When Sasha Obama transferred from the University of Michigan to the University of Southern California, college admissions insiders were quick to speculate whether this was an academic upgrade or downgrade. Many failed to consider, however, whether this move could have had anything to do with her personal life and desire to be closer to her family. Indeed, apparently Sasha made the switch to be closer to her sister, Malia, who attended Harvard University and now in Los Angeles as she pursues a career in film and television.

Did Sasha Obama Transfer to USC for Its Famed Film Program?

Could Sasha also have an interest in film and television and that’s why she wanted to transfer to USC, home to arguably the nation’s top undergraduate film program? As Ivy Coach has covered on this college admissions blog before, the University of Southern California is a hotbed for Hollywood elite and students intent on making waves in the entertainment industry. Despite the elite cache that comes with admission, we’d argue that USC still does not compare to the Ivy League when it comes to preparing graduates for careers in this highly competitive industry. But we doubt such practical concerns were at the top of Sasha’s mind when she made the move. Perhaps the former first daughters want to work for Higher Ground one day, the Netflix-based company of her parents? No matter where she attends college, Sasha will be a shoo-in for the next position opening up at this production studio.

Why The Children of Major Politicians Often Transfer Colleges 

We were frankly a bit surprised when the Sidwell Friends graduate enrolled at the University of Michigan. Some, at the time, wondered if her grades and test scores weren’t so hot. After all, she presumably could have had her pick of universities, from Harvard on down. When her sister Malia earned admission to Harvard back in 2016, she delayed her matriculation and opted to take a gap year. At the time, the move led some to speculate that her grades and scores weren’t so great and that she earned admission from Harvard’s well-known Z-List. Who knows?

In any event, we have our own theories why the scion of major politicians tend to get cold feet about their college of choice. When you come from a family at the top of the world, an average college experience (even at an elite school) is sure to be a let down. Why wouldn’t you opt to get in on the action sooner by relocating to a place like sunny Los Angeles where you can pursue your show business dreams in addition to taking classes? Nothing against Ann Arbor, but we just suspect that there may not have been enough glitz and glamor for Ms. Obama up in rust belt Michigan.

And while we’re on the subject, we’d like to lend our two cents on a more recent college transfer decision made by the child of a major political player.

Barron Trump Transfers To NYU’s DC Campus.

That’s right. As reported across many different outlets, Barron Trump, the 19-year old son of President Donald Trump, internally transferred to the Washington, DC leg of New York University to begin the second year of his bachelor’s in September 2025. And unlike Sasha, we wouldn’t chalk this move up to a desire for more urbane surroundings, although we would suggest that being close to family also had something to do with it. 

Think about it: if you were the son of a controversial conservative political figure attending a notably countercultural institution as NYU in the heart of downtown Manhattan, you’d probably experience your fair share of ostracization. Is it any surprise that Barron absconded to the safety of the DC bubble to wait out the rest of his undergraduate years away in DC, where he may live large at the White House and stay close to his doting mother? We’re not surprised by his decision, nor were we surprised to read that the focus of the DC branch of NYU is to allow students to “engage deeply with politics, policy, business, journalism, and leadership,” all things that we imagine are important to the next generation of the Trump political empire. 

In any case, we wish Barron luck with the move!