Santa Clara University
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Major: Economics
Minors: Italian & International Business double minor
Student Self Identifies as: White Straight Male
Summary
I do a lot of intramural sports, I’m in a fraternity, and I’m in the ROTC program.
Background
Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White
Sexual Orientation: Straight
High School Experience: Private all-boys school in Dallas, TX with a graduating class of about 280 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: Economics
Minors: Italian & International Business double minor
Extracurricular Activities: I do a lot of intramural sports, I’m in a fraternity, and I’m in the ROTC program.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
The social aspect I get out of being in a fraternity is a huge aspect of my college experience. It made it easier to meet people and have fun around campus. ROTC helped me stay structured and in shape. Intramural sports was another way of engaging in the community.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
It really depends on the individual quarter and the classes I’m taking. This most recent quarter was a lot of work. They’ll assign readings, and you can either do them or you don’t, and it’ll make the tests harder to study for if you don’t. I typically have problem sets and don’t focus too much on the readings. Exams make up the bulk of the grade. Most classes have three midterms and a final.
Is there anything you feel your major’s department does especially well or poorly?
The professors are very accessible to the students outside of class in case we need to go to office hours. What they do poorly is the difficulty of a class depend is very dependent on what professor you’re taking. It’s kind of frustrating sometimes, but it’s hard to avoid. If they were to do one thing better, it would be to regulate the difficulty of the classes.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It’s competitive in the sense that everyone cares about their grade, but it’s not cutthroat. If you need help with someone somebody is going to help you out. It’s entirely collaborative, but everyone is trying to do the best that they can.
How accessible are your professors?
They’re very accessible. The average class size is about 23, and that’s a bigger class for me. If you email a professor, they usually get back to you within a couple of hours. If you want to go to office hours, even if you’re not available during their typical office hours they can arrange a time to talk. [About 78% of classes are 39 students are less.]
Why did you choose your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I’m really happy with my choice. I loved the Political Science major at first, but I wasn’t interested in it as much after taking a couple of classes. I found that economics is more broadly applicable than political science, and I’m more interested in the course material.
What has been your favorite part of Santa Clara academically?
My favorite aspect is the flexibility of the quarter system. At times it makes it pretty difficult, but if I need to drop a class it’s easier to do so because you’re taking more classes. I’m able to have two minors because you have more time to take these classes. Especially if you’re financially tighter, the Economics majors can graduate in three years with an average course load and no minors.
In what ways do you feel Santa Clara has academically prepared you for life after college?
The workload at Santa Clara is similar to the workforce. I think they prepare us pretty well through the work I have on a daily basis, and I think the fast-paced aspect of the quarter system is a superior method of instruction personally.
Reasons to Attend
1) The size is perfect for meeting people and feeling at home at a university.
2) The weather is the best. There is no true winter. It’ll rain sometimes, but it’s beautiful all year round and everyone is always outside.
3) The location. It’s near Silicon Valley and the beach. You have so many options available to you, even if it’s not right on campus. There’s a huge abundance of internships and jobs.
4) There’s an international airport close to campus.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) It’s expensive. [Santa Clara’s cost of living is 2.5 times the national average.]
2) There is no sports culture. It creates a lack of school pride to a certain extent, and people aren’t getting excited for football and basketball games.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman & Sophomore: Graham Hall with two roommates and two suitemates
Junior: Neighborhood Unit Apartment with one friend
How as transitioning from your hometown to Santa Clara, CA in terms of location?
It’s not much different. It has a very similar culture to my high school. Graham Hall isn’t necessarily a social dorm so it’s a little difficult to meet people.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I’ve never felt unsafe at any point in time.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
My nightlife is especially associated with my fraternity. The weekend activities can vary from going to the beach some days, typically with my fraternity as well. We don’t have on-campus fraternity houses, it’s usually just at houses near campus. Parties are usually on Wednesday and Friday nights, and during the day on Saturday.
What is the impact of Greek life on the weekend options?
If you’re someone who wants to engage in parties, it has a pretty overwhelming impact on off-campus life. If you’re not interested in that, then it’s completely irrelevant. If you’d prefer to go skiing, hiking, camping, or to the beach then there’s no influence at all. If you want to partake in a party, Greek life or being part of some organization like a sports team is the way to do it.
How happy are you with the weekend options at Santa Clara? Is there anything you would change about them if you could?
Now that I have my own car, I’m a lot happier because I can choose what I want to do. Before I had a car, you’re kind of locked in and stuck on campus, which got frustrating sometimes. I’m overwhelmingly happy with the weekends, especially during the fall and spring quarters when the weather is nice.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
Through my fraternity.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Santa Clara?
It’s whatever you make of it. If you go out of your way to try and make friends and be versatile, then it’s pretty easy. But it’s also to get locked into whatever organization you’re in and not venture out. It tends to be more cliquey than not.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
That depends on the fraternity to some extent, but I’d say to a pretty large extend. I haven’t noticed any lack of racial diversity, especially within my organization. [The undergraduate population is about 18% Hispanic, 3% Black, 48% White, and 16% Asian.]
How do you like the size of Santa Clara in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has it impacted your experience? [There are about 5,500 students at Santa Clara.]
I really like the size of Santa Clara. It’s on the smaller end but it’s not too small where everyone knows everyone. I personally love walking to class and saying hi to people I know. If you’re at a huge state school, you may not have that opportunity.
To what extent do people in Greek life and not in Greek life mix socially?
For the parties themselves, it’s only Greek life [members] allowed in those parties. Tuesday and Thursday nights are bar nights, so you can mix with non-Greek members that way. As far as Wednesday and Friday nights go, there isn’t much intermingling at all.
How would you describe the student body?
The people at Santa Clara are overwhelmingly warm and nice. I’ve felt very welcomed.
Careers
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I’ve used Handshake, but I haven’t used the career office other than to create my Handshake profile.