<p>I am in a bit of a problem. You see, Boston University has been my dream college since junior year of high school. (i'm now a incoming sophomore in college). I was denied to BU my senior year, got all depressed and sad about it. It was truly my dream college place. So i tried transferring my freshmen year at another university, got admitted to BU. I am so happy now. But I also applied to USC. My parents are pushing for USC because its a "better" school in terms of ranking, money, certain academics. I understand where they are coming from, hell USC is not a bad school, but BU has always been my dream school. I'm also studying political science, I have no idea about the situation on which poly sci program is better. Last I heard, USC's wasn't that great and Bu's is not bad. But i'm stuck in this. anyone have any suggestions? Would you do if you were me? Which do you think is better?</p>
<p>Go where you will be happier. They are both good schools, and each is known very well in their region... So also think about where you want to end up working, because there is nothing like using a colleges career services. My cousin went to a good school that was not too well known here in cali, and had a hard time finding a job, but had he decided to stay where he went to school, Im sure it would have been a breeze... That being said, however; both schools you have to choose from are known well enough that you probably wont have a problem.</p>
<p>Of course everyone loves Boston as a college town. I would consider the campus (BU is pretty inner city), and the weather if you are not from the Northeast. My kid looked at New England and figured he could never handle the winters after growing up in California. Also consider the money. I am not sure USC is really worth the money although BU is also expensive.</p>
<p>Why is BU your dream school? Did you visit USC? It is hard to respond to your post because it is not clear why you like BU so much. Also, where are you from and does that make a difference in terms of airfare/expense to travel home. Please provide more info. about your perception of these schools and why you think BU is the place you want to go to.</p>
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My kid looked at New England and figured he could never handle the winters after growing up in California.
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Never?!?! Really? :D</p>
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Also consider the money. I am not sure USC is really worth the money although BU is also expensive.
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BU costs almost exactly the same as USC, and almost exactly the same as any third-tier private college. BU does tend to have lower requirements for their merit scholarship money, they offered D a BIG merit award, while USC's was quite a bit more modest.</p>
<p>I agree with mdcissp, if you answer for yourself WHY you want to go to BU, you should have little problem answering the question "Why not" USC. If your parents are paying the bills you owe it to them to take their wishes into consideration, though I would question the wisdom of parents pushing a decision too hard on their kid when the kid has formulated a good reason for an alternative decision.</p>
<p>I would attend whatever college was closest to where I wanted to work after college. If you want to be in SO CAL, attend USC; if you intend to live back East, choose BU. Both are good schools, both cost about the same, and both will be just fine in your political science major. I know a family who has children at both and everyone is happy.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for their honest answers. To answer mdcissp's question on why exactly BU is my dream school. Well there's a bunch of factors all together. I love the campus, just love its location, its accesbility to Boston, and also its community feeling with so many students from other universities. Its academics in the social sciences are not bad and my focus (political science) is part of that. If I were ever to NOT do political science, I would pick another major in this area. Basically, I love its location, its academics fits me and it was my dream college that I never got accepted to in high school and now I finally got a chance to go. Also, I'm from California so I understand the distance but the airfare isn't that big of a problem for me and my family. Its more like what is worth for me to go. My dad wants me to go to USC basically because US news ranked it 27 and BU was ranked 54. I have to admit that USC is probably a better school as a whole. It would be a privilege for me to attend there. He basically says by going to USC I would probably get better job opportunities than if I went to BU and also I get that usc "brand" on me for life. Stuff like that. But I told him he can't just look at one source for school ranking, because there are tons of other sources out there. So now I don't know if I want to go to USC less because my dad is just really ****ing me off by pushing me to go there just because of a ranking he saw on US news report or if I really don't wanna go there and want to go to Boston. Really, when it comes down to it, I'm making this more complicated than it should be. I probably need to grow some balls and make up my own mind without regretting it.</p>
<p>I am extremely familiar with both, and I would go to USC. IMO it is (overall) a better school as a whole, but you won't go wrong with either.</p>
<p>A lot also depends upon what you want to do with a degree in Political Science.
If you really want to work in government, I wonder why you did not consider Georgetown or George Washington U. in Washington D.C. where there are a lot of internships and opportunities to work in U.S. government, particularly being in an election year. GW is easier to get into than Georgetown. If you want to work in California government, then go to USC. I don't know what the opportunities are in political science in Boston, except to go to Law school. Will your parents pay for you to go BU? I suggest you review your graduation options at both schools with a Political Science degree and review the potential results after paying a lot of money tuition. Your father is right about the USC alumni network-it is fantastic. My husband got his first job via a USC alumni during a time when Engineering jobs were harder to find. My son can't wait to go to USC. We took him to Boston early in the college search and did not apply to any Boston colleges. The environment in Boston is very different than in S. California. Also, does it make a difference one way or the other coming home in terms of proximity? Have you considered a compromise with your parents going to USC during the year and summer school at BU (Boston is great for summer programs).</p>
<p>I looked closely at BU and USC when makng my decision.....but chose USC. I loved Boston BUT I really didn't want to live back East. California friends that have graduated from BU really enjoyed it, but now they are all living back East. BU (at least engineerng) is challenging....the professors from MIT (next door to BU) teach many of the engineering classes.....so there may be this kind of school cross over in other majors (but I don't know - you may want to check into this). I also like the fact that USC has a central campus versus BU which was spread out through a section of Boston. </p>
<p>Talking to my CA friends at BU, comparing my experiences at USC, I know that USC was the best choice for me. I think I'd rather visit the East than live there. If you are going into government studies, you might look at USC's internships in Wash DC.....I believe they have a very good program.</p>
<p>Jane A made a great suggestion for you to look at USC's internships in Washing ton DC. Why not consider going to USC and then going to Boston in the summer to study? Boston is a lot better in the summer than in the freezing cold winter.</p>