<p>I know these schools are completely different, and that is what makes it so hard for me to choose. I like how small the class size (literal classes like 15ppl) but it is so tiny. I think SC is awesome but am a little nervous about the large student population and class sizes. I also don't know if I would really fit in in Cali comin from Dallas texas. I was admitted Econ but would want to go into engineering and business. Can someone convince me to go or to not go to USC or W&L. I have 1 day to decide!!</p>
<p>I’m certainly not going to try and convince you one way or the other. I have very limited knowledge of W&L and therefore can only take a very ‘tops-down’ approach to answering your question.</p>
<p>From my perspective (as a parent) your decision comes down to breadth of options. Due to it’s larger size and urban setting there is going to be a more varied set of opportunities to explore at USC. That doesn’t mean SC is better, but it does mean that on a certain level you’ll have more work to do in assessing, analyzing and choosing a path. That may or may not appeal to you.</p>
<p>W&L has ~1,800 undergrads in an ex-urban/rural environment within a town of ~7,000. USC has ~17,000 undergrads and is about as downtown LA as you can get. On that score SC seems far more like Dallas than Lexington, VA.</p>
<p>Small class size - W&L wins easily. The comfort of knowing most of your college-mates, of having direct interaction with all your professors, is of real value for many when it comes to performing well in school. For others the idea of ‘knowing everyone’ feels boring and a little oppressive. At SC there will always be a new face and a potential new experience. </p>
<p>Business and engineering? I know very little about W&L’s offerings but I suspect that their engineering offerings are substantially smaller than USC’s. I was unaware that W&L had a business school.</p>
<p>You know your personality. You have a sense of what type of environment you’re going to perform best in. I will remind you though, that a big part of college is about expanding your comfort zone.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! I think that I want to go to USC, but at the same time I think I would do better at the smaller school with a close student teacher relationship. Do you think I should go to the one I think I’ll excel more academically? I could probably excel at USC too, but I come from a small, difficult, private school (around 100 in my class) and I do very well. Maybe I should take a step outside my comfort zone and go to USC? Or maybe I go with the safer option of W&L… I am having such a hard time with this.</p>
<p>You’ll get a good relationship with your professor if you put effort into it. It doesn’t matter whether the class size is 3 or 300. If you go to office hours, interact with your professor, and be engaged, then he or she will take notice of you. If you think small class size will automatically “get a good relationship” with your professor then you’re mistaken.</p>
<p>If you get good grades now at a small and rigorous private HS, you are likely to thrive at USC and get good grades if you put in the time. You get to form your own path as an adult, which means getting to balance work & play. The academics at USC are really top notch, so you won’t be bored and the diversity at USC is amazing. So it’s up to you to take the leap–if you want to.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Business/Accounting major here. I’ve had great relationships with all of the professors I chose to have them with. Even friends with a few on facebook now after I completed the semester with them. All it really takes here is raising your hand and speaking up in class and then chatting with them after class or during office hours. Every professor is extremely well connected too so they’re good to go to for career/internship advice. I also know a few people here from Dallas who are in Marshall doing finance and they’ve had no problem adjusting.</p>