<p>At first, I refused to apply to any private school within California. My logic is that if I am going to pay 40k+ a year, I want to get the total environment factor as well. </p>
<p>But I did more research on USC and my counselor has been urging me to apply to USC. USC has a great undergraduate business program and a wonderful mass communication program. Academically, it has what I want. I am still iffy on Cornell's AEM business program...</p>
<p>So I am now debating whether to apply to Cornell or USC. Since both are going to be reaches, I am not going to apply to two. </p>
<p>Bare stats just to get a general idea:
SAT 2090 (<--- retaking in Dec again... sigh')
Weighted GPA: 4.5
Unweighted GPA: 3.98</p>
<p>what i want?
-good business program (i want an emphasis in marketing)
-internship opportunities
-good financial aid
-diverse student body
-social life outside of getting wasted and high</p>
<p>Any suggestions? Should I apply to Cornell or USC?</p>
<p>I am a big fan of Cornell, but because your major is business (and USC is strong in Business), and because you live in CA, I think USC makes more sense for you. The undergrad business program at Cornell is highly rated and is a great buy for NYS residents because of lower tuition. Bieng housed in the ag school is a little different, although the program is a general business program, not just agribusiness. Still, I think USC business trumps Cornell business for a CA resident.</p>
<p>USC sounds like the much better match for you.</p>
<p>-USC has a top undergrad business ranked 7th or 9th, I forgot.
-The internship and job opportunities are ubiquitious with our alumni network
-if you qualify for the financial aid you will receive it. Go for a scholarship too.
-There is a plethora of different students at USC and of people in LA
-Let's go surfing, see films before they come out, go clubbing, et cetera</p>
<p>Cornell is a great school, but in your case USC seems like a super match.</p>
<p>I know both schools are reaches for me but how much of a reach? Super-reach? Realistic-reach? </p>
<p>I've also heard that USC = Unviersity of Spoiled Children. Is that true? I know that the Greek life is big at USC and Cornell but I am not interested in joining a sorority. Is that a big "no-no"?</p>
<p>And thank you for all the comments. I am really leaning toward USC right now but I've already asked two of my teachers to write recommendation to Cornell. How should I approach them about switching to USC if I do decide to do that?</p>
<p>You probably should go to the USC forum and ask your questions. There has been lots of discussions there over the last couple of years about Greek life at USC. </p>
<p>My son has had a full and active life at USC without joining a fraternity. I'm sure you would find the same without becoming involved in a sororty. There are a huge number of clubs at USC where you can meet people.</p>
<p>BTW, your GPA is within the USC range. I can't tell you about your SATs.</p>
<p>So as far as jobs go...USC or Cornell Business, whats better?</p>
<p>Thinking about the more "prestigious ones such as Ibanking or Consulting? Are both schools so well known that you can get a job on either coast or is it moreso USC=West Coast/Cali and Cornell=NYC??</p>
<p>If you want to be an i-banker, I'd expand your list past business schools. An economics degree from a heavily-recruited school (HYPSM, Ivies, Ivy-equivalents) will serve you very well.</p>
<p>And yes Cornell is on the short list of preferred colleges for many NYC firms in terms of recruiting. USC is recruited as well, just not as heavily.</p>
<p>They're also very different schools. If you can only pick one, consider social environment to try and figure out where you would better fit in.</p>
<p>Well, Cornell is a tier above USC in terms of prestige. But to USC's credit, it has an extensive alumni network, which can be a huge boost in job searches, provided you proactively take advantage of it. </p>
<p>Really, you have a good shot at landing a great job from either school. Like I said before, think about at which school you can see yourself spending a happy four years. I didn't, and I'm paying for that now.</p>
<p>I'll be obvious and give you a suggestion: apply to both, wait for financial aid offers, and then see whats better. Since both schools are equally great academically, wait for that one factor that often trumps all others: money.</p>
<p>BTW, I'm a freshman at Cornell and, while not having a car is occasionally inconvienent, the free buses that we're getting makes it insignificant. Besides, most of what goes on is within walking distance of where you'll live; you'd only need transportation for the occasional shopping.</p>
<p>You can go to Cornell without a car, and if you are from Southern California you would be dangerous driving up Buffalo street during the winter. Cornell is cold in the winter, icy, slippery, frost on your nose hairs, cruching through two feet of snow cold. USC has bad weather too, sometimes it is cloudy for a while.</p>
<p>USC is in the middle of Los Angeles. Cornell is on the edge of Ithaca which is in the middle of rural New York.</p>
<p>Cornell is a great University, the undergraduate business major is actually an Agricultural Economics major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, this is a state school with reduced tuition costs for in state residents so the competition is fairly tough. Your GPA, and out of state status might help, but it is a reach with your SAT.(IMHO)
I don't know how dear $65 is to you, but if you spend that much going out to a movie why not take your chances? The alumni network is great!</p>