University of Michigan vs. University of South Carolina

I think you have a solid plan, wait for the final word on admission to the honors college at USC and to Ross. You can then evaluate the total difference in price. Keep in mind that going away also has some downsides- you won’t be able to go home for the weekend if you need to de-stress from your crazy roommate or if you are sick, travel is a lot more expensive (you’ll probably fly for Thanksgiving break, at least), and you’ll miss family events. Also consider the following:

Is your OOS scholarship guaranteed? Do you have to maintain a certain GPA? What if you need a 5th year?

What is the cost of study abroad? Do you pay your current tuition or some different amount? What are the reciprocal schools?

If you change your mind and switch majors, what is the effect on cost, graduation, etc.?

What are the most common firms hiring from the program, starting salary, etc. etc. ?

You might want to wait until you can compare “apples to apples”- honors college acceptance and International Business acceptance at USC (I agree with using that acronym! Lol!) would make a huge difference to your experience on campus.
Good luck with your decision!

And while UMich may be close to home, see if you can do study-abroad to get away for a few semesters.

Remember that this is a 40 year decision, not a 4 year decision (yes, after you graduate, few people will care where you went . . . except for alumni and the friends you made, but that may matter).

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Have you thought about where you’d like to live and work after you graduate?
Would you rather settle down, maybe get married, and have a career in South Carolina, or in Michigan?
You’re not locked into either region, regardless, but school ties may tilt your advantages toward one or the other.

“You’re not locked into either region, regardless, but school ties may tilt your advantages toward one or the other.”

Except one degree definitely “travels” better than the other one.

And that one would be Michigan. Another vote for Michigan here.

You haven’t even been admitted to Ross yet. There’s no decision to make. Would you even consider Michigan if you don’t get in to Ross?

@brantly’s point is equally true for USC. If you have not been accepted into the HC, then you have not been accepted as pre-IB. (You aren’t even accepted directly into IB. I think if your GPA drops below a 3.5, IB as a jr is no longer an option.) The IB program is incredibly competitive. If you aren’t admitted as an incoming freshman, the admissions is fierce and requires a minimum of a 3.6 or 3.7 to even apply. (I can’t remember exactly. I sat in on a presentation last yr and the details are fuzzy. Since it didn’t apply to my dd, it wasn’t a focus.)

To give you an idea, my dd is a Top Scholar who was accepted into pre-IB bc of the HC admissions. She is also part of one of their cohort students. She only has until Feb of this yr (freshman) to decide if she wants to stay in the cohort or switch to classic IB. If she changes her mind March or later that she doesn’t want to be in her cohort, she completely loses her IB spot.

And if you don’t get in to those special programs, it comes down to UMich vs. SC (or some other school).

OP should wait for the Ross decision and financial aid packages before making decision.

As an update: I am in both Ross and USC’s honors college.

Congrats! You have great options.

Well done! Ross is probably your best choice but I totally get wanting a change of scenery from where you grew up.

Congratulations on both!
Clearly you really want to go to USC but worry that your wish to leave Michigan will lead you to a wrong decision.
What if you went to USC and decided you made a mistake (or didn’t get into IB), would you be able to 1) afford UMich 2) get into Ross?
(I think the reverse isn’t possible, since you wouldn’t have your merit scholarship from USC anymore).
Any other special programs you’ve applied to at either school that you’re waiting to hear from?

IF CC is anything to go by -there is definitely a bias against Southern Schools. The way people use “southern” as an adjective on this site is shameful. I would go to Michigan.

I think the decision is not that difficult. Go blue.

No, under the new rules you cannot apply to Ross again. Besides, there are very, very, very few spots for transfers.

I have decided to attend the University of South Carolina! Go Gamecocks!

Congratulations!
Can you explain your reasoning, the factors you weighted, etc?