May 1st is in seventeen days. I have seventeen days to decide where I will spend the next four years of my life. Where I will sleep, where I will study, where I will meet new people, and hopefully where I will thrive. Considering factors like housing applications and looking for a roommate, I’ll probably need to make a decision much sooner. Over spring break, I toured both UC Santa Cruz and Santa Clara University. I was sure that I wouldn’t like SCU and that I was going to commit to UCSC as soon as I got home. When I began walking around SCU, I was pleasantly, but inconveniently surprised; I actually really liked it. On the drive home, my mind changed; I loved SCU, and I was sure I would be attending in the fall. Later that day, when I finally saw UCSC, my decision was again complicated. I loved both schools. Each one was gorgeous, but in vastly different ways. Seeing the people on both campuses, I feel as though I might fit in better at UCSC, but the consistent rain and shade may make me a bit depressed. SCU has D1 sports, which could be fun to watch, while UCSC only offers D3 sports. SCU’s party scene is definitely more lively as well. SCU was smaller and much easier to navigate, but will I be sick of that after four years? UCSC dorms are pretty bad, and they only offer communal-style dorms, and none of them have kitchens. Since there are no kitchens, students are forced to get a meal plan, and I’ve heard the meals are pretty terrible. Santa Cruz, the city, is absolutely perfect, though. There is so much to do, it’s right on the beach, and just absolutely stunning. Santa Clara, on the other hand, isn’t nearly as charming. SCU is more prestigious, and they offer great suite-style dorms, and even the communal-style dorms are decent, and they have better dining hall food. There are better post-graduate opportunities, and the housing crisis isn’t as severe as it is in Santa Cruz. The pros and cons point to SCU, but is it the right choice? There are so many factors to consider and it makes my head hurt. I don’t want to make the wrong choice, and I want to thrive and be happy. I wish somebody would just tell me what to do with complete confidence in positive results.

PC- Google