Should I leave USC?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello All,</p>

<p>I am currently a first semester sophomore at USC. I am majoring in economics and I hope to go to Law School right after graduation. First off, I want to know whether or not USC is is academically prestigious enough to get into a top law school such as Hastings (my first choice) or USC law. I should add that as a senior in hs I was admitted to UC B and UCLA but ultimately chose USC because it was smaller and offered a great fin aid package. Not scharships but lots of grants. </p>

<p>Secondly, I was thinking of tranferrring to Claremont McKenna because of their great economics program and because I would feel more comfortable at a small liberal arts school with a residential community.</p>

<p>When I first applied for admission to McKenna as a freshman, I was put on the waiting list. After my first semester at USC I applied again but this time as a spring transfer. I was once again put on the wait list. I then applied for the third time, now as a fall sophmore transfer and was rejected. I believe I was rejected because I took premed classes my first semester (was not originally an econ major) and had an overall B average. My second semester gpa, however, was a 3.85 and I took challenging courses such as microecon, macroecon, calculus and an art history class for a ge. I also interned for the San Francisco gov this past summer. So I want to know whether or not I would have a shot at McKenna as a spring transfer. And if going to McKenna would be step up in terms of academic preparation for law school.</p>

<p>I do however, have a few reasons to stay at USC and these are making my decision very tough to decide whether or not to apply:
1. USC has a 4 yr masters program in econ (ranked #30) which I could get into my junior year.</p>

<pre><code> 2. I want to go abroad to LSE or to Wash DC to work with the fed reserve bank my junior yr. Transferring would not permit this because most schools require 2 full yrs at their school.

 3. USC is a school on the rise, already a good school but new initiatives will make it even more prestigious. And it offers a lot of networking for future internships and jobs. 

 4. I am involved in econ research and am starting new clubs and have leadership roles which I would have to abandon.

</code></pre>

<p>So bascially I want to know if it would make sense for me to transfer to McKenna. I am also open to suggestions for other schools to transfer to preferrable on the West coast but east is ok as well.</p>

<p>By the way, I went to a very prestigious independent high school in the Bay Area and am a first generation college student. My SAT's are 1400 and hs gpa weighted is 4.4 and unweighted is 3.9.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post, it is my first time and I want to provide all the info I can. </p>

<p>Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me out in this situation.</p>

2

<p>I think USC is good enough. Just do some extra things like get involved in campus activities, get summer jobs law offices, do extremely well on LSATetc.</p>

<p>I think those things are just as important</p>

3

<p>anyone else</p>

4

<p>I am in the same sort of boat that you are. I am applying this spring to transfer to Claremont-McKenna after being waitlisted as a freshman. I will be applying as a junior. From what I can tell, you are well off at USC. I dont say that becasue I am afraid of you taking my spot. I say that becasue you simply want to go to law school. If you really wanted to continue with econ in grad school (like I do) then you should apply. However, as far as I can tell, the school you come from is not that important for law school. The LSAT's will make or break you.
Basically, if you think you may continue with something econ related then apply to transfer. If not I would stick it out at USC unless you are very unhappy.
Good luck.</p>

5

<p>ummm.. how do u choose USC over cal?</p>

6

<p>One more thing. GO TO LSE. I can't emphasise that enough. I took public finance and public choice from thier summer school this summer and it was amazing. I would have gone for a year but my school doesnt have an agreement (i.e. I couldn't spend 45 grand for a year). I had friends with great internships who had done the general course the previous year and loved it. Every single person I met loved the experience. Also, if you're interested, some people who finish the general course end up transfering to LSE for their final year. I knew one guy who did it from wake forest as a mangement major. The positive thing is that if you finish your degree at LSE you will still only have 4 years of school because they work on a 3 year system.
Thats my suggestion to you.</p>

<p>I was wondering why you didnt get into mckenna as a sophomore. Do you know why? I too got waitlisted as a freshman and now that I am applying for the spring I hope to get in. My gpa is about the same as yours and I my SAT score was only 1340. The only difference between us seems to be that I want to transfer because my school doesnt offer classes in public policy or public economics (which I am interested in). Just to compare, do you have many EC's, do you work? I just want to get a feel for what my chances are.</p>

7

<p>Hey lookinf4aschool,</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice, I'm still confused about my situation though not sure if I'll apply. But yeah, I really want to go to LSE and you've made it sound even better than I expected. Luckily USC has a 1 yr agreement with LSE so if I stay I will have the opportunity to experience everything you said. </p>

<p>ABout my ec's:
Right now I'm doing some international development research, am starting an econ association, am a committee member in UNICEF, A USC College Ambassador and am member of a few clubs (like sports clubs, no leadership in those). Last year I worked 9 hrs a week but this year I don't have time due to the research. This past summer I interned in the San Fran City Hall. </p>

<p>Anyways, what school do you currently go to? Because from what I've heard CMC isn't that great for people who want to do graduate work in economics. They better prepare students for business school and work and governmental positions. I would recommend going to a university with a good graduate program. This way you can take grad classes as an undergrad. I know you can do this at CMC, but the grad school isn't very good. You might even want to look into schools that offer a 4 year masters. Either way, I wish the best of luck and maybe I'll see you in the bright sunshine of the CMC campus.</p>

8

<p>CC2UC-</p>

<p>People pick schools for more than just the name. I like going to small classes and being able to talk to my professors. UC B does not offer this. Plus the econ department is totally geared towards the grad students so I would have mostly TA's teaching me. At USC I get great professors in a small classroom, laid back environment. </p>

<p>By the way, what school are you going to? I saw you were applying to the UC's and something about Cornell.</p>

9

<p>Anyone have any suggestions for good econ programs within small schools that I could tranfer into?</p>

10

<p>Hey econguy,
When I said graduate studies, I meant that I want to get an Masters in Public Policy. The reason I said grad work is becasue I dont seem to see a difference in undergrad degrees for law school. Your ecs sound good, I wish I had those opportunities where I am. LSE only offers a year long program so its good that your school is affiliated. I wish you the best of luck applying or staying, whichever you decide to do.</p>

11

<p>im looking at cal and cornell, you are correct. USC's looking like my safety..</p>

12

<p>CC2UC -</p>

<p>Transferring to USC and getting in as a freshman is completely different. Please don't take away from the hard work of the freshman class at USC by saying it is a safety. Avg GPA 3.95 Avg. SAT 1350. These stats are actually higher than those of Cal and UCLA. Transferring to USC or any of the UC's is considerably easier than freshman admission. Just look at the quality of applicants.</p>

13

<p>what difference does it make.. in as a freshman or transfer.. we are trasnfer students here, the fact is that USC is an easy school to transfer to. im not taking anything away from the school.
schools like USC woulda laughed at me as a freshman applicant, now they invite me w/ open arms.. im still the same student as i was 2 years ago.</p>

14

<p>USC as a safety? Interesting. Well, it's no worse than a girl saying that UPenn was her safety (and she was applying as a freshman).</p>

15

<p>I went to the general course at LSE. If I understand you right, Hopefully your options are:</p>

<ol>
<li>USC 4-year master's, continue in your activities and research</li>
<li>CMC econ bachelor's, must start new activities </li>
<li>LSE general course, return to USC for bachelor's, interrupt your activities and research</li>
<li>USC bachelor's, continue in your activities and research</li>
<li> Work at Federel reserve/study in DC, interrupt your activities</li>
</ol>

<p>and you will choose one and then go to law school.</p>

<p>It is hard for me to advise you because I can't say how important being at a liberal arts college is or should be to you, versus being in London, versus continuing your activities and research. </p>

<p>And, IMO, any of those options are consistent with going to a good law school. </p>

<p>All I can say is that living in London, and taking the general course, was a spectacular and defining year of my life, and therefore if I were in your shoes, I would definitely choose that option. Other options, IMO, pale in comparison with that opportunity.</p>

16

<p>Thank you so much for the input ADad. And you did a great job of outlining possibilities. At least now my choices are organized, lol.</p>

17

<p>CC2UC -</p>

<p>I don't want to argue or anything, but transferring into a college and being admitted as a freshman does make a difference. Sure the degree will carry the same name of the school (unfortunately)and in a sense level of accomplishment, but the overall college experience would be totally different.
You don't get the same maturation process. The experiences you have as a 18 or 19 year old living on your own and embracing a new atmosphere is something that really isn't felt at local community colleges. Plus I'm sure that employers and grad schools would rather have a 4 yr student at a good school rather than someone who transfers from a cc into that same school.</p>

18

<p>CC2UC:</p>

<p>I chose UCLA over some Ivies and Cal. I never regretted the decision, and still don't. Now breathe, and repeat after me: "There are more important things than rankings."</p>

<p>econ guy08: I would stay at USC. You sound like you enjoy it, and what else matters? Getting into the groove at a new school might actually hurt you for a semester/quarter or two, and that's just bad news. The difference in ranking won't make a whole lot of difference if you simply excel at 'SC.</p>

<p>And really? Studying abroad KICKS ASS.</p>

19

<p>
[quote]
CC2UC -</p>

<p>I don't want to argue or anything, but transferring into a college and being admitted as a freshman does make a difference. Sure the degree will carry the same name of the school (unfortunately)and in a sense level of accomplishment, but the overall college experience would be totally different.
You don't get the same maturation process. The experiences you have as a 18 or 19 year old living on your own and embracing a new atmosphere is something that really isn't felt at local community colleges. Plus I'm sure that employers and grad schools would rather have a 4 yr student at a good school rather than someone who transfers from a cc into that same school.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Time to play devil's advocate for the other side...</p>

<p>Actually, I disagree. As a former transfer, I found that I entered my junior year a bit MORE mature than my counterparts who did 4 years at UCLA. Now, I may be an exception, but I noticed that a lot of transfers were head and shoulders above our 4 year counterparts.</p>

<p>And as far as employers and grad schools go, it doesn't matter a whole lot. In fact, if your goal is employment, they're probably never going to know or care. Grad schools may care a smidge, but if you had ostensibly good reasons for transfering, you can easily over come that.</p>

20

<p>Hey lookinf4aschool,</p>

<p>If you want to do public policy then I would highly recommend USC. Not to be funny or anything, but I have a few friends who are in the major. They actually, switched from Marshall Business to Public Policy. Anyways, they love it and plan on going to the Princeton Grad program after a few years of work (it is free! cause they have a crazy endowment!) Also, I know Cal has a great program as well, although that might be hard to get into since I think you are from another state. These are just suggestions, but CMC would be great for prep into the field as well.</p>