Congrats to your son on his tremendous accomplishments. Some have referenced the USC scholarship as a golden ticket, but those other admission offers must feel like golden tickets too. Walking away from the Ivy offers of admission is going to be understandably hard. We are in a somewhat similar situation where the first choice school was very clear when costs were equal, but a last minute full academic scholarship at #2 makes the choice more difficult. In our case, the cost differential is much smaller (maybe about 60-70k) but once you “see” that cost savings it is very hard to “unsee” it. Best of luck with the decision.
@mdphd92 - Yes, I was referring to SLE and yes, it’s been around forever (the parents of one of the students is SLE this year met at SLE during their freshman year over a quarter of a century ago).
As for the techie/fuzzy divide, my D is far less apologetic about her choice of study than the author of that article. She has no “shame… about being a fuzzy” nor “insecurity about pursuing an uncommon path…” She embraces her choices wholeheartedly and is passionate about what she is studying.
It is indeed the case that STEM fields reign supreme at many colleges and universities these days. Humanities and the arts often get short shrift in a society where “return on investment” and job placement seem to be among the most important factors in choosing an institute of higher learning. (Most of the posts on this thread concern themselves with this very issue). It is also the case that those who choose to study the humanities at Stanford can have all of the faculty support and resources they need.
I see Stanford as ahead of the curve on this – while other schools are scrambling to shore up their STEM programs, Stanford has been investing some real money into its arts and humanities programs over the course of the last decade.
Oh, as to the question “What came first, the fuzzy or the techie?” My answer is “Neither.” Back in Leonardo’s day, science and art were not seen in such mutually exclusive terms; he is celebrated as much for his scientific genius as he was for his artistic genius.
And, @USCWolverine – just because USC was not a good fit for my D, who happened to be seeking an intellectual vibe, does not mean that there aren’t a great number of highly intellectual students and faculty there and that it isn’t a fabulous school. It just wasn’t the “golden ticket” for my daughter.
IMO, for fuzzies—humanities majors–the brand name of the college really matters; a HYPS degree would probably go a long way to boost one’s career prospect. For techies, not so much, among new hires at FANG, SJSU beats MIT and U of Phoenix beats Harvard. Economics/business (OP son’s intended study), at undergrad level, is probably more fuzzy than techie.
This question of Stanford/Harvard(full pay) vs USC(or similar schools) full tuition merit is asked multiple times every year on CC. Though the opinion seems to be 10 to 1 in favor of merit I have yet to see a taker of that option.
My son tagged along with us for my daughter’s college tour when he was in 7th grade and fell in love with Stanford, mostly because of our student guide who appeared to be very happy and passionate about the school and his major. I had this conversation back then with him about USC scholarship vs Stanford. I am an SC alum that’s why :). Told him if he got scholarship from SC he should go there (he is a science/math kid who loves to dance). So that’s our value. Each family have their own values.
Well things do not go as planned. He decided he wanted to pursue dance (together with bio) so now USC dance program became his #1 choice. Like film school, it’s extremely hard to get in. He is wait listed at USC dance and we are looking to put down deposit at Stanford (bio). He is not a super “intellectual” kid as his friends who got full tuition scholarship at USC or Regents Scholarships from UC’s, but he is one of the kindest and most passionate and hardworking kids I know. We are very grateful Stanford saw that and accepted him. Majors/interests are probably more important in considerations and as of now, he would go to USC regardless of scholarship.
Seriously folks. These grand generalizations are meaningless. Like any broad generalizations they may be grounded in the past experiences or continuation of a myth.
Here’s a real world 2018 example.
I
my d is valedictorian of her top 30 us public high school. Number 1 in Florida. 1540 sat 4.0 uw gpa. 35 act 13 aps with 11 5s and 1 4. President of Spanish honor society and captain of academic decathlon team as only female. And was ap physics ap bio and ap chem student of the year. Going to USC for bio chem premed. She doesn’t sit around with her friends smoking weed and discussing the Freud Jungian schism. But she’s pretty intellectual.
It just doesn’t matter. Go to Stanford kick butt and pay back the loans. Go to usc kick butt and not have to pay the loans. The same exact opportunity for success is available in either path.
Go where you feel best about yourself and an environment that promotes your best work. It could be either but it’s unique to each student.
If your student attends USC on a full tuition scholarship they won’t be the only one there who gave up an Ivy. It’s not uncommon. Save your money for the Wharton or Harvard MBA.
No guarantee is getting into Wharton or Harvard grad school.
@CU123 Every time I hear someone say save the $$ for ivy graduate school I wonder about what you have posted. Shouldn’t it just be save the $$ for grad school.
When I have used that phrase I only mean to illustrate the opportunity before them. And the call of the ivy is not a closed door either.
I could say for any any grad school. A house or future child’s first semester at the school you are reluctant to accept a full scholarship from today.
@SCMHAALUM "Majors/interests are probably more important in considerations and as of now, he would go to USC regardless of scholarship. "
did you DS let the USC admissions office KNOW that? And that he DID get into Stanford but wants to go to USC?
It may be enough to tip the balance in his favor.
If I were you I would contact them.
here is the # for the Dean of Admission- Brunold, Timothy. 310 740-6753.
[tell him Menloparkmom from CC suggested you call] My DS was a Trustee Scholar 12 years ago.
I’ll bet they would love to snatch a top kid out of Stanfords grasp.
Its worth a call…
USC admissions will respond to a phone call… and tell them you’re ready to pull the trigger that day otherwise they got a bunch of folks calling with similar requests and they won’t take you seriously.
for those that say go to MBA for grad school…
no guarantee of that… admit rate for Stanford MBA is almost as low as undergrad 4.3%
Stanford GSB 6% admit rate
Harvard 11%,
Wharton 19%.
@menloparkmom Yes he did let Dance school know. But it’s talent based at dance admissions…I will pass the info to my son. Thank you!
@CU123 and @Vamom23, when I made the statement above it was more from a financial perspective, which is personal because I believe that graduating from college at 22 years old with debt will limit your options for the short and long-term. To me, no debt = more options in all aspects of a young life. Again, it’s personal and I’m not trying to start a debate. I know many argue that debt incurred to attend a top university is worth it. For me it’s not.
The references to Wharton and Harvard were simply because the student seems very accomplished and those are the types of school they might be likely to apply to. Really, not a lot of thought went into it. Best wishes to the OP! You have some great choices.
My understanding is that USC specifically targets students who were accepted into Ivies, Stanford, MIT, etc., with merit aid as a way to lure them to USC. So I would definitely let USC know if Stanford had accepted one of your children.
"My understanding is that USC specifically targets students who were accepted into Ivies, Stanford, MIT, etc., with merit aid as a way to lure them to USC. "
^that’s not correct. USC doesnt know who is going to get into HYPS when they are making the decisions regarding merit $$ ,which happens in mid March.
They DO award merit $$ to some students who do have the stats to get into HYPS , such as the 1/2 tuition National Merit awards . But no merit awards are based on where else the student applied. In fact, for the big awards that require interviews, which are by invitation only, any indication that a student is not GENUINELY interested and enthusiastic about going to USC means they probably will recieve little if any merit $$.
Congratulations to you and your daughter.
My senior sounds alot like her. Also an only child. We are letting him choose the best fit and are trying not to put the $$ into the equation.
Agree. My senior is not a genius but is a hard worker!!!
Only child. We do not quality for money based on the FEC calculator and both Harvard and Stanford offer no merit tuition. We have planned for college cost so yes can pay for it but the practical side is asking is it worth giving up full tution (not room/board) at USC or a nice merit scholarship at University of Chicago. We want his choice to be based on a best fit (if that’s possible).
The decision date is May 1, he is still undecided.
Thank you. I agree with you. And although we are hoping he decides based on “best fit” the cost is hard to separate.
Yes! That is why this is so hard, we keeping asking-- given the chance(if its the dream college) so why not take it, you may not get it again!!!
Every school on your list is a dream college. In this microscopic world of high achievers on CC and in our own heads this becomes a loud and confusing conversation. Obviously Harvard Princeton Yale and Stanford are considered undergraduate royalty. USC is a Senator and UIUC is a congresswoman. In the world they live in it matters. To the other 8b people it is indistinguishable. Go to the place that works best for you all. And stop agonizing. The ultimate success will depend on the hard work and decisions made by your student over time. Much less than school choice.
For me I would go Harvard because I love the house system and the professors I could interact with, if money wouldn’t cripple the lives of everyone else in the family. If that where the case I would say USC. But disclaimer my student is going to USC from the northeast and has many other fabulous ie options gtown bowdoin and uf honors college. The last one is just not happening for a host of reasons so money is a uniquely personal family decision.