So I have 5-6 days to decide between UT Austin and USC.
I just got back from ExploreUSC and of course I loved the campus and the atmosphere, as well as how highly the students spoke of all the programs.
My financial aid package was pretty large and left the total out of pocket cost to be around $16k a year.
At UT, I was accepted into the Liberal Arts Honors program. Id be in state and received so far $2,000 aid, and was just interviewed for a scholarship that may award more than that. I’ve visited UT several times and also love the campus and people, but basically everyone from the top 10% of my high school is also attending.
Although USC seems like the no brainer to me, my mom is worried that the cost of living in LA over 4 years + USC tuition will surpass the cost of UT + living in Austin and she’s trying to avoid debt for herself and me.
At both schools I was accepted to study psychology, but am looking to branch off into other humanities/social science disciplines.
Should I take the leap and go to USC where I feel I have more opportunities to succeed and take a step out my comfort zone or stick to UT.
My daughter was also admitted to both and will be attending USC. To our family, there is really no comparison. I was extremely unimpressed by UTexas during the entire admission and financial aid process & also underwhelmed by their online presence, portals, etc. My daughter also did not like all of the extra requirements from a GE standpoint that would come with attending a state school vs a private university. UTexas also offered my daughter $0, while USC’s FA package makes attending possible.
I have an older daughter at USC already, so clearly that experience has helped to sway our family. USC is just quite simply excellent at all of the aspects important to parents… communicating with students and parents, all of their various online portals, financial aid, internships and opportunities while there… and of course the global strength of their alumni network - post college. The weather is also much nicer year round in L.A. vs Austin. We live in FL and hate the heat and humidity here… that is also all too common in TX.
You need to make the choice that is best for you… & your family. Where do you feel most at home… L.A. or Austin? at a public school or at a private university? as a Trojan or a Longhorn - for life?