<p>Okay, I know I made a thread about this earlier, but I'm here again to try to be a bit more specific about my situation so I can get better recommendations. </p>
<p>I was accepted to several schools, but am only considering USC and Howard at this point: USC because it is my dream school, and Howard because I have been awarded a full ride. This would be a no-brainer if not for two things: 1)I have been promised a car after 1st semester if I take the full ride, taking the burden of that debt off my hands, 2)My parents just divorced, so money is tight, and 3)I'm on the other side of the country(in Maryland). I'm going to try to list some of the things that I see in the schools that you won't find on a college comparison website:</p>
<p>USC Pros:
Better all-around school
Better job placement
Better resources
Diverse
FAR away
Dream school
Flexible courseload</p>
<p>USC Cons:
FAR away
No car
LARGE amount of debt upon graduation
HIGH price for transportation
Major, for first year atleast, is not my intended</p>
<p>Howard Pros:
No debt
Free Car
Close to home and friends
Get to take intended major right off the bat</p>
<p>Howard Cons:
(Probably) lower quality of education
TOO close to home
Must maintain a 3.5 average</p>
<p>With USC, I'll come out with about $10,000 of debt a year, which is $40,000 total, plus the price of the car, plus whatever extra I would have earned investing my part-time job wages. Altogether, it's looking just upwards of 50 grand. And that's not considering if I decide to stay an extra year. Is it worth it guys? I have about 8 hours to send my deposit to either school, so... Help, plz?</p>
<p>doesn't usc have a program where you can go to howard for a semester? maybe im confusing that with ucla or cal...you should check into it....</p>
<p>I say it's still worth it to attend USC. </p>
<p>The fact that your parents are willing to shell out money for you to get a new car, is pretty ridiculous. A car looses value with time, by the time you graduate college, your car won't be so brand new, and you have your whole entire life to get a new car. If anything, I can only imagine that being at USC without a car will force you to get better grades, just because your not easily distracted by the city. You will make friend at USC who have cars, so that's not even an issue, I extremely doubt you'd go out into LA by yourself.</p>
<p>Besides 10k per year for your dream school is not that much, compared to some students who have to pay the full sticker. In addition, you act like you wouldn't get to visit your family during the winter breaks. It's time to grow up, if all you end up paying for usc for all of your four years is 50K that's not alot compared to the immense opportunities that would be available for your major(gaming if i remember).</p>
<p>Update: I've FINALLY decide to just go with Howard for my first two semesters. Get the car, save up for a year, and then transfer to USC. I hate the idea of waiting, but I waited and saved up for a year and a half for my trip to Japan the summer after 10th grade; I can do it again for my dream school.</p>
<p>lets hope usc accepts you. especially for your major. you should look at the requirements of transfering in to your major.
in general you'll need at least a 3.6 from howard, which should me your goal anyway to keep that scholarship</p>