<p>This is our dilema - my daughter was accepted to USC spring 2008 and Loyola Marymount fall 2007. Loyola offered a very nice financial package - nothing yet from USC. Opinions on what to do?? USC is her first choice - but spring?? and then of course we have to wait on financial. Thoughts please</p>
<p>Whatever FA package USC offers, she can get a job this summer, going into the fall, and start with a little nest egg.</p>
<p>Can she go to college in the summers at USC to "catch up"?
What is the housing situation for spring admits?</p>
<p>Last year, one of D's friends was in the same boat. Appeal to USC to try and get in Fall. They will have lots of admitted students who will go elsewhere. If she is in for Spring, that is better than a waitlist. If they admit her for fall then you can see about FA. If there is no FA for Fall, there probably won't be for Spring. At least you will know and can then decide about LMU. Good luck.</p>
<p>Will you get the FA info from USC in time to give a reply to LM? Maybe you or she should call/email them to expedite an answer on FA. If the money makes a difference, that's the thumb on the scale right there. If you live close by enough, I would suggest visiting both campuses again, say on a weekend and just walk around, talking to students. It may raise her enthusiasm for LM. More and more, I think that getting financial help to go to a good school makes sense and LM is a good school. USC is the more famous, "prestige" college but is it worth going in to debt to attend? If USC does come up with FA to your liking, and she does consider that her first choice, I don't think she should let the spring admit part discourage her. Lots of students seem to transfer for the last two years of college and seem to make friends and enjoy themselves. </p>
<p>Another question to ask, though, is not only how her housing will be handed for the spring '08, but if she comes in at a time when other kids are arranging housing-roommate petitions for the following fall, will she be at a disadvantage. So ask, how is housing arranged for the following fall in the case of a spring admit?</p>
<p>I agree with Jazzymom. At the very least, I would call the USC FA office and ask about when you will hear about FA. If it will not be forthcoming this week, and she honestly can't make up her mind until she hears about the FA from USC, give LMU a call, explain that she is still waiting to hear about FA from another school, and ask if they can extend the candidate reply date by a week or so for her. Many schools will do that. </p>
<p>I also agree with the person above who suggested asking admissions if there is any chance she might get pulled into the fall class before they turn to their waitlist. While I haven't heard of that happening at USC, I have heard of students who had that happen at other schools. Good luck in this choice!</p>
<p>USC doesn’t tend to give out much aid. However, it is a much better all around school. If you indeed have a high achieving daughter, she will most definitely be one of the smarter kids at LMU. If she goes to USC, she will be surrounded by intellectual kids and truly be challenged. USC is on the same playing field with stanford, ucla, and notre dame. Yes, undergrad isn’t as important as graduate school, but it is a major stepping stone. Also, you should include her major because that could be a MAJOR determinant of whether she should have high quality undergrad or not. Honestly, the loans could be worth it if she’s doing a major that is well connected and endowed. The name of USC is definitely not overrated. Plus, do you think she could defer a semester and live in the freshmen dorms for next year? Then she can work and save up money and be able to make friends when she begins. Being a year older is no big deal. Or if she still saves up some money and decides to start in the spring, joining a sorority could really help make friends!</p>