What's better; Boston University, or University of Southern California?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Also, which tends to offer more financial aid? I know BU has a half-tuition merit scholarship; does USC offer anything like this?</p>

2

<p>btw according to the website I may have missed out on financial aid from USC…they say to get merit scholarships apply by december 1st</p>

3

<p>USC is generally stronger in terms of student quality, academics, and prestige. It is more comparable to NYU than BU. However, BU does have some top-notch programs and should not be overlooked.</p>

4

<p>USC offers wonderful financial aid; it has one of the biggest financial aid budgets in the country. It gives out half-tuition scholarships, full-tuition scholarships, other smaller merit based scholarships… Oh, and for NMFs, an automatic half-tuition scholarship. And in general, USC would be the stronger school, but it depends on what major you’re looking at, really.</p>

5

<p>USC (by default)</p>

6

<p>small nit: a LOT of 'SC money goes to high testers, period. Thus, NMSF is heavily discounted, but if you ain’t a NMSF or 2200+, don’t plan on merit money from them. It is an excellent school, however.</p>

7

<p>Suggest checking out both schools on students review dot com. You may want to read the posts and see what you think.</p>

8

<p>

You have missed the deadline for merit aid, but not for need-based financial aid.</p>

<p>USC’s regular admissions deadline is January 11, 2010, and the deadline for financial aid applications is February 2, 2010. To apply for need-based financial aid at USC, you must submit the FAFSA and CSS/Profile by February 2nd. California residents must also submit GPA verification to the California Student Aid Commission by March 2nd.</p>

<p>USC guarantees to meet 100% of USC-determined need. *The USC-determined need may differ from your FAFSA-determined need because USC also uses the CSS/Profile, which considers assets (such as home equity) that the FAFSA does not.</p>

<p>[USC</a> Financial Aid - Applying & Receiving Financial Aid - Undergraduate - New Students](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates1/newstudents.html]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates1/newstudents.html)</p>

<p>As bluebayou mentions, merit aid goes to top students, but need-based financial aid at USC is not dependent on your “stats” at all (except that they must have been good enough for you to be accepted to the school, of course).</p>

9

<p>USC…USC…USC…</p>

<p>did I mention USC?</p>

<p>Scholarships are different than FA… FA probably has a later deadline. Scholarships are awarded by merit, FA is by need.</p>

10

<p>USC has a campus while BU doesn’t.</p>