Which college should I choose?! I got into USC, Emory, Tulane, UM, Wake Forest, William and Mary, and Pitzer College, and SMU. I am interested in studying business and some social sciences. Finances are not an issue. What are your thoughts on my options? Where do you think I should go? I am so indecisive and I know I would be happy at any of these places.
USC if you got into marshall
Any merit aid? Net price matters.
USC might be the best but not if they are full pay and SMU or Tulane offer generous partial and full scholarships that are easier to get.
What are the costs of ea? Academic interests? Weather a concern? Large with varied opportunities or small and more hands on?
I take it UM is Michigan
Pitzer isn’t a business school so I would cross that off your list.
I’m assuming USC is Southern Cal? And UM is Michigan?
@wayneandgarth actually University of Miami
objectively, where would you choose if you were me?
@Sportsman88 Money is fortunately not of concern for me. My parents do not want finances to effect my decision. However, I did get $120,000 in scholarship from smu and tulane and $100,000 from Miami
@IzzoOne University of Southern California and University of Miami
Where would you study business at Pitzer? One of the other Claremont Colleges?
Of the others, I’d rate USC, W&M, Emory, and Wake above Tulane, SMU, Miami.
If money doesn’t matter, I’ll speak to the three I know from visits: Tulane, USC, and SMU. Three distinct feels on campus and three distinct cities. Do you have a preference? I liked SMU’s campus the best. It’s beautiful and in a safe area. I know New Orleans the best and while I love the city, it’s not safe and it’s going the wrong direction. A student can be fine at Tulane with common sense but Uptown borders high crime areas.
I think USC and SMU have the advantage on business schools. Cox at SMU is on the rise and is connected in Dallas if you want to stay in Texas. USC will be the best well known if you want to nationwide recognition. You say money isnt’ an issue but you have roughly 50% scholarships to SMU and Tulane compared to full pay at USC. That’s $120,000 that your parents could give you to start life if they have the money. That’s not chump change.
Have a you been admitted to the business schools - or at least as much as you can as an incoming freshman?
@Sportsman88 thank you for your insight. I did recieve merit based scholarships at tulane, smu, and pitzer as well as a full tuition scholarship at the University of Miami. However, my family says that money should not at all impact my decision, for finances are not a concern. I have been admitted to the business programs at every school that offers it, with the exception of Emory which you apply to in your freshman year. In addition, i am in the BBA and Hilltop scholars at smu. The crime rates of the surrounding area is not of large concern to me, but more the atmosphere of the campus itself. Thanks again for your imput! Let me know what your thoughts are given this information.
USC Marshall School of Business is definitely your best bet.
USC has a nice mentorship program for its business students – you may wish to see how to get into it and if you will qualify. USC does encourage its students to take double majors and minors in different fields via its rennaisance scholar program. Sorry, don’t know much about the other Us as both our kids are USC grads.
@tallykaye go to SMU. Ask your parents to split the savings. Put 75k into a basket of nice bluechips, don’t touch it for the next 4 decades. In 40 years you’ll have at least a million bucks in savings without breaking a sweat.
Seriously, though, I’d have a real sitdown with your folks and make sure they are being realistic. I have a kid at USC with pretty good merit money and the checks are still pretty hefty.
I just added up the yearly bill with fees, housing, mealplan, tuition (but not monthly living expenses.)
Without aid (full sticker) it is $75,000 a year + whatever you need for toothpaste, laundry, medicine etc.
That said, my kid loves USC so if your foks really, truly don’t have an issue writing that check, USC will give you tons of options. But SMU and Tulane are very good schools too. I’d try to cut a deal. It’s what a good aspiring business student should do.
@CaliDad2020 that’s a great idea. But with your plan i would have 1.1mm but that 1.1mm would only be worth $335,000 given inflation of 3%. Probably need worry a bit more about my future earnings, but I like the thought process. The average earnings after graduation are around 10k higher at usc than smu.
My parents say that if i get a scholarship they will give me 1/4 of what they save to use at my discretion, and allow me to use the other 3/4 To pay for any graduate degrees that i wish to pursue.
@tallykaye - I like that deal, but hold out for 1/3! I would suggest that the earnings diff between SMU and and USC may be in part USC grads get CA money, which is probably a bit higher than TX $ (and if you account for cost of living, you might be a wash or worst. Starter homes in LA are 500k+ these days!)
(And I only gave you 6% growth on the investment. If inflation steadies at 3% I’m guessing you can squeeze out an extra % or two… And, if you’re doing a “real” analysis, 10k - 30% + tax - esp if you stay in CA = <7k Say you’re a super-saver you’re gonna bank 2500 of that per year max… and really, if you’ve gone to USC and are living in CA you’re gonna feel like you need to lease a C-class to park below your 1 bedroom apartment, so that’s 400 mo… kidding, kind of )
I’ve got a happy D at USC so I’m a supporter, but she managed to get good merit aid, and even then we feel like we’re just sending a new car to the Trojan campus each year. Just make sure you/your folks don’t get too cavalier with the dough. It’s real and once it’s gone it does not come back - for a while anyway. Sounds like you’ve got your head on pretty straight tho. I think you’ll do great wherever you choose.
We have 2 USC grads that we funded. I’m not sure surveys about wages are so reliable either. Getting a less expensive degree is always a nice idea, all other things being equal. It’s nice to have savings or money you can put toward grad school or other needs, especially if you have no STRONG preferences.
Our S had a job offer that he accepted Feb of SR year. Unfortunately, his security clearance took over a year and he didn’t start work until 12 months after graduation! These things do happen.
I too think that CA wages (and cost of living!) accounts for a good part of the difference in SMU vs USC. We visited SMU for the Presidential Scholars weekend (daughter didn’t get it) and I was impressed. She won’t be going there but I would still consider it for my younger daughter who is interested in business.
SMU has the most beautiful campus that I’ve visited - and I’ve visited nearly a dozen in this process on both coasts and in the south. I think SMU vs Tulane is more which place do you want to live. Tulane is renovating their business center so it would be a pain with facilities but that doesn’t affect instruction. Both are about the same on the sports scene. Dallas is closer to four seasons that New Orleans which has hot and wet and cold and wet as it’s two seasons.
It’s hard for me to get over the sticker shock of USC. As stated, full fare is nearly $75,000. That is a chunk of change. If you get SMU or Tulane for half that (assuming $32,000 in scholarships), then travel abroad for a semester on some of the savings and ask your parents to spot you a down payment on a house or grad school if the money truly isn’t a concern.
We had a set max price that we would pay period and then we had a sliding scale on what each school was worth value wise.
I know New Orleans better than Dallas and could answer specific questions there better but it has been 20 years since I lived there. Recent experience is just a couple visits to Tulane.