<p>Hi, so these are super different schools, but I'm really torn. I'm planning on majoring in IR at either Oxy or USC, and i don't know whether a larger or smaller school would be a better fit. I received around the same amount of merit scholarship from both schools, so money isn't a factor.</p>
<p>I can see the benefits of both a large and small school, but Oxy has an amazing Oxy-at-the-UN program where you can intern at the UN and take classes with Oxy professors, and that has always been my dream job, working for the UN.</p>
<p>BUT, USC is much better for job connections, and they actually have a business school, so it might be better preparation if I later decide to do something more practical like International Business or something.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I feel like quality of life at Oxy is much higher. They have much smaller classes, a student body that seems to fit me better, amazing dorms, etc. </p>
<p>Does quality of life matter more or future job connections matter more?</p>
<p>HELP! and thank you :D</p>
<p>(Btw, sorry this is posted in three different places. I wanted to get feedback from different sources.)</p>
<p>You seem to be leaning towards Oxy, in my opinion–go with your gut!</p>
<p>Thanks…I’m just afraid of the impracticality of going to Oxy. Anyone else?</p>
<p>One thing is getting to do your dream job, another thing is getting to intern at the organization that is your “dream”. I would contact Oxy’s career offices and ask them how many of last year’s interns or previous year’s intern have gone on to work for the UN immediately following undergrad. In addition to this, I would also research the career opportunities on the UN website(if they even have an employment section) to see the type of positions that are available and the type of qualifications needed for those positions. You might find out that you might need years of work experience in addition to an undergrad/grad school education prior to having a shot of working at the UN.</p>
<p>When I toured Oxy, I was turned off by a comment made by the tour guide. It was in regards to a question posed to her about the career resources, opportunities and job fairs. She answered how when you come to an LAC or at least Oxy, you don’t really come for the job/career resources. But that when you want them, a lot of the job hunt is on your own or through whatever relative resources Oxy has. She also mentioned how some of the Oxy students would sneak into USC’s job fairs to take advantage of USC resources when USC had on campus recruiting/fairs. She humored the last statement by also mentioning that the companies recruiting at USC get shocked when they see the Oxy name on those Oxy student’s resumes, as if “shocked” was in a good way. (In my mind, I wanted to tell her “no s***, oxy kids shouldn’t be there. The reason some of these companies are shocked is because they are not USC students!”) It’s a different story if USC allowed Oxy students to be there. It’s also a different story if Oxy was far superior to USC, and somehow these companies recruiting at USC weren’t allowed to attend Oxy fairs by Oxy, which is obviously not the case.</p>
<p>To answer your post, I think it is most important to think of the big picture. You’re going to need to find employment after undergrad, and I think USC’s network and connections will take you farther than Oxy can. Don’t get caught up on the specific, as in dream jobs at the UN. Often “dreams” jobs turn out to be anything but. Sometimes “dream” jobs are an illusion. Ask yourself what is that “dream job”? Be specific. Is it just working on the administrative side(which can be done at any company), is it something more significant, or what?</p>
<p>liek, at the same time the OP could learn more under the small class situation at Oxy and ultimately become more successful no matter how bad Oxy is at introducing jobs to its students…</p>
<p>There’s a difference between having a “successful education” and having a “successful career”.
Neither a successful education nor a successful career are contingent on each other(at all times). I admit, that one can easily go to USC and never take advantage of their resources, and be at the same place as someone who had gone to a smaller school with not as many resources. I just think that if we are going to generalize “success” or being “successful” career wise, you generally will have an increased shot at success or by being successful careerwise, if you have increased resources and opportunities to take advantage of.</p>
<p>Lastly, the issue really comes down to what you value more. You need to ask yourself what is most important to you. For me, my college education is not a stepping stone for any career or job. If your value is to learn, then we both know who will probably offer you a better setting for a “successful education”. If your values are different, and you place a heavy emphasis on career resources or opportunities more so than on the setting of where you have your education or what your education is like, then you know what choice that is.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments! I will be agonizing in the upcoming weeks and hopefully be able to make an informed decision!</p>
<p>liek, so tell us, which of the two schools would you be talking about here?</p>
<p>"If your value is to learn, then we both know who will probably offer you a better setting for a “successful education”. "</p>