USC (Dornsife) vs U-Mich (LSA) - International Student

College Search & Selection
1

Hey Everyone!

Ok so I was really happy to be admitted to USC’s Class of 2023 for Economics/Math for the fall and U-Mich for Economics. USC had a 11 percent acceptance rate this year and I am not too sure about U-Mich. I am having the hardest time choosing between the two. For one, I have never lived in the cold and am not good with that kind of weather, so would that be an issue for U of M? Also, I might be thinking of transferring to Business, which I know would be much easier to do with Marshall rather than Ross. I am slightly concerned about reputation. Is Umich considered the better school? By reputation, I am talking about everything from academic reputation to being picked up by firms. As an international student, this means a lot to me. Is USC considered on the same level as U-mich in this respect? I know that there is alot of diversity at USC. Overall, my mind is in several places and I have no clue what to choose. Any input would help. Thanks!

2

What we think doesn’t matter. What employers in your country think does matter. At the present time, students with your possible majors qualify for one year of OPT after graduation, and then they need to go home. Many organizations do not hire students with OPT, so ask the international students office and the career center at each campus about internship and OPT job placement for international students with your possible majors.

3

Hey. Same struggles! I am debating between USC Price school of Public Policy and UMich (Ford school in junior year). I think USC’s reputation is rising quickly, and by the time we graduate, it will be fine. The thing with UMich is that the classes are way too big (3-5 times bigger than USC), as well as the weather. But all older people tell me to choose UMich. It’s a hard call for me as well

4

“ I think USC’s reputation is rising quickly, and by the time we graduate, it will be fine.”

Four years ought to about do it! SMH

5

Let’s introduce some facts from the CDS’s.

Class Sections

2-9 = USC 14% UM 15%
10-19 = USC 44% UM 41%
20-29 = USC 12% UM 16%
30-39 = USC 9% UM 6%
40-49 = USC 9% UM 4%
50-99 = USC 9% UM 11%
100+ = USC 3% UM 7%

Ya, I don’t know about that 3x-5x figure. From what I can tell, all class sections look pretty close between the schools, but for the 100+ category, which is a little more than double at UM.

6

Yes, transferring into Ross will be difficult, but possible.

From the Ross BBA website:

7

Every person feels weather differently. USC doesn’t cancel classes for a Polar Vortex. :smiley:

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2019/01/university-of-michigan-cancels-classes-for-2-days-with-45-wind-chill-expected.html

FWIW, my CA kid adjusted w/o any problems. If weather is a hump you cannot get over, then USC is the obvious choice. You don’t want to be miserable for 4 years.