<p>Things didn't turn out as I would have hoped. I was rejected from Penn (Wharton), Stanford, and Dartmouth. Yet, I was waitlisted at Duke (my number one choice) and Georgetown - McDonough School of Business (I love DC, but not really the school). I've been accepted to Rice and the Marshall School of Business/ Leventhal School of Accounting at USC with half tuition. Money isn't really an issue, although it's nice to have all that money for USC. I want to study business, or economics/international relations. Should I pick Rice or USC? Should I accept a place on the waitlist at Georgetown? If I get into Duke (I will be trying my hardest), then I will gladly go there.</p>
<p>At USC, I feel like I'll have a lot of opportunities by being a scholarship/honors student, but I'm not completely sure if I'd rather go there over Rice or Georgetown. I liked Rice when I visited, but I'm really not sure if it will help me get a job by studying economics instead of business. I guess I'm a nerd at heart, which is my biggest concern about USC over Rice. I want to have lots of fun and take advantage of study abroads, internships, etc., but I also have realized that it is important for me to be challenged and face those challenges in school. I'm not sure if that makes any sense...</p>
<p>Georgetown is in a great location, but I just didn't get a good vibe from the campus. Moreover, I question the quality of their business school compared to USC.</p>
<p>In the end, I hope to be at Duke, but I'll be fine with the choices I have. I know I can't make a bad decision. I just want to have help making sure I'm making an educated one.</p>
<p>Take the money and go to USC... it is a great school, and there will be plenty of top students who take their studies seriously, despite its reputation as a party school... USC has excellent academics.
Plus, I'd rather be in LA than Houston any day. Rice, though, is a PHENOMENAL school with an excellent reputation too...</p>
<p>Rice is amazin, i would take it over USC, USC seems lke a joke to get into from the northeast, they take everyone that can't get into other places</p>
<p>I know you have already visited Rice, but I suggest you go to Owl Weekend in April (its the larger one) and envision yourself there. Attend the admitted students weekend of USC and do the same thing. Then decide. 1/2 tuition at USC is good, but Rice's tuition is significantly lower than USC, so Rice won't be quite as expensive as some of your other choices, if you come off the waitlists.(Duke/
Georgetown) As for majors - most kids switch majors several times. One of the great things about Rice is the chance to really explore different areas. Unlike some schools, you aren't locked into a fixed sequence of classes early.</p>
<p>As a parent whose children have had contact with both campuses, I'd vote for Rice as the place you'd enjoy more. My youngest son applied to almost all the places you did, with similar results. My oldest son studied business at USC and advised my younger ones to stay away due to the perceived shallowness of character and empty-headedness of many he knew. (A generalization, I know, but I trust his judgement. Also, although the business program is highly rated, it was not especially challenging.) Rice, on the other hand, seems to have a knack for choosing candidates of depth who are both interesting and intelligent. And the classes are nice and small.</p>
<p>Thank you for the help (I didn't get email notifications for this thread, so I just refound it now...) Well I'm enrolling at USC. I mean I'm in the Honors Program, I get to take special classes, and I'll hopefully be in the honors business classes in a few years. The money wasn't really an issue, although I can probably have a car at USC sophomore year compared to being on a tight budget elsewhere. </p>
<p>I still have hope for Duke. I think I'd hands down go there. What about Georgetown though? Should I try to get in off the waitlist (as of now not sending anymore stuff)? I love DC, but I think USC might be a better choice between the two.</p>
<p>I hope I made the right decision (or just let me in Duke!).</p>
<p>USC is located in a very shady part of LA just to let you know. Don't venture out alone at night, you'll be fine. I have a ton of friends who go there, they're having a blast. Around here, it's more known for partying than its academics, but the academics is certainly nothing to laugh about. BTW, I hope you make Duke, cause that's where I'm going!</p>
<p>One thing about USC that you might not have considered if you are from outside of CA (which I am assuming you are) is that there is nothing short of a USC alumni cult in LA and Orange County, and this will be EXTREMELY helpful when you are applying for jobs after college. I would assume that there are strong alumni networks for both Duke and G-town, but I am pretty sure that they would not be able to trump the insane network of alumni that is literally everywhere in affluent ares of SoCal. Plus, in my opinion, Southern California is more of an ideal location to start your life in than South Carolina or Maryland. In the area of Orange County that I live in, every other BMW has a USC alumni liscense plate on it and there are definitely employers that will, for the most part, only hire USC grads. It actually gets a little sickening after a while. Also, the valedictorian at my competitive high school is going to USC over Georgetown, if that means anything in terms of the caliber of students there.</p>
<p>Since money is not a problem for you, I would choose Rice. It attracts better students, has a great reputation for academics, and is in a wonderful part of Houston.</p>
<p>I would go to USC, but it really depends on how much you value the social life. Although I've never been there, I HEAR that Rice has a fairly nerdy student body. USC, on the other hand, has alot of kids with the "play hard-work hard(er)" mentality. USC also has a tremendous football team and a basketball team on the rise, which makes the college experience alot more fun. Also, the Marshall school of business is highly prestigious (top 10, right?) so it's not like you're going to a joke school or anything. You'll still be surrounded by smart people at USC, and LA just seems like a much more fun place to go to college.</p>
<p>It looks as though all you're options are fantastic, so good luck. I might be biased though, because if I were rich I would probably go to a local college or CC for a year and transfer over to USC.</p>
<p>Rice definately. I don't know anything about USC but Rice is awesome. Houston is way better than LA. LA is wierd city. Plus, Rice people are way cooler than USC people. </p>
<p>Unless money is actually a issue. But if your loaded go to Rice.</p>