<p>Finaid: Umich I have a guaranteed four year scholarship of about 20,000 a year, this year total fin aid covering about 34,000 out of 50 (I am OOS from Southern IL).
USC is covering about 43,000 this year out of 60,000 but nothing is guaranteed for the next three years.</p>
<p>Interested in theater on the side. </p>
<p>The campuses are very different but I cannot decide which one I want more. </p>
<p>I mostly need a good gym and a healthy lifestyle. Some partying but I am not really interested in the Greek life. I like the access to a big city but I also would like to feel like I am on a college campus for the most part. </p>
<p>Any advice? Or just generally, which school is better in your opinion?</p>
<p>Michigan’s polisci program is much stronger than USC’s. Michigan is #3 whereas I think USC is in the 20s.
You have the scholarship guaranteed all four years at Michigan. At USC you don’t.
There’s a reason USC is sometimes called the University of Spoiled Children.
I don’t know about theater but I’m sure both schools are excellent for that.
Ann Arbor trumps the part of LA USC is in.</p>
<p>The metrics used to assess the quality of graduate programs are almost irrelevant to undergraduate education. These schools are peers at the undergraduate level so choose based on finances and personal fit. Expect pretty large Political Science classes at both of these schools though…</p>
<p>Michigan is a far superior institution academically that USC. I would opt for the 4 yr guarantee or call USC’s Financial Aid office and explain your situation and see if anything can be done to make it a 4 year offer.</p>
<p>Michigan has a lower percentage of undergraduates on Pell Grants than USC does.</p>
<p>Re: #7</p>
<p>USC has a reputation for favoring test scores in admissions, so its student body may show a bias toward higher test scores relative to high school GPA.</p>
<p>Michigan’s tuition has shot up $9000 in the last four years. A $20K scholarship would cover increasingly small percentages of total cost if tuition continues to rise. Although the OP reports that the merit aid at Michigan and financial aid at USC result in similar costs this year, the gap could widen if USC matches rising tuition with increased financial aid.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the financial aid package from USC requires examination as well. Almost no college will provide a financial aid package for more than a year at a time, so it is impossible to predict in advance. If your financial situation does not change, however, financial aid should cover roughly the same percentage of costs each year. Do you expect significant changes after this year? (A sibling graduating from college, a parent getting a new job, etc.?) It is also worth factoring in how many loans, if any, USC expects you to take out.</p>
<p>1) USC’s endowment campaign have led to them heavily pumping their financial aid. So it wouldn’t be surprising to have it increase year after year, and you’d probably get fairly decent financial aid.</p>
<p>2) USC has the second most student debt behind NYU for a not-for-profit universities.</p>
<p>The latter point may be more historical, but it’s certainly one to take into consideration. I certainly wouldn’t say Michigan’s the better deal. Examine both financial aid packages carefully, and go with fit.</p>
<p>USC has recently become harder to get into than past years, BUT their programs haven’t moved up much in the rankings. UMich is better in academics and doesn’t carry the spoiled children stigma. Go to UMich!</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who contributed! Sorry I have not been on in a while </p>
<p>I am still having a really difficult time deciding, but for the moment I am really leaning towards Umich for their strength in both Poli Sci and Theater.</p>
<p>However, something that can either make or break this for me is the accessibility to the Theater program for an LSA student. I know that LSA discontinued their major Theater program, so for the most part it seems like I would have to work within the School of Music, Theater and Dance if I want a significant number of theater courses…?</p>
<p>To the UMich students out there, is that even possible? or would I have to go through the School’s entire application process?..I know at USC for a minor all you have to do is sign up and show up to the Theater classes. I am not sure about a major though.</p>
<p>Any insight would be of great help right now! Thanks again!</p>
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