Is USC worth full tuition?

vinceh
Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:38:33 +0000

If you are going on to med school, undergrad will only the first of your debts. Basic Biology is the same at any school. While there might be some internship at USC that isn’t available at your other schools, you’re making a huge financial bet that you’ll find and get access to it. In short, there is nothing you will learn at USC in the field of Biology/Science that is worth $200,000 with $60,000 of it being debt. No school is worth that premium, not even fair Harvard.

If fit to you means how much you’re going to enjoy your undergrad years that’s fine. Just realize that you are essentially deciding to spend $200,000 for a “good feeling”. Most of us can have a good time for far less money. My suggestion to you is to go to the cheapest school on your list and do very well there; after a semester or even two, if you still feel strongly that you would be happier someplace else then look into transferring. With a strong track record there may be more fin aid available to you at that point. Give whichever school you choose a fair chance, you may be surprised how much you like it. Don’t build 'SC into the perfect girl, believe it or not it has flaws as well, everyplace does.