<p>I applied M.A. in economics and recently got admitted by both USC and UMich, but however, I don't know which one I should go. Really need some suggestions!</p>
<p>First, the economics of UMich is prestigious and ranks 12 on the latest US News, and also there are lots of top professors in the econ department; on the other hand, ppl can only say that USC's econ is just average (50 on the US News) and its econ dept. keeps small size;</p>
<p>Second and what more confuses me is that: the LOCATION. Since I will pursue master degree and don't have intention for a PhD, so the most important thing for me after graduation is finding a job. So in a big city -LA (USC) and in a small college town - Ann Arbor (UMich) can be a large difference?! Of course, life in a big city or in a college town must be different, which is the most attracting point that I like USC or LA...</p>
<p>I also have the same dilemma as I’m intending on double majoring in mechanical engineering and economics. Michigan is much stronger in both departments for me too, although I will be a undergraduate. I’ve visited L.A. (but not the USC campus) and Ann Arbor. For me, I disliked the Ann Arbor’s atmosphere; it just didn’t seem right for me. Career-wise, it really depends on if you’re aiming for the Midwest/Northeast or the West Coast. </p>
<p>It’ll help if you go to USC for a job in San Francisco, just as it’d help if you go to Michigan for a job in New York City. The University of Michigan is very well-regarded in the Northeast, so the location of Ann Arbor would not hurt your chances of finding a job. I’m not sure how much the education actually differs in the two schools in regards to the huge difference in their rankings, but Michigan is definitely the stronger of the two academically. </p>
<p>SC is now ranked overall in U.S. News above Univ. of Michigan in the latest national university rankings. Each university will have certain majors which are stronger than others. </p>
<p>This is for the two universities according to the latest U.S. News rankings of national universities.</p>
<p>Faculty resources…
USC 27th
Mich. 74th</p>
<p>Student Faculty Ratio
USC 1/9
Mich. 1/15</p>
<p>Selectivity Rank
USC 20th
Mich 24th</p>
<p>Princeton Review ranking is 98 for SC in selectivity</p>
<p>SC also has one of the most diverse student bodies in the U.S. There are more international students at SC than any university. Also, students come to SC from all over the U.S. </p>
<p>Have you checked on how Michigan is dealing with budget cuts and what affect those will have on class size, resources, services and fees?</p>
<p>Your statement that Michigan is definitely stronger academically could be a matter for discussion on this board.</p>
<p>A word on Michigan and its budget. Depending on the source cited and the definition of “support”, Michigan gets a paltry 7 - 12% of its budget from the government. As a result, in a convoluted way, Michigan has benefitted from the states slow economic decline versus the sharp contraction that the UCs are going through. It costs approximately $24K for an in-state student to attend Michigan, which will be what it costs for in-state Californians to attend UCB and UCLA after they implement their 32% tuition increases over the next two years. I realize that USC is a private institution, I only mention this to point out that Michigan has been working without state government support for far longer than most public universities. Government funding should not impact your decision making process.</p>
<p>I think the prestige differences are minimal between the two schools, if pressed I’d give a very slight edge to Michigan, but only very slight. The point about where you want to work is the key one; USC will obviously have a stronger network on the west coast, while Michigan’s will be superior in the mid-west and northeast. Decide where you want to live and go from there.</p>
<p>trevort,
These statistics are from the latest issue of U.S. News which ranks U. S. colleges and universities. It is the September of 2009 issue. The next ranking is expected to be in September of 2010.
This month U.S. News ranked graduate schools.</p>
<pre><code>The figure for fundraising is confirmed by the Council for Aid to Education, 2010. The Council listed the top 20 fundraising institutions for 2009. SC was listed as 7th. According to their figures USC raised $368,980,000 million.
</code></pre>