Schools Which undergrad school should I choose: UCSB or PSU?

[ErectBaguette]

I'm out of state for UCSB but I'm going to be in their CCS program, whereas I'm in state at Penn State but am currently on the waitlist for their honors program. Per year cost is 65k/year vs 25k/year. Neither will put us in debt, but obviously the former is quite a bit less comfortable. What should I do?

 

[Mark44]

I'm out of state for UCSB but I'm going to be in their CCS program, whereas I'm in state at Penn State but am currently on the waitlist for their honors program. Per year cost is 65k/year vs 25k/year. Neither will put us in debt, but obviously the former is quite a bit less comfortable. What should I do?

Santa Barbara is a fairly expensive place to live, as is much of So. Calif., especially along the coast. You have enough saved to afford a $65,000/year tuition?
Based on the cost differential, my own preference would be to stay where the tuition is appreciably less. Can you continue at Penn State without being in the honors program? Others might disagree, but honors vs. no honors is less of a determinant than GPA in your major courses.
What is CCS? I know CS, but CCS is a new one on me.

 

[CrysPhys]

I'm out of state for UCSB but I'm going to be in their CCS program, whereas I'm in state at Penn State but am currently on the waitlist for their honors program. Per year cost is 65k/year vs 25k/year. Neither will put us in debt, but obviously the former is quite a bit less comfortable. What should I do?

Have you been accepted to Penn State (regular) and waitlisted for honors, or have you been waitlisted for Penn State overall (any program)?

 

[ErectBaguette]

Have you been accepted to Penn State (regular) and waitlisted for honors, or have you been waitlisted for Penn State overall (any program)?

Accepted regular, waitlisted honors haha

 

[vela]

What is CCS? I know CS, but CCS is a new one on me.

College of Creative Studies

https://ccs.ucsb.edu

 

[ErectBaguette]

I'll throw my other choice in the mix here since I'm still looking for opinions - USC at 45k/year. Thoughts?

 

[StatGuy2000]

To the OP:

Since you have already been accepted to Penn State in the regular program, but waitlisted in the honors program, is it possible for you to transfer into the honors program at a later time?

(note: even though I live in Canada, I'm using the American spelling since I'm referring to US schools)

 

[Dr. Courtney]

Presuming Physics Major.

There is not enough difference between the choices to justify a cost difference of $40k per year.

$45k/year for USC? Hard to recommend that for most students due to the debt loads likely involved.

 

[vela]

Per year cost is 65k/year vs 25k/year.

That's only for the first year, right? After a year, you can establish residency in California and pay in-state costs.

 

[CrysPhys]

That's only for the first year, right? After a year, you can establish residency in California and pay in-state costs.

This varies on a state-by-state basis. For CA, see:

https://www.ucop.edu/residency/establishing-residency.html
Note in particular: "Virtually all nonresident undergraduates with nonresident parents remain nonresidents for the duration of their undergraduate career at UC."

<<Emphasis in original.>>

 

[CrysPhys]

Presuming Physics Major.

There is not enough difference between the choices to justify a cost difference of $40k per year.

$45k/year for USC? Hard to recommend that for most students due to the debt loads likely involved.

Even harder to imagine anyone paying $500,000 in bribes to get two kids admitted to USC. Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[vela]

Note in particular: "Virtually all nonresident undergraduates with nonresident parents remain nonresidents for the duration of their undergraduate career at UC."

I'm surprised. I'd "disown" my parents/family to save $40k a year.

 

[DaveE]

If you think you'll have time to leave campus, the UCSB is a much better choice than USC, IMO. Santa Barbara is one of the nicest places in the world to live (if you can afford it); central LA is not.

 

[Mark44]

Santa Barbara is one of the nicest places in the world to live (if you can afford it); central LA is not.

I alluded to the "if you can afford it" part earlier and was thinking at the time, that USC is not in a very nice part of LA.

 

[ErectBaguette]

If you think you'll have time to leave campus, the UCSB is a much better choice than USC, IMO. Santa Barbara is one of the nicest places in the world to live (if you can afford it); central LA is not.

USC did seem rather lively though, and I'm not exactly bothered by the area. I probably even slightly prefer it to SB, but am I sacrificing odds of getting into a good grad school in doing so?