<p>This schools like really nice, can anyone tell me anything about it from personal experience/visiting? My concern is, just how "religious" is it, I know it is Jesuit, but is it a conservative campus, student body really religious, etc.? I don't mind affiliations but I am not sure I want a school that will go overboard on the religious factor. Anybody know anyone that goes there etc.?Is it known academically for anything in paticular? Thanks</p>
<p>Santa Clara IS beautiful. As for the religious aspect, the majority of students are Catholic but it's not a particularly religious school from the reports I have from current students. Religion is there, but not forced upon you (although I believe they do have a religion requirement as part of their grad requirements). SCU's strongest programs are in
communications/journalism, engineering, business, computer science, history and psychology. But overall academics are very good.</p>
<p>the campus is gorgeous, and the school holds its own academically. lot's of kids from ca, and the female population is pretty high i think. and the kids i've known that go there aren't religious at all, and they love it there. quite a few kids go to law school after santa clara. it's right next to some movie theaters, golf courses, great america, the beach(sort of), and lots of nice restaurants in towns like palo alto.
their basketball team beat unc(the preseason #1 team in the nation)...
just writing whatever comes to mind, so sorry if that's sort of scattered</p>
<p>i just applied, thanks guys! is it true though that juniors and seniors usually commute through the second half of undergraduate? Are all people guarenteed housing? I think I read somewhere before that it wasnt, only freshman guarenteed...but if I am an east coast matriculant they have to give me a space right! :)</p>
<p>Only freshman and sophomores are guaranteed housing. Some juniors and seniors do remain on campus but most of the kids I know who have gone there move into apartments after junior year due to the housing crunch on campus. That's actually pretty typical at many of the colleges in Calif. But, I've heard they're trying to figure out a way to increase housing - don't know of any specific plans however.</p>
<p>my girlfriend goes there and absolutely loves it there. The community is really tight. Their system of RLCs (res. living communities) creates a unique community environment at the school. The academics are very good, it's probably one of the top ten schools in cali. The social life is there. Religion is there but they don't really force it on you. I went to a Jesuit high school that has strong ties to SCU and the jesuits are really laid back and cool. They are a great resource even if you aren't religious. Also housing and dining isn't bad. Carolyn is right on with her descriptions in her prior posts.</p>
<p>Most students move off campus after their first or second year so that they don't have to follow the university rules, particularly drinking. However I was told by an admissions person that yopu can get housing all four years if you want to.</p>