Insider’s Guide to Life at SCU
Consider this your introduction to life at Santa Clara University. Current students have compiled a list of some of their
favorite places to eat and
experiences on campus and in the Bay Area, as well as
things you must do before you graduate. We hope this “bird’s-eye view” will prepare you for an enjoyable first year.
Living at SCU
Hear what current students have to say about life in the Residential Learning Communities (RLCs)
“The RLC system makes it easy to make friends, have fun, and feel part of the SCU community.” Drew Hodun
“My floor became my family—the girls turned into my best friends and the guys turned into my big brothers. I never got homesick even though I’m 3,000 miles away from home.” Elle Sypek
“In the RLCs there is a constant flow of fun and a really good excuse to stay up late.” John Amann
“Even as a commuter student, I felt the RLC events and school events allowed me to meet wonderful people and branch out and make new friends.” Olivia Ash
“Being part of an RLC was more then just living in a residence hall, it was my community at school, my home away from home.” Ryan Diemer
“The Monday night social every week offered a great study break and time to get to know the people living in your RLC!” Liza Stillman
The Area
- AMF Bowling
- Great America
- HP Pavilion for a concert
- iFly SF Bay – indoor skydiving/vertical wind tunnel
- Improv – stand-up comedy
- Movie theaters – from independent, to blockbuster to Bollywood.
- Planet Granite – indoor rock-climbing/ bouldering
- Santana Row – outdoor shopping center
- Sky High Sports, the trampoline place
Dining Off Campus
- Blondie’s Frozen Yogurt
- Chalateco
- Chipotle
- The Counter
- Crema
- Denny’s
- Falafel Drive-in
- Frozo’s Frozen Yogurt
- Henry’s
- Hungry Hound
- In-N-Out Burger
- Mio Vicino
- Mission City Coffee Roasting Company
- Mondo Burrito
- Neto Sausage Company
- Panda Express
- Pluto’s
- Sara’s Kitchen
- SmokeEaters
- Stuft Pizza
- Thai Pepper
- Wahoo’s Fish Tacos
- Wrap This!
Annual On-Campus Events
- Spicy Bronco – food, dancing, fun—all with a cultural twist; keep an eye out for this event, it happens every quarter at The Bronco in Benson
- Capture the Flag
- Concerts at Leavey Center
- Mr. RLC – annual pageant and talent show
- Global Village – hosted by the Multicultural Center; aims to exhibit and share the various cultures that are represented around campus
- Festival of Lights – every December the SCU Choral Ensemble performs traditional Hanukkah music, African drumming, caroling, and the choir's annual candle-lit rendition of Silent Night
- Salsa Clara – learn how to Salsa dance or simply enjoy the performances
- Green Week
First-Year Must-Dos
- Participate in the club fair, held the Sunday before school starts—a great way to find out about every club on campus in one place
- Midnight breakfast – sponsored by your RLC; keep an eye out for this event
- Become a Rough Rider
- Take a Bronco Bus trip – this bus travels to many great destinations, from 40 minutes to 4 hours away
- Be involved in your RLC
- Join a club
- Try out for a sports team
- Attend the SCU vs. Gonzaga Basketball game
- Work out at Malley Fitness Center
- Spend finals week camped out in the library
- Check the kiosk in Benson near The Bronco to learn about the latest events on campus
- Go to the pool—lay out or swim
- Get to know all your floor-mates and your resident director
Things to Do Before You Graduate
- Bay To Breakers in San Francisco – this 10K run, in full costume, takes place every May
- Ride the Giant Dipper rollercoaster at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Participate in an immersion trip or study abroad program
- Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge
- Visit Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley
- Have a donut from Stan’s Donut’s
- See one of the on-campus performances
- Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Take the train to San Francisco and spend a day exploring
- Watch a professional sports team – San Jose Sharks (pro hockey), San Francisco Giants (pro baseball), San Jose Earthquakes (pro soccer)
- Go to the beach in Santa Cruz
- Go ice skating at Christmas in the Park
- Laser Tag in Mountain View
- Go to the Santa Clara Farmers Market on Tuesday or Saturday
- Walk the drive-through at Taco Bell
- Go to the drive-in movie theaters in San Jose
