Costs: USC: $100,000, CMU: $90,000 (STICKER PRICE AT EACH)
Parents can pay for my education
Carnegie Mellon University
Pros:
Very technical based curriculum
More introverted community, may have an easier time to fit in as an introvert
Will allow me to gain exposure into CS, potentially leading to switching my major to Information Systems (Intersection between CS and Business)
Semi-target in terms of business recruiting (Not as strong as USC)
Cons:
Weather isn’t the best with gray skies and rain sometimes
Weaker network compared to USC
May be a bit stressful at times
University of Southern California
Pros:
Very strong network
Social life and weather is really nice
Good student life with the ideal college experience
With such a large undergraduate enrollment, it will be easier to find my group of friends
Strong business program
Cons:
Spring admit, will choose to study abroad most likely. I am not too worried about the social integration going in the spring.
Will lock me into a business major, I am ultimately still undecided on what I want to do.
Addendum:
I am an introverted person who is giving business a shot. I am willing to venture out of my comfort zone to adapt and learn. I am looking into placing into Investment Banking or management consulting if I study business. I have no prior experience to business or the tech industry, which is why I am considering CMU since it will give me a bit of leeway if I discover that I am not interested in business, allowing me to switch into an Information Systems major (not guaranteed, but likely w/ pre-reqs). Not too sure if I prioritize a college experience, but I want to be happy wherever I go.
Strictly speaking from a business major standpoint, I would choose to go to USC Marshall since its program and network are a lot stronger + QOL there, but I am still a bit undecided in my future career paths and want to keep my options available. I have never had prior experience with any programming, but it seems pretty doable. If I were to stick with business at CMU, I also would be pretty content, but my primary reason for going to CMU would be for the exposure to CS and the possibility of a transfer to the IS major.
Weather and distance from home aren’t a big factor. I do not plan on joining a fraternity. Both are private universities so they will have small class sizes. Both are equally as diverse. USC’s campus culture has a lot more school spirit involved, but it is not something I am prioritizing too heavily.
I am leaning towards CMU right now because it would provide me with the opportunity to explore into the tech field, but I am worried about the strength of the business program compared to USC if I do not like Information Systems/unable to transfer.
For a self-proclaimed introvert who’s considering a school like USC with a relatively extroverted culture (especially in the business school, I would think), I would consider the spring admit to be a huge downside. (It would be a downside for anyone, but especially for someone who isn’t a “hit the ground running, socially” kind of person.) I was already thinking that CMU sounded like a better fit for you, but the spring admit sealed my opinion.
I don’t understand why you see Tepper as measurably inferior to Marshall. They are both T10 business programs on every list I have seen; which comes out ahead varies by methodology.
If it turns out you can’t switch into Info Systems, there are still a lot of more quantitative/computational options at CMU. In the business school, there’s Computational Finance, in addition to the more quant-heavy concentrations within the regular Business Admin degree, such as business analytics. There are other majors in Dietrich too, like Decision Science, that might work. There are minors you can add as well. I wouldn’t really worry about being able to find a good path, or about being employable with a highly-regarded CMU degree.
My personal impression is that USC’s strengths work best for extroverts who love the rah-rah culture, the networking, etc. On the other hand, when I see a student who really wanted MIT Sloan and wants the next best thing, I think Tepper, not USC. You may not be a “wish I could’ve gone to MIT” type student, but you sound closer to that end of the continuum than not.
I would’ve said CMU, based on the “case study” you present, even without the 10K/year cost differential and the spring admit.
I agree with your lean toward CMU, given that you are undecided. I would not be concerned about the strength of the business program at CMU. You will have a very well respected degree as a graduate of CMU.
USC’s Business school is bigger and probably has a bigger network, but CMU graduates about 200 business majors and has students who majored in other fields but then went into business, so their network is not insubstantial. Your success in business will ultimately be determined by you and how hard you work at your chosen career, not by your school’s network. CMU is well resourced and has the staff to help you find your first job and launch your career. After that, it’s up to you. If you choose business as your field, you will likely go back to school at some point for your MBA. That network will likely be more important than that of your undergraduate college.
You mentioned that both schools have small classes. This is true. But a bonus at CMU is that the student:faculty:ratio of 6:1 is even smaller than the 9:1 at USC.
If the price is about the same, and you don’t mind the atmosphere of USC, great campus in South Central, large college with over 20,000 students and 5,000+ Marshall students, with an excellent alumni network, I’d recommend USC. But you will need to take advantage of your network to make the most of your opportunities. You may need to start to become a little more extraverted and meet people, network, have coffee chats, etc. I hear people love USC and they enjoy their time. It does not sound as rigorous as other schools such as Berkeley Haas, for example.
However, if you are introverted and don’t plan to exploit your opportunities and network, and don’t mind “grinding” which I get the feel CMU is like, then maybe Tepper is a better fit for you. It is much smaller with something like 500+ students in the undergrad business school.
It also depends on where you ultimately want to live. I’m sure the reputation of Tepper and CMU is fabulous in that part of the country, Northeastern states and the area. Marshall is very strong is SoCal.
Apparently Marshall is a semi target for finance or IB. Tepper may be a lower semi target.
I don’t think you can go wrong. Both have many advantages.
Based on what you’ve said, and given that it is $10000 cheaper on top of that, I would choose CMU.
And since you are undecided, know that CMU has a number of quality majors/programs into which to pivot if Tepper doesn’t work out.
The B schools’ reputations are a wash, so don’t worry about that. Academically overall, I believe CMU holds the advantage.
It might be difficult for an introvert to handle a Spring admit – most fellow freshmen at USC will already have made friends. It would be like being the “new kid” in high school.
Give four seasons a chance – those cold and dreary days make the sunny ones seem special, and Pittsburgh is a fantastic city with lovely views and interesting sandwiches.