<p>I like everything about SCU, especially its strong business program. Before I make my final decision of where I want to go, I want to know more about the social life and the people of SCU.</p>
<p>I've heard that the people are all snobby or preppy and cliquey. I would say I am the opposite of that. I'm honestly just concerned about making friends and fitting in. I'm also not really into partying or drinking. I just want to have a good time in college and make friends and just have fun.</p>
<p>Does anyone think I'll be able to fit in here?</p>
<p>I am going here for the Business program as well, YAY! From what I saw on campus at admitted student day, people were going out of their way to be welcoming and accepting. In college, at least from what I hear, during the first few weeks everyone is nice in order to make a good impression and make friends. So don’t worry, and go with your gut feeling!</p>
<p>Walking through our campus, or especially through our parking lots, might give the impression that we’re snobby. However, I don’t think that’s true. While SCU kids do tend to come from money, people don’t walk around belittling those who don’t.</p>
<p>Cliquey is unfair, too, but a criticism I rarely hear. Some of the sports teams act like that, as they do at all schools. (They also have a bit of an excuse, since they have to spend so much time together.) A few of our frats and sororities act like that, but it is far less noticeable than it is at other schools. People usually are friends with kids on the floors or people they meet in their freshman classes, just like anywhere else.</p>
<p>As far as partying goes, you might be a little bored on Friday night. Again, though, this is all colleges except for devout Christian schools or commuter campuses. The percentage of kids that drink is probably the same as it is at any UC or USF or any other comparable campus.</p>
<p>Everyone is worried about fitting in when they first get to college. Try not to worry about it too much!</p>
<p>^Not officially recognized by the university, no. Doesn’t stop students from forming them off campus.</p>
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<p>I just asked my wife and she said it was hard to find a student at SCU that didn’t come from money. They were far and few between when she attended, and yes, she mentioned that most were a little stand-offish until they found out if you came from money or not. They wouldn’t belittle a student who did not come from money, but they would keep a certain distance by putting up an “I’m interested in you as a person” facade until they actually determined if you had money. She’s experienced at that point that the student with money would either not interact as much with the pooer student, or completely stop interacting with them while coming up with excuses why. Her personal observations anyway.</p>
<p>Wow, I don’t at all agree with turtlerock. How long ago did your wife attend? Maybe that was true at one time. But, for now, all types of students attend SCU. I think there is a lot of diversity. I know many kids that are students at SCU and my son will attend in the Fall. Some come from money (upper middleclass) and some do not. And, none that I know are truly wealthy. And, the kids I know that attend are not judgmental at all. Maybe it is a perception issue and there were other reasons for not making friends. I would go hang out on campus for a bit and talk to the kids and get an idea from the students about how they feel about the social scene at SCU.</p>
<p>She attended 2005-2009. A short, IMO, 3 years ago.</p>
<p>We began dating in 2005, and although I myself did not attend SCU, I spent many hours and days on the campus hanging out with her (between classes and such), which was interesting because while she was in class it left a lot of time over 4 years for me to gander around and converse with students and faculty on my own too. She also had a work-study job on campus so I was able to know the staff she worked for very well.</p>
<p>Again, those were her own personal experiences with other students, but she did have plenty of friends and a handful of close ones she still hangs out with and keeps in touch with now.</p>
<p>I also have a co-worker who graduated from SCU in 2007 who shares a lot of the same outlooks about the university as my wife and whos Mother works at SCU in a financial capacity, so I get to hear the inside scoop on how SCU is going in that dept :p</p>
<p>EDIT: It’s fair to say that not all of my wife’s experience with higher income students were like it was described above, just most.</p>
<p>Let me clarify our Greek system. Sometime in the (I think) late 1990s or early 2000s, the former president of the school decided unilaterally that the school would stop recognizing fraternities and sororities. Most of them decided to stick around in an unofficial sense. There are four frats and four sororities. The system is small and you don’t lose anything by not rushing. </p>
<p>Because of the neighborhood we’re located in, most of the houses are smaller California ranch homes. As such, the houses tend to be small and not very many people live in them, which I think has a lot to do with the very non-exclusive atmosphere surrounding Greek life at SCU. (Theta is an exception to the rule, but even their house only holds roughly 25 people, small by most school’s standards.)</p>
<p>As far as money goes, we’re a private school. Yes, the median income of SCU students’ families is much higher than the average. However, I think it is largely a perception issue – seeing a handful of Range Rovers and MBs near campus creates the illusion that everyone is wealthy. </p>
<p>Bottom line is, if you don’t come from money and you decide to come to SCU, few people are going to treat you differently. You might hear about weekend trips to Aspen, but most of the conversations I hear are along the lines of “I can’t go out with you this weekend because I’m going to Aspen with my parents,” versus “I’m flying first class to Aspen this weekend and staying in my family’s 4,500 sq ft ski house, therefore I am a better person than you.”</p>
<p>I’m sure by now you’ve made your decision, but for many people still viewing this forum post, I wanted to throw in my opinion.</p>
<p>I am going to the Business School at Santa Clara next year, and I went to the school to visit on a school day last week and I was very impressed with the atmosphere. Clearly lost, I was approached by many smiling faces asking me if I needed help, and any questions I had just walking around were answered kindly by every single student.</p>
<p>This only makes me that much more excited to go to school here next year. Many of the students will come from surrounding areas, which yes, are affluent, but that doesn’t mean they are going to be snobbish or in your face about it. That just doesn’t seem like the environment at Santa Clara. If you are going here next year, I think you are in for a pleasant surprise with the student body! :)</p>
This may be a pretty off example, but I’ll try . . .
I was in the Marine Corps for 4 years. Talking to Marines and Recruiters as a Senior in HS was totally different than actually being in the Marine Corps. My attitude shifted dramatically from day 1 to day 1,460. Looking back now I know there was no other way I would be able to have percieved the Corps otherwise, unless I had actually visited a base and “lived like a Marine” for a day before deciding to enlist.</p>
<p>I’m not saying that SCUs student body won’t generally have good natured students who care about their community, for many are, however it’s important to note that you won’t know the real SCU experience until you’ve lived it - gone through the daily grind of classes and quarter turnover and the rest of student life.</p>
<p>Unfotunately for me, the only Marine I could really talk to locally was my recruiter - wish I looked up a Marine Corps forum then. Fortunately for you, there are people here on this forum that have lived the SCU experience and are proactive enough to share those experiences.</p>
<p>Think of it like reading a book review before you decide to spend your $ on a particular book. Almost no one these days picks up a book based on the cover, most will read at least *something<a href=“or%20talk%20to”>/i</a> from those who have already read it before they do so they know their time and experience isn’t wasted.</p>
<p>Moral of the story: really, don’t judge a book by it’s cover.</p>