<p>So.... this board is almost unanimous.... Go to ND!!!!</p>
<p>Please explain this "guaranteed transfer to Cornell." If you are going to want to pick up stakes and move--again--in one year, why not live at home for one year, go to USC during that time, and then transfer out to Cornell?</p>
<p>Watumja ~ I saw this thread yesterday and hsitated about responding to it. First, I'm a USC alum, so I have some bias. But honestly I thought you posed a very obvious question, with one obvious answer: go to USC. I am a bit surprised that the board is so favorable to ND and unfavorable to USC. I know both schools, and both areas. I don't think the area around either school is very important, not do I think the football team's success is too important. I would suggest that you let your kid select the school that provides the best fit.</p>
<p>Academically, I think SC is the better school, and it's reputation is rising steadily, something to consider for the future efforts to go Ivy. Also, I think an SC undergrad looks more distinct at an Ivy when the apps for grad school are considered. But if it is just one year, prior to Cornell, maybe it does not matter too much. Both are good schools.</p>
<p>The Cornell transfer seems intriguing, but what is it? Someone posting on the UVA board also mentioned this option.</p>
<p>dudedad...The Cornell GT is a guaranteed transfer with the condition that my son go to an acceptable 4 year college for a year and achieve at least a 3.2 GPA. He would then join the class of 2010 at Cornell as a sophomore.</p>
<p>Sounds like a twist on the "spring admit" that other schools have been doing. Never read about the GT program, but guess it makes sense, tho I wonder how many kids will love the school they matriculate at & not bother with the GT?
If your son is pretty sure he really wants to transfer to Cornell, it would make sense to save the money & go to USC & then transfer (or love USC & remain there).</p>
<p>What a dilemma. If not for the fact that you are from SoCal, it would be USC hands down over ND for me. I have spent a lot of time in Indiana, South Bend included, and I just can't stand that part of the country. I Love LA. But if a change of scenery is needed from growing up in SoCal, USC won't give it but ND certainly will.</p>
<p>My S and I like the "college town" concept (which is why my S is only looking at colleges that have such. USC does not have that at all. As a matter of fact, USC in the high crime part of LA -- dangerous. When my sibs went there, they didn't feel safe off campus. That certainly is not the case with ND. ND is in a college town -- a town that exists mostly because the campus is there.</p>
<p>My understanding is that USC has done a lot over the past few years to improve the neighborhood (like buying a lot of the properties surrounding campus, having an outstanding security force, etc.) Folks I know who have attended/are attending USC these days all say they feel safe on and near campus.</p>
<p>I think as an outsider, the area looks a bit more dangerous than it really is. You would never go south of the stadium, but the area north of campus is fine. It is a city, but not unusually dangerous. I went to a large suburban university and we had much more on and near campus crime than my son has witnessed at SC. There is a new basketball arena opening at SC soon and a HUGE entertainment development near the Staples Center that will greatly improve the area.</p>
<p>Lately, SC is getting much more community support in the LA area. Football isn't everything, but it does get one recognized! They are the pro team in LA and are treated as such. That support spills over into other areas as well.</p>
<p>The staff there has been very supportive. My child's experience has been quite good. He has had dinner with several of his professors, been recruited for jobs and on campus opportunities, really has been taken care of.</p>
<p>Both are great choices . . . not sure why someone would want to transfer to Cornell after a year at either of these schools. regardless, it really comes down to how the student feels and what thier interests are. For example, if they are more theatrically driven then SC. If they are more liberal arts driven, ND. Country vs. City? Warm vs. Cold?</p>
<p>ND may better prepare a student for the cold of Ithica and get them used to being away from Southern Cal . . .</p>