Tulane v. Santa Clara v. Michigan v. Miami (FL) v. Miami (OH) v. USC

<p>I know it's a borderline ridiculous list, but these are the schools I've been accepted to. I'm still waiting to hear from Brown (deferred), which is my top choice.</p>

<p>I'm in all of these business schools except for Michigan-Ross, which most people apply into as a sophomore. </p>

<p>Cost is manageable at every school between merit awards and financial need. </p>

<p>I love smaller schools and the academic intimacy, but I'm concerned about the reputation of schools like Santa Clara and Tulane. </p>

<p>I live in Michigan and would love to go out-of-state, preferably very far. Not going to Michigan when you're from Michigan is unheard of, but I can't really see myself there. </p>

<p>Please try and be as objective as possible. I'm having an unbelievably tough time!</p>

<p>This isn’t easy because they are vastly different types of schools. My D is at USC and loves it. Santa Clara is a great school, but it’s a boring place to live. Tulane is a good school, my younger D was accepted and may end up there.</p>

<p>Visit the schools and decided what would be the best fit…USC is hard to beat in all categories.</p>

<p>I know many friends who came to Tulane instead of USC. They all love it so far and are glad they are here. Since they didn’t choose USC, there’s nothing to compare to, but I do know that most people here love it. I personally chose Tulane instead of Duke.</p>

<p>I have no idea what you mean when you say you are “concerned about the reputation of schools like Santa Clara and Tulane.” One can only respond to statements like that if you explain what you have heard.</p>

<p>Clearly, these are all very good schools that will provide you with solid academic foundations. Tulane’s business program is extremely dynamic with some very unique aspects to it, and has great strengths in some areas in particular, such as energy, entrepreneurship (New Orleans is very hot for entrepreneurs right now), as well as other aspects. They are also in a strong growth phase coinciding with a new Dean of the business school having just started.</p>

<p>Having said all that, something like 2/3 of undergrads change their majors at least once. Tulane makes that very easy to do, because you were not accepted to the business school, you were accepted to all of Tulane and can double major, change majors, or get creative with your business emphasis being coupled with another area of expertise. Tulane makes that easier than almost any other school of its peer group that I know of. BTW, if you do stick with business it is often smart to get another major in an area related to where you think you might want to focus in the business world.</p>

<p>Anyway, to get back to your original question, it is really rather impossible to compare all those schools, both in the abstract and, more importantly, for you specifically. We have no idea what is important to you, so some general answer is really rather meaningless. Are you into sports? Greek life? Urban/rural? Looking for nicer weather (that isn’t as trivial as it sounds. Since you have a choice and you will be in this environment 9 months out of the year for 4 -5 years, you might as well be in an atmosphere that makes you happier)? Are you hoping to participate in music/theater/debate/some other talent you have? I think you can start to see why your question is unanswerable by a bunch of strangers.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Interesting italmom. That’s not what my daughter said. She graduated from Santa Clara in June 2010 and says that it was a fabulous place to live. She never was short on things to do both on and off campus. Like the OP, she went to SCU from a climate where there was plenty of winter. DD loved the very nice weather year round at SCU…just added to its appeal. In addition, the San Jose airport is 10 minutes away and Southwest flies there…a plus for us. Our kid did use that transportation center across the street from the campus as well (trains and buses).</p>

<p>My DD was an engineering major but some of her housemates were business majors. They report that the business school is well regarded especially in that region of the country. The school isn’t particularly a daily name on the East Coast but that didn’t matter to my daughter or the others she knew who went there.</p>

<p>The business majors were well situated in the Silicon Valley and almost all of my DD’s business major friends had very nice internships. </p>

<p>The school has 5000 undergrads max…and the classes are taught by the professors. There are no TAs teaching classes at SCU. The facilities are fabulous and the school does an excellent job updating and building new facilities. Their Library/Learning Commons is state of the art. Ditto the new aquatic center and classroom buildings recently built. Dorms are quite nice.</p>

<p>Are you the same student who got a very good scholarship to SCU that would make the cost similar to your instate options? If so, I would suggest you consider the school. It has much to offer.</p>

<p>Having said all of that…any of the schools you have listed Tulane, Santa Clara, USC. Miami (both of them) are good undergrad places to study.</p>

<p>OH…and it is not difficult to switch majors at Santa Clara. My kid enrolled as an undeclared arts and sciences major. She declared her engineering major in the college of engineering as a sophomore and added a second major…biology in the college of arts and sciences…as a junior. No problems.</p>

<p>You can send me a PM for more details.</p>

<p>My S goes to a neigboring school to Santa Clara and I just want to say that there are tons of things to do in that area. Remember San Francisco is just a train ride away. The weather is spectacular, sports are great at Santa Clara. Definitely not a boring place to be. Visit it and see for yourself if it works.</p>

<p>Ok, maybe boring was the wrong word, but I do live close to the school. San Francisco is 45 minutes away, and is a wonderful and exciting city, as is New Orleans, Miami and LA. San Jose is just not as interesting as any of these cities.</p>