Why I chose SCU as a Computer Science student! Campus, academics, and drone tour with pros/cons.

I am finishing up my first year at Santa Clara University as a Computer Science and Engineering major in the school of engineering. Hopefully this video will be helpful if you are about to decide which university you want to attend!
In the video I talk a lot about if you should go to SCU, some pros and cons, and briefly describe my day in the life at Santa Clara University. I also will talk about the location and academics at SCU as these are the two big reasons why I chose to attend the school. I mention that SCU is ranked in the top 15% of universities in the country and about some of its programs.
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Here's a bit about Santa Clara University's rankings:
In its first-ever showing in U.S. News & World Report’s National Universities category, Santa Clara University placed in the top 15 percent (No. 54) among nearly 400 national-level universities in the publication’s 2020 “Best Colleges” edition.
Last year, U.S. News ranked Santa Clara No. 1 in the West in the Regional Universities category. Due to a new classification system that takes into account the number of doctoral or professional degrees SCU awards annually, SCU has been elevated to national university standing.
Santa Clara also was noted for its excellence in undergraduate business education (No. 66 out of over 500 universities nationwide); undergraduate teaching excellence (No. 23 among national universities); and campus diversity.
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Here's a bit about Santa Clara University from SCU's website:
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University blends high-tech innovation with a social consciousness grounded in the Jesuit educational tradition.
We are committed to leaving the world a better place. We pursue new technology, encourage creativity, engage with our communities, and share an entrepreneurial mindset. Our goal is to help shape the next generation of leaders and global thinkers.
Santa Clara's undergraduate and graduate programs span areas ranging from psychology to sustainable-energy engineering and from theatre arts to business analytics.
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#scu #santaclara #santaclarauniversity

[@PaulBoldyrev]

If you are interested in CS at SCU, check out my other video breaking down the courses of a typical CS engineering student: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmjWcqKMZsylqZo

[@PaulBoldyrev]

I messed up the audio levels a bit with the music in this video.. sorry about that! Hopefully it doesn't take away from the content :)

[@pranavganesan7787]

Applying there for economics in the fall, and this video really gave me some much needed perspective!

[@PaulBoldyrev]

Glad you liked it! Check out the other two if you have more questions.

[@dequeesha6001]

we are so similar and this video is very helpful, thanks man!

[@liellithwasme4239]

Loved it!

[@danieldabreunoronha1976]

Hey man! I'm gonna be a Freshman on campus next year in the Business school. Thanks for your video :)

[@PaulBoldyrev]

Congrats Daniel!!! So glad my videos helped you out. Hopefully I'll see you around campus!

[@danieldabreunoronha1976]

@@PaulBoldyrev Yep! Sounds good man :)

[@djblitzzz9752]

Hi again! A few more questions as I make my final decision! 1) I was reading CS at CAS doesn't really include learning programming languages....is that true? If yes, what do they teach in the cs classes/intro to programming, etc? I'm fairly decent with python, know the basics of Java, html, css, and a tiny bit of php. I plan on branching into AI, because it's just super super interesting to me at the moment, and so I would love to learn how to code various (things) for AI! 2) Are there any other side projects you do apart from KZbin/ should one go with a mindset of side projects- coding courses, etc? 3) how do I go about choosing my dorm/housing? I generally like air conditioning, and heating.....realised a few dorms don't have those!

[@PaulBoldyrev]

Hey! So exciting that you are getting ready to decide :) I honestly could write an essay for each of those questions. Could you reach out to me on Instagram @paul.boldyrev? We can set up a call and I can explain it better! If not, I can type some stuff up as well.

[@sydneyshelby1777]

Hey I loved the video! I was recently accepted into Santa Clara and am heavily considering it. I had a few questions I was hoping you could answer. 1. Could you elaborate more on what you meant by not having the expectation of it being an Ivy League school? Like does that mean the academics aren’t as up to par? Or there isn’t as much prestige? Or not as many resources? 2. How’s is student life? I know with covid you probably haven’t experienced most of it but would you say that the people are nice there? Are they welcoming? 3. How’s the food? Hahaha very important for me. Thanks again for posting the video and wish you the best of luck in your last quarter of the year :)

[@PaulBoldyrev]

1. In high school, I thought that going to an Ivy league meant that you are going to get incredible education with rigorous classes. In reality though, I am taking the same exact CS and math classes as my friend who is a CS major at Stanford. The only difference are the professors. SCU's profs may not be as 'world renowned' as their Ivy counter parts but so far they feel just as dedicated to the students' learning. I struggled to explain this point in the video well but I was trying to communicate the idea that the education here may not 'feel' as prestigious because you aren't taught by New York best selling authors but the quality of it and the resources available match up to many other 'prestigious' schools :). 2. It may be due to COVID (everyone being socially starved) but when I got on campus almost everyone was saying 'hi' or trying to strike up a conversation. I think the best way I can describe it is that I feel much more at home at SCU than I did in high school. Oh and there are no more 'cliques', people are just kind of vibing. 3. Food at Benson is... 7/10. Passing but gets very boring. There are a ton of great places within a mile or so of campus. I would highly recommend getting the 'basic' dining plan and then spending the extra money at local takeout/restaurants. Make sure to bring a skateboard/longboard to commute though, walking gets annoying fast. Let me know if you have any other questions! Good luck with your decision.

[@sydneyshelby1777]

@@PaulBoldyrev Thanks so much for the response! Hope you have a great rest of your school year!

[@PaulBoldyrev]

@@sydneyshelby1777 For sure! You too!

[@luisherrera421]

I’m an incoming transfer student for CS in the Letter and Science department! I’ve heard amazing things of SCU!

[@PaulBoldyrev]

Welcome!! Congrats on becoming a Bronco :)

[@kimstone3716]

@@PaulBoldyrev Why did you decide on CS through Letter and Science Dept versus CS through Engineering?

[@delgande]

Was it expensive?

[@djblitzzz9752]

Hi! Loved this video! Really put a lot of things in perspective...thank you so much! I recently got accepted to Santa Clara as a CS major in the college of arts and sciences. 1. I know you may not have the answer, but is there a big difference bw CS at CAS and CS at the school of engineering? 2. Are the religious classes you mentioned mandatory? Or are they optional that you chose? 3. I've been accepted to UC Davis (CAS) for CS, and UCSD as an Undeclared Major. I was wondering what drew you to Santa Clara over the other two? Thank you so much!

[@PaulBoldyrev]

Congrats on the acceptance!! That's so awesome :) 1. One of my friends got into the CAS CS (I'll call this CS) and I got into the Engineering CS (I'll call this CSE) and we compared classes a few times so you came to the right place! The biggest difference is math. In CS, you focus on the theoretical aspects of computer science more. Think data structures, code optimization, algorithms, etc. Basically what is usually tested during code interviews. CSE on the other hand sacrifices the more advanced theoretical math to focus on some engineering bits of computer science. Think machine code, logic gates, some electrical engineering classes, etc. As someone who enjoys tinkering with tech, I think CSE was right for me. If you just want to write incredible code that's well optimized and backed by mathematical formulas, CS would be perfect for you. 2. I'll make a video on this very soon! The School of Engineering mandates that we take 3 quarters of religion, 3 quarters of cultures & ideas (broad term that can include philosophy, ethics, etc.), and 3 quarters of writing classes. Though these are required, the classes that actually satisfy the requirements differ a ton. Don't think religion classes are Bible study but rather courses that prompt you to think the "Why" questions on religion. Why do humans need religion? Why was Moses portrayed in this certain way? The discussions are super interesting, I'm a big fan right now :) 3. UCSD was too far away from San Francisco for me, that was pretty easy. UC Davis though was a tough choice. One reason was scholarship (I got Dean's scholarship to SCU but nothing for UCD because I am out of state). Other than that though both schools are great. If you are looking for a bigger school that is more focused on research with professors being actively involved in current studies, then I would choose UCD. If you want a smaller, private school feel where professors are there primarily to educate, then you might consider SCU! For me the location is key because I wanted to be in Silicon Valley but that's very specific. Reach out to me on Instagram: @paul.boldyrev if you want a more in depth response! Good luck with the rest of the school year!

[@djblitzzz9752]

@@PaulBoldyrev Thank you so so much for replying! Believe it or not, today, I decided that I'm going to commit to SCU! Your response just reaffirmed my decision. I do like writing code and it's optimization, and I'm so glad I chose the right one! Literally everywhere else, all it said about the diff be CSE and CS was the degree, and the GEs, and I can't thank you enough for actually telling me!

[@PaulBoldyrev]

@@djblitzzz9752 So glad I could help you out! Feel free to reach out any time :)

[@cyborgsz_9007]

could you tell some drawbacks? or flaws of your decision, because I really want to consider that. thanks

[@micahdoctolero]

Wow... definitely better than my vlogs! Also did you have to get a permit for the drone footage?

[@PaulBoldyrev]

LOL I remember binging your stuff all of last year! On the DJI website I applied for the permit thing and it just required a verification of my phone #. Pretty easy!

[@user-wd5tn7th1k]

What computer and specs do you recommend for an incoming Comp Sci & Engineering major at SCU in the College of Engineering?

[@thisispriyajain]

Fun fact: I've met Paul Boldyrev in person as we go to SCU together 😌

[@PaulBoldyrev]

👀👀

[@kailin6016]

Helllo Paul, do you think since SCU is located in Silicon Valley. It will help with connections and internships?

[@mirakatz-james529]

Hi Paul, I am leaning towards studying Bioengineering at SCU, and this was really helpful. Would you say that there's a lot of wiggle room to take classes outside engineering majors, or is it mostly credits for your major? What do you think of the quarter system? Do classes feel rushed because of that?

[@PaulBoldyrev]

TLDR; Yes, you have a ton of opportunities to take classes outside your major. Quarter system keeps you on your toes but I personally don't feel overwhelmed by it. Hi Mira! Bioengineering is such a cool major, huge props to you! My experience is a bit different at SCU; I am trying to graduate in 3 years and that means taking 4-5 classes every quarter and only focusing on my major. However (!) if you are coming in with AP credits, you should have a TON of room to take classes outside of your major. You could probably take one class outside of engineering every quarter and still easily graduate. Keep in mind, engineers are also REQUIRED to take "educational enrichment" which means at least 3 classes on the same discipline that does not involve your major. The Jesuit foundation of education also encourages you to branch out and explore different topic. The quarter system here is not unique. In my opinion, it ensures that schoolwork never gets boring. So far, I've never had a single "busywork" type of assignment. Professors just don't have the time to assign these. It also means that there are very rarely "review" days before tests which is kind of a bummer. Hope this helps!

[@mirakatz-james529]

@@PaulBoldyrev It does, thank you!

[@basanthyajman5550]

Hey, How’s MSIS at SCU? I recently got accepted and I’m looking for strong reasons to accept my admit

[@alexnaimushin1903]

Those are some nice dorms! Do you have a roommate during COVID times?

[@PaulBoldyrev]

Nope! We have suite mates though (one room connected to mine through a bathroom/shower).

[@dnguyen6]

Would you have come here had Stanford accepted you?

[@PaulBoldyrev]

Hey Dan! Stanford was always a dream for me, I definitely would’ve chosen it over SCU. However, being on campus, I get to interact with a bunch of Stanford students & staff because of the proximity.

[@inclinedscorpio]

Hi bro, would you please share your linkedin ? 😀

[@568843daw]

Were you accepted by the universities you were interested in or were you thinking about them as possibilities but did not apply to them?

[@pranavganesan7787]

what were your high school stats?

[@PaulBoldyrev]

Hi Pranav! Glad you liked the video :) SAT: 1520 GPA: 4.0 APs: Lang, Lit, Econ, CS A, Chem, Psych, WH, Calc AB EC: DECA Prez, start ups, Microsoft Intern, and some volunteering :)

[@pranavganesan7787]

@@PaulBoldyrev thanks for replying! Is that a 4.0 weighed or uw?

[@PaulBoldyrev]

@@pranavganesan7787 uw. i had all As in APs but i forgot my weighted score

[@darknickyt0609]

Hey dude you gave GRE? Can you help me

[@PaulBoldyrev]

Hey! What’s GRE?

[@rafski123]

@@PaulBoldyrev It's for Masters program