<p>So I've narrowed my top college choices down to these three, but I'm totally stuck on this last bit. I go to a Jesuit high school (hence the Jesuit choices) and I'm interested in possibly majoring in Engineering (Civil or Environmental), but I'm not completely decided on that yet. I also value an access to cultural activities in surrounding areas (I'm kind of a concert nut). </p>
<p>Santa Clara is the best academically out of the three and they have a great Engineering program, but, although I could still afford it, it's easily the most expensive out of them all, I received the least aid and I'm unsure of how easy it is to access San Francisco and surrounding areas. </p>
<p>Seattle also has Engineering, I'm absolutely psyched about the location in downtown Seattle and I received a large amount of aid from them, but I'm unsure if it's as academically sound.</p>
<p>Loyola Chicago is also an awesome location, great aid provider, and I've been accepted into their honors school, but they have no Engineering major. </p>
<p>So, I basically have today to make the final decision and the more opinions I get, the better. Thanks!</p>
<p>I have the SAME debate! Excluding Santa Clara, my sister actually attended there and I visited a few times. I fell in love with the whole place, but there is no way I can afford it considering how stingy they are with financial aid, and how high the cost of living is. I’m sad I didn’t see this earlier, and I’m curious to know, which one did you choose and why?</p>
<p>eastmil12 -</p>
<p>Actually, Santa Clara does offer excellent merit-based aid packages to some students. If you run a search for Santa Clara (or just scroll down in the Financial Aid Forum), you should find some of the threads from April in which students discussed their through processes while trying to decide between Santa Clara and a more-famous-but-much-less-affordable institution.</p>
<p>You don’t have to make a decision between any particular colleges/universities just yet. Make your list (be sure to include at least one rock-solid academic and financial safety), apply, and see what your acceptances and aid packages look like next spring. By then you may find that none of these institutions are even on your list at all!</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>happymomof1,
The numbers of financial aid for Santa Clara can be misleading, as most of this aid is in loans. And with the cost of living so high, as well as the tuition which recently grew $5000 from even the previous steep tuition, for me rules this option out. My sister made her decision to attend Santa Clara, however is now faced with a large amount of debt. This is a personal situation, and in no way do I mean to suggest Santa Clara is simply unaffordable. I encourage anyone to apply/attend this university if they desire. Not everyone who chooses this college will have a lot of debt.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice! I have made my list of 5 colleges, and I look forward to applying this fall. You’re right, I should look to see my acceptances and fincancial aid packages next spring.</p>
<p>Thanks again!
I’m still curious about which college daltonkat chose?</p>
<p>Well, Seattle U has an amazing campus, and many of the students do ALOT of community service. Yet their library is kinda lame</p>
<p>Seattle Bulldog-
Do you find the weather hindering? How are the dorms? Are they co-ed or womens/men?</p>
<p>The weather is a HUGE problem, up until a couple of weeks, the weater was cloudy and rainy. I don’t know about much about the dorms, but they are coed.</p>