<p>I am currently a Junior enrolled at Penn State as a Finance major in the Smeal College of Business. I recently received my acceptance at USC as an Economics major in the Liberal Arts program. Now, I am really in a quandary in deciding which I should choose. I am still waiting on my financial aid package from USC and I would be paying out-of-state for Penn State. But I would like to know which would be a better choice for my situation without considering financial aid. I applied to Marshall at USC but unfortunately did not take the correct prerequisite calculus course. I could reapply to Marshall once I am at USC but there is no guarantee that I will get in and they only accept applicants in the fall!</p>
<p>Now a little bit about me:</p>
<p>GPA: 3.88
I am from Los Angeles andthern plan on living in Southern California long-term after I graduate.
I am pursuing a career in the finance industry, specifically Investment Banking.
I plan on getting my MBA in the future.</p>
<p>And these are the pros and cons I have come up with:</p>
<p>USC pros:
-More prestigious
-Closer to home (So Cal!)
-Better alumni network
-Possibly will receive more financial aid
-I've always wanted to go to USC since I was a little tike.
-Just about everyone I know back home (professionally and friends) says
choosing USC is a "no-brainer."
-I am a USC football fan at heart.
-There's a chance I can get into Marshall if I reapply or I can minor in business
if it doesn't work out.</p>
<p>USC cons:
-Most likely will have to take an extra semester or two because of the way the
my credits transferred
-I am not to excited about an Econ major and I get mixed reviews about the
perception and future career prospects with an Econ major.</p>
<p>Penn State pros:
-I am already in the Penn State family
-I am already in the business school with a major that I am happy with
-I have already completed nearly all my Gen Eds so I am on course to
graduate in 2 years.</p>
<p>Penn State cons:
-I don't really enjoy being in the middle of nowhere in "Happy Valley"
-I hate the cold weather!
-Lack of diversity
-It's not USC!
-I have to live in supplemental housing next year (4-8 guys in one room)</p>
<p>So.....What should I do??? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Go to USC - its not even close. An econ major from USC will land you plenty of jobs. If you want to live in LA in the long run it makes much more sense given the power the school has in the area.</p>
<p>But what is the perception of economics majors at USC and on the job market? I want to be in investment banking so am I better off with a Finance degree Penn State or economics at USC.</p>
<p>And I’m also hoping I get a lot of financial aid. My dad’s income is too high for financial aid but he has paid a tremendous amount of medical bills for my mother and will probably have to for the rest of her life because of serious medical complications. We are still waiting on USC’s financial aid offer but I am really anxious to see what happens. </p>
<p>I will also probably have to stay extra year at USC. So is USC worth it and should I go no matter what it takes?</p>
<p>Also, should I live on campus or at home to save money? I plan on joining a fraternity and having a lively social life…</p>
<p>Lastly, what is the likelihood of getting into Marshall once I’m already at USC? I would be majoring in economics and taking those classes that have nothing to really do with business school so it would just make things even more complicated. What should i do about that???</p>
<p>I am not guaranteed admission into the business school at USC. I will have to take calculus and Spanish courses all over again because they do not transfer over. I might have to end up with an Econ degree if I am not admitted in the business school this spring. Furthermore, I would probably have to take at least an extra semester to graduate from USC. </p>
<p>At Penn State I am already in the business school, which BusinessWeek Ranks 9 spots better than USC’s Marshall for 2011.</p>
<p>I want to do investment banking in Southern California. What should I do? I really want to go to USC but I do not know if it is really worth it?</p>
<p>I am so confused and this might be one of the most important decisions of my life. Please help anybody! I am completely torn between these two options and I really don’t want to regret my decision later on in life.</p>
<p>How hard is it to transfer into Marshall School of Business once I am already at USC as an econ major?</p>
<p>Thank you “gingeralelover” and “slipper1243” for your input. I am aware that Penn State was ranked #1 for recruiting but I see “slipper1234’s” point about the connections in Southern California. However, I also have heard that the Economics major at USC is considered much weaker than the B-school majors. Will I really have no problem getting a job with an Econ major? I really would rather be in the B-School. I am so confused.</p>
<p>I really think you aren’t yet in a position to make a well-thought decision. Until you get the financial package from USC, put the decsion on the back-burner. </p>
<p>If USC will cost more than Penn State, definitely stay put. Two years goes by fast and it sounds like you can stick out the weather, etc. </p>
<p>If the cost for USC is much cheaper, than it is a no-brainer to transfer to the location you want and take the extra semester or two.</p>
<p>If the costs are the same, then talk to the USC career office and discuss your concerns on getting into banking. If the career office cannot sufficiently respond to you and provide specific stats for job placement than you will need to decide if your immediate desire for better location outweighs your long-term goals (which are nver guaranteed).</p>
<p>You may be stressing over this, but the truth is you are in a great position with 2 fantastic options. </p>
<p>PS - As a PA resident, the #1 reason I don’t like Penn State is due to housing issues. Crazy to find a place.</p>
<p>Thank you so much “Longhaul.” Your response definitely comforted me I should stop stressing about this until I get my financial aid package, which I should be receiving within the next week.</p>
<p>My biggest concern is my chances at getting into the USC business school once I am already there.</p>
<p>Location is certainly not the most important reason why I am considering transferring. USC has a very well-connected/powerful Alumni in Southern California.</p>
<p>Thanks again and I will update this as soon as I get my financial aid package in the mail.</p>
<p>Is it really that simple to transfer into Marshall once I am already there? And I can do it this spring? Do I have to maintain a really high GPA? And I do not have my heart set on investment banking; it is just a future prospect. I want a versatile degree that can help me land a good job most likely in the finance field, but I might be interested in marketing or something down the road.</p>
<p>I am not guaranteed into Marshall. So if I am in Econ major in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, is it worth it?</p>
<p>And is it worth all the extra money and semesters to graduate from USC? Should that really be an issue? I mean, I can take out heavy loans and find a way somehow to pay for it, but is it worth all the extra classes and tuition costs to get a degree from USC over PSU??</p>
<p>Is graduating from USC really going to get me a career advantage over PSU in the So Cal area?</p>
<p>I plan on earning my MBA from USC. Does that give me any advantage for acceptance later on if I get my undergrad from USC? Btw, I think I’ll have an easier time getting a high GPA at Penn State vs. USC.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all your responses. This really is the biggest/toughest decision I have had to make in my life so far. I don’t know if that a good or bad thing lol.</p>
<p>Should the financial aid/extra semesters even be an issue? Some of my friends and family tell me that it should not matter and I should do what ever it takes to graduate from USC regardless of major. They might just be a little bias and excited to go to Trojan Football games.</p>
<p>I can go to USC but I will be chest high in loans when I graduate and it will probably take an extra year… </p>
<p>ahhh this really is such a hard decision. I think I need a private professional counselor!!!</p>
<p>P.S. I am still waiting on my financial aid package.</p>
<p>Most of the advice you have gotten in this thread is absolute garbage. Verbal waste. Neither of these schools are targets for IB. Yes, hundreds of employers visit Penn State. They’re corporations(think F500 companies). The jobs they’re offering are horrible and are heavily based on team building exercises and powerpoint presentations.</p>
<p>USC is much better than Penn State. They send grads to finance jobs. However, these are mostly small finance shops in the Los Angeles area. </p>
<p>If you want an investment banking job right out of undergrad, you should be at a top 10 undergrad such as an Ivy.</p>
<p>If you read the long list of alumni donors who have given SC millions and millions in the last few years it appears one does not have to be an investment banker to be a success financially.</p>
<p>As one poster suggested wait until you receive your financial package before making this decision. If there seems to be a delay contact the financial aid office by phone or e-mail. </p>
<p>UPDATE: USC has awarded me nearly $35k in financial aid. This makes the yearly cost at USC about the same as Penn State. However, I will have to take an extra year at USC.</p>
<p>So…Is it worth it? Should I trade in a finance degree at Penn State for economics degree at USC?</p>
<p>Also, how difficult do you think an economics major is at USC?</p>
<p>How much is the extra year going to cost you? Can you take courses at a CCC during summer to catch up? Also, can you take courses @ USC and re-apply for the buisness major next semester? Maybe eventually you’ll be able to switch majors. You’llbe on campus, you can get to know the staff in the business school and be persistent</p>
<p>I feel like USC is better since you’re going to move back to SoCal. You know the alumni network out here is great! I rarely see Penn State grads in LA.</p>
<p>I can actually pull it off with just an extra semester with the economics degree if I take a few summer courses. I can apply internally to the business school next fall and if i get accepted it would take an extra year overall. My adviser has already made a course plan for me that is directing in the path towards applying to the business school. I would have to do really well for the next two semesters to have a shot at getting accepted. The average gpa for internal transfers to Marshall is a 3.7</p>
<p>So hypothetically, if I do not get into the B-School and have to stick with Econ, is it worth the extra semester, re-doing math and Spanish and taking an Econ degree over Finance?? What would you do? I also plan on getting my MBA in the future.</p>
<p>I am actually nervous about the academic rigor at USC, especially in upper level economics courses. Should I be worried?</p>
I should stop stressing about this until I get my financial aid package, which I should be receiving within the next week.</p>