<p>So the two schools where I could probably get merit aid from are University of Miami and University of San Diego. I have visited both schools and from what I can tell, they are pretty similar. What is you guys' opinions about:</p>
<p>-The Opportunity (Internships and Jobs)
-The National Reputation
-The Undergraduate Experience
-The Success the Universities Have had with Top Graduate Schools
-The Students</p>
<p>At the respective schools?</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>I think my S is applying to both as he is looking for warm weather & merit. We live in the East so Miami definitely has a stronger reputation here. I’m sure as far as employers that there is some confusion between UCSD, U of SD and SD State. S did the summer program at UCSD, when I said he was going to visit San Diego, my few friends in the LA area thought I meant State. Sorry, can’t answer your other questions but will be looking at what other people respond.</p>
<p>Well, a big factor in my decision will be the reputation, because I am hoping to get into a top tier law school. However, I don’t want to spend $200K + for an undergraduate degree and then already be in major debt for law school, so I am looking for a private school with a good rep. and merit money. I think I can get merit from both UM and USD, but I still cannot find much on graduate paths from either school. Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m not sure it will be easy to find stats like those you’re looking for.</p>
<p>USD has a well respected Law School. That and the undergraduate Business school are apparently the strongest fields of study at the school.</p>
<p>As to law school, I do not see a Law School adcom perceiving much difference between Miami and USD. However, your performance on the LSAT is critical. It is fair to assume that whichever school has a smaller class size, and therefore more direct feedback from the Professor, will best prepare you for Law School.</p>
<p>My gut tells me the class size at USD will be considerably smaller than that at Miami. Don’t know where to check that, but I suggest you drill down and understand clearly how well your Professors will get to know you at each place.</p>
<p>Here are class size stats… they are hard to compare but in looking, I think Miami and USD will have approx. similar class sizes. Now you need to get a feel for how interactive and proactive the Professors tend to be at each school. Miami has more very large classes, but also more very small classes, so it probably averages out to be similar.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg04_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=866[/url]”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg04_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=866</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg04_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1047[/url]”>http://www.collegedata.com/cs/data/college/college_pg04_tmpl.jhtml?schoolId=1047</a></p>
<p>Thanks for that info! I visited USD and Miami, and I felt like at USD the students seemed very happy and everyone was always talking to everyone. It seemed like a nice community amongst the students. I’ve heard Miami is cliquey, but it has a higher retention rate than USD. I posted a thread about USD’s retention rate (85%), and it concerns me a little, because other schools I am looking at have ones of >90%. Do you have any idea as to why their retention rate is lower than the other schools in comparison?</p>
<p>Don’t know about that but my son has one semester to go at USD, and he has loved it there. The school’s reputation has only strengthened over the years. He’s made valuable relationships with his professors and served three internships in his field. He loves the campus and loves the area. His only complaint would be that they don’t have a big time football program, but other than that, he has never regretted selecting USD.</p>