<p>So today I got accepted to MIT, which really makes this decision difficult. Ugh. Since I first applied USC was my top, but there is an overwhelming amount of pressure towards MIT. I want to make sure I consider everything, so if you can list some benefits below it would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Here's what I have so far:</p>
<p>Program: (Starting a business around computer science is my ultimate goal)
USC has a 4 year combined Comp Sci and Business Admin
MIT has a higher ranked Comp Sci program and a higher ranked Business program than USC, but they're not integrated. I can double major, though.</p>
<p>I expect to have more free time at USC to explore opportunities, while at MIT most of my time will spent on classwork.</p>
<p>USC wins school spirit
USC wins location
MIT wins price (no FinAid - Is there any chance of me getting money from USC?)</p>
<p>it depends where you would most likely want to work</p>
<p>if you choose to work in the east coast, go to MIT
USC dominates the business world in the west coast with their alumni connections all over california</p>
<p>and what do you mean by MIT wins price? are you going to MIT for free?</p>
<p>Instant signal to the planet that you must be one freaky-smart dude: MIT
Likelihood of finding a great group of cute and smart girls to date: USC</p>
<p>LOL. Both are great choices. I know a guy who went to MIT undergrad, USC grad. Started his own successful computer game development company.</p>
<p>baseball: Unfortunately my SAT (2040, 570 reading) probably voided me out from scholarship consideration at USC. If I had received a scholarship, this probably wouldn’t be a question.</p>
<p>Wow, congratulations on MIT! Quite impressive!
Although I absolutely loooove USC and everything about it, I’m afraid that MIT beats it, given the COA ends up being about the same for the two schools. USC’s name will get you in practically any door in California - but MIT’s name will get you in practically any door all over the world. Boston is an amazing place to spend your college years! It’s a very walkable city, great sports scene too.</p>
<p>Have you visited both schools? Is there any possibility you could do an overnight at each school?</p>
<p>Besides the program, reputation, financial considerations etc. you need to figure out whether you really like the atmosphere of each school, how you’d fit in with each place. My D has a few friends at MIT, some love it, and others hate it with big regrets… Very much depends on the type of personality you are. The ones who aren’t happy feel a disconnect with the campus and general student body, but the others are thriving. </p>
<p>Boston versus LA (city/climate/mindset)…again some hate one and not the other/and vice versa.</p>
<p>I won’t be eligible for financial aid this year, though I may next year. Basically my parents saved as much as they could for 4 kids. I’m the third, and the pool of cash is dwindling down. But while there’s still enough in the bank, I won’t be granted any aid.</p>
<p>Sequoia…MIT has arranged an overnight for all potential students which I will be attending. I plan to fly down to USC for explore (why is that $50?), but that doesn’t include an overnight. Is it possible I can just find a kid walking around campus that’ll put me up for a night?</p>
<p>How do you know you are not eligible for aid unless you apply? It will not hurt to fill out FAFSA and CSS Profile. You should definitely look into it.</p>
<p>Just so you know, you wouldn’t be the first person to choose USC over an Ivy or CalTech/MIT. I have a friend at USC who got into MIT, Stanford, Princeton, etc and chose USC over all of them and she has not regretted her decision one bit.</p>
<p>I’ll look into finding a host for when I go up.</p>
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<p>My thoughts exactly. If I had Trustee, Presidential, or Deans I’d be USC 100%. But considering USC is actually costs a little more, it’s very hard to turn down the MIT name :/</p>
<p>bmw, you might consider emailing your admissions advisor asking him/her whether there is a possibility to secure a host for an overnight…with a mention that you are in the process of choosing between USC and MIT, and such an opportunity is important to you since you like USC so much. You never know, communication from admissions to finaid may result in a university or departmental scholarship. I’d think USC would want to keep you.</p>
<p>I second Sequoia on calling USC and talk to them about your acceptance to MIT. But reiterate that you really want to go to USC if they can give you some types of merit aid. I think USC has a lot of scholarships that are not on USC website. For example, University Scholarship is not on their website.</p>
<p>Yes, the University Scholarship is $4000, and there may be others. USC just might toss one your way if you explain that you are “full pay” and having a hard time turning down MIT because of the price difference. You may not understand this, but you are a hot commodity at this point: colleges love to enroll smart full pay kids who will stick around and graduate, and there’s every indication that this would describe you. If you have a guidance counselor you could approach, ask him/her to contact USC to explain what a catch they would be getting. Do you have a math or comp sci teacher who could make a call to someone in the engineering school? Also try personally contacting your admissions counselor, but back this up with a letter to Katharine Harrington, the head honco in admissions. If it might make a difference to get a small merit award, you should not be afraid to ask. </p>
<p>That said, I think you’ll have a much better sense of the decision after you visit both campuses. I thought my son would really like MIT when we visited (especially because he loathed Harvard), but it fell flat and he didn’t even apply. He is so happy at USC.</p>
<p>My daughter visited MIT too, thinking she’d apply, but also didn’t like it at all. Loved Boston, but didn’t feel one bit comfortable in the MIT environment.
This is why it’s so necessary to visit, and I’m glad you will have an overnight there. People either love it and fit right in, or they don’t. Seems generally there’s not an ambivalence about MIT.</p>
<p>Financial aid at USC offered our son $2,500 loan for applying. If your parents can afford both schools, do not make a decision based upon money. My sense of MIT is that it is a great place to go to school if you are heavily into research. Also, USC offers a broader type of education should you change your mind. Have you seen Viterbi Engineering? It is new from the ground up with lots of new and the latest equipment. Viterbi (and USC) offers many different minors. I think you need to see both schools and take the tours. Tell both universities that you want to stay over night. I think MIT will be an academically more intense place. Congrats!</p>