<p>I'll say straight up that I understand my chances of acceptance at Stanford are quite low, but I want to get this question out of the way so I don't have to feel crunched for time come April to make a choice if I actually do get into S.</p>
<p>I was accepted to USC a couple of days ago (and have been told that means I have a decent chance at a scholarship). USC's a great school and one of my top choices, and getting a large merit scholarship would be a great thing. I'm applying for outside scholarships (I was named a National Achievement Finalist a few days ago), and looking for financing options, and was wondering: If I'm accepted to Stanford, would I be better off going to the more prestigious institution and having to pay more money than if I went to USC?</p>
<p>I think you should relax, not stress too much about something that could be, and enjoy senior year a little. Worry when you actually get into both schools and realistically have to make this choice. I see so many threads of students who, in November or December, say things like "well if I get into to so-and-so college, how do I choose?" when they haven't even filled out their apps yet. Well, if you really want my take on it I think it depends on how much the difference between the two schools is. If it's a few thousand a year I would certainly go for Stanford, but if it's like 20,000 apart USC might sway me. Also like Luxar3000 said, if you also want to do grad school, you don't want to rack up a large debt for your undergrad studies.</p>
<p>As far as prestige standford has the edge but what is your intended major.
If USC offers you money i would go there.
What do you prefer socal or bay area?don't worry men you can't go wrong..those are very goos schoos.
would you telling your stats?</p>
<p>I have to say that this is almost a no-brainer. I'd have gone to Stanford over UCLA in a heartbeat. In fact, my only regret with my undergrad career is that I didn't apply.</p>
<p>You have to consider the short- and long-term value of the degree. Unless you plan on doing film, Stanford is a stronger institution overall. And whether we like to believe it or not, Stanford grads are, by and large, more successful than USC grads at getting into top grad programs. Fair? Maybe not. Reality? Seems like it. </p>
<p>Would I go $100K into the hole for Stanford? Probably not. Would I take an extra $20-35K for it? Maybe. See if you get in first though, and then we'll talk.</p>
<p>Stanford is a no-brainer if money is no ojbect. Visit both schools if you can....yeah, it's prolly expensive to get out here from AR, but each campus has a very different feel, and you might just not like one or the other.</p>
<p>'SC throws money at all high test score kids, and Stanford can and will do the same for URMs. </p>
<p>If you are invited to interview at 'SC for a scholarship, ask if they'll pay your way. Then, you could fly up to San Jose on Southwest and visit the Farm.</p>
<p>But, as the others noted, chill until March.</p>
<p>uhmmm, bluebayou, Stanford does not throw money at URMs. Remember that they are a needs-based school. In fact, I can tell you from first-hand experience that this is not the case.
One more thing, USC does offer up to half the airfare (up to $200 subsidy) to travel to the Presidential/Trustee interviews - I think that they do this for everyone that is coming from outside the West Coast. In the case of the OP, $200 is likely to be just about half of the cost of getting to LAX.</p>
<p>true, but how one defines "need" is critical, is it not? Like all private schools, and many publics, Stanford will do whatever it can to get URMs to matriculate, including, where possible, a review of a family's financial situation.</p>
<p>if money is not a problem at all meaning you are completely rich hehe then go stanford but if usc is offering you a full ride then yea =D either way you can't possibly go wrong w/ those both great schools =D</p>