Pomona vs USC vs UMichigan

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi, I made this thread not for me but for a friend who wants to be anonymous. </p>

<p>She got into all three of these schools. Is undecided about what she wants to do. Pomona is 4.4K, USC is 3.6K, and UMichigan is 2.5K each year. The differences are big for her as she is a low income student. </p>

<p>She knows she'll get more resources at Pomona, and she's visited and loved it. She's not sure if the extra cost is worth it. She likes both the big school spirit of USC and the small LAC vibe of Pomona.</p>

<p>UMichigan is nearest her and would be cheapest. The packages above do not include travel.</p>

2

<p>4.4k vs. 2.5k or 44k vs 25k?</p>

3

<p>4.4K as in 4400</p>

4

<p>Run a 4 year comparison if possible. Some items might not be available in subsequent years. The money is close enough that it becomes a matter of best fit.</p>

5

<p>Are you talking about differences of 800-1000 or whatever per year? That’s really miniscule. Choose on best fit and location preference.</p>

6

<p>“She likes both the big school spirit of USC and the small LAC vibe of Pomona.”</p>

<p>Tell her to enroll at the Residential College of Michigan. This would be the best combination for your friend.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/rc/[/url]”>http://www.lsa.umich.edu/rc/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Pomona College by a mile. In fact with less than $2K FA difference, approaching Pomona about matching net cost is worth a shot.</p>

8

<p>“Pomona College by a mile.”</p>

<p>If you’re into a small school. You cannot make a small school large, but you can make a large school small.</p>

9

<p>How much of the financial aids are loans?</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>?? More resources than Michigan or USC? I don’t see that.</p>

<p>How severe is the financial issue? If the aid doesn’t include travel then she needs to reconcile to the idea of a very limited number of trips home. If the dollars are that tight then the difference between 2,500 and 3,600 or 4,400 per year can be massive. </p>

<p>Given those concerns it’s hard to see how you can say no to Michigan.</p>

11

<p>Is she aware of the Thematic Option program at USC? It is billed as “the benefits of a small liberal arts college in the heart of one of the world’s finest research universities”</p>

<p>A point in Pomona’s favor is the resources and availability to take classes at the other Claremonts.</p>