<p>I'm having the hardest time deciding between these two schools, and would like to learn more about each of their business programs, opportunities, and anything that could potentially make my college decision a whole lot easier. Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>USC Marshall if you want to live in LA after graduation!</p>
<p>I think that there are several issues: Where are you from? If you are from Michigan and tuition is a challenge then instate tuition is a factor. If not, that equalizes one of the choices. Yes, where you want to live after graduation is a consideration. Michigan has definite economic challenges, moreso than California, but is that an opportunity rather than a detriment? California has more industries, more venues for work. Is family or weather a consideration? </p>
<p>Only you can answer these questions. But congratulations! You were accepted into two great programs.</p>
<p>I’m from CA, so the weather might be an issue for me. I’m going to try and visit over April break and see if the weather there is actually that bad.</p>
<p>5009,</p>
<pre><code>You need to visit in January and February…not April. LOL
</code></pre>
<p>Since we have friends in Michigan…go in February…when it can be zero degrees.</p>
<p>Are you in at Michigan Ross pre-admit? It’s a three year program so if you’re not pre-admit you’d have to apply after first semester freshman year. Students need a minimum 3.3 with rumor being that you need a 3.6 to be competitive. (There’s also a rumor that some pre-admit decisions came out today but I don’t know if it’s true.)</p>
<p>It’s true that USC will have a stronger network in California than Michigan will, but the Ross school has a national drawing power with recruiters. Many Michigan students don’t stay in Michigan but move to Chicago, New York and both coasts. So consider where you might want to work after graduation.</p>
<p>As for the weather, we currently live in Ann Arbor and yes the seasons change and no it’s not always 72 degrees and sunny, but it’s rarely 0 in February (January for a couple of days, but not so much February). But Michiganders are a resourceful lot and we’ve invented something called “warm clothing” (typically this consists of shirts with full sleeves and pants with legs that go all the way down to the tops of our feet. Believe it or not, this is accomplished by wearing our pants at our waistlines not around our hips - I know, I know, sooo weird ;)). On the other hand, one big plus for Michigan is that the ground never starts moving of its own volition, so we’ve got that going for us. </p>
<p>Son2 is facing the same exact decision you have with the added pressure of knowing about the expense differences. The next few weeks promise to be very “intense”.</p>
<p>Mich is a state school in a state that is being pounded even worse than Calif. by the recession and auto industry collapse. Be sure that you check out class size, and course availablity in your major area. UC system is suffering the same fate. It’s a train wreck. Further Mich is one of the biggest big 10 schools that means something like 50,000 undergrads. If you’re into HUGE go there. Nothing wrong with UofM, you just need to assess the risks.</p>
<p>I went to UCLA for undergrad and USC for MBA
if you are a business major…
always opt for private schools
just more network and connections
I can REALLY tell the difference</p>
<p>Some facts are in order. Michigan has roughly 27,000 undergrads and 15,000 grad students - not anywhere near 50,000 undergrads. USC has approximately 16,500 undergrads and 19,500 grad students. In total Michigan has 42,000 students to USC’s 36,000 - if Michigan is “HUGE” then USC is certainly on the “pudgy” side.</p>
<p>While it’s true that the state of Michigan has been harder hit over the years than California what it really has done is forced the University of Michigan to handle its business affairs more efficiently than many other states. UMichigan gets less than 10% of its funding from the state (I believe this year it will be down to 7%); so the state of the immediately surrounding economy actually has very little impact on the running of the university. If anything, the moribund Michigan economy results in talented people being available to work at lower salaries than their California counterparts. Same or higher quality people costing less money. Furthermore, while not truly relevant to this discussion since USC is a private school, the UC system just raised in-state tuition levels to those approaching in-state Michigan levels. Levels that have been in force for years now. We here in Michigan dealt with and adjusted to the current pain being suffered in the UC system a decade ago. There are many things wrong with the state of Michigan, but Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan aren’t high among them.</p>
<p>USC feels smaller and I suspect will have smaller class sizes overall, though I think that once you’re out of freshman intro classes that normalizes no matter where you go. Both give you an opportunity for a great education. If you care about such things, Michigan-Ross has been consistently rated in the top ten undergraduate business programs for years. The new business school building is a mini-Xanadu complete with mind-numbing technology, it’s own cafe and a b-school only workout facility.</p>
<p>USC is a great school that can stand on its own - denigrating Michigan using incorrect facts and tired stereotypes is unnecessary and ultimately reflects poorly on USC. Make the decision that’s right for you.</p>