USC vs Warwick

College Search & Selection
1

I am international student who has received offers from universities across US, UK and Canada and I have narrowed down my top 2 choices to Warwick University in the UK and University of Southern California in the US:-

Course: Economics/Mathematics Joint major at USC and Economics at Warwick

Cost: Not the main deciding factor but USC will be around double the cost of Warwick. My father is lucky enough to be able to afford but still would not want to waste money if not worth.

Location: USC in LA vs Warwick near the small town of Coventry

Pros and cons:-

Warwick pros- ranked number 3 in the UK for economics, cheaper, Investment banking target university

Warwick cons- Worse weather, difficult to get a work permit in the UK for international students vs the US, I want to do a PHD in Economics in the US (hopefully T20) so lesser recognised in the US?

USC pros: High ranking in the US so more recognised for my PHD in the US??, better weather, easier to get work permit in the US vs UK, can minor in public policy which is my interest area (more flexible than the UK)

USC cons: More expensive, Economics not their strongest major??

So to sum up I want to attend grad school/PHD after my undergrad preferably in fields related to Economics and public policy.

I am not biased towards any of the two and would love to hear unbiased and factual opinions. Please be honest as to which of the two would be a better choice for economics (Warwick) and Economics/Mathematics joint major (USC).

Thanks in advance.

2

Go to Warwick then do a masters or PhD in the US. You’ll have no problem with recognition if you get a first, it’s a very challenging course. And don’t count on getting a work permit in the US, it’s very difficult without a graduate degree from a US university (which is another reason for going UK to US) and not easy even then. The Californian weather isn’t worth $100K+.

3

Agree with @Twoin18.

Warwick is virtually unknown by the American on the street but anything quantitative there would be highly regarded in academia. You’d have to do well whichever school you choose to enter a PhD program (the ones worth attending in the US are usually funded, which means you don’t pay anything).

Your chances of working in the US straight out of undergrad are low anyway.

4

Thank you very much @Twoin18 and @PurpleTitan for your suggestions. Anyone else who has other opinions and viewpoints??

5

Hm, not sure I agree with this and would actually say the opposite. Why do you think this?

6

Agreeing with both @Twoin18 and @PurpleTitan, both of whom are very familiar with both UK & US universities. You can also do a year abroad- pretty sure the UCs partner with Warwick, for example. It takes more work on your part to organize it, but it could be a good middle ground.

7

A year abroad is a possibility, but note that unlike in the US system, in the UK it would typically add a year to the length of your undergrad course.

8

Agree, @Twoin18 but it’s worth checking to see what Warwick offers - and that would still make it a 4 year degree, same as USC would be :slight_smile:

9

The main advantage I can see with going to USC as an undergrad would be getting to know people in USC’s public policy department, which might give you an insider’s edge to gaining graduate admission there. But that may not be a big enough reason to attend.

Warwick is one of those schools that the general public in the US knows nothing about, but US university administrators and professors would think highly of.

It’s basically a big lottery as to whether you will be allowed to work in the US after graduation, and most applicants don’t win.