火爆社区

Situated 鈥渁t the heart of Silicon Valley,鈥� Santa Clara University is a Jesuit school with 鈥渞igorous but rewarding [courses],鈥� a place where 鈥測ou鈥檒l never meet more passionate, more intelligent, and often down-to-earth professors.鈥� Thanks to small class sizes, professors remain 鈥渁ccessible鈥�; as one student puts it: 鈥淚 have had a real relationship with every one of my professors at SCU.鈥� Meanwhile, the school administration is 鈥済reat at listening to and implementing student feedback鈥� and 鈥渨elcomes students to talk with people in high positions of power.鈥� There鈥檚 also an appreciated 鈥渙penness of the students and faculty to consider new possibilities in academia鈥� and one student notes being 鈥渃hallenged to extend my thinking in every class.鈥� Of the various majors, students speak fondly of the 鈥渕assive array of classes and professors鈥� in the business school, and the many connections offered from faculty 鈥淸that] are CEOs and founders that relate the material we learn to their experiences.鈥� Other programs students spoke affectionately of are those for 鈥渢op-tier鈥� accounting, 鈥渁mazing鈥� public health, and both computer and environmental science. Enrollees appreciate that the school is keeping with the times鈥攐ne science building is described as having 鈥渁wesome, state-of-the-art equipment鈥濃�攁nd overall sum up their experience as 鈥減erfect, I love it.鈥�

Santa Clara University attracts students that are 鈥渟mart, dedicated, funny, committed, [and] intelligent.鈥� While students are 鈥渇ocused on academics鈥濃�攁s one puts it, 鈥淧eople like to have fun, but only after the work is finished鈥濃�攖hey 鈥渄efinitely prioritize having a good time.鈥� There is a 鈥済ood sense of community鈥� on campus, but also 鈥渆nough harmless shenanigans (lightsaber fights in the cafeteria, Shakespeare flash mobs, etc.)鈥� to ensure you鈥檙e 鈥渉aving a really fun college experience.鈥� 鈥淓veryone here is quite relaxed and happy,鈥� explains one student. It鈥檚 not that people aren鈥檛 academically focused, 鈥渢hey just know how to balance work and school well.鈥� The school is fairly diverse in ethnicity, but some students note an 鈥渙verwhelmingly upper-middle class鈥� vibe. This may just be part of the easy-going atmosphere, however, given that 75% of students are reported to receive aid. At any rate, these 鈥渉ardworking [students are] always open to help someone,鈥� so much so that a first-year 鈥渁utomatically felt at home at Santa Clara because of the warm and welcoming community.鈥�

On evenings and weekends, 鈥淪anta Clara students can be seen at local restaurants, bars, parties, golfing, or just having fun with friends.鈥� Fraternities and sororities are independent from the university, but are 鈥渉uge鈥� and 鈥渆verywhere,鈥� perhaps contributing to the 鈥渂ig party culture at SCU.鈥� Additionally, 鈥渢here are multiple social activities and events hosted by clubs and other organizations on campus almost every day of the week, and clubs do their best to be readily accessible to nonmembers.鈥� One student particularly loves the Investment Fund, 鈥渁 student-led club that invests a portion of the university鈥檚 endowment.鈥� There鈥檚 also plenty to do even from the comfort of a residence hall, from pool to ping pong and foosball. Students rave about the intramural sports available on SCU鈥檚 鈥済orgeous鈥� campus, including soccer, volleyball, flag football, and water polo. Though some admit it can be challenging to explore neighboring areas without a car, many value both the urban and wilderness adventures SCU鈥檚 Northern California location provides. 鈥淚 love the hiking and backpacking club called 鈥業nto the Wild,鈥� which takes students to local scenery,鈥� says one student. Others share that weekend adventures to the beach in Santa Cruz or enjoying the nightlife in San Francisco make for excellent SCU memories.

A Santa Clara education is built around the idea of putting theory into practice, and the school provides many internship opportunities for students through its Career Center. Opportunities are abundant since Silicon Valley is the 鈥渋deal location for internships.鈥� In fact, many students go on to receive full-time job offers after graduation. SCU provides additional creative ways to build skills and experience with Company Challenges: events that range from hackathons to software and design competitions. The Career Center helps students pursue their passions and find purpose by utilizing online assessments, occupational handbooks, podcasts, and a Job Prep Toolkit. Multiple platforms (Handshake, Bronco Exchange, Career Influencers Network, and the Alumni Switchboard) are available for students to connect to faculty, alumni, and potential employers to find jobs as well as cultivate career networks. In addition to three seasonal job fairs, 鈥渃ompanies are always on campus鈥� for recruitment, as 鈥減rofessors and departments are very connected.鈥� According to PayScale.com, surveyed graduates report a median starting salary of $83,800, and 48 percent say that they derive a high level of meaning from their jobs.