<p>I was accepted to USC as a spring transfer, and have wanted to attend this school for years. However, my financial aid package is severely limiting me. My family pays $16,000 a year at my current school, and can't afford much more than that. I've already got a fair amount of loan (~$8,000 after 2 years), and am willing to take more than I originally anticipated, but with USC's package ($6,000/yr. in grant, usual federal loans), it looks like I'll end up with more than $50,000 in principal debt. This doesn't even consider the interest on private/alt. loans which will make up the bulk of my debt.</p>
<p>I'm a Neuroscience major on the pre-med track. What do you think? It seems too much, but my father is convinced a USC degree will help me out much more than my current school, a tier 2 private, either way the medical admissions process goes.</p>
<p>If you're looking at that much debt for undergrad, how are you planning to pay for med school? You need to consider 8 years of school to pay for, not just 4.</p>
<p>USC is a great school, but after you get out of med school, no one will care where you went for undergrad. Of course the med schools will care, so you should see just how much USC would help.</p>
<p>Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The self-proclaimed "largest Baptist school in the world." They have a reputation (at least state-wide) for pre-med studies.</p>
<p>Only problem is, I'm neither Baptist nor Christian, and that tends to make me stick out a bit, in an uncomfortable way.</p>
<p>But me being the pessimist, I have to assume I won't get into medical school. So as far as the workforce goes, can anyone tell me what new USC grads are making, on avg.? If the salaries are particularly higher in CA, then perhaps I'll be able to get out of debt in a reasonable amount of time.</p>
<p>Plus, I've wanted to work in movies since I was a youngin,' and I'd love to give that a spin too, should my medical career fall short.</p>
<p>Any more suggestions, comments? They're greatly appreciated, and I have to make this decision in the next couple of days.</p>
<p>As the father of a recent USC film grad let me tell you that you wouldn't make a whole bunch of money to start. My son is doing temp work for an agency that specializes in media outlets. He is devoting his free time to working on his scripts.</p>
<p>OTOH one of his former roommates, who also graduated this year, just sold a script for $80,000 plus.</p>
<p>Twenty8: My D is also a neuroscience major with a pre-med emphasis. I will be honest, I would not have been willing to pay the price for USC since she was also accepted to Baylor, UCLA, and Berkeley (all have great neuroscience programs and all were much cheaper than USC). After visiting all 4 colleges, she absolutely flipped over USC. The only way we were able to afford USC is because she is on a 4-yr scholarship with the AROTC. It is much cheaper for her to attend USC being in the AROTC than any of the other 3 colleges. I believe Baylor has a really good neuroscience program (one of the reasons my D considered it). Unless you are really uncomfortable with Baylor, why not stick it out? USC is a LOT of debt for undergraduate school - especially if you have plans to go onto medical school. However, if you really like the movie industry, than there's probably not a better choice than USC. You have a tough choice to make, but considering all things, this is only your undergraduate degree and there are a lot of great colleges out there that aren't quite as expensive. I'm really glad we aren't in the position of having to pay full price because I don't believe going into debt (for any reason) is worth it.</p>
<p>The neuroscience program here, actually, is quite horrible if I may be honest. Not only have I heard it straight from those majoring, but I've had my own experiences with a few of the professors. </p>
<p>The things that keep me here are: (a) getting good grades for med school, (b) having all my contacts for req letters, and (c) walking out with little debt. I hardly have any real friends here, and tend to feel like a second-class citizen with the uber-Conservative Christian attitude. What's worse, if I don't attend medical school, I have major doubts that many alumni, if any, would be willing to help me out.</p>
<p>I appreciate the replies. :) Plese keep them coming, I've got less than a day left.</p>
<p>Sounds to me like you've already made up your mind. You just need that extra push. Based on Baylor's atmosphere, I did not think my D would be happy either. Wasn't too fond of the area as well. She is VERY happy at USC....VERY! Also I've heard the neuroscience program is good and the alumni network is probably even better (two of the issues you mention above) ;)</p>
<p>50k in principal debt is quite a bit but it's not unheard of. You want to transfer out of Baylor due to the environment, which is understandable. If you're not a certain type of person, it can be a bit suffocating. On the academic side, USC carries a lot more prestige than Baylor as well and has a stronger student body. </p>
<p>Before considering the move, you really need to determine how much you'll be expecting to take out for medical school and your remaining undergrad years and what your total principal debt will be. It is not uncommon for doctors to graduate with 150k+ of debt as they're going to be making enough to handle it.</p>