<p>I know you may all be really bored of these typical which-school-do-I-choose threads… but I really need some insight. I went to Brown last week for ADOCH (their admit program) and absolutely fell in love with the school. The New Curriculum, the campus, the people, the activities; I truly felt like I would be able to grow in such an environment as well as be pushed to take risks (I’m from California, and I can definitely say Rhode Island is a lot different – weather-wise and in the general atmosphere itself).
However, I also was admitted to USC with a half-tuition merit scholarship. While I didn’t get the same head-over-heels-in-love feeling that I got at Brown, I still had a great time. I always saw myself at a huge school with tons of school spirit, and USC embodies that “college experience” I always expected myself to have. I feel that I may not be challenged enough at USC though because my high school is one of USC’s feeder schools, and I’m worried I might be too comfortable there. I’m planning on double-majoring in cognitive science/cognitive neuroscience and communications/public relations (possibly pre-med… depends whether or not I like communications/PR enough to do it for a career, in which case I will not go to med school). I plan on going to graduate school (med school if I don’t like PR).
I know USC is definitely the more practical route, what with half tuition (Brown gave me nothing) and the fact that they have both majors I plan on pursuing. I don’t think Brown has a communications/PR concentration, but I do know it has BEO (business, entrepreneurship, organization); I don’t, however, know how relevant that would be for PR and whether or not it would help me get into a good grad school if I so choose to go down that path for PR. I just don’t know if I can give up the feeling I got at Brown. When I was there, I felt ready to SIR, but now that I’ve had time to think everything through, I’m not so sure. Do I go with my head, or do I go with my heart?</p>
<p>BTW, parents have enough money to pay for undergrad, it’s just that then there will be less money for graduate school. I’m fine with taking out loans and paying for it myself, but I’m still worried. Any feedback is much appreciated!</p>
<p>Son received full ride from USC, and did not apply for need based scholarship from Brown last year. It was a gut wrenching decision. At the end, he attended Brown. He is very happy where he is at.</p>
<p>First, these are two excellent choices and chances are you will be happy no matter which school you go to. There is no wrong answer here.</p>
<p>Your academic interests really seem all over the place. Neuroscience/pre med vs. public relations/communications – two really different areas. </p>
<p>Neuroscience/cognitive science is excellent at Brown and if you go this route you’ll most likely have a great academic experience. I can’t comment on USC. </p>
<p>If you decide not to go this route, then Brown doesn’t offer a specific communications/PR track, and the concentration you mentioned would not be the way to go. Most Brown students who go into that field major in a broad range of subjects – anything from anthropology to history to poli sci to English – and get writing and PR experience through extracurricular activities and internships. I wouldn’t even think about grad school now under that scenario – I doubt you could predict now what you’d want to study in the future, especially since you most likely would not go to grad school right after Brown, but after working for a few years. </p>
<p>Your decision is going to have to be a very personal one. You and your parents have to decide about the financial ramifications of paying about $240,000 for college vs. the lesser cost for USC. Although, I do recommend looking very carefully at the USC offer. Is it contingent on maintaining a certain GPA? What is that GPA? Many students lose their merit awards – you have to build in the possibility that you could, too. USC will cost about $92,000 less, which I assume would cover about a year at med school. In general, if you were 100% positive that med school was in your future, then USC is probably the better option.</p>
<p>Is the Brown and the Northeast college experience worth $92,000? Only you and your parents can answer that question. Ask 1000 people on CC and you’ll get about 1000 different answers. </p>
<p>I don’t know if you got to talk to anyone at Brown while you were there re WBRU. Great EC opportunity for communications and PR hands on experience at Brown. But yes, Brown does not have specific academic programs re this. Plenty of grads working in those fields though.</p>