Santa Clara, Cal Poly SLO or U of Portland for structural engineering??

Colleges and Universities A-Z Santa Clara University
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<p>Cal Poly: I got into the architectural engineering program, which is highly rated. The campus is in a pretty area only ten minutes from the ocean and I like SLO, but I am nervous that it is so inaccessible (as far as coming home to the Seattle area for holidays, etc.) Also, the size (18,000 undergrads) makes me nervous because I thought I wanted a small school.</p>

<p>Santa Clara: The school of engineering offers a civil engineering degree, which means I wouldn't be taking quite as specific and interesting classes as at Cal Poly. However, SCU seemed to have an atmosphere of community service and using your education to benefit others, which I found really nice. The campus was beautiful, but San Jose was not a super great town (it seemed to be mostly Indian restaurants and strip malls) but it would be easy to fly home, and being in the middle of Silicon Valley would give me internship opportunities. Also, it is quite expensive.</p>

<p>University of Portland: I would get a civil engineering degree from here, so I would have to take classes in the areas of civil that I am less interested in. Portland is a great city and very accessible. Price-wise, UP and Cal Poly are pretty comparable, with UP being slightly less expensive because of scholarships.</p>

<p>What do you think?</p>

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<p>No comment for your school choice, but …</p>

<p>Uh, I just wonder how you managed to find those strip malls if you are not a local. Nothing against Indian, but there are more Japanese (or Korean) restaurants than Indian restaurants in the Santa Clara/San Jose area, and most definitely, even more Italian, Chinese restaurants. Finally, if it matters, SCU is in the city of Santa Clara, although right at the boundary with San Jose.</p>