couple of bars around but I haven’t been to them and San Jose which 2 miles away has pretty good clubs.</p>
<p>For visits, anyone can visit at anytime, regardless of gender, but you are responsible for your guest/guests.</p>
<p>I’m also interested in knowing more about this. The answers that have already been posted tell a lot, but if someone got something more to say please do!</p>
<p>About underage drinking - if you are from a country where drinking is allowed at a lower age (18 in my case too) do they really send a letter home? I mean what good would it do? My parents would just laugh and be happy that I have a good time.</p>
<p>Also about the religion courses: 3 seems like a lot? Last time I studied religion was during my first term my first year in high school and that kinda sucked. I am not against religion or anything, it’s just that I got no interest in it (like 99% of my country, Sweden). If I instead choose another college that I got admitted to, I could spend that time taking more interesting courses.</p>
<p>What about the students at the college? Are a lot of them religious? How would they look at a non-religious student such as me?</p>
<p>We are not religious and don’t anticipate any problems in attending Santa Clara. We went on a tour and
I thought they said 2 classes (maybe it was 3), but I don’t consider them any differnt than other
GE courses, where you are learning about things in the world and the past. There seemed to be a wide
variety of choices, such as ‘modern religions’ or the ‘history of religion’, etc. As for the disciplinary action for underage drinking, I have no idea if they would send a letter to your parents, but it sounds like your parents wouldn’t care anyway. Now that I think about it, it seems kind of strange that any college would notify the parents if the student is over 18. They won’t tell the parents grades, etc because of privacy laws.</p>
<p>A lot of the students aren’t that religious. I’m not. The ones that go to church (church is voluntary) aren’t imposing of their views. Everyone here is accepting of everyone. And most people here don’t care anyway. If you’re Christian, cool. If you’re not, cool. There are agnostics and atheists here and I’m friends with them. So, no people wouldn’t look at you differently if you aren’t religious. </p>
<p>We also recently had a Rainbow Prom, which promoted marriage equality (gay marriage). So this school is very accepting, considering it is technically a “religious” school, but besides the religious courses you have to take, it is far from it.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for two insightful posts! Sounds like an awesome place. Too bad I won’t make it to the preview days (I booked my trip two days after LOL). Anyway, I really hope there will be students available to guide me (I read that on the day I will visit there may be a lack of them).</p>
<p>About underage drinking. It can be more than just a letter from the dean, although we received one of those, too.
Minors felt to be intoxicated are offered (by campus police) an arrest or an ambulance ride. Not really very tolerant.</p>
<p>To put that into perspective, what about other universities (in SF/California)? Do they care at all or are they somewhat the same as Santa Clara?</p>
<p>With the idea that no one forces anyone to drink or do drugs, UC Santa Barbara has more of a reputation as a “party” school. Since the big riot this past spring, however, they may crack down. UC Santa Cruz has the reputation of kids using marijuana more than alcohol. UC San Diego, ditto for “party”. You should go to each school’s listing and see what the reputation is. Again, some people choose to use, others choose not to. At some of these schools there are dorms that are “substance free” for people who are recovering addictions or for some other reason don’t want to drink or use drugs. Some schools, like Santa Cruz have “colleges” or dorms that are for the more serious students. That doesn’t mean dry/ drug free necessarily, but probably kids who choose those living areas also don’t have as much time to “party.”</p>
<p>All UC campuses are now smoke fee</p>
<p>Are there any crosses or other religious symbols in the classrooms and/or buildings?</p>