MIT Vs. USC

<p>Hello everyone,
I was admitted to MIT and now I have a dilemma. I interviewed for Presidential. After Explore USC I was completely sure I wanted to be a Trojan next year. But now that im in MIT, I'm thinking twice. My major is Engineering, Im from a low-income family in southern California, so if anyone is familiar with the fin aid, please comment on that. Could you guys give me your opinion? Thanks and congrats to those of u who got in and best of luck to you guys still waiting to hear.</p>

<p>Go to MIT. If you have real financial need(by real I mean in the EFC) MIT will give it to you. It has name recognition and reputation that is one of the best in the nation, bar none. The kids that go to MIT could have gone almost anywhere, including HYPS. </p>

<p>It's just my $.02. Take it or leave it.</p>

<p>I feel like it all really depends on what YOU want. Both MIT and USC have great names, academics, and all that. You'll definitely be fighting for your grades at MIT, considering it is one of the top universities in the nation, so you'll be amongst many of the top students in the nation and from around the world. </p>

<p>About the money factor, if you go away to MA, you probably won't be able to fly back home as often (since airfair is pricey). I'd say that MIT and USC have relatively similar tuition prices, so its really up to you.. seeing that you earned a scholarship from USC, I'd go with USC. </p>

<p>But congrats on getting into both! Those are both my top choices, but I didn't even end up applying to MIT cause I didn't think I'd have a chance.</p>

<p>well about the flying home part, i know that a lot of privates are including travel expenses in the aid given out to students that have financial need</p>

<p>MIT clearly has a better reputation in engineering. However, if you want to stay in So. Cal it may not matter that much because you might make more connections at USC.</p>

<p>OMG! wowowow! If you have been accepted to MIT, then I cannot believe that you are asking this question. The people who get into MIT usually do not make choices, they just go to MIT. I know this from a lot of experience. I suggest you go to MIT work hard and graduate from there. It wud probably b the best moment of your life. lolol. but what do i know? Congratulations!</p>

<p>I would vote for MIT if money comes out even for both. But it does cost money to flight back and forth.</p>

<p>I would go for MIT. Engineering is MIT's field right there. xD I couldn't think of a better school for it.</p>

<p>my ap calc teacher almost made into MIT..but he wrote his essay on why the college admissions process is a bunch of bullcrap. they told him that was the reason too i think..i believe he had a 1600 SAT when it was out of 1600, all 5's and one 4 (Literature) on his AP's..and idk about SAT II's...pretty off subject, but just thought i'd throw that in there...</p>

<p>i remember complaining to him about how he doesn't know what i am going to (was being completely sarcastic) and he was like uhh no, yes i do. lol...he's an awesome teacher tho</p>

<p>As a true Trojan, I can't believe I'm saying this but GO TO MIT. Find the money somewhere and you won't be sorry.</p>

<p>My son's friend just graduated from MIT, came back to Southern California and got a great job very quickly. He said it was because of his MIT degree.</p>

<p>yea, i would say MIT too. if you think about it, if you need to take out loans, you'll end up getting such a good job when you're out that you'll be able to pay it off before you know it.</p>

<p>It wouldn't necessarily be an easy choice, except your intended major is engineering. MIT's reputation for engineering is just TOO good.</p>

<p>mit go sell ur kidney</p>

<p>MIT has the better academic reputation. But USC is also a great school, and college isn’t just about classes – it’s your life for the next four years. Visit MIT and get a feel for the campus atmosphere. These schools are dramatically different in almost every way.</p>

<p>People who choose USC usually don’t do it solely on the basis of academics; they do it because USC combines a strong academic program with a spirited campus atmosphere in a way that few other schools can.</p>

<p>Hey socalfreak- did you interview for a SCions scholarship this last Saturday? I totally met someone that was choosing between MIT and SC that was from Socal. It would be such a funny coincidence if you were the person I met!</p>

<p>gotrojans!
no I went to 'SC feb 28 and 29. </p>

<p>Thanks to everyone who has replied. ALL of my teachers have told me to got to MIT. My Calc teacher told me that if I rejected MIT I will ask myself everyday for the rest of my life, "What would have happened if I went to MIT?"<br>
Im going to visit the campus in an event similar to Explore USC, CPW, it think. MIT is actually paying for my flight. I have to convince my parents to let me go, yes, convince them to let me go to MIT. My parents don't even know what MIT is, they were like, "MIT, what's that." I didn't get a "Wow, congrats, we're proud", nevermind a hug. I kind of feel like crap. I get more Congrats from CC, that's why I'm here, because you guys understand the meaning of an acceptace to MIT. so thank you.</p>

<p>MIT. Borrow them monies. That is, if you can handle MIT :)</p>

<p>If you can get into MIT, you can probably handle MIT.</p>

<p>Go to MIT,
study well,
never worry about gettin a job or money ever again.</p>

<p>socal - On behalf of all the moms on CC, consider yourself hugged! That's a huge accomplishment, and a great opportunity. Besides being the better school for your major, MIT is in a fantastic area where there's a significant student presence. You can take classes at Harvard, walk across the bridge to Boston, see the leaves change color! The experience of living outside southern Cal would be a very good one, IMO.</p>

<p>ditto above from another mom. If you were my kid, I'd be hugging you so hard you'd be saying, "Alright already Mom!!!"</p>

<p>(My dad, a poor immigrant back in 1945, went to MIT and got his PhD in Engineering. He used to tell stories of all the odd jobs he had to pay for it. He was also told that forever in his life, when he spoke at a meeting, everyone would stop and listen to hear what the doctor from MIT had to say. He said it was true. My mom always joked that's why she married him!)</p>