Well, newbie, I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and offer what little advice I have
First, I think from what you said in your earlier posts that your parents (both of them) are
very proud of you. My guess is that your dad feels frustrated that he might not be able to send you to your dream school, one that he knows you love and that has a great reputation. It doesn't make what he said right or excusable, but being away from the situation, I have a feeling that's what is really bothering him.
Second, here's my story:
Let me preface this by saying that even though I was only applying back in the fall of 1994, it seems like admissions have gotten a lot more competitive since then. Even at average schools (meaning not just Ivy League or those few schools that are internationally renowned for various majors). So my experience was a little different from the beginning I think.
I didn't have any school set as a dream school. I had looked at the same small private school my brother attended (roughly 700 students)-Grace College in Indiana- and kind of thought I would end up there.. I had a few friends going there and knew several people who had graduated from there and
loved it. When I visited the campus and auditioned (I was applying as a music major) I loved the people I met, found the campus beautiful, etc.
That school is roughly 6 hours from my parents' house. The offered me about 60-70% of tuition in scholarship money.
So I also decided to apply closer to home at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM). I had been involved in some high school honors music programs that took place there, so was already a little familiar with it. When I was there for my audition, I
hated it. With the exception of my interview with an administrator, who was friendly and seemed intelligent, but not condenscending. By the time I got to my actual audition, I already knew I wouldn't go there. So, my audition didn't go so well, but I didn't really care.
I kept getting mail from Capital, which I had heard of but knew nothing about. They sent me some information on applying for a full scholarship, so I decided to check it out. It was okay... I liked the campus (very pretty and college-campus-like) & that it was close to a city (Columbus). The people were okay.. some I liked a lot, some were just average. Then I went back for my audition and started liking it a little more... I could see myself going there.
I still wasn't dead set on either school. CIM sent my letter telling me I didn't get in- no surprise or tears there. Grace and Capital both offered me about the same amount of scholarship and grant money. To this day I can't tell you why, but I suddenly had a gut feeling to go with Capital. And I did. The head of the music department at Grace called me and asked me why I changed my mind. He asked if it was financial reasons, because they would work with me. I told him it was just a feeling, and he seemed to understand that.
Even with a lot of scholarship, Capital
is a private school. My parents paid what they could. I was responsible for the rest; from savings, a job,and my pile of loans I'm now repaying.
Sometimes I do wonder "what if" (and often come up with the conclusion I would have been kicked out of Grace... it's a super strict Christian school
), but I have never regreted my decision. After all, I wouldn't have met my friends, been able to join my GLO, or had the wonderful professors I did at Capital. I would be an entirely different person. Interesting fact... with the exception of
one person I asked the entire time I was at school, no one I knew had Capital as their first choice. Almost all of those students chose it based on their experience when they visited combined with the financial aid they offer.
Even though none of those students expected to end up at Capital, they did, and most of them were happy with it.
My 2 main points:
- Sometimes things don't work out how you planned them, but still work out for the better. Go with your gut. Did you feel the way at USC that you did at Davis.. that feeling in your gut? Or have you just been expecting to see yourself at USC for so long that that's the only place you can see yourself now?
- If you're really gung ho about USC, then consider how you can go there. I come from a family that wanted to help as much as possible, but couldn't afford everything. So I took the responsibility on myself to get a job (My best semester I had 2 part time jobs, a full time job and a full course load. Some of us work better under stress
If you don't.. look into campus work study or jobs in more relaxed environments like bookstores.) and to take out loans. Which I will pay back probably the rest of my life, or the next 15 years at least, since I plan on attending grad school soon (and paying for that myself). If you want it, you have to be willing to sacrifice for it. It sounds like you were willing to do that to get in to college, so I think you're probably okay with that.
Whatever you decide, best of luck. You will be great at either school!