@trackmbe3 , if he decides to go this route, he will meet with an adviser at USC who will guide him in course selection, etc…
It is a win-win situation. I actually think it might be a really good work around for him.
@Lindagaf congrats to your son. My D has two friends who were offered the Trojan transfer plan last year and are both in Paris this year. They are both having a great time. One is a real homebody so we were worried about how she’d adjust but no problems at all!
@Lindagaf Congrats! The first thread I ever got sucked into on CC was your fun one about about your daughter’s search. I’m getting a kick out of thinking our kids could end up at the same place (D19 still deciding between SC and one other school).
Very exciting news @Lindagaf! Congratulations to all.
Now comes the hard part – making a choice among different and wonderful options.
@Lindagaf both of my USC students did the first semester abroad option - one went to London and the other to Northern Italy (or Southerm Switzerland?). Regardless, they both loved it, had no trouble integrating to USC when they arrived in January, and are incredibly happy to be there.
Good luck to your son no matter what he decides.
Always a late hour plot twist! How do you do it?!
That’s funny, @Tigerle 
Obviously, I meticulously planned it all that way!
Sounds great!! Can you explain how this transfer thing works? Do you go after a semester elsewhere or after a year?If he goes to another school for a semester and then transfers then I would go with Binghamton lol. He’s less likely to love it than Penn State or Indiana. This way it will be easier to transfer. Most people don’t agree, but my feeling is that if you can afford it, then your child should go to the best school they got into as long as it’s also the best fit.
I’ve been lurking on this thread and have to say I’m thrilled for all of the great choices your S has, @Lindagaf!
Faithful Reader,
I could tell you the decision outright, but where’s the fun in that? I am a fan of suspense and your patience will be rewarded.
Son plans to major in Economics, of which the simple definition is thus: the branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth. His honest hope is that, one day, he will produce money, and consume money, with the goal of transferring wealth to himself. He does not believe that his college choice will affect his chances of doing that.
It is said that one must spend money to make money. That is possibly true, but must one spend one’s parents’ money to make money? Do we, his parents, need to pay nearly $200,000 to help him achieve that goal? If you ask my son, he will firmly say “no.” Do we need to pay nearly $150,000 to help him achieve that goal? Again, no! What about a more modest, but still princely, sum of nearly $100,000? To that he would say, “If you must, go ahead.” Perhaps we should also abide by the old adage that a penny saved is a penny earned.
Son has not changed his mind, despite plenty of conversations over the last few weeks about his three choices AND a special screening of Animal House, designed to get in him in the college mood. Today, Son learned that his pie-in-the-sky college would probably accept him if he does well for a year at another college. And that, my friends, confirmed his final decision. If he ultimately doesn’t like his college, he will go somewhere else. (Maybe the idea of transferring to the fabled home of the Trojans will inspire him to work even harder, but what about that price tag?)
In all likelihood, he will do well and be very happy at his chosen college, which he is certain will not provide $100,000 less happiness than the other colleges. As for the issue of school pride, why, he has heard that Binghamton’s football team has been undefeated since 1946, and they have the sweatshirt to prove it. So, without further ado, please welcome Lindagaf’s son to Binghamton University’s Class of 2023! May he live long and prosper!
Yours truly,
Lindagaf
Congratulations!
Although, wow, I wouldn’t have predicted it 
Congratulations to all and best wishes to Lindagafson who has shown an impressive level of maturity throughout this process.
@MYOS1634 , it’s more anti-climactic than my D’s journey, and I’m still not totally convinced it’s the right place for him. But he is very certain, and I have to trust his judgement. I’m proud of him for his common sense:-) And thank you!
@happy1 , thank you!
@suzy100 , probably not going to be as lengthy a saga as my daughter had, lol.
@citymama9 , still not entirely sure how the Trojan Transfer Plan works, but I think he must go elsewhere for a year.
Your son has a good head on his shoulders. I have no doubt he will do well in life. Also, if he stays at Binghampton he will have lots of alumni connections in NYC as an economics major. What I have learned, even though I have strong opinions is that our kids usually know what’s best for themselves. Congrats!!
@citymama9 It’s “Binghamton” spelled without the “p”
Congrats @Lindagaf! Great news on the decision. Your son sounds like he shares a lot of qualities with my S19, who will also be studying economics. Now if we could just get to the decision part!
It sounds like your son will do great! Best of luck to him.
@Lindagaf Congratulations! Based on the original title of this thread and the many details shared along the way, I think he has landed in a good place. And he’s respectful of your bank account too! What a great kid!
Seriously, I have enjoyed following the college journey of both your kids. Go celebrate!
They go wherever they want that they are accepted to and can afford.
Count me in as another one who followed your daughter’s journey along with your son’s here. Both were entertaining with their twists and turns, but this one kept me smiling, gave me a few laughs, and made me want to meet your son!
Please keep us updated if there happens to be a change down the road. 
Congratulations on raising such a level headed kid!
I find that if you google the Trojan Transfer Plan, the first hit is a thread from 2017 on trusty CC which tells you more than you ever needed to know about it…it is fascinating how many more permutation the US higher ed system can come up with, just when you feel you are beginning to understand the system.