Berkeley vs USC (Help fast; deadline in one week)

College Search & Selection
7

Either of these could work:

CC --> USC

Berkeley --> USC

I think the second plan, while more expensive, is the safer move:

  1. If you did not get into USC from CC, you might be in a bit of a pickle. A success rate of 58% is decent odds, but far from guaranteed. And honestly, one would think that the chances of transferring to USC from Berkeley are better, provided you did good work at Berkeley.
  2. If you did not get into USC from Berkeley... you would still be at Berkeley. And by then you might have learned to tolerate it... even really like it.
  3. You might start at Berkeley and realize your first impression was incomplete and that Cal is really just fine for you. If that happened -- you made a bunch of friends, enjoyed the academic work, etc. -- you might not even attempt to transfer.

It’s a tough call, but I think that starting at Berkeley – at least starting there – is your best choice.