<p>Hello everyone!</p>
<p>I'm lucky enough to be able to choose between 2 great universities. However, I currently have no idea what to do. I have a couple of my own opinions, and then I wish to have input on some specific things. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Some stuff about me:
- I live an hour from Houston
- I come from an upper-middle class Asian family (my parents have said to not worry about money and don't make my choice based on it)
- I'm passionate about music (piano) and I could never give it up for the world.
- I've been diagnosed with a medical condition (lupus) just a year ago, and my parents are particularly worried because I haven't had it for long and its fairly unpredictable.
- Visited both colleges in depth, and really like both, although they are very different
- I'm pretty much set on studying neuroscience/cogsci, and I'm not pre-med. I'm really into the neuroimaging stuff.
- I plan on going to graduate school (Stanford/MIT maybe?), so research opportunities are important to me</p>
<p>USC:
Pros (+)
- Received the half-tuition scholarship (about 24k/year for a total of 96k)
- In LA, so many new things to explore!
- Weather is amazing! and good for my health.
- So many famous musicians go to LA to perform, and the chance to go watch them would be ugh, life dream lol
- Trojan family + alumni connection
- I would be able to pursue a double major in Neuroscience and music AND study abroad in London, which gives me amazing opportunities for both...THORNTON
- Because of my desire to double major in two different things, I could be up to receive the Renaissance Scholars award that will give me $10,000 for grad school
- Brain and Creativity Institute and the new Neuroimaging Center....do undergrads get to use this stuff?</p>
<p>Cons (-)
- Generally not as high ranked as Rice
- Lots of undergrads
- Huge party scene (I can't drink b/c of lupus, so I'm not sure how left out I would be haha)
- Far away from home
- They're seriously considering moving to CA; my dad already has a big job offer...the move + going to college would be a huge change
- Living expenses (?) would these expenses make it more expensive than Rice? +plane tickets and stuff</p>
<p>Rice:
Pros (+)
- Less undergrads
- Close to home/convenient
- Close to Texas Medical Center and BCM (research)
- More focused, driven students (the class where I attended at USC....like half the students weren't there. and it wasn't even a morning class lol. and it was an honors class too...)
- Less of a stressful environment change (stress triggers lupus flares)</p>
<p>Cons (-)
- More expensive...no scholarship :( (55k/year)
- I didn't get the century scholars thing, so would research be harder to get into? :(
- Not much money I can get while being there...it seems as if they give all the money out at time of admission
- Weather can sometimes be oppressively hot, which is baaaaad for me
- Wet campus? How is USC's party scene compared to Rice's? haha
- Can't music major b/c I didn't apply to Shepherd/I'm not nearly good enough....yes, I know there are a lot of course offerings for non-musi but I would like to teach piano sometime in the future....</p>
<p>I know Rice is more "prestigious," but is it worth the 50k+ difference (over 4 years?) Would I be lacking music opportunities? (I love to perform) How good is Thornton? Are the musicians here comparable to those at Shepherd? (Because if so, then I'm not sure if I could succeed at Thornton anyway). </p>
<p>How is study abroad at Rice? I'll be going to Owl Days so I'll make sure to have my specific questions answered. Which school would be better for grad school admission? Would I less stressed at USC compared to Rice (like the atmosphere)? I'm also slightly worried about the party scenes at both schools. How ingrained into the social life are they? </p>
<p>Sorry for the terribly long post, and thanks for your input :)</p>