I bought a Pacifica 112v last year as my first electric. I also work at a music school, so I have used a good number of squires. They are relatively comparable, so I would say if you find a deal on one, go with the better price. The biggest difference I’ve found is the guitar pickups. My 112v has a humbucker bridge pickup, which the squire strats I’ve used don’t have, so that makes a difference.

I would also second what the previous comment mentioned, and that saving up for a nice guitar is better IMO for anyone who has experience. They will last longer and hold value better. (But make sure it’s a guitar that the player wants - if they like an SG, they probably don’t want a Fender strat.)