<p>Pros/Cons?</p>
<p>I feel that I would be more comfortable socially at SMC, but SCU seems to have a stronger academic program. </p>
<p>They appear similar in most respects but are there any significant differences academically and socially? </p>
<p>I'm in CC now as a psychology major.</p>
<p>Where do you want to work after college? In the Bay Area, SMC is unknown but SCU is quite known and respected. However, if you are going to be out of the Bay Area or especially out of California, neither are known well. SCU is much higher ranked, though.</p>
<p>I know kids who have gone to SMC and SCU… based on that slice alone SCU really draws a much stronger student base.</p>
<p>Santa Clara is a well respected private college in Silicon Valley. Alumnus are well represented in the tech companies. As of late, it is getting recognition by prospective students from the East Coast as a LAC in a great location. St. Mary’s, is a small school located outside of Oakland, known to be academically solid but has little or no profile to the average person in the Bay Area.</p>
<p>I want to go into clinical psychology in the Bay Area, but I may decide against clinical while progressing through my last two years of undergrad work. I know I’ll need to get into a good graduate school for psychology, so academic reputation, my grades and opportunities for outside experience applied to psychology are important to me.</p>
<p>Santa Clara appeals to me academically, while Saint Mary’s seems like a more welcoming environment. Will going to SMC destroy my chances for admission into a good graduate school here in the Bay Area because of its lack of reputation?</p>
<p>Of course not, Bay Area academic institutions are well aware of each others strengths and reputations.
I was referring to the average citizen of the Bay Area having little awareness of St. Mary’s compared to awareness of Stanford, Cal, Santa Clara and SJSU.
Good luck.</p>
<p>from what I understand SMC has a premed placement rate that is pretty awesome</p>