Decisions, Decisions (Early Entrace to USC or Wait?)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Basically, here's the story.
For a variety of personal as well as academic reasons, Yale has always been my dream school. I started slacking off academically (slightly) in my sophomore year of high school, and because of this my GPA has dropped to a point of Yale-unworthiness.</p>

<p>For a very, very quick snapshot---Currently my rank is 29 out of 740 (does not look as abysmal as I make it seem, but keep in mind that my school is public and not a feeder to the Ivy's). My SAT is a 2280. (750 CR / 800 MA / 720 WR)</p>

<p>So this year, as a junior, I applied to the prestigious Resident Honors Program at the University of Southern California. You can read about it here: Resident</a> Honors Program
If you're too lazy, then I'll give you a quick breakdown.
It's an early entrance program to USC that accepts around 30-50 people from a pool of 500 each year. Every RHP student is eligible to participate in Thematic Option (one of USC's honors programs, which is writing and reading-intensive, and consist of about 200 students) and also receives a guaranteed quarter-tuition scholarship.
It seems like a good program for me. I got in as a Business Administration major at their Marshall School of Business. I eventually plan to go to law school.</p>

<p>The thing is, I haven't quite given up my dream of going to Yale, so I was looking into Yale Law School, and it seems like going to USC doesn't bode well for eventually going to YLS. I know, I know. If I get a high enough GPA, LSAT, and experience...it doesn't matter where I go. But that's all hypothetical right now. We have to look at the statistics.</p>

<p>So now that I've gotten into RHP, I can decide whether or not to go. Basically there are two choices,
1. Go. Work hard, apply to YLS, hope for the best.
2. Don't go.
If I don't go, one of two things can happen.
1. Get in Yale. (This is highly unlikely. Don't give me false hope.)
As for 2...The thing is, if I don't go to USC next year and stay for my senior year, there is a very good chance that I may be able to get into some of my other top choices, like Chicago, Penn, Duke. I'm not saying I will, but I'm saying it's possible. I guess the top concern of people accepted to RHP must be, "If I was selected for RHP, I could go somewhere 'better' (it's subjective) than USC!" You see, while my primary reason for wanting to go to USC next year at all is due to the RHP, RHP IS ONLY FOR THE FIRST YEAR. After that I would be considered RHP alumnus, I suppose, but a normal USC student. Also, even though Marshall's undergraduate business program is pretty highly rated in the country, SO IS THE BUSINESS PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS (my state school, with in-state tuition). I really, really do not want to go to UT though. Maybe because familiarity is breeding contempt. But is the prestige and glory of RHP (right NOW people are envious) worth it?</p>

<p>People have also said, "You can go to RHP for the first year and then TRANSFER!"
But transfer rates are low. Also, financial aid is limited for transfer students. Not to mention, who knows if my USC credits will transfer.</p>

<p>Any advice is appreciated. :&lt;/p>

2

<p>I think if Yale is your dream then you may as well apply. You're right, it is unlikely you'll get in. But given the massive number of applicants, it's unlikely that anyone will get in. And judging by your stats you have as good a chance as any.</p>

<p>Do you WANT to go to USC? If you don't, then I don't think it matters that you've been accepted through this program. If you do, then great, you can keep it as a wonderful backup for now. If it turns out that you don't get in to Yale, Duke etc then you still have somewhere to go.</p>

<p>One thing I don't quite understand is this "The thing is, if I don't go to USC next year and stay for my senior year" - does that mean this thing at USC takes place instead of your senior year of high school?</p>

3

<p>Here's something that puzzles me about questions like this. How can it be that Yale is your "dream school", yet when you applied to USC you applied as a Business Administration major? Yale doesn't offer anything like a Business Administration major; that's completely anathema to the whole philosophy of education at Yale. When I read posts like this, I think either this person has no idea whatsoever what Yale is about (or Harvard, or Chicago, or whatever), or this person is utterly confused and directionless about what she really wants, and is either being pushed around by others or doing what she thinks sounds good without any real thought. You just don't look good or thoughtful asking these questions. Is Yale your dream school because of the architecture? Go to USC.</p>

<p>It seems like you would have a decent chance of getting into Yale or one of the other colleges you mentioned, but in the case of Yale a "decent chance" could mean one in nine or ten, not a good reason to give up a bird in the hand. But you don't really have a whole lot of risk in waiting another year. My guess is that you would wind up being accepted at a variety of colleges you ought to like, including USC, and the absolute worst case is you wind up at Texas, which isn't anything like a horrible fate. The only real downside of spending another year in high school is that you will have to spend another year in high school. If you don't want to do that, you have a great opportunity at USC. If you don't mind doing that, what are you rushing to go to USC for? (Especially given that I think you haven't thought through what you want.)</p>

<p>But . . . counting on getting into Yale would be stupid. And counting on getting into Yale Law School is stupider still, since its acceptance rate is no higher than Yale undergraduate. It has a class of under 200, and is generally considered the most prestigious law school. It has a history of favoring applicants who already have advanced degrees in another field. It is very, very difficult to get into. And your non-academic major won't be a plus there.</p>

<p>I think Yale is the greatest place in the world, but USC and Yale resemble each other a lot more than not. USC is a fine university with lots of opportunities. If you really want to study Business Administration, USC has a lot more opportunities to offer than Yale. And so does Texas, for that matter. USC offers a lot in other fields, too, if you find you don't really want to study Business. (I'm presuming it's relatively easy to switch.) It looks like you were accepted into a nice program. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going to USC.</p>

4

<p>Things to consider: </p>

<p>Do you want to be 21 when you graduate? Is prestige that important? Are you dead-set on law school? Are you realistically going to get into Yale? Are you sure you want to sacrifice the football games? Would it really be the end of the world if you went to USC instead?</p>

<p>I'm not really sure what to tell you. I ended up not even applying to the college I had planned on applying Early Decision to during my entire junior year. </p>

<p>And, frankly, considering the state of the economy, prolonging your entrance into the job market isn't really a bad thing.</p>

5

<p>Well - you see, I actually faced this same problem this year (as a junior graduating early from high school). Attending Yale's Law School has always been a little dream of mine. Furthermore, after sitting in on a Yale undergraduate seminar on Human Rights in America, I became further entranced with Yale as an intellectual institution. Here's the deal though with you. Do you really want to waste another year in high school (being bored, annoyed, unchallenged), when you could start taking those fascinating courses (regardless of the subject matter). By the way, USC does offer extensive pre-law counseling, and the Trojan alumni connections are borderline brain-shocking. I ended up, by the way, applying to Yale as an undergraduate applicant, so we shall soon see how Yale regards early graduates from high school. (Please do not get the impression that I believe Yale will judge me solely on my early graduate status, but I know it will be a factor). Lastly, 76 undergraduate institutions sent students YLS's class of 2011 (USC, being one of them). I strongly believe it is the student (what internships, jobs, clubs, foreign languages, course rigor, etc.) that determines the application. In other words, if you go to USC for four years and then apply to Yale, you (technically) should not be judged differently from a Duke applicant. For example, let's say you get a summer internship with the White House and your Duke counterpart spends his/her summer being a lifeguard. Let's face it if you are going into law, you are probably going to be in school for a while, so why not start now?</p>

6

<p>Yeah, I think you should explore and wait for your true passion to come out
But then, if you really think that law school is great for you, go for it
Law school opens you up and makes you the best of what you can be
(that was nonesense, scratch that)</p>

<p>Hard one, honestly</p>

7

<p>It all depends on your values. what will you regret more, 1. passing up on a teeny tiny chance of going to yale or 2. wasting a year of your life staying in high school</p>

<p>this is what realistically could happen:
you wait. you apply to yale. early. you get deferred/rejected. suddenly yale doesn't seem so special anymore. within a month you forget why you even loved it so much in the first place. <em>insert all things great about yale</em>...but so what? It's no longer a reality.</p>

<p>You're accepted at a great place. take it and run.</p>

8

<p>You guys all have good points. I realize that life isn't a movie, so "follow your dream!" could end up completely in disaster. Most likely (and this is for any Yale applicant!) I will be deferred/rejected, and then this chance would be wasted. Yesterday my parents and I sat down, and I made a list of the pros and cons of going to USC, versus waiting. I came up with 6 pros and 5 cons. Very tough decision.</p>

<p>Pros:
1. Saves me time, so that I do not have to apply to a dozen different colleges next year.
2. It's a good school.
3. Has a good undergraduate program in business.
4. Located in Los Angeles (City is always a plus.)
5. Strong alumni association; always opportunities for those who look
6. Accepted to the Resident Honors Program, and by extension TO (Thematic Option)</p>

<p>Cons:
1. Not one of my top three choice
2. Expensive compared to UT, which has a comparable business program (or perhaps slightly better)
3. I'm thinking about developing in the East. USC may or may not confine my horizons westwards (this is subjective).
4. YLS still disproportionately selects undergraduates from the Ivy's. And USC also has its brilliant students. Going to USC does not guarantee me a place at the top of the class.
5. If I do not go, I will most likely have more choices next year.</p>

<p>Yet, you're right, I do not want to spend another year in high school. It's not that I hate high school---I love it. But I hate the mandatory, useless courses we have to take. I hate the blatant GPA whoring and the rampant cheating, just for a point more, a point more...If you don't play the game, you won't be in the Top Ten.---</p>

<p>I have a lot more to say, but my mother is like, "Hurry, we're waiting for you!" So I'll address each of your individual comments when I come back. Thanks for working this out with me, I'll be back.</p>

9

<p>From your profile it seems as though you could get into USC through regular admissions next year so why rush. You should just wait and apply next year.</p>

10

<p>Just a small question @ rosinyangster, how are you so confident that the Ivy schools send more people to YLS than other schools? Where are you getting your information? Are you basing this on a case-by-case (survey method)? Or have you actually called YLS (this indeed is rather doubtful)? Where are you getting your numbers? Sorry to sound so annoying with this train of thought, but you seem to be incredibly confident with your stats...</p>

11

<p>The reason I want to go to Yale is quite personal, and perhaps childish. It's like something out of an inspirational movie. The story starts like this: Once-upon-a-time, when I was young and impressionable, I met a sociology professor from Yale...
I did my own research once I got into high school, of course, and I like the liberal artsy atmosphere. I know, I know...Why would a liberal artsy girl choose something like "Business Administration" as her major? I actually addressed this question on my application to USC this year, because I know it sounds kind of fishy. If you want to know the full story, PM me.</p>

<p>I mentioned Penn and Chicago as my other top choices. Those are actually more rooted in practicality, Penn for Wharton and Chicago for its economics department.</p>

<p>But anyways, back to the present. I think you all have convinced me to go to USC next year. Ideally, I should have applied to multiple schools this year, and that way right now I would have a choice. But the thing is, I never planned to graduate early. The RHP brochure came out of nowhere. Before I had never heard of the program, but with some research I thought it could potentially be a great opportunity for me. I'm a notorious killer of opportunities, so I think I will let this one live.</p>

<p>A little clarification---</p>

<p>I think of myself as a Jay Gatsby-esque romantic, and that's why I might be prone to disillusionment. Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1999, my family had been a constant target for confidential schemes. Back when I was younger, I could only watch. But now I have English on my side, along with a modest degree of intelligence and a smidgeon of wits. I want to study law to defend the defenseless. I want to cleanse big business. In order to do that (and since there is no "law" undergraduate degree, nor do you specialize until after graduation from law school), I think it would be ideal to study business first, before studying the laws and contracts which govern it. But, like I said, I'm young. This might not be the way the real world works at all.</p>

<p>blueskyjadeglobe, sorry I made it sound like my statistics are absolute. I was digging around, and it seemed like someone already asked the same questions I did regarding YLS admissions on College Confidential. Someone else came up with the data. For all I know, it could be unreliable.</p>