South Carolina Honors vs. Tulane

College Search & Selection
1

Hi,

My daughter has been admitted to Tulane and South Carolina (Honors College).

She is going to major in Molecular Biology on a pre-med track.

Over the last few weeks we have visited both campuses and she could see herself at either.
She does well in school (AP courses, strong SAT etc…) and has been awarded merit $$ at each.

South Carolina - In-State Tuition rate (we are from Mass.) as well as another $2,000. We are figuring we need to come up with around $15,000 out of pocket (before considering student loans).

Tulane - Her financial aid package included $32,500 in Merit Scholarship and $5,500 in student loans. Leaving around $31,000 out of pocket.

We just came back from admitted students day at Tulane and I could tell from her reactions that while she really liked the school and was impressed by the campus,students etc. she didn’t have that same excitement as when we were at USC.

The honors program at USC really impressed both her and us and we really feel that the smaller classes sizes, extra support and research opportunities as well as living with and being around like-minded students closes the gap considerably.

My daughter really loved USC (both the campus and the honors program) but she is feeling torn about the name and reputation of Tulane. Don’t get me wrong, she really liked Tulane and it’s a beautiful place but she really felt a connection to USC when we visited.

Tulane is $73,000 per year and while she is getting considerable merit money and 31K per year would be about 2X what we’d have to come up with for USC (15K). We could do the 31K but it would put a considerable pinch in our lifestyle.

Since she plans on going on to grad school and really loves USC I think it would be smarter for her to go to USC for undergrad.

Wondering if anyone else out there is debating an public honors program vs. the high profile private school.

Any thoughts appreciated…

2

It seems clear to me that both you & your daughter prefer the Honors College at the University of South Carolina. The savings might allow your daughter to afford a graduate degree. I don’t see any issue here other than need for reassurance that you are making the right decision. In my opinion, the Honors College at USC is clearly the better option.

3

@Publisher thanks! I think you are right…more looking for reassurance than anything else…combination of her preference and the cost difference seems to make it clear. I know she’s just nervous about the prestige thing…she’ll come to her senses though and will be comfortable that she’s making the right decision for herself…and not others who may just see school names and not understand all that goes into making these decisions. Again…thanks for taking the time to help reassure us both!

4

The Honors College designation should appear on all of your daughter’s transcripts upon graduation from USC. To me, that is more prestigious than a degree from Tulane–and Tulane is an excellent school.

Also, please remember that she can always go for prestige in graduate school–and she will be able to afford it.

P.S. Prior to graduation, she can note that she is in the Honors College on her resume.

5

As someone who loves Tulane and New Orleans (went to grad school there) I think USC honors is the clear choice :slight_smile: There’s prestige in an honors college …she’s feeling the fit at USC…she would save considerable money for medical school…what could be better?

6

I have a Dd who is a freshman at USC right now. She absolutely loves it there. (One of her closest friends there is a pre-med major who I think found out earlier in the semester that she was accepted into some special pre-med/med school program.)

Coming from the north, she will definitely like the weather in Columbia better than the hot and humid temps in NO. (If she has never experienced southern humidity, it can be miserable.)

7

My D is now a junior at Carolina and these were her final two choices three years ago. Same money issue: after merit, Tulane was right at the maximum of what we could manage while SC was comfortably under.

We had visited both schools and she really liked both, but her choice was clear when we went back after SCHC acceptance. She just felt better at Carolina, and it’s been a great experience (although I think she would have been very happy at Tulane, too). She is currently studying abroad for a semester and having extra money available for travel (plus we’re picking up more costs than usual because she’s not working while she’s over there) has been great.

Just a note: SCHC has an annual fee of about $1,000 and the various USC schools have fees, so your Year 1 cost may be closer to $23,000 excluding loans (likely lower in later years because she’d have a smaller or no meal plan while living off campus plus likely lower rent depending where/when she moves off campus).

8

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply…much appreciated!!
She’s pretty much decided on Carolina…we’re waiting on financial aid from one other school before she makes the final decision!!