USC (Economics) vs. Penn State (Finance)

vinceh
Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:52:51 +0000

*Why did you choose PSU the first time around?
*What has changed to make you want to transfer?
*Do you want a Finance degree or an Economics degree?
*If you’re planning on going back for an MBA why do you need/want a Finance degree?
*Do you have a problem with graduating from PSU in two years, getting a job on the East Coast and then applying to California MBA programs in 2-4 years?
*Why didn’t you apply directly to transfer to Marshall?
*Is it impossible to get the job you want in Southern California if you graduate from PSU?
*By transferring to USC-Marshall so late in your academic career will you be able to fully exploit the advantages of the Trojan Family or will those students who have been there all four years have an insurmountable edge?
*How much longer than PSU will you have to attend USC?
*How much more will going to USC cost?
*If you do transfer into Marshall will that make your stay longer or shorter at USC?
*Is it impossible to get a job in investment banking with an Econ degree?

Many of these answers are unknowable, but any successful investment banker knows how to assess and handle risk. This is your first investment deal. You need to answer those questions and assess the risks based on your criteria. The recommendation I would give you straight out of high school is very different than the one I would give you as a rising college junior. Personally, with two years to go on a track to get the degree you want I have a hard time justifying the added debt and time that comes with transferring to USC, especially given that you have no clear idea of the likelihood of getting into Marshall.

Additionally, since you seem intent on attending SC for grad school I certainly don’t see the point of burdening yourself with more debt when you are going to need those resources later (look up efficient use of capital and opportunity costs). Your decision to transfer to USC is fraught with unknowns and nebulous payoffs. You don’t know if you can get into Marshall. You don’t know how much longer getting your undergraduate degree is going to take. You don’t know if, worst case, you can get the job you want with an Econ degree. You’re potentially paying more on the belief that it will be easier to get into Marshall Grad. You’re paying more on the belief that the USC network will definitely provide you with access to the job you want.

If you were a freshman I’d probably argue in favor of SC. As a junior resetting a portion of the clock and incurring the costs that go with that, I suggest staying where you are and looking at SC in 5 years.

Just one man’s opinion. I hope the financial aid package makes all this worrying irrelevant.