It’s been a long and stressful week (month (year)), but I’m lucky enough to have some nice options. Please help me decide between them. (Also posting in the colleges’ forums.)
PS: I’m a prospective econ major who wants to go to grad school.
Wellesley
Pros:
Wonderful econ program
Connections with professors
More opportunities for undergrads
Better “fit”
I love the location
Best known in academia
Cons:
Will cost nearly twice as much as the others will
University of Southern California
Pros:
Half tuition!
New Honors College residence in the USC Village
Cons:
Location - I dislike LA
Not a great econ program (from what I’ve heard)
Rah-rah sports and partying
Smith
Pros:
STRIDE Scholar (nearly half tuition + paid research position)
Again, connections with professors and opportunities for undergrads
Cons:
Not as well-known as USC and Wellesley
Hi there, I have experience with both schools through my daughters. D1 attended Wellesley for 2 years before transferring to Georgetown and D2 is a current junior at USC. We live in MA, These schools are so different that it may come down to fit and feel. Have you visited both of them? Wellesley certainly does have an excellent Econ program - D1 who was a Econ major but did transfer out would still maintain that the econ program itself at Wellesley was stronger than at G-Town. Both schools have a culture to them you will have to “buy in to”. Wellesley is intense, “I am woman hear me roar”! USC is west coast cool, sports/frat/sorority life is a big deal and it is LA. Both are great schools.
@Davidbf Thanks for your input. I much prefer the intellectual Wellesley environment, but am unsure if that’s worth $100k. My main concern is whether USC will offer me fewer opportunities for research and internships than Wellesley, and whether choosing it will hurt my chances for grad school at somewhere like UChicago.
Wellesley alumni connections are very very strong, and its econ department is really strong. I would go back to Wellesley and tell them about the financial aid you have received at the other schools and see if they can come a little closer in price. Its a worthwhile investment. If not, go to Smith. You will get better recommendations for graduate school going to a smaller college where the professors will get to know you.
One thought I might add…the USC influence and alumni reach is significant on the west coast…more so than Wellesley College would be in the west (this was originally lost on me as an East Coast parent). If you plan to or are open to working on the west coast USC should get strong consideration…if USC is a $100K+ swing…even more so.