<p>On a board so with such loyal USC fans my question might be a bit… unwelcome (but hopefully it isn’t!). For a little background, I’m a freshman at a business school in Massachusetts right now and I’m finding that my options are even more limited than I had originally thought in terms of what I can do academically (and also outside of the classroom). My biggest reason for transferring is to be able to pursue the interests I had when going through the college process as a senior. I like the school I’m at now, but it was also the best financial option available to me at the time. I enjoy business (I’m intending on being a finance major), but I started the application process last fall trying to decide between auditioning for conservatory-style music programs or business schools. I ended up picking a school that had some of my interests just not all of them.</p>
<p>USC’s academic offerings are most appealing to me but it’s location is not. I live 45 minutes away from my house at the school I go to now, but I’ve gone home once in the past month. Being close to home (in NH) isn’t a huge priority as I’ve now realized that I don’t really take advantage of it like some others would like to, but I don’t know if the commitment of having to fly out to LA often is something my family and I could financially be able to do (and there’d be no quick car-ride home in the event of an emergency). I’m still very likely going to apply to USC because of everything it can offer me but if you guys have any other suggestions for schools closer to the East Coast that can offer similar, diverse offerings it’d be awesome to get a list of places to research going. </p>
<p>I’d leave my stats profile here but at this point I know what I have and where I what applicant pools I’m somewhat competitive in. I’d consider USC to be inbetween a reach and a 50-50 for me and I won’t transfer to a school that can’t get me a better job after graduation. Academically my biggest interests are in business (finance or econ), music, history, politics, law, and foreign languages. I have no idea which of those I’m going to pursue more closely in the next four years, but I really want to find a place that gives me the ability to be able to do what I want (or try something else) instead of being limited to about 12 choices. Having a business program would be a plus because I am currently enrolled in business classes that won’t transfer to some schools that I really wanted to go to (Stanford, Columbia, and Yale). Hopefully this post is clear enough. I’m in between writing papers right now and I really need to get back to work. Thank you for your help!</p>
<p>If flying or driving to LA will be a financial stretch, talk with your parents about how realistic it is to pay the >$32,000/year tuition + >$10,000 room & board + additional expenses of USC in making your choice. There are no 2 ways about it, it is expensive. Transportation expenses do add up, especially if you want to be able to visit home for the holidays, spring break and/or summer. Air fares & transportatoin costs are likley to keep rising.</p>
<p>With the economy as it is, credit & loans might also be tougher to get in the near future.</p>
<p>Thanks for the updated amounts. Didn’t factor in those fees. The amounts you posted don’t account for incidental or travel expenses, which can easily make the total over $50,000/year.</p>
<p>Including books, too, it’s over $51,000/yr. Plus, USC tuition and fees tend to increase over $2000 each year, room and board also, You start freshman year with over $51,000, but senior year with over $61,000. So, for four years, it’s something between $200,000 and $240,000.</p>
<p>One other thing about transferring is unfortunately much of the merit money is awarded to incoming freshmen for 4 years. I’m not aware of much funding/merit awards for transfers, but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>It depends on the financial situation of a transfer student. You receive grants and loans, and probably merit scholarship depending on your SAT scores.</p>
<p>Thank you for the information about finances. I am well aware of the costs and ask that people not take those into consideration. I won’t say that it’s taken care of (because it isn’t entire), but it isn’t something I’m worrying about until I have an actual list to look at. I did my first college search without looking at money and on average received a financial aid package that made some schools I’m at now cheaper than going to my state school. Will this be the situation next year? Probably not, but I’m not going to let finances stop me from looking at schools for the time being and then worrying about money once I can see what my options might be. I know this makes me sound a bit arrogant, but the money thing has been an issue for a long time and I’ve learned how to deal with it so I’d rather get a list than anything else at this time. Thanks for your help :)</p>
<p>Vanderbilt’s R&B is $12,000 and that’s Nashville. USC’s number assumes you live only on campus and never eat outside the meal plan. You’d have no life (and no car; LA is voted “the most difficult to get around” by Travel+Leisure magazine) with such “budget”. Almost everything is more expensive than most other places in the US.</p>
<p>I live on the East coast. Given the info. you stated, I suggest you think about which city you would like to live in after graduation and then look for universities in an area where you think you might want to end up. There are plenty of good business schools. You might also want to think about the fact that currently finance/business school is going to be a near future tough area job wise with the difficulties on Wall Street. I mention this because if your passion turns out to be finance/business, then I would aim for a much less expensive undergrad education and save your money for graduate school. Also, USC is not in a great neighborhood. I mention this because the freshmen got on campus housing. I am not sure what would happen in your case housing wise and housing is very expensive in LA. From what I have read on this board, USC undergrad is best begun as a freshman, transfer students o.k. if you can commute home (i.e. don’t have to deal with expensive air fare. I was shocked to see airfare price around $800. plus for Thanksgiving one person from LA to East coast city). If you really want USC, I suggest you apply to grad school there. As far as East coast cities are concerned–I would go to a less expensive school state school while you are trying to decide what you want to study.</p>