I’m currently a freshman at DePaul that was just admitted to USC as a transfer. I would pay around 17k at USC and I currently pay less than 10k at DePaul because I am a commuter. For this reason my parents are wary of letting me go to USC, and I unless I come up with an incredibly convincing argument they remain firm on staying close to home for school. They are immigrants and I am their only child so they don’t want to send me off to some school they don’t understand the prestige of compared to where I am now (although I do my best to convince them and explain). I want to work and live on the east coast after I graduate. Is USC respected on the east coast? Or would it make more sense to stay where I am now, network really well and try to get my foot in the door that way? I would appreciate any advice and opinions. Thanks for your help.
USC is going to have a much higher ranking and has a very good national network, but if your end goal is to work in Chicago, IMO you’re better off staying at DePaul. I am somewhat biased since I am a DePaul grad, but the Business school has a solid reputation amongst most employers in the Chicago area and if that’s a satisfactory end goal, then stay. After your first job, it won’t matter which school you go to, quite frankly.
My end goal is to work in the east coast (Boston/NYC). I am currently in the Strobel Honors accounting program, so if I decide to remain in Chicago (unlikely, but possible) I would graduate with minimal loans and good connections with the Big 4 firms in the city.
my personal feeling is that Strobel should prepare you well for your CPA, and if you get your CPA it shouldn’t matter what school you go to. But I’m no expert in this matter. USC’s Leventhal program is a top program though.