So I honestly don’t know which school to go to. I’m between the University of Southern California and Tufts, and I’m on the waitlist at Duke (hoping to get off but idk what the chances are).
I’m studying Political Science and I have interests in either double major, minor or just looking into Spanish, Race and Injustice, South Asian Studies, Pre-Law, English, and possibly Business.
Tufts – gave me essentially a full ride except 1.7k a year. Obviously a really great school especially for pre-law, and I heard its known as a “feeder for ivy league schools” I’m not sure how true that is but I want to go to Harvard or Columbia Law School. I like the small class sizes and the city life. Food may be a problem bc I eat halal but I heard there’s many accommodations and have been in touch w Muslims on campus. Seasonal depression?? I’m from Florida so obviously it’s a change and I’m looking forward to the snow but I don’t want it to be super gloomy and sad … Visited and definitely is amazing and could be home tho…
USC – I would do 2.5k work study, 5.5k loans each year and 2.7k out of pocket… (i know this doesnt seem like much but im a questbridge finalist and v low-income!) Cali is the same weather as Florida, idk if I really want to be in hot weather for 4 more years?? but I love the city and the social aspect of USC. I’m definitely an extrovert, I love football games even though I won’t be rushing and I don’t want to be in a sorority… but I still love going out and want to tailgate or whatever. USC is good for pre-law but not great. (3+3 program) There’s a “trojan network” but I hear Tufts is better for internships especially bc of location?? USC is also super highly ranked so possibly could get into an Ivy law school but idk. What draws me in most about USC is the school spirit and I feel like I would be happier there. (havent visited yet tho but I know that I would like it) But I also know I could make the best of wherever and Tufts is ofc amazing but much less school spirit? Are the debt and student loans worth it for USC if i already know i’ll be broke for law school?! I sent an appeal but USC is trash w aid anyway so I don’t have hope for that. help please!!
Harvard and Columbia are among the most popular law schools for Tufts applicants. Cornell and Yale are less popular. Harvard Law and Tufts/Fletcher have cross enrollment. A high GPA and LSAT are necessary to get into these schools.
Here is admittance data for one year (2013-2014)
…Georgetown…NYU…Columbia…Penn…Harvard…Stanford…Cornell…Yale…U Florida
Applicants…53…48…47…41…40…27…25…17…2
Acceptances…22…18…12…7…10…3…7…1…2.
Ave GPA…3.65…3.57…3.78…3.84…3.84…3.56.
Ave LSAT…170…167.6…172.6…171.1…172…170
Tufts was once a LAC and I believe they have held on to some of their LAC nature: strong teaching, undergrad focus, a generally intimate (when possible) learning environment. You’ll experience all four seasons and Boston.
USC gives you a bigger party scene/culture, a huge sports scene, LA, and very little variety for weather. (sunshine)
Both are good academically: Tufts is more established, while USC is trying to improve its rep. You won’t exhaust the academic resources of either.
In 2011, Tufts made Playboy Magazine’s list of worst party schools.
There was much debate on campus as to whether this was an honor or dubious distinction as well as as to whether the outcome was the result of a lack of frequency of parties or the result of the parties not meeting Playboy’s lofty standards.
To the best of my knowledge, the debate was never resolved…
In 2012 and 2013 USC made the top 5 in Playboy Magazine’s list of best party schools.
In 2016, when they did not crack the top 20 in Princeton Review’s list of top party schools, USC took offense and decided that:
thank you for the info @Mastadon! Can you explain what you mean by tufts fletcher law and Harvard law having cross enrollment?
i’m also not crazy into parties but i would definitely go to some if i’m stressed or feel like going out so i know tufts will be okay in that aspect… i hear USC still has the university of spoiled children vibe?
@JenniferClint for sure and that’s one of the main things i’m concerned about. i keep hearing that USC is getting closer to becoming a ‘little ivy’ and i’m not sure if i’ll always have FOMO or regrets not going there if i go to tufts. but i know in my heart tufts is better undergrad pre-law
You should go to Tufts. Having to do work/study and to incur loans are stressors you don’t need, plus coming up with an extra $800 isn’t so easy if you are low income. Figure you will probably have unanticipated expenses anyway, so take the strongest financial offer.
If you do the work/study during the regular year, it will cut into your time for academics and since your goal is law school, you’ll need to get the best possible grades you can. And if your goal really is law school, parties and tailgating shouldn’t sway your decision.
Finally, if you want to go to a school with some school spirit, find some like-minded people at Tufts to hang out with and generate enthusiasm and buzz.
@Westchestermom thank you for the thoughtful reply. that was really helpful actually. it’s definitely not the party or tailgates swaying my decision, rather the overall ‘vibe’ and the fact that cali seems to be happy and have good mental health while tufts and other northeast schools are known to have ‘seasonal depression’ – something i am absolutely not used to living in FL my whole life.
but, you’re definitely right – i can find school spirit at tufts and work study would definitely endanger my studies at USC and if i got rid of it i would just have to take more loans.
@OP, congratulations for being accepted at two world class universities! fyi, USC FA is NOT “trash” with aid; if they were, I wouldn’t be an alum, and frankly you wouldn’t be pondering this question, as they wouldn’t have offered you enough aid for it to even be a debate.
@Mastadon, if you want to trash USC, could you please reference an article written within the past decade? This is not to imply USC wasn’t an amazing university 12 years ago–it was.
Re the comments concerning work study, I could not disagree more. I had work study jobs at both USC and Michigan, and both were integral to my overall educational experience. At USC, I got to meet various deans, chairs,and became close with several professors–none of that would have happened without my work study job. At Michigan, I conducted research with an emeritus professor who, in addition to being brilliant, was just a kind and supportive human being. Working with him very much rounded out my classroom experience in A2.
USC and Tufts, again, are both excellent schools. I don’t think you’ll go wrong with either and your future is very bright. Fight On!
The two schools seem very different but you can get a great education at either. I am a Trojan mom who happens to live in Massachusetts so I know more about USC but have friends with kids at Tufts. If the cost were the same for both I would definitely encourage USC, It sounds like you could be very happy there. However, since you would need to incur loans (and see law school on the horizon) it seems like Tufts is a better financial fit so embrace and enjoy (and buy a warm coat).
Note: USC is not a University of Spoiled Children (there are other threads on this). Many students come from wealthy families, but certainly the same is true at Tufts. Unless it has changed recently, Tufts does not offer merit based aid (which we receive from USC), only need based, so many kids attending are full pay.
Just know that California hot weather and Florida hot weather are nothing like each other – there’s no humidity to speak of in So Cal during the summer. It’ll be a much more comfortable ‘hot’ (and USC isn’t even that hot, it gets some cool marine influence) than FL.
@jmek15, congrats to your child being at USC. I’m sure he/she loves it! I don’t have the stats handy, but USC has prided itself for years on offering the very best students merit aid. In fact, we “stole” a dear friend of mine’s daughter from Georgetown and an Ivy via merit aid! And that turned out to be an excellent investment for USC as well, as she’s now doing extremely well at a top medical school.
Chemical Engineering? As the son and grandson of engineers, let me just say “wow.” Your daughter isn’t just smart, she’s obvously a young woman who doesn’t shy away from (major!) challenges.
And I’m sure I needn’t tell you about our amazing Gloria Kaufman School of Dance What a terrific, and I’d imagine, unique major-minor combination.
@USCWolverine I didn’t mean to imply USC FA was trash, rather pointing the blame to their appeal process. Sorry I wrote it incorrectly… on the phone they told me that appeals were almost never granted and only happened if a parent lost a job or passed away or other crazy circumstances. That being said though I did explain a few medical circumstances and appeal so maybe it will go down a little if they’re feeling generous.
Thank you for the insight on work-study. I had no clue how that works as first-gen even though I have tried to look over it. Do you think it hindered your focus on academics and keeping up your GPA at all? And thank you so much!
@jmek15, if cost wasn’t an issue, I also feel as if I would have already committed to SC to be honest. However, yeah the loans play a big part and my parents don’t want me taking student loans unless absolutely necessary.
You’re right about the merit – Tufts doesn’t offer merit scholarships while USC does (although I didn’t receive theirs).
Tufts is great. My daughter is going to USC next year and I’m telling you to go to tufts. The debt will be a problem for you and they both have great cachet. Especially sophisticated employers and great schools.
OP Tufts is a great school. I agree with your parents 100% - avoid loans and you’ll ultimately have much more freedom as you make decisions for the future. Best of luck! .
but the cultures are different.
What a terrific, and I’d imagine, unique major-minor combination.