University of San Diego honors vs. UPitt honors

College Search & Selection
1

<p>This is my second post here, but I did some soul searching and narrowed it down to two very different schools and wanted some input.</p>

<p>University of San Diego honors: The school is in an amazing location (San Diego!) and has a beautiful campus. The kids seem to really enjoy life and have a good time. The weather is just fantastic and everyone seems to get along wtih each other. I know that I would have a great time if I went here. However, I don't know much about the academics, so I wonder if perhaps I will be pushed to my full potential or end up gliding like I did in high school. It is a catholic school and I'm not catholic, so that's one reservation, though I've talked to some folks there who aren't catholic and they said it's not a problem. Keep in mind this isn't UCSD, it's different and a lot smaller.</p>

<p>University of Pittsburgh honors college: I feel like this might be a stronger place to be academically, with the honors college allowing and encouraging double and triple majors, often times between schools. Not really knowing what I want to do academically in college, I feel like this might be an interesting opportunity to take advantage of. Pittsburgh seems like a fun city, with plenty to do I imagine for those who attend. However, I dislike the cold, and I know it'll get to be pretty chilly there. Also, it is a big school and I don't want to be lost in the crowd though I'm hoping being in the honors college would help avoid that.</p>

<p>This is proving to be a really hard choice as I don't know how to compare the two schools. Both would be pretty much free with San Diego ending up slightly more expensive because of travel, but the difference is not that much. I don't know what I want to major in, but I figure I might go into engineering though I would not want to specialize while in college. After college I hope to go to graduate school for business, and hopefully a top school. This is why I eliminated NYU from my list, saving that money for grad school I figured would be useful when considering my options after college. I want to go to the school where I would be able to enjoy my life and yet gain the best possible education given my choices (one that would hopefully make me eligible for those previously mentioned grad schools as well).</p>

<p>Anyways, any advice is appreciated. Thanks all!</p>

2

<p>Pittsburgh is ranked almost 50 spots higher then USD. Unless you want a completely different experience (living in CA etc) then go to Pitt. My choice would be Pitt.</p>

3

<p>You seem to like USD a lot better. Go to USD. You’ll get a fine education there. It’s a good school. </p>

<p>The thing is - rankings favor big schools, because of things like funding and alumni networks. That doesn’t mean that the big schools are necessarily better. </p>

<p>Seriously, it’s silly to go to a school that you’re not passionate about when a school that you are passionate about is equally affordable.</p>

4

<p>USD is a good school for males, ratio is somthing like 70%/30%. My D felt there was not much diversity in the student body there especially in terms of socio economics. There was a bias in teaching, many classes were taught by nuns and there was not a broadness to many subjects. My D was in the honors college there and transfered to a state honors college. She is much happier and feels she is learning with more depth and with a broader context across the board. She likes the greater diversity of students and feels it adds so much to her experience. She was 1 of 2 students elected to represent her class and felt the school did not let stuents have much input. Most of the money went to the frats and sororities. The benefit from my point of view is that classes are smaller generally though her honors classes are small in her new school as are upper division classes. She has more research opportunities at the larger school as well. She did love San Diego itself however and studying at the beach. There are religion rewuirements at USD and if you do transfer these classes will not transfer. Best of luck. Let us know what you decide. Also i am not familiar with Pittsburg’s program so can not comment on that though I have heard good things!</p>

5

<p>Well, if you go by business school rankings, USD’s is ranked in the Top 50 and quite a bit ahead of Pitt. Pitt and USD are very different schools though. I would definitely choose USD if it was my decision, but good luck with whatever you decide.</p>