Please help! These schools are both awesome for their own reasons & this student could do well & fit in either one. LA & the beach are calling, but so is the Ivy opportunity. This is a future-oriented social person with excellent STEM skills but also has interests outside of the lab (This is why she’s not going to GaTech). Needing to know, for myself as well, how to go about this decision with an honest look at the options: What are some core personal experiences to evaluate the differences in the nature of these programs, the overall “personality” of the atmosphere, social aspects, & opportunities from anyone who really knows the Pros & Cons of either one of these, please???
The most important thing to know, and I mean no disrespect, is that this should be your student’s decision, without outside influence. She put them on the list. You approved. Now it’s up to her to pick the final winner.
USC is probably the better engineering school, but they are both good programs. There will be plentiful, but different opportunities if they take advantage of the opportunities.
It’s hard not to try to guide your student towards “the right decision.” The correct answer though is the one their gut tells them.
2 Likes
LA and the beach are calling but so is Ivy.
Location is a reasonable reason to attend a school.
That it’s part of an specific, highly thought of athletic conference is not, in my humble opinion. Yes, I’m talking about the Ivy League.
Hopefully, if you choose Penn, there’s a real reason. After all, you need to be there four years, day after day. So bragging you went to an Ivy is meaningless if you are miserable.
The schools and campuses are so different…from vibe, sports, Greek life, size and more.
Hopefully you’ve been to both and one is calling your name.
1 Like
USC probably has a better program, but obviously, UPenn has more cachet as an overall school. If your kid isn’t 200% sure on an engineering track, then I would pick UPenn.
I know a lot can happen in a year or two, but let’s say they go to USC and end up having buyers remorse for declining UPenn. Unlikely they can transfer between the two to “make things right” given UPenn’s transfer admit rate. Yet, going the other way (UPenn to USC) is much more realistic, given USC’s +20% transfer admit rate I doubt they are going to say “no” to a kid from UPenn with a decent application.
Is money a factor?
Open up the course sequence and catalog and see which school has the classes that excite her. Then leave it up to her.
2 Likes
What does your daughter want academically and socially? I have a student at Viterbi but I’m not sure exactly what you are looking for. What do you mean by “core personal experiences” the “nature of the programs” or the “personality of the atmosphere”?
One pro for Viterbi is that it is 50% women. USC Viterbi Achieves Gender Parity in its Entering Class - USC Viterbi | School of Engineering
1 Like
No disrespect taken. Perhaps I was misunderstood. I realize it’s their choice. That is exactly what I tell all of my parents. Kids need to follow their hearts absolutely. At the same time, a little strategy & good “shopping” is just common sense & a part of that decision. Due diligence is smart for both students & parents with this investment.
1 Like