<p>First of all Tohmas, college sucks nowadays and hats off to you as a person for being realistic about it. I always tell the kids I work with that college nowadays has to be a dispassionate business decision. I know it’s hard, but both schools are excellent and you can get a good education at both schools.</p>
<p>Have you thought of going to a community college for a year or two and then transferring? If you really have your heart set on USC, then you can always go to a CC, knock of your pre-reqs, and then matriculate to Marshall. It’s something to consider, and so long as your grades don’t collapse you’ll likely get preferred consideration having already been admitted to both schools as a freshman. For example, one of my high school classmates impressed the heck out of me when she took 20 quarter hours at our local CC over the summer, fall, winter, spring, and summer quarters and then transferred into a state school as a junior - after one calendar year. You could just follow the Marshall pre-reqs, take all the classes you need plus a stupid fun elective or two (i.e. cooking) and then transfer.</p>
<p>I’m guessing that your folks are the typical upper middle class doctor/lawyer/business executive who make just enough money to be considered rich but who aren’t truly rich, particularly when they lose half of their income in taxes and then pay a mortgage. It’s frustrating. I learned the difference between upper middle class and upper class in a big way at USC and in living in L.A. in general.</p>
<p>You’ll be fine no matter which school you choose to attend.</p>