Michigan Honors vs. USC (Trustee + Bacc/MD) vs. Others! PLEASE HELP!!!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
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<p>Hi Everyone,</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for reading my long-winded story, but I felt it was necessary to give you the scope of what I'm dealing with. I have received all of my decisions already and I am deciding where I should spend the next few years of my life. I am very confused because I never even thought I was going to apply to USC, but here they are, offering me some wonderful things.</p>

<p>I was accepted into some great schools and need to decide what to do. I have narrowed it down to Wash U, Berkeley, Emory, Michigan (w/ Honors), and USC. I am planning on studying Neuroscience as a pre-med and pursuing Neurosurgery in the future. However, this is not the path I planned on taking (undergraduate-wise). I applied early to Stanford and was rejected, and was killed by the 3 ivies I applied to in the RD round (except for a waitlist at Dartmouth). </p>

<p>I know that Wash U, Berkeley, Emory, Michigan, and USC are all great schools, for which I am very happy for my admission, but I am confused as to where I should attend. I know Wash U's reputation for Biology/Neuroscience is superb, but I have heard that it is very competitive and cutthroat. As for Emory, I have heard that NBB (Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology) is a great program if one wants to pursue Neuroscience as a career.</p>

<p>However, the biggest dilemma of all has been USC. I initially applied to USC as a safety school, but they have captured my interest as they throw money and opportunities in my face that I seemingly can't refuse. I was accepted as a Trustee scholar (full scholarship for undergrad) and was recently accepted into the Bacc/MD program (1 of 30 students who gets guaranteed admission into medical school assuming GPA is above 3.0 and MCAT is 30+). Also today, I got an email from a doctor I worked with at an internship who now works at USC that wants me to help pilot a research program for all 8 years. I feel like all the stuff that USC is giving me is unbelievable and that I am being given an offer I can't refuse. I had a preconceived idea that I was going to go away for college (whether it be northern California or the east coast), but it looks like my best offer is still in SoCal, even though USC is not the most highly ranked/prestigious school on my admitted list. Can any of you guys give me some guidance as to what I should do?!?! I am confused and need some advice. Thank you!!!</p>

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<p>Honestly, my hatred for USC runs almost as deep as that which I hold for Ohio State and MSU, but this is an amazing opportunity. USC, as much as I hate to admit it, is an up and coming university. I know absolutely nothing about USC’s premed track or neurobiology program, but a full scholarship sounds amazing. Couple that with USCs athletics (which is despise :wink: ) and the social life (attractive students even though I think a lot of them are ******s) and LA is pretty cool, but I can definitely understand wanting to get out of soCal, I wanted the same thing.</p>

<p>If money isn’t an issue, then that makes this decision that much harder, but understand that Berkeley and Emory and Wash U., at least in my experience, cater to a different type of student than the ones at Michigan and SC. good luck though, you’ve got an excellent list of schools to choose from, if only things like this weren’t so hard</p>

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<p>USC 10char</p>

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<p>Wow - I also don’t see how you could pass up all the USC is offering you. A full ride and likely admission to Med school seems like it should seal the deal. USC is a very strong school and unless any of the other schools can come close, I think you know the answer. Sure - you may have dreamed of going away to school but jeez, unless your family is very, very well off, I just don’t see going another direction. Congrats!</p>

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<p>thanks guys! Thealbatross, thank you for responding with such an insightful comment. I have felt the same way about USC as you do for my entire life, so I get where you’re coming from. Thankfully, money is not an issue, which makes it even more of a decision. I’m just looking for opinions from all of the above mentioned schools. :)</p>

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<p>You cannot turn down that deal by USC for ANY school, including the Ivies!</p>

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<p>So it appears haha…</p>

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<p>I assume you aren’t locked in to med school at USC? If so, you can always get your undergrad degree at USC and apply to med school at U of M if you still want, or stay at USC if you are happy.</p>

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<p>That’s correct, I am not locked into Keck. Thanks for the advice!</p>