Syracuse CAS (no aid) v UofSC Capstone Scholar

Looking for insights to help give my daughter perspective on this decision during this stressful time. If everything wasn’t so uncertain, we’d go visit UofSC (but even so, I think the campus may be closed).

Of the schools she has been accepted to, she is most excited about Syracuse, which we visited last fall - but they offered her no grants (loans only). We can make it work, but at $76k a year, it would mean some sacrifices.

She received some small awards at a few other schools, and almost $15K through Capstone from UofSC (which we never visited). It has all of the elements she is looking for, plus this “honors” program plus grant which makes it about $20k a year.

Syracuse is a higher ranked school- is the value of the education and its network worth the extra $200K? Does Syracuse feel worth its price point academically and in other ways?

What is UofSC like academically? Where there are areas of weakness, are resources available for hire that can offset them (like tutors for example)? What else should my daughter know about it?

I would be grateful for any advice! Thank you.

I can not comment on OofSC , but Cuse is not worth 200K more. Not sure where you live but Cuse in the fall in nice, the winter/ spring not so much as in brutal snow and cold, so UofSC has much better weather for sure. What is her major? Would that major need grad school? Do not get me wrong Cuse is a very good school my son just got accepted but not 200K better. My daughter did a honors program at a large state school and it really made that school much smaller and helped get her better teachers and a ton of great experience in her major. I have heard good things form parents and kids who went to UofSC. Ask your daughter how much is she willing to have in debt to go to Cuse? Hopefully you can see UofSC, even if it is empty you may get a feel, good luck

Thank you for your thoughts NJdad07090- she wants to be a doctor, so good point about undergrad and grad debt!

Would your daughter happily go to South Carolina?

Med schools is expensive. The consensus is spend the least you can on undergraduate school. USC has their own med school. Overall I think would the education would be similar to Syracuse.

I did my MBA at South Carolina many years ago. Nice place to spend 4 years. About the same size as Syracuse but the beach is 2 hours away, Charlotte is 90 minutes and Atlanta about 3 hours. Weather is much better.

My son did a summer high school program at Syracuse last summer. He enjoyed it but I know where I would go.

She’s never been there, which is why its a shame we need to make a decision when we can’t visit. I think she’d like it. Syracuse has the advantage right now of being a known entity.

I may see if an admissions person can help with a virtual tour, or maybe connect her with some current students for perspective.

I’ve been there three times to visit some of my friends. Maybe I can help with that.