<p>Yes, today USC is widely seen as equal to UCLA academically and with more resources. </p>
<p>USC’s acceptance rate will be 19% this year, and it is ranked 23 in the USNWR (fwiw), so I think the school is pretty selective in admissions and well-regarded for undergrad. 3 great choices (espec. If scholly comes through), congrats.</p>
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<p>First of all, USC isn’t ‘widely’ viewed as UCLA’s equal. If they are viewed as equals, it’s probably limited to southern California. Secondly, while USC may have more resources, @phantasmagoric provided support a while back that since it spends more resources on graduate and professional students, it actually spends less on undergraduate students than UCLA does.</p>
<p>But as I said earlier, USC is a great school and if I got a full ride there I’d definitely consider it.</p>
<p>USC also appears to have a stronger reputation in pre-professional majors than it does in liberal arts majors.</p>
<p>“First of all, USC isn’t ‘widely’ viewed as UCLA’s equal.”</p>
<p>But, but, but…it’s ranked higher at USNWR! </p>
<p>beyphey, I live nowhere near Southern California and I have no horse in this race, but I assure you that both are seen as on par for undergrad (in that they both have different pluses and minuses, but come out equal).
Overall, though OP doesn’t have a “wrong choice”. </p>
<p>OP, I’m confused did you get accepted early decision to Dartmouth?</p>
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<p>USC isn’t ranked higher on USNWR than UCLA. They’re part of a five-way tie. UCLA is ranked higher than Michigan though! (And has been for several years) :p</p>
<p>I was trying to defend UCLA beyphy. Too bad the PA scores at UCLA aren’t quite as strong as Michigan’s. The real experts know which school is “higher.” (And that has been forever). :-)</p>
<p>UPDATE: I received the full ride to USC, along with about $10,000 to Dartmouth. It’s still by far the most expensive option, though. Some comments have been very helpful so far, but I’m still no closer to deciding what to do. It would kill me to say no to Dartmouth, but I don’t know how I could pass up the USC full tuition scholarship either. The honors programs at UT are phenomenal, too, so that’s definitely still an option. Any further advice/insights would be much appreciated!!</p>
<p>Dartmouth is a much better school than UCLA or USC-it would be foolish to turn down the Ivy here.</p>
<p>A full ride to USC? Run, don’t walk to the post office. Don’t look back. We’re talking about graduating from a very good college (that will be even better in four years) with zero to little debt. Forget that lure of ivy. Demonstrate your intelligence. I have no horse in this race.</p>
<p>Late to this party, but one comment needs to be addressed:</p>
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<p>That comment --obviously-- is based on a profound lack of understanding of the honors program at UT. If a case can be made about equivalency of the schools in broad terms, they no longer apply when you compare the business schools, and especially not when comparing the Business Honors Program to other programs around the nation. This ultra-selective program is head and shoulders above anything that is available at USC. Throw in the PlanII program, and there is zero comparison. </p>
<p>Fwiw, the OP is visibly aware of those differences as the main attraction of USC is the potential availability of the scholarship. Without that element, there would not be much choice. On the academic front, the debate is simply between UT Honors and the Ivy League’s Dartmouth. The finances, however, are adding a very important dimension. </p>
<p>Fwiw, it is extremely important to project the entire costs of attending the schools, including the housing situation. Are dorms and honor dorms guaranteed for the entire stay? Is that the case in Southern California. What are the conditions to maintain the merit aid? Is the 10,000 dollars need-based aid of Dartnouth projected to increase of decrease (see parental income?) Are there changes to land scholarships or grants at UT? </p>
<p>In general, it is a GRAVE mistake to simply assume that the 4 years will be a simple freshman budget times 4! </p>
<p>PS Years ago, I was facing a similar choice and ended up turning down the programs UT at Austin, but I surely would not have done it for the privilege of attending USC! </p>
<p>That was some time ago, xiggi. USC has made strides to overcome its play land of the rich image and reality. It is not what it was, and it certainly rivals Texas in a lot of areas. I’ve no horse in this race.</p>
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<p>Things do change in the academic world, but rarely at more than a snail’s pace. If USC has made strides to overcome its image, there is little evidence that UT has simply decided to rest on its laurels. The Honors programs have consistently become more selective and the school has continued to invest in its honors programs. </p>
<p>I have no horse in this race and no direct affiliations with any of the three schools, and probably most familiar with USC among the three. I do, however, think that few people understand what the combination of BHP and PlanII means for a student in Austin. And what it means in terms of preparing for a graduate program after graduation. </p>
<p><a href=“Plan II Honors Program | Liberal Arts | UT - Austin”>Plan II Honors Program | Liberal Arts | UT - Austin;
<p>The annual bill is one thing; the opportunities at the “schools within a school” are something else. </p>
<p>@xiggi thanks for your input! I agree that most people don’t understand the value of the honors programs at UT, so it’s nice to hear from someone who does. USC’s scholarship renewal policy is here (<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/programs/ugprograms/aif/renewal.htm”>http://www.usc.edu/programs/ugprograms/aif/renewal.htm</a>) but it doesn’t look like it would be a problem at all. As for Dartmouth financial aid, my family’s income may go up slightly or remain the same in the next few years, but there shouldn’t be any drastic decrease that would allow me to get more financial aid. The biggest reason I’m hesitant about UT is that Austin almost feels like an extension of home (it’s only four hours away and we have a lakehouse nearby) and I want to get out of Texas and travel. Also about 1/3 of my grade will end up going there along with lots of other people I know in my city (with several in both honors programs) and I really just want to get away. Southern California would be amazing, and even though the cold would take getting used to, I love to snowboard and Hanover is beautiful, so I don’t think Dartmouth would be bad either. I also like that Dartmouth is a smaller school. I feel like it would be easy for me to get swallowed up at USC and to some degree UT, though I think the honors communities would make it slightly less of an issue there. There are so many factors to consider though, so it’s become pretty overwhelming.</p>
<p>UT Austin McCombs is the best value. ~$40K total in-state for 4 years is just solid. It all depends on what you value. For me, the Dartmouth pedigree premium is worth ~$30-40k over UT. But it all depends on what you want to do. If you want to do med school eventually, go to the cheapest school and do well. If you want very competitive jobs, then Dartmouth might help.</p>
<p>UT Business Honors program will get you shots to interview with the I-banks and strategy consulting firms. The Honors program is comparable to Wharton undergrad-level prestige. At least, that’s how the recruiters treated it.</p>
<p>If you are planning on graduate school, then you could always consider putting your money there.</p>
<p>gigi…</p>
<p>I have always highly respected xiggi’s opinion, and he gives sage advice here. I think your choice is really between UT-Plan-II and USC. And you cannot go wrong with either.</p>
<p>But, as you said, about a third of your class will be going to UT. Thus, my advice would be to put yourself into an entirely new environment. Both of my sons were encouraged to go out-of-state and did. I think it was a positive, culturally-enriching experience.</p>
<p>Austin is a fantastic town. But LA is a whole new ballgame. My youngest lives there and loves it.</p>
<p>…Bob</p>
<p>You will have opportunities to get solid internships and jobs coming from the McCombs Honors Program. Unless your parents literally live on Guadualupe, you’ll be able to “get away”.</p>
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<p>It snows a lot in Hanover. Add about $1k to the cost of attendance at Dartmouth for gore-tex and down outerwear. LA clothing has got to be cheaper (less fabric) and you’ll have more money to spend on it.</p>
<p>Edit: just noticed you like to snowboard. USC does not have it’s own hill like Dartmouth: <a href=“http://skiway.dartmouth.edu/”>Dartmouth Skiway;
<p>Decisions, decisions…</p>