Should I go to UPenn or USC?

College Search & Selection
1

I have not yet applied to colleges, as I am only a junior in high school, but am trying to decide whether to do early decision for UPenn when the time comes to apply. My top two schools are Penn and USC, both of which I have toured and loved. I live in northern California, and both my parents were UPenn undergrads.

In college, I am looking most likely to study business administration, but also considering management, marketing, and economics. Primarily, I hope to end up as a technology entrepreneur. I love math as well, but more applied and less theoretical math. This makes my decision even harder, as Wharton is the best business program for undergrads. However, USC isn’t far behind.

I would also prefer to be closer to home (in California), but also like the idea of experiencing a very different part of the country (like the East Coast).

I love these schools almost equally, with USC likely taking the slight edge due to their sports and spirit. I am a huge sports fan and have loved the idea of attending a college with a top football and basketball program.

To my knowledge so far, USC takes the edge on sports, spirit, location, weather, and finding a great job that allows me to remain in California.

UPenn seems to take the edge on academics, the ability to study a wide variety of business subjects, personal connection with the teachers, and the new experience I would gain from living far away.

The fact that these schools are so close in ranking for me, makes it challenging to decide whether or not to do Early Decision for UPenn. As a double legacy student, my chances are already much higher there, and with early decision, they would be significantly higher. However, if I do early decision I risk changing my mind or regretting the decision.

Do you have anything else you think I should consider in my decision? What do you think I should do? Is there anything you think would help me reach clarity?

2

Double legacy at UPenn is a big deal, don’t waste that trump card. The only scenario I see that may be more appealing to you as a tech/business student in Ca is the Berkeley Hass and EECS joint program (MET). Cal MET would be half price of Penn and it would combine all three things you want: tech, business and location. A Penn ED would derail MET if successful. But MET is competitive to get in, only about 4% rate.

3

Just a little FYI, UPenn only considers legacy during ED not RD, just something to think about when making your decision…

Also, not sure if you have heard about the Jerome Fisher Management and Technology Program at UPenn. Given your desire for business and technology entrepreneurship, it might be something to consider. My son will be enrolling in that program this coming Fall.

Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about USC so I can’t really give you any advice, but of you want any other info about UPenn let me know.

4

You’d definitely have an advantage applying ED to Penn, but don’t feel like you absolutely have to use it. If you decide that USC is indeed your first choice and you might later regret not getting to apply, then just apply RD to both.

5

Don’t fear, you have 6 months to spend more time researching each college before making a decision. The nice thing about your options is you can ED to UPenn and RD to USC since they don’t even have early decision. I firmly believe that students can be equally challenged and happy at multiple colleges so there really is no tough decision. Both UPenn and USC are awesome world class institutions, and will do great wherever you end up.

6

For Finance, there is Wharton and everyone else. Sure, Marshall is excellent, but it ain’t that close to Wharton. OTOH, the Trojan Family is extremely strong in SoCal. (Haas is strong in NorCal.)

Have you visited either school? Highly recommended before you ED to Penn.

7

You are really lucky to have double legacy at UPenn. It is a big deal, but it only applies to ED. Both schools have extremely low RD acceptance rates, so by not applying to any school ED you risk not getting in to either of them. I recommend choosing the one you love more for your ED option. It maximizes your chances of getting in at least.

My opinion: If I were you I would ED UPenn since you have legacy. Both schools are awesome in their own right, but between the two schools (according to a college comparison source based on actual student data), 83% of students admitted to both UPenn and USC would prefer UPenn instead. I have linked it below:

https://www.parchment.com/c/college/tools/college-cross-admit-comparison.php?compare=University+of+Pennsylvania&with=University+of+Southern+California

8

Low confidence, however, on the right side which would make things on the left shaky in a discrete outcome.

9

I LOVE the idea of doing the M&T program and will definitely apply (sorry i didn’t mention that) however it’s so competitive that i’m trying not to let my decision ride on that. Regarding your son, what was his high school experience like (just to get insight into the type of student who is admitted) Thanks!

10

I would love to go to cal, it’s simply too close to home for me to seriously consider it. I know that sounds lowly but i care about being far enough away from home

11

Only UPenn has early decision, but I had no clue that they only consider legacy for early decision. Do they say that on their website?

12

Going away to college is a perfectly good reason for picking somewhere else, if you can afford it and the away college offers similar academics.