[AlphaChiGirl]

Car...I log on to reply to your posts, and I have an (admittedly old) PM from you! Thanks so much! I'm having a great time here--and not ready to go back!

About the college admissions/financial aid thing. I applied to four schools: UF, William and Mary, Emory, and Brown. I wanted to apply to Berkeley, but knew there was no way to get in, being out-of-state. UF--no financial aid, but Florida Academic Scholars--like TOPS in LA, full scholarships. W&M--no financial aid, but a small merit-based scholarship, if I had been a VA resident, it would have been a full ride. Emory--some financial aid. Brown--no financial aid, and no merit-based aid, but the option to take out private loans. UF would have been the OBVIOUS choice, prestigious and affordable, but not what I wanted. Brown had been my dream school, my TOP choice, and my parents knew what it would take for me to get there, and wanted to make sure I understood what it would take. I seriously don't regret my choice at all--I'm graduating in four years, and was able to do everything I wanted to do academically and socially. It can be done.

Although financial aid is a minor concern of mine--according to the Universities' financial aid offices, that is--Brown isn't cheap. I think it'sabout $37,500 for this year--and that's assuming you're not studying abroad, being in a sorority, or even being in a sport. Therefore, I do what I have to do, even if that means not spending my summers on the beach or in a high-powered, but unpaid, internship. Even if it means possibly having to take out loans and taking more responsibility in my education than some of my friends--in my opinion, the experiences I had FRESHMAN YEAR ALONE are worth any loan amount I might have to take out between now and the time I get out of grad school.

I forgot to mention--that first semester you aren't in class, you can work. I was a dorm counselor last year, and we had two girls come in mid-year. They were immediately taken in by the unit, and we checked on them pretty often to make sure they were getting adjusted. Also, Spring admits are usually given an orientation and they do go through the same things together--although it sounds bad, it didn't seem to be so bad for them.

So, it's up to you. I'd honestly say USC. It DOES matter what college you went to, even if it's just limited to where you're even CONSIDERED for graduate school and your first job. Not to mention internships. The return on your investment will really be much more than what it says on paper.

Best of luck!