I have to make a decision. I may get a full-time position at USC. The salary would be slightly lower then now, but the department is growing (opportunities). Job responsibilities are the same. Points to consider:
SELLING POINT
If I work at USC, my children get USC undergrad education FOR FREE. I have 4 children, so financial sense is obvious.
On the other hand, commute to USC and back takes 3 hours. My current commute is 30 minutes, both ways.
USC makes financial sense if 1) my children apply and 2) accepted. Currently, all my girls are in school and all are getting good grades. Of course, nobody can predict the future.
QUESTIONS
Is USC a good school for undergrads (I don’t know their future majors!)?
Do I restrict my children's options? They are good students. Do I sell their future?
What would you do?
Generally, our family is prepared to pay for children’s education. Money are short, but available. On the other hand … if USC is for free … money may be used for other needs.
I assume you are saying 3 hours round trip? Is that compared to 1 hour round trip now? For years I had about a 2.5 hour round trip commute, but it was all on public transportation. I got a lot of reading done and didn’t have kids yet. It was fine for me then. I wouldn’t have done it later though.
The real problem with these deals is the kids may not want to go to USC. They may want to go further afield, or they may want different departments. USC is a decent all around school. My DH works for a University that neither of us wanted our kids to go to. The Med School is fine, but the undergrad would have been a terrible fit for either kid. We did get a small stipend for them to attend other schools, but it was a lot less than no tuition.
Anyway, I probably wouldn’t do it, unless I really thought the job would be much better than where I was currently.
3 hour round trip, yes. Could be more, because traffic in Los Angeles is terrible. Currently, I have no commute (walking distance between my home and my work). Moving is not an option, because of my husband’s job.
@ThomasSrofBoston
Thank you Thomas. You are right. If I accept the position NOW, then this benefit would be available when children would apply. I have to decide now to be eligible for this benefit.
Did you ask if being an employee at USC would allow your children to attend other colleges for 1/2 cost?
[ I dont know if USC participates in that kind of program- It may only be extended to faculty children, as it is at Stanford]
As for your children, I cant see ANY reason why they would need to go to another college if going to USC is free.
DS was given the Trustee full tuition scholarship 9 years ago, and chose USC over Ivys and 9 other more “prestigious” colleges. It did not hurt him at ALL- and he is now at CalTech finishig his Phd.
Going to USC for free was an absolute no brainer.
But a 3 hr commute would give me pause. …
@menloparkmom
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No, unfortunately it is not possible. Thank you for the suggestion. Either USC or nothing.
@anomander
I may drive motorcycle (I have driving license but i was not using it for ages) and zip through the traffic. It would reduce the time of commute, but it is not very safe.
Carpool lanes are not an option, as they are overloaded the same way as all other lanes.
Three hours on a motorcycle in LA traffic? Yikes! If I were your family, I’d say NO WAY!
If your girls do really well in high school, they may qualify for full or 1/2 tuition, anyway.
Life is short. I would want to spend the time with my family instead of commuting.
Thank you very much for your suggestions. Briefly, the answers are,
3 hour commute is a terrible idea (I agree)
USC is a fine school, no objections. Children may be happy there.
Would you agree that I would not shortcut my children, if i would insist on going to USC? (assuming I take the job and children are getting USC undergrad for free).
My housemate works at USC. She didn’t used to be her foundation was moved to USC. She has a 1-1/2 hour commute each way but most is on the train so she knits, reads and it has wifi. Sure beats sitting in traffic even if it is longer. Most busses that get you to and from campus from Union Station have buses too. Just got to get used to cutting the cord and you can be productive for a couple hours of the day and more relaxed. They give you Commuter Checks from work too, 30 buck a month so only a dent in it though. Also she has had a work at home deal for some time and only goes in 2 days a week. She will leave at 7 am and get home at 7 PM.
She heard people on the train talking about how they get the free tuition but their kids can’t get in it has gotten so selective. USC is a large school with many departments and offerings so there is really something for everyone. It may not be the perfect school for all your kids but most people have to make some compromise of funds. I don’t think you can count on the students ‘getting in’, check the avg SAT and gpa and admit rate these days.
Also roommate is saying they have super good retirement with matching pretax funds up to 5 pct, they also make a 5 pct contribution even if you don’t contribute any, so they will make up to a 10 pct contribution totaling 15 pct. Also good Health Ins.
benefits.usc.edu/retirement/retirement-plan/