Santa Clara University, SFSU or CC?

jere_b · April 29, 2005, 10:32pm

All right, I've been in deep thought for the past few days, especially after my appeal to Davis was not granted, which was my first choice. I have narrowed down my choices to Santa Clara University, San Francisco State or De Anza College then transferring into a UC.

As of now, I want my major to be in Management Information Systems but I'm worried about that changing later on. Also, my family only makes about $30k a year (both parents unemployed but receiving money from SSA) and Santa Clara did not give us much financial aid.

Which one will give a better college experience? Also, De Anza and other CC students, what is your experience of the system and how is it working for you?

gsp_silicon_valley · April 29, 2005, 10:41pm

What's the appeal of SFSU? De Anza is certainly cheaper than SCU, but is not a very exciting collegiate experience. It's too bad that SCU requires you to live on campus freshman year. Going to SCU simply may be too expensive for you.

If you need to work, go to school and live at home, De Anza is the answer. $35k per year SCU just isn't known for significant financial aid.

young_one · April 29, 2005, 11:21pm

yeah, i'd say the best bet would be De Anza. SCU is a great university but in your situation it probably isn't worth the price, and the CC route would be better than going to SFSU.

sweetkidsmom · April 30, 2005, 1:00am

My sons friends brother is finishing up at Deanza and got accepted to Cal. He said Deanza is cool. He has had a positive experience there. I know the family is very academically motivated. I also know our junior high GC once gave me a list of the best CC in the bayarea, Deanza was on the list.

On edit: I wish my oldest son, now at UCSC, had gone to DeAnza instead of our local CC. After he got to UCSC he realized he had not gotten the depth of information other students who had been at UCSC had to work wiith as juniors. I think had he gone to better CC he would have gotten that depth in his classes. He has been able to keep up, but he said this differnece did bother him. Otherwise he likes UCSC.

tlaktan · April 30, 2005, 1:30am

I say the community college route. You'd save a bit of money. Although you'd have a few breadth problems when you get to the UC, I'm pretty sure that can be tackled.

jere_b · April 30, 2005, 2:16am

gspsiliconvalley, is it really true that SCU makes you live oncampus for freshman year? I don't recall them stating that on their website or anywhere else.

grxkn · April 30, 2005, 2:32am

If I were in that situation, I'd definitely go to the CC.

nsharma2005 · April 30, 2005, 2:33am

well, i personally would chose cc. I am prolly going to end up doing that too. i mean i got into irvine, but i didnt get into my davis appeal, and i was extremely bumbed. However, there are many positive outcomes. First of all, you will save loads of money. You can live close to home. You can transfer to a really good university. You will have a higher gpa. You can get classes more easilly. You will be able to go through the classes, and chose what you really want to do as a profession. My sister did that 2 years ago, and she is now graduating successfully from uc davis. so, wherever you go, you can make it a fun place if you chose to. it is all up to you. i know couple of my cousins who went to universities, and found out that they didnt like the college. so, therefore they leaft that college in the middle of the year. they wasted a lot of money in doing so. everybody has to take the same general ed requirements, so might as well just go to a jc. I personally am going to a jc and try to transfer to cal or ucla. good luck.