USC Marshall (79K per year) or Michigan Ross (80K per year) undergrad? Hoping to work in Sports IB or Sports VC
I was lucky enough to be admitted to both, and now I'm torn between the two. Both have been my dream schools since sophomore year of high school, and I was not expecting to get into both.
I hope to work in the sports IB industry (advising in transactions like M&A) at firms strongly involved in sports like JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, or Guggenheim. However, that is still a pretty half-baked idea that I'll need time to figure out. I'm also interested in working directly for a sports franchise (e.g. 49ers Enterprise, the SF 49ers' corporate VC arm that invests in other sectors/sports teams). I don't know where I'll want to end up working, but I'm certain that I want to spend at least a couple of years working abroad in Europe. I'm not sure if this matters, but I regularly keep up with European soccer, American football, Formula 1, and tennis.
I also aim to get an MBA at a top business school, whether domestically or abroad (e.g. HBS, Wharton, Bocconi).
At USC, I'll be on 20K/year scholarship and part of the Trojan Scholars Society. However, I'm a Spring Admit (meaning I can't start school in LA until spring 2026), and I'll be spending my fall semester taking courses at USC's DC campus. I'm majoring in Business Administration and aiming for a minor in Sport Business and Management or a second major in something else.
At Michigan, I've been admitted to the School of Kinesiology for Sport Management with preferred admission to Ross BBA (I plan to graduate with both degrees). However, I'll be paying the full OOS tuition, and the weather is a slight worry.
From my research, Michigan Ross comes out with an overall stronger, more versatile degree. I also love their wider range of study abroad opportunities. However, I'm slightly concerned about the infamous "Ross Curve" and "Rossholes" at Michigan. In addition, USC Marshall is in immediate proximity to a plethora of franchises in LA, while the options in Detroit are limited.
At the end of the day, I love the atmosphere at both schools, and I'll be equally happy being in either. I've visited both and have heard nothing but good things from the alumni I connected with.
I'd love to get some advice and insight from people who understand the industry well, rather than other high school kids, college counselors, or alumni parents. Any advice is welcome. Even if it's not about the schools, I'd love to hear some things about the career path I plan to take.
First off, congratulations — that’s a major step. At the end of the day, you should pursue what feels right for you, but it’s important to stay realistic about the costs. Everything you mentioned could total over $500K in student loans. High-finance comp is strong, no doubt, but personally, I couldn’t justify taking on that kind of debt. That said, it’s your journey — just make sure the return is truly worth the investment.
I really appreciate the sentiment! Costs would not be an issue because I am fortunate enough to have my parents cover the full tuition, while I'll forever be grateful for.
Did as sports m&a related internship and you should choose USC if that's your goal
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