Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 11:19     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Son is a straight-A STEM kid, loves sports and California. Otherwise pretty ordinary, doesn't have great extra-curriculars aside from team sports. He's planning to study engineering or physics and is applying to UMD, Michigan, Purdue, and the UC system. He's also interested in Santa Clara because it's in CA and easy to get into. I don't know anything about it, and it's one of the priciest schools he's applying to. We're trying to discourage privates as we can't afford most of them. Any thoughts on whether it's worth the cost? Do they give merit aid? What kind of vibe?


I wouldn’t be so sure about the easy to get into part. I know a straight-A STEM kid who was rejected last year.

Your son should apply to Wisconsin too. The kid I referred to above eventually ended up at Wisconsin after getting in off the waitlist in late spring.


It accepts half of its applicants at 48.8%. Not selective at all


Tell that to over half the applicants who didn't get in.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 11:16     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Any experience with U San Diego?

DC wants to head off to California (STEM, CS Engineering), but realistically getting into UC's is not looking very feasible, so searching for alternate options

Santa Clara U is on our list for sure.


USD is absolutely beautiful, has a good campus culture, in a wonderful location, and has great faculty. However it is not as known for CS/Engineering, although it does have those programs, and doesn’t have the jobs pipeline that Santa Clara does. That does not mean that it has no jobs pipeline, just that as far as job placement it is hard to compete with Santa Clara.

For your DC, in addition to the UCs, I would look at Santa Clara, USF, USD, maybe Occidental and Pitzer depending on grades.

Also, look at the CSUs. They also have good hiring outcomes in California. If GPA is a concern I would look at Cal Poly Humboldt and Pomona for CS, or San Jose State. Cal Poly Humboldt is very isolated but is investing a lot in their STEM offerings and is getting noticed. San Jose State has a lot of job connections.

Feel free to ask more!


My DC who is looking at similar schools also liked LMU.

Any input on SDSU?
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 11:14     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Son is a straight-A STEM kid, loves sports and California. Otherwise pretty ordinary, doesn't have great extra-curriculars aside from team sports. He's planning to study engineering or physics and is applying to UMD, Michigan, Purdue, and the UC system. He's also interested in Santa Clara because it's in CA and easy to get into. I don't know anything about it, and it's one of the priciest schools he's applying to. We're trying to discourage privates as we can't afford most of them. Any thoughts on whether it's worth the cost? Do they give merit aid? What kind of vibe?


I wouldn’t be so sure about the easy to get into part. I know a straight-A STEM kid who was rejected last year.

Your son should apply to Wisconsin too. The kid I referred to above eventually ended up at Wisconsin after getting in off the waitlist in late spring.


It accepts half of its applicants at 48.8%. Not selective at all


That number entirely depends on who applies, though. People are not doing the lottery-type admissions for schools like Santa Clara, so a larger percentage of the pool that does apply is competitive for the school. It’s a common pattern for a lot of the schools in the 35-65% admissions rate. What that means is that they will accept 48% or so but the half that doesn’t get in are also generally competitive for the class. Essentially admissions pool patterns change for schools below T30 and selectivity becomes a much less useful metric.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 11:11     Subject: Re:What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:Check out Cal Poly SLO OP. In CA it is actually well-regarded, and has a better brand than Santa Clara.

Cal Poly is an entirely different experience, being a large public in the middle of nowhere, whereas SCU is a mid size private in a populated area.

Cal Poly may be cheaper, however, even after merit from SCU.

Cal Poly's acceptance rate for CS is s at or under 10%, a reach.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 11:08     Subject: Re:What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:Check out Cal Poly SLO OP. In CA it is actually well-regarded, and has a better brand than Santa Clara.


It will be almost impossible to get in from OOS.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 11:07     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:Any experience with U San Diego?

DC wants to head off to California (STEM, CS Engineering), but realistically getting into UC's is not looking very feasible, so searching for alternate options

Santa Clara U is on our list for sure.


USD is absolutely beautiful, has a good campus culture, in a wonderful location, and has great faculty. However it is not as known for CS/Engineering, although it does have those programs, and doesn’t have the jobs pipeline that Santa Clara does. That does not mean that it has no jobs pipeline, just that as far as job placement it is hard to compete with Santa Clara.

For your DC, in addition to the UCs, I would look at Santa Clara, USF, USD, maybe Occidental and Pitzer depending on grades.

Also, look at the CSUs. They also have good hiring outcomes in California. If GPA is a concern I would look at Cal Poly Humboldt and Pomona for CS, or San Jose State. Cal Poly Humboldt is very isolated but is investing a lot in their STEM offerings and is getting noticed. San Jose State has a lot of job connections.

Feel free to ask more!
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 11:03     Subject: Re:What's up with Santa Clara University?
Check out Cal Poly SLO OP. In CA it is actually well-regarded, and has a better brand than Santa Clara.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 10:54     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:can I hear what stats get the 19k award?

I wonder if it's all stats or more a mix of things like stats + essay + jesuit hs + geo diversity... or some mix kinda thing


I'm not PP but when my student applied with 36 ACT and 3.87 GPA (UW from Big 3) - they got only $1500/yr merit in EA.



That makes sense that they would give merit for a 36. The median is only a low 28-32. The 36 is reportable to USNWR. A lot of second tier schools do this to get high stats kids (trade money for a top ACT score)


it doesnt make sense that they have 1500. which is nothing really. their merit system is very managed I think. if they think you're coming, you seem to get more. they didn't think your 36 was coming.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 10:44     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes they give merit. Friend's kid is there with like 30K in merit. I get the sense the full price is sticker price and many pay 4-5-K.

Anonymous wrote:Son is a straight-A STEM kid, loves sports and California. Otherwise pretty ordinary, doesn't have great extra-curriculars aside from team sports. He's planning to study engineering or physics and is applying to UMD, Michigan, Purdue, and the UC system. He's also interested in Santa Clara because it's in CA and easy to get into. I don't know anything about it, and it's one of the priciest schools he's applying to. We're trying to discourage privates as we can't afford most of them. Any thoughts on whether it's worth the cost? Do they give merit aid? What kind of vibe?



Cost of attending Santa Clara is $78K a year. It's like Pepperdine or Occidental. Very expensive and not worth it anymore. If OP's kid can get into a UC school, by all means do it.


The UC is the same price for oos and you get housing problems, restricted majors and huge classes.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 10:41     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
I sense this is the upcoming Northeastern of the west coast. It is getting very popular at our W high school for wealthy, decently smart kids. College is doing tons of marketing.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 10:38     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:Yes they give merit. Friend's kid is there with like 30K in merit. I get the sense the full price is sticker price and many pay 4-5-K.

Anonymous wrote:Son is a straight-A STEM kid, loves sports and California. Otherwise pretty ordinary, doesn't have great extra-curriculars aside from team sports. He's planning to study engineering or physics and is applying to UMD, Michigan, Purdue, and the UC system. He's also interested in Santa Clara because it's in CA and easy to get into. I don't know anything about it, and it's one of the priciest schools he's applying to. We're trying to discourage privates as we can't afford most of them. Any thoughts on whether it's worth the cost? Do they give merit aid? What kind of vibe?



Cost of attending Santa Clara is $78K a year. It's like Pepperdine or Occidental. Very expensive and not worth it anymore. If OP's kid can get into a UC school, by all means do it.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 10:36     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:can I hear what stats get the 19k award?

I wonder if it's all stats or more a mix of things like stats + essay + jesuit hs + geo diversity... or some mix kinda thing


I'm not PP but when my student applied with 36 ACT and 3.87 GPA (UW from Big 3) - they got only $1500/yr merit in EA.



That makes sense that they would give merit for a 36. The median is only a low 28-32. The 36 is reportable to USNWR. A lot of second tier schools do this to get high stats kids (trade money for a top ACT score)
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 10:32     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Yes they give merit. Friend's kid is there with like 30K in merit. I get the sense the full price is sticker price and many pay 4-5-K.

Anonymous wrote:Son is a straight-A STEM kid, loves sports and California. Otherwise pretty ordinary, doesn't have great extra-curriculars aside from team sports. He's planning to study engineering or physics and is applying to UMD, Michigan, Purdue, and the UC system. He's also interested in Santa Clara because it's in CA and easy to get into. I don't know anything about it, and it's one of the priciest schools he's applying to. We're trying to discourage privates as we can't afford most of them. Any thoughts on whether it's worth the cost? Do they give merit aid? What kind of vibe?


Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 10:30     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Any experience with U San Diego?

DC wants to head off to California (STEM, CS Engineering), but realistically getting into UC's is not looking very feasible, so searching for alternate options

Santa Clara U is on our list for sure.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2023 10:30     Subject: What's up with Santa Clara University?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Son is a straight-A STEM kid, loves sports and California. Otherwise pretty ordinary, doesn't have great extra-curriculars aside from team sports. He's planning to study engineering or physics and is applying to UMD, Michigan, Purdue, and the UC system. He's also interested in Santa Clara because it's in CA and easy to get into. I don't know anything about it, and it's one of the priciest schools he's applying to. We're trying to discourage privates as we can't afford most of them. Any thoughts on whether it's worth the cost? Do they give merit aid? What kind of vibe?


I wouldn’t be so sure about the easy to get into part. I know a straight-A STEM kid who was rejected last year.

Your son should apply to Wisconsin too. The kid I referred to above eventually ended up at Wisconsin after getting in off the waitlist in late spring.


It accepts half of its applicants at 48.8%. Not selective at all