Hi guys, I’m posting for my friend about her final school choice between BC and USC.
Her intended major is Cognitive Science / Neuroscience and a possible double major or minor in Math or CS. It’s obvious that both schools are quite highly renowned(Maybe USC is a little bit more, at least as the rankings shows). And as for her majors, it seems that USC is definitely stronger than BC. She also thinks that maybe USC also seems to have a larger funding and research opportunities that fit her possible majors. Yet as she is also considering about a possible transfer, BC’s higher focus on undergraduate education: small classes and higher reputations may be a pro. She also prefers a small school, at least where she could easily find a close community.
So now she really has a headache about her school choice, and I hope that you guys could give me some help and advice. Thanks.
If she is that torn, she should definitely do the accepted students days at the two schools.
Also, encourage her to find out what “Jesuit” means for BC. So many incoming freshman have no clue when they arrive at BC, then graduate from BC so thankful they had the opportunity to experience it.
Not a good situation to be in. Do not matriculate to a 4-year school with the intention of transferring, unless its a Guaranteed Transfer Option from say, Cornell.
The odds of transferring (up?) are not good. And I hope your ‘friend’ recognizes that she’ll need recs from college profs. As a Cog Sci/Neuro major, her first year classes will be large in both places.
One specific thing that she should consider is that BC’s Neuro program is more Psych-focused than USC’s, if she leans one way or another. But, and this is a big but, USC will have a lot more gunners in Frosh Chem and Frosh math. Thus, the odds of acing classes and earning sterling recs…
If there is no big diff in costs, she should go to USC.
The research opportunities in the areas she is interested in are far greater there than an BC.
USC is throwing $$ into research, especially Neuro sciences, and the affiliation with its Medical school will also give her more research options.
Dear Philalvin : The decision to be on the east coast or west coast is such a fundamental issue for an 18-year-old undergraduate that the conversation should start there. If the student sees no difference, consider the travel logistics to home (and think about holidays where travel might not be possible for financial or other reasons). The differences in the Neurosciences programs between USC and Boston College are huge, so you will want to carefully examine the curricula from both programs before making your final decision.