UC Irvine vs USC (HELP PLEASE, DESPERATE)

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>As May 1st (SIR Day) approaches, I need some serious help :( I am currently deciding between UC Irvine and USC. </p>

<p>For UC Irvine, I was admitted to their Honors Program in early February, along with $2k grant and $5k in loans. I am an California resident, so that makes EFC about $23k. </p>

<p>For USC, I received about $11k grant, $5k loan, and including work study, the EFC is about $38k. </p>

<p>I'm struggling immensely on deciding which school is a better fit for me. I visited both last week during my spring break, hoping to find a clear choice, but rather it makes things a lot more tough. With UC Irvine, I will save a lot more money relative to the costs of USC, but I feel as though USC's benefits outweigh the money I will save at Irvine. I have an older sister in college and a younger sister that has soon to reach high school. I'm also looking to major in Business, but right now I'm accepted as Econ in College of L/S for both schools. </p>

<p>Ultimately, I feel as though the guilt from my parents will push me to go to UC Irvine, but I know I won't be completely happy and excited going there as if I were going to USC. My parents can cover a slim amount of my first year, but the rest of my undergrad tuition is mainly on me. </p>

<p>I'm also attending both schools with the intention of transferring out. So if anyone knows if it is easier to go from UC to UC, or Private to UC, that'd be great insight for me as well. </p>

<p>Please help me out :(</p>

2

<p>If you plan on transferring, then spending the extra money for 'SC is silly. Whatever “benefits” you think 'SC has over Irvine won’t really matter if you aren’t there for four years to experience those benefits.</p>

<p>You should not incur that kind of debt for undergrad.</p>

3

<p>If you are planning on transferring to a UC, the better choice would be a California Community College. All UCs give priority to CCC transfers. Spending $38,000/year at USC or $23,000/year at UCI seems foolish when someone who paid $1,000/year at a CCC will beat you out for admission to a UC.</p>

4

<p>Incurring debt for USC with the intent on transferring is very short-sighted.</p>

<p>Something doesn’t seem right. Since you will have 2 in college, and USC is expecting a large “family contribution” ($38k) that suggests that your family has a high income and/or lots of assets. Because if you were the only one in college, that means your “family contribution” would be over $50k (which it will be once your sibling graduates). </p>

<p>If that is true, then even if you try to transfer later, you still won’t get good aid.</p>

<p>Did you apply to ANY affordable schools? Did you apply to anywhere that gave you good merit scholarships? It just doesn’t sound like you were advised very well.</p>

<p>As a business major, you really shouldn’t borrow much. And, if your parents won’t co-sign those big loans, the question is moot since you can’t borrow that much by yourself.</p>

<p>*With UC Irvine, I will save a lot more money relative to the costs of USC, but I feel as though USC’s benefits outweigh the money I will save at Irvine. *</p>

<p>Newsflash…you aren’t “saving” money at either school since both require substantial (and unnecessary) loans. For someone who’s considering a major in business, think about that. </p>

<p>And, furthermore, there aren’t any “benefits” at USC that could justify borrowing that much more.</p>

5

<p>^ It is just as silly to pay $23,000 ($28,000 with the loans) for Irvine if the OP is transferring to a different UC. Again, all UCs give transfer priority to California Community College transfers over UC transfers. A kid who attends their local CCC will have priority over the OP at all UCs.</p>

<p>For a transfer to a UC, a California Community College is the better choice even if the UC was free.</p>

6

<p>I am currently applying for private scholarships. I only applied to several UC schools and 3 private schools. I have narrowed down my choices between these two with the intent on transferring out ONLY if my aid decreases/scholarship prospects are slim in the future. I’m positive that I will be happy at USC, okay with UC Irvine, and miserable at a CC.</p>

7

<p>My son got into UCI honors too, but we were offered nothing by them nor Davis nor Cal. Also, everything I hear and read indicated a very rough ride financially (and educationally) at UCs over the next 3~4 years as the state struggles with the truly massive budget issues. </p>

<p>If you are in SoCa and want to stay here, USC hands down and no comparison with UCI. Alum support is off the chart at SC, and they are everywhere in SoCa. You’re resume comes out of the pile first if a SC grad is in the hiring loop.</p>

<p>UCI is great for bio, but not for engineering or business. Also, the college experience is pretty much non-existent. Place is a ghost town on weekends. Lastly, somewhere around 95% + of undergrads are from Ca and mainly the OC. If you are from SoCa, think of it like going to a bigger version of high school… USC offers a fantastic college experience with much more diversity.</p>

<p>Did you appeal the financial award at SC? I know several kids admitted this year, and many got very generous offers. Offers are always negotiable.</p>

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<p>^Finally some USC-lovin’. I appreciate the insight! I’m actually from Norcal but I have family down in Socal close to both USC and UC Irvine. </p>

<p>I’m interested in appealing the financial award offer… how would I go about doing so? I have received less than $5k from the other schools I have been admitted to; there is no way I can ask them to ‘match’ financial aid from other schools. Should I resend in paperwork/write a formal letter?</p>

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<p>It is just as silly to pay $23,000 ($28,000 with the loans) for Irvine if the OP is transferring to a different UC.</p>

<p>I agree…that’s why I wrote: Newsflash…you aren’t “saving” money at either school since both require substantial (and unnecessary) loans. For someone who’s considering a major in business, think about that. </p>

<p>And, I said this: Did you apply to ANY affordable schools? Did you apply to anywhere that gave you good merit scholarships? It just doesn’t sound like you were advised very well.</p>

<p>As a business major, you really shouldn’t borrow much. And, if your parents won’t co-sign those big loans, the question is moot since you can’t borrow that much by yourself.</p>

<p>*If you are in SoCa and want to stay here, USC hands down and no comparison with UCI. Alum support is off the chart at SC, and they are everywhere in SoCa. You’re resume comes out of the pile first if a SC grad is in the hiring loop…</p>

<p>Did you appeal the financial award at SC? I know several kids admitted this year, and many got very generous offers. Offers are always negotiable.*</p>

<p>Carlsbaddad…No one is saying that USC isn’t a great school. I think we all know that. However, I don’t care how great the alums are, this student would have to incur at least $120k in debt to go there. Realistically, there isn’t a job he could get where he could pay off that loan along with paying for his own living expenses. </p>

<p>He’s not really in a position to get a more affordable package from USC. His parents either earn too much or they have too much in assets. USC determined a “family contribution” of $38k with TWO kids in college. Since that suggests a 60/60 split, that suggests that they’ve determined that the family has the means to pay a LOT for college. Even if this student could squeeze some sympathy out of USC, he’d likely only get a few thousand…not enough to bring down the $38k to a manageable number. And, once his sibling graduates then his “family contribution” will shoot up to “full pay”…which could mean graduating with more than $120k in debt.</p>

<p>That said, it’s highly doubtful that his parents would co-sign such loans anyway.</p>

<p>This student wasn’t advised well. He has a high EFC and his family is unable to pay much. He should have applied to schools that would have given him huge merit. </p>

<p>Canoe…are you a NMF? If so, did you receive a merit scholarship from USC?</p>

10

<p>

Actually, I am one of the biggest USC supporters on the forum. In the situation you describe, both UCI and USC are very poor choices financially and in terms of accomplishing the transfer you say you plan. The “desperation” of your title seems to be entirely in trying to get someone to tell you either plan has merit.

USC does not “match” offers from other schools in any case. There are a few circumstances they will consider in an appeal. They include job loss, high out of pocket medical expenses, elder care. All would have to be documented, and all must not have appeared on the CSS/Profile when you first submitted it (if it was on the Profile, it has already been considered). Just wanting more money so you can convince your parents to go along with your ill-advised plan would not be something USC would consider in calculating need-based aid.</p>

<p>As M2K says, when your older sibling graduates you will pay $57,000/year at USC.</p>

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<p>A big question in all of this is what your parents are willing and able to pay. If they are gung ho about paying the additional amount and you know it doesn’t mean getting a second job or raiding the pension fund, you can go where you want. If they are scrimping, scraping and worried, worried, worried about it, the answer is obvious.</p>

<p>Also if you are intending to transfer, by all means take UCI. Many may think a USC degree opens more doors in CA–I dont know about that, but two years there isn’t worth it. Take the least expensive option and work your tail off to get the highest grades so you are prime transfer material.</p>

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<p>^ I’ll mention it one more time because I don’t think those not in California are aware of the official priority given to California Community College tranfers at all - every single one of them - UCs. To be “prime transfer material” at ANY UC, the student should attend a CCC. CCC transfers will be given priority over UCI transfers at ALL UCs. All UCs. All of 'em. Really.</p>

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<p>Alamemom, in terms of transfer, would a private school like USC have any preferance over another UC in transfers? I know that the CCCs do have the official priority, but the OP is looking at UCI vs USC. He does not want to go to a CCC despite the advantages for transfer. </p>

<p>To OP, you did know this official policy for transfer? You can save a lot of money and enhance your transfer options by going to your local CC for two years if you are eying another UC over Irvine.</p>

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<p>Nope - CCC tranfers would also have priority over USC transfers, and the UCI and USC transfers are in a secod-class pool together with other 4-year school transfers.</p>

<p>My guess at this point is that out-of-state full-pay transfers coming from any school will be considered much more favorably than in the past and will also be considered over a USC or UCI transfer, but that is just speculation at this point. The CCC transfer priority is fact.</p>

<p>A single exception to the transfer priority is the UC Merced Shared Experoence program where students attend UCM for 2 years and the transfer to UCB or UCLA, but that is an invitation-only program, and if the OP was not invited they are not eligible. (The program is aimed at getting some of the state’s best students to attend UCM for a couple years to build the program there.)</p>

<p>Yes, I can see that the OP doesn’t “want” to go to a CCC. The OP wants the most expensive option that is the least useful for what they state they plan to do. They really should either re-think the transfer plan or re-think the overall plan.</p>

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<p>*Ultimately, I feel as though the guilt from my parents will push me to go to UC Irvine, but I know I won’t be completely happy and excited going there as if I were going to USC. **My parents can cover a slim amount of my first year, but the rest of my undergrad tuition is mainly on me. **</p>

<p>I’m also attending both schools with the intention of transferring out. So if anyone knows if it is easier to go from UC to UC, or Private to UC, that’d be great insight for me as well.
*</p>

<p>Again, this student was poorly advised.</p>

<p>he doesn’t say where he plans on transferring to. I’m guessing to a school that is more highly ranked than USC for business. If that is the case, that is a pipe dream since (again) he wouldn’t qualify for aid when he goes to transfer. At that point, he may be the only college student in the family and be expected to full-pay. </p>

<p>Right now…he really only has 2 options since his high EFC family can only contribute a very small amount. (Slim amount this fall, and none after that.)</p>

<p>Option #1…go to a CC, work over summers and save money, and then transfer to UCLA or Berkeley for business and be nearly a full pay. </p>

<p>Option #2…take a gap year. Work as much as you can over the next year (no schooling!), then reapply to schools that will give you big merit for your stats.</p>

<p>You have to accept your financial situation. You can’t run from it and you can’t be in denial about it. School has to be paid for and you won’t qualify for the aid you need based on family income/assets. You’ll need merit scholarships and those are given to incoming frosh. Transfers get little to no merit scholarships. </p>

<p>Canon…exactly how much will your parents pay the first year? And, why can’t they contribute after that?</p>

<p>Also, what was your FAFSA EFC?</p>

16

<p>

^ Yes, the OP asks about transferring to a UC, and asks if that would be easier from a UC or from USC.

And the answer is that neither of those options make sense if the plan is to transfer to another UC.</p>

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</p>

<p>Since May 1 is this week, hopefully by now you have come to see the brutal reality: your scholarship prospects TODAY are “slim”…</p>

<p>fwiw: I disagree with cb-dad, in that UCI has an excellent engineering and business program. Outside of Cal and Riverside, UCI is on the only UC offering a full undergrad biz program. While Marshall and Veterbi (and the Trojan Family) maybe stronger than UCI, the OP does not have the green to afford 'SC, so it really doesn’t matter how much better it may be.</p>

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<p>*in that UCI has an excellent engineering and business program. *</p>

<p>I agree…</p>

<p>Cbdad has a bias against Calif publics. But, the money to pay to go elsewhere isn’t going to fall from the sky.</p>