<p>^ If you appealed financial aid this year, then yes - you would have to appeal each year to get the same adjustment. Any adjustment made this year would not automatically carry over to the following year. If he is still interested when he returns from the robotics championship, try sending an email to FA asking if the same consideration would be given in future years - then you would have something in writing and a name to reference when appealing in future years. Good luck, both with the robots and the decision! (And you can always hang out on the USC forum even if he chooses UCLA - one of our posters might actually have taught at UCLA while dispensing advice here 
)</p>
<p>Haha, alamemom. I have love for both schools. But only root for one team (Fight on!) One other point that rgosula hit on–it seems a lot of maneuvering can be easier at USC than big UCs. Changing majors, registration and getting classes you need without stress, adding another major, or a minor, talking to your advisor sooner rather than later, getting email answers from your advisors and professors in just a few hours, being able to take classes in entrepreneurship (Marshall) as electives, for example, without huge hassle. Plus, in terms of funded research opportunities, USC is simply amazing. The USC Provost’s office funds undergrad research and quite well. Plus there are continuing student merit scholarships for those who are doing well academically. From what I’ve observed, a good portion of 'SC students make friends among their majors–kids with lots in common often like the same ECs, etc. At a school like USC, this is usually a manageable subset of freshmen from whom to find your people. Good luck with the decision. And if your S chooses UCLA, please stick around here, too. (And I’ll look for him walking around campus in Westwood.)</p>
<p>I did not so much “appeal” aid. I pointed out that I thought they were incorrect. During the phone call they did not admit it, but said they were going to look into it. A few hours later the FA package was updated to what I originally expected.</p>
<p>Another plug for the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fund (PERF) - daughter wrote a research proposal her freshman year and was on a plane for 2 months of USC-funded research abroad (including air & housing) the summer after freshman year. I honestly believe that would not have been an option at almost any other school. (And no, she did not come in to USC with any significant research experience.) Research proposals may be written in ANY field. </p>
<p>rgosula,
Please call the financial aid office at SC. We have heard parents were not satisfied with a financial aid offer, but this is the only time I ever recall having an offer lowered. Was this in writing? Do check.<br>
Has your son inquired about internship availability, ease of obtaining needed classes and size of discussion and lab classes?</p>
<p>It is all settled now with the financial aid. It was lowered then re-instated.</p>
<p>Actually, is there any suggestion of a specific person in the FA office to contact to get a written assurance of the things I am unsure about?</p>
<p>When you wrote about advantages of UCLA I did not understand about more diversity and male female ratio. SC is more diverse than UCLA and the male female ratio in the Viterbi School is one of the best with roughly 35% women in the school. Male female ratio in the entire university leans slightly to the female side. </p>
<p>USC Faculty Student Ratio 1/9
UCLA Faculty Student Ratio 1/17</p>
<p>SC has no impacted majors, no overcrowded classes and no problem with taking classes in succession. Research funding has not been cut. </p>
<p>The residential colleges for freshmen have been so popular all freshmen dorms now have faculty “masters” in residence. </p>
<p>Not that this is a big deal, but for completeness:
USC Male/Female 49%/51%
UCLA Male/Female 45%/55%</p>
<p>usnews diversity ratio for USC 0.67
usnews diversity ratio for UCLA 0.70</p>
<p>Black, Hispanic and Asian %'s are higher in UCLA than USC.</p>
<p>You are right that the %women in engineering is very high at USC.</p>
<hr>
<p>Reiterating, these are barely important factors in my son’s decision. They are just in the radar because I like statistics.</p>
<p>Last night his pendulum swung back to USC, because he felt it would be the one he had the higher chance of regretting the decision if he went the other way. But not enough to submit SIR yet. 2 more days…</p>
<p>Son Submitted SIR to USC!</p>
<p>and we are all feeling really good about it.
It came down to he is really interested in game design.</p>
<p>thanks to all the advice coming from this forum.</p>
<p>I plan on staying less on the forum now that the decision has been made.</p>
<p>Congratulations!!!</p>
<p>Best wishes! This has been a difficult decision for your family. Now he can look forward to the SCendoff in your area and all the fun of preparing for his college journey.</p>