<p>Hello, I am currently a senior in high school and I have been accepted to both UC Davis and Loyola Marmount University in California.
I LOVE LMU's campus, but the tuition is around $32,000 opposed to Davis, which would cost me around $8,500 per year. I am visiting both campuses again next month (I have not visited Davis yet). However, LMU has offered me an opportunity to join the Student Worker Program, which would pay $26,000 of the tuition per year. I have an interview this Saturday!!! So the costs would be somewhat equal.. </p>
<p>I applied as a communications major for both campuses but plan to change later on. I am not sure what I want to do, but I was wondering which campus is better and which campus would I benefit most from? I am a first generation college student so this is all new to me! Please be honest and leave as many helpful tips and information as possible! :)
Thank you!</p>
<p>Loyola is a beautiful campus in a great location. I have never been to Davis, but have read good things. Where do you live now?</p>
<p>Is the Student Worker Program guarenteed for all 4-5 years of attendance? Do you have to keep up a certain grade point average? Do you have to work a certain number of hours weekly or monthly? </p>
<p>The two locations are so drastically different from each other.
Do you want a college town/rural or an urban/upsacale city experience?
I guess it depends on your fit.
Since the money is the same, just make sure you can meet the requirements to keep the money for all 4-5 years.</p>
<p>Have fun visiting Davis and good luck on your interview Saturday!</p>
<p>I live in the Santa Clarita/Canyon Country area. I would have to reapply for the program every year, but I would pretty much be guaranteed a spot if I get accepted now. The GPA that needs to be maintained is a 2.0-2.5, which is not difficult to achieve. The requirements are to work around 20 hours a week, and there are special incentives for those who are accepted into the program.
I will attach a link to the powerpoint explaining the program below if you’re interested! 
<a href=“Student Worker Program by Chandler Wright”>Student Worker Program by Chandler Wright;
I’ve never been outside of my city home, but I am used to the vibe from LMU. I have not visited Davis yet, but based off of pictures it looks just as beautiful! Academically Davis seems like it would be a better school, but I guess I will just have to wait until I visit to make my decision!
Thank you! :D</p>
<p>That sounds like a great program, and very reasonable qualifications to maintain. I would just look into the graduation rate at Loyola, compared to Davis. I heard that Loyola has a high dropout rate and it could be due to costs. I hope after seeing both of the schools, your decision will be easier. They are both great opportunities that you would be fortunate to attend - regardless - you cannot go wrong!</p>
<p>Again, good luck on Saturday!</p>
<p>Without the tuition reduction it is a nobrainer to go to Davis. I’d be concerned that the program didn’t have a year guarantee. That student worker program doesn’t sound all that great to me. It pushes the limit of hours a student should ideally work a bit much. There is a hour commitment but looks like quite a few extra time you will be called on, including graduation duties. The jobs aren’t particularly enriching as most are clerical or physical in nature. </p>
<p>I agree with @brownpatent. Unless your parents are loaded, Davis wins hands down. You could find a local job @ Davis, work the same 20 hours a week and off-set the entire cost of attendance. All the while getting an outstanding education at one of the country’s best schools.</p>
<p>I meant to say “4 year guarantee”. That program is just a few students. If the students tend to do it for 4 years there would be few to no openings some years. Also you have a duplicate thread going that has a reply too.</p>
<p>@BrownParent So you would recommend me to attend a UC instead of a private school? My main concern is that Davis is in a farm area and does not have much to do, but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>@liveonboca I will definitely look into that! </p>
<p>@NCalRent Yeah, and someone else told me it is best to go to a UC for the first four years to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree, and if you want a higher degree go to a private school for additional years. </p>
<p>@BlueF30 thank you very much, are you an alumni from UC Davis? What are your connections to the school? I fully agree with you when you state that private schools are mainly for achieving higher degrees. That being said, I’m excited to visit Davis in the upcoming month. My trip is scheduled for mid April, and I live a few hours from Sacramento so I don’t think I can make it to Picnic Day 
But I will definitely make sure that I get familiar with the campus! Thank you for your great tips and advice :)</p>
<p>This talk about privates being better for grad school is nonsense. Depending on the field some of the top departments are in publics. No one picks a grad school based on whether it is private or public. You pick based on how good a fit you have with the department and the professors you will be studying with. And how that reputation and experience there will enhance your career. Please don’t talk like that and spread misinformation until you know more about it.</p>
<p>I’m not saying to attend Davis over “a private school” I am saying that LMU is nice but not worth 32k a year over Davis. That is just crazy. If money is the same and you have talked to LMU about the very very high possibility or guarantee (if you maintain the gpa) of a 4 year commitment from them, then you should think about it if you really like the LMU vibe and program. I don’t understand the going into Communications just to change it. But maybe you will get some LA internships out of it.</p>
<p>At many colleges, hanging out with friends is the most common activity, when you have downtime from studying. So is going to parties sometimes. Davis is a huge college community, you will find lots to do. You can bike around too. Likely you will side trip to San Francisco on a long weekend, I highly recommend that. Virtually all colleges have special speakers and music etc.</p>
<p>This is iStacyS thread and I was replying to her. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.</p>