USC vs Vanderbilt

I’m trying to choose between the two right now and have only 2 more weeks to decide.

I want to do something in quant/hf/s&t or maybe vc after graduation. For quant and hf I’d think it’s pretty hard to get into from usc because they are almost exclusively NYC.

I like LA way more than Nashville and wouldn’t mind living on the west coast after graduation, but I don’t know if it’s enough to overcome the prestige difference.

My major would probably be math and cs at both schools.

26 Comments
 

I would recommend against planning on doing this. The transfer acceptance rates at Stanford and Caltech are 1%, much lower than the normal acceptance rate. You have like a 3-4 times better chance at getting in normally from high school than from a transfer. I think Berkeley is higher, but still close to its normal acceptance rate. If you didn’t get into any of these schools during the normal college admissions process, chances are you won’t with a transfer application unless you do something incredible at USC your freshman year

 

I would recommend against planning on doing this. The transfer acceptance rates at Stanford and Caltech are 1%, much lower than the normal acceptance rate. You have like a 3-4 times better chance at getting in normally from high school than from a transfer. 

I second this. Transferring into any ivy or wannabe ivy is not an option you should plan for. By all means try it but don't build your plan around this. 

 

You should not make your decision on whether to attend two completely different schools based on their IB placement track record. These are four of the most formative years of your life, go wherever you feel is a better fit for you. The career stuff will come later. 

 

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