Between USC and Reed,

<p>which would you choose? USC is giving me half tuition, and Reed, since it doesn't give merit-based, isn't giving me anything. But, I know I would be happier at Reed. My complete ineptness at being spirited school-wise may prove detrimental at USC. I don't know how to make this decision. Both are great schools, and both have a lot to offer. If it wasn't for that $20,000 difference, I think I'd easily pick Reed. But then... USC is USC... so much great networking, beautiful weather... Ahh! Help? </p>

<p>I posted this in the USC forum as well. Just want to get opinions from people interested in both universities. I really am at a complete loss for what to do here and can't seem to find decent advice anywhere.</p>

<p>So much great …networking? What about classes? What about the library? Professors? Is “networking” really what you’re looking for?
What, exactly, does “networking” mean, anyway?</p>

<p>It seems very random that these are the two choices you have to choose from. What other schools did you get accepted to. Is there a halfway meeting point between the two schools where maybe you got merit aid and has more of the Reed feel?
Even though you may not have the same school spirit that others at USC may have does not mean that you won’t fit in. USC is large enough to find your own niche among the student body.
You also haven’t mentioned whether you are financially wealthy(or at least your parents are). If you or your parents are wealthy, and can afford to drop full tuition for Reed for four years without having to take out loans or have your parents change their lifestyle significantly than just go for Reed.
However, if you’re parents are not that wealthy, you really don’t want to get that much into debt for any school(paying full tuition).
Also what is your major?</p>

<p>By networking, I mean the job opportunities that Trojans are always happy to give other Trojans. Also, with USC being a larger school, it would be easier to find someone to help me out no matter what career path I decide to pursue. As of now, I don’t see myself in one of those jobs that Trojans offer other Trojans, but I know things could be very different in a couple of years, since I’m an idealist in many regards. However, I also know that I would always regret not going to Reed, just not how large that regret would be.</p>

<p>liek0806, I got into NYU, Boston University, Arizona State, Tulane, and Loyola NO. USC and Reed are the only two I’m interested in. I don’t really see anywhere that could be a mixture of the two. My family is pretty well off, enough to where we don’t get any need-based aid. But, we would definitely be taking out a number of loans, and I have two other siblings who will be in school for a while as well.
I intend on majoring in comparative literature and sociology.</p>

<p>If you value future networking highly, look at each school’s alumni participation rate in fund raising. If grads feel good about a school–if they liked their experience there–they will make donations to its annual fund. I believe that will tell you how likely it is that these alums will help you post graduation.</p>

<p>At the end of the day, most Reedies love Reed-there’s a sense of loyalty, but we’re also a small Liberal Arts College so our number of alumni are significantly less, and we’re concentrated in academia and other related fields like non-profits, the think thank industry etc… Surprisingly though, statistically, a lot of Reedies eventually end up entering the corporate world as employees (Investment Banking/Consulting included) or entrepreneurs (think Steve Jobs, Peter Norton etc.), so that area’s open too. But we’re no USC in alumni network-I doubt any other Liberal Arts Colleges could actually compare in this regard.
As far as idealism goes, Reed is the place to be. With no offence to USC, I personally find it shallow and uninteresting from what I’ve heard from other friends who go there. Reed is the extreme opposite-sometimes that can bother people, but most often if you’re interested in big ideas, knowledge and you’re comfortable being around people who’ll most probably be as smart or smarter than you, it’s not a problem. </p>

<p>I read your post on the USC board about diversity-there’s no denying USC is more diverse-it’s a large university in a large, diverse city. However, Reed is trying to get less “rich, white and snobbish” and in its effort it has been pretty successful in recruiting a number of people from a variety of racial and socio-economic backgrounds. There are now quite a lot of South Asians, like you and me, on campus and people are generally more tuned to multicultural awareness. We obviously won’t be a USC, but if you’re willing to be a little broadminded about size and demographics, you’d find Reed diverse itself.</p>

<p>Also for Humanities and Social Sciences, and in general, any kind of academic preparation that does not involve film or business, Reed > USC.</p>