SCU vs. SDSU

Colleges and Universities A-Z Santa Clara University
1

I’ve never posted anything on here before but I’m feeling super conflicted about making college decisions and figured it wouldn’t hurt to get some advice! I’ve narrowed down my choices to San Diego State and Santa Clara, I’m strongly leaning towards SDSU, however something is telling me that I can’t ignore Santa Clara and what it has to offer. At SDSU I’ve been admitted as a Statistics major and at Santa Clara I was admitted into the Economics major with an emphasis in Data Analysis.
My parents really want me to go to Santa Clara (they’re definitely afraid of the party scene at SDSU) but I’m afraid that SCU just won’t be sociable enough for me. Here are my pros and cons for each:

SDSU:
Pros
-in sunny san diego (soon much to do around there)
-would most likely participate in the honors college
-my AP credits would allow me to potentially graduate in 2 1/2 years (but I’ll probably double minor instead)
-would get to dorm with my best friend (we totally didn’t expect to end up going to the same school until like a month ago but hey it would defiantly be fun)
-money isn’t really too much of a worry but SDSU is significantly cheaper than SCU
-more of a social scene, I would be able to join Greek Life

Cons
-large school (30,000 students) and large class sizes
-not as hands on as SCU, would defiantly have to look for internships and job opportunities myself
-I think SCU has a better reputation in California, however SDSU seems like they have a stronger alumni base
-might be too party crazy for me

SCU:
Pros
-in Silicon Valley, extremely well connected for jobs and internships
-really pretty campus and dorms
-small class sizes and close relationships with professors
-would get a great education but I’m worried I wouldn’t enjoy my time there

Cons
-i feel like there’s a lack of social life which is definitely important for me
-slightly more expensive than SDSU
-doesn’t take any of my ap credit

I haven’t visited SCU yet but I’m heading up there next weekend, I haven’t decided yet if this is a pro or a con but SCU is farther from home which would force me to be a bit more independent.
Any advice would be appreciated, especially if you attended either of those schools!

2

Hmm from what I read here it sounds like SCU takes almost all AP credit. Unless you had a ton of 3s:
https://www.scu.edu/bulletin/undergraduate/chapter-8/AcademicCreditEvaluation.html

I think coming next week to the SCU admitted students event is a really good idea and you can check out the dorms, which are really nice, and the people. If cost is not a great issue, it’s probably a better school academic-wise, especially for what you’re majoring in.

3

Social life and party scene are very prevalent at santa clara, especially being that Greek life is off campus

4

Indecisive, how was your preview day at Santa Clara?

5

Santa Clara is more than enough fun so you wouldn’t have to worry at all. Lots of social life and parties around the campus as it’s a total college town. Santa Clara has a great Greek scene but it isn’t ran by the school ,from what I believe it’s ran by students. I wouldn’t pick a school strictly based on the social scene. Going to a school with a bigger party scene may not be the best thing for you. After a year and a half you very well could get sick of all the partying and wish you focused more on academics when a year and a half earlier you had a chance to go to a school in the wealthiest part of California with exceptional job connections. Santa Clara is a growing school with brand new STEM buildings being built on campus. San Francisco and Santa Cruz is 35 minutes away so you can always have the option for a beach or a city. If you have the economic opportunity to go to Santa Clara, I would pick that without looking back.