<p>I love usc (went there) and so does my son. he got accepted Marshall but also got accepted to uva as an echols scholar. Would love for him to go to USC but its literally twice the price (virginia resident) and he got no merit aid and does not qualify for need? Any thoughts and comparisons of the two.</p>
<p>UVA alumnus here. Son is freshman at USC. You can’t go wrong with either but
at twice the cost, send him to UVA!</p>
<p>Son was accepted to USC, UVA (out of state), and Duke. Difficult decision! We are east coasters and know less about USC.</p>
<p>We are East Coasters too. I would say to look at costs and majors. All are great schools! I would be glad to give you my comparison of the three by PM if you PM me. I am riding in a car now and can’t type a long message right now.</p>
<p>my sons problem is he lives in Charlottesville so he feels like it is an extension of high school. But I think Mcintire business at UVA is probably ranked little higher than marshall if that even matters</p>
<p>collegeorama, have you visited Duke, my son was really turned off by the campus. does not compare to UVA. as for SC…well SC rocks, you should visit</p>
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<p>Guess he didn’t like the Duke Lemurs . . .</p>
<p>To each their own. The whole “Lawn” thing at UVA bores me to tears.</p>
<p>Placido, you really seem to have distaste for UVA beyond the objective. Did something bad happen to you there when you were a child?</p>
<p>I went to a high school then sends ~100 kids to UVA each year… eh. </p>
<p>This is an opinion with little fact behind it, but I really do think that USC has far more character and is far more the “full college experience” than UVA. All the different schools at USC are amazing (esp important for business majors to make connections to get into their field of interest), and Los Angeles and the surrounding area has far more opportunities than Charlottesville ever will.</p>
<p>Any cost right now is an investment for the future, and I think USC would be more than worth it.</p>
<p>Son has visited USC, we are going to Days on the Lawn, and visiting Duke next weekend. Admitted to USC for narrative studies and would possibly minor in music or theater. Theater and film/media studies at Duke or UVA.</p>
<p>I am in the exact same situation as you. I am in-state and UVA is by far the cheapest option. However, USC Engineering is so much better so the decision is pretty hard. I received $5,000 per year in merit aid from UVA, which is a lot for an in-state student, and I also received a $26,000 grant per year at USC. USC is still way more expensive though. I know USC will give me the ideal “college experience” but the price and leaving everyone I know makes it seem like a bad idea. I don’t even have any relatives outside of the east coast.</p>
<p>uscoruva-We live in a university town and feel that there is merit to your son’s concern about his college experience becoming an extension of high school. Many (though certainly not all) of our children’s friends who stayed in town have not “explored” new vistas during their college years. Thus, I have one at UVA (McIntire) and one about to attend USC (Viterbi). My kids probably would have stagnated a bit here, and we are fortunate that they have had great opportunities elsewhere. I don’t see how UVA could ever be a bad choice, but the hometown angle could be a negative.</p>
<p>I have a child at UVa and another at USC. First, cost should always be a consideration, which would be advantage for UVa. Second, focus specifically on probable majors and the comparative strengths, networks and reputations of the departments. (FYI, to the comment above, my son loves his experience at Viterbi and is from the east coast.) One disadvantage of UVa is that students have to apply their second year to many popular majors (e.g., the commerce school or media studies) in a relatively competitive process, which frankly I think is silly given how high performing all the UVa students are. At USC, hopefully they applied and were admitted to their school of interest as freshman, so they know with certainty their immediate range of options for majors (although transferring between school may be tricky). We have also found the advising program much, much stronger at USC, and it was easier for our USC son to get in classes he wanted his first year. Both schools have some excellent teachers and others who have no interest in being in the classroom. Both have many students who are off the charts smart and accomplished. Both have strong alumni networks, concentrated on different coasts, although again here we have found USC to be more intentional and thoughtful in how it uses its network to create job and intern opportunities for students. Both kids have been very, very happy, as you will be with your choice. Their social life has been pretty much what you expect at those two schools. In both cases, one of your biggest challenges will be managing all your social opportunities. Good luck!</p>
<p>UVA just bores me. Yes, I just don’t like it. Where I’m from, people use UVA as a safety to Duke. So, I just don’t care.</p>
<p>^^ Well, ok then.</p>
<p>@Fermat25</p>
<p>Don’t get freaked out by the fact that you’re leaving everyone you know! To explore and experience new places, you must leave things behind. And as a third culture kid, I can definitely tell you that there is way more out there. Leaving the place you have been your whole life is not a bad thing. It is the EXACT opposite. Mark my words.</p>
<p>Our son has been accepted to UVA and USC also. As an arch major, USC has the five year program. He is a Presidential Scholar at USC, but UVA gave scholarships as well. I think the previous mom said it very well - crazy smart kids at both schools, great opportunities at both… both have fantastic reputations. For my son it will be USC. Its a good fit for him!</p>
<p>DH was an Architecture major in the 80’s at UVA. I am also a UVA grad. DS is freshman at USC (CSmajor). Congrats on the decision! You can’t go wrong with either choice. Fight on!</p>
<p>The intangibles: being a member of the Trojan Family, unsurpassed school spirit and a sense of being a winner…Tears will well up years from now while listening to “Conquest,” a venerable USC fight song played at football games. Good luck!</p>