<p>Bogus ranking
Especially when Cal Tech is ranked lower than UCR. However, even in this ranking USC ranks #5 vs UCM ranks #17</p>
<p>
[quote]
1 Stanford University Stanford
2 University of California, Berkeley
3 University of California, Los Angeles
4 University of California System 5 University of Southern California Los Angeles **
6 University of California, San Diego La Jolla
7 University of California, Davis
8 University of California, Irvine Irvine
9 University of California, Santa Barbara
10 University of California, Riverside Riverside
11 California Institute of Technology Pasadena
12 San Diego State University San Diego
13 University of California, Santa Cruz
14 University of California, San Francisco
15 California State University, Sacramento Sacramento
16 California State University System Long Beach
**17 University of California, Merced Merced
<p>"The sizes of GE classes in USC are ridiculous. And many lower division classes are quite large. I find that many professors I have encountered genuinely don't care about teaching, since USC is a research school."</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior and this description is the complete opposite of her experience, other than largish GEs for Geology and Basic Chemistry (which were still many times smaller than the GE classes her friends took at UC schools, and she still developed a great relationship with her Geology prof). She's had amazing professors who go out of their way to interact with students and provide a great learning experience.</p>
<p>I'm also curious, as in most classes I've taken, the professors show at least a great deal of enthusiasm in teaching the subject, even if some are better in their methods than others.</p>
<p>My four classes Fall '08 had 9 students, 10 students, 14 students and 19 students. Three of those classes were GE. I love my professors.</p>
<p>The surrounding neighborhood is a world away from the small town I grew up in, so I try to look at it as an aspect of my education - opening my eyes to some of the realities I have been protected from so far.</p>
<p>The size of a GE class really depends on the class. There are GE courses that number in the hundreds, while I'm sure there are those which are not quite as large. I've experienced both extremes, and to echo what previous posters have said, I'm sure that state universities have more students in GE courses than USC does. As for the quality of the professors, I've generally had good to great experiences, but everyone is going to have a diversity of experiences in that regard.</p>
<p>The USC campus, itself, is quite safe. DPS (Department of Public Safety) patrols the USC campus and nearby surrounding areas, so that becomes less of a concern. In general, try to avoid going around at night off-campus, and if you have to, use Campus Cruiser or at the very least, go with a sizable group of friends. The only crime I've personally witnessed is getting my bike stolen, and that was because 1) I parked it off-campus, and 2) I used a cable lock instead of a U-lock (cable locks are much easier to cut). If anything, I probably set myself up for that theft. Growing up in areas that were relatively much more affluent, I thought that I'd be in for a shock with regards to the environment/crime, but it's really not that bad. As long as you use common sense, you should be good.</p>
<p>With regards to walking around at night, don't carry more than the minimum. Unless you're going way off campus or somewhere where you have to pay, you don't really need more than your keys/USC ID, your phone, and a couple of dollars (and pepper spray in my case). Most crimes take the form of muggings; they have been occurring earlier in the evening lately, hence the increased concerns.</p>
<p>(Actually, this semester hasn't been too great in terms of USC's safety rep.)</p>
<p>Can you please clarify "muggings; they have been occurring earlier in the evening lately"?
I thought USC increased its security off campus after the tragic events at the beginning of the semester. I am particularly concerned if my son were to go to USC summer school and lived in off-campus USC housing.</p>
<p>Yes, hawaiiboy15, that's correct. What I meant was that one should probably avoid going around too much at night if he/she doesn't need to. </p>
<p>As for what cynicalowl said, I'm assuming you mean earlier in the evenings due to the sun going down earlier (it's that time of year... winter solstice, and so forth)? I would think that it makes sense that since darkness falls earlier, there's a higher likelihood of crimes at that time. I definitely agree with him/her about carrying the minimum whenever possible. If you read the crime reports, it's usually a case where a suspect demands property. </p>
<p>This past semester has definitely been an anomaly in terms of crime occurrences and their degrees. I mean, crime does happen, but to the extent in which it did this past semester... it's been a bit unnerving at times, to say the least.</p>
<p>To clarify, on the more recent Crime Alerts I got from the DPS, they were taking place at around 10-11pm and I believe one took place at 7pm near Gate 5. I don't have any explanation for it, though powerabe13's theory seems to make sense.</p>
<p>I can't explain the sexual assaults this semester either, but I definitely bike more than I walk at night now. </p>
<p>@powerabe13: I've had 2 bikes stolen so far....the lady at the bike shop knows me immediately now. In both cases, there weren't enough bike racks so I had to lock it to itself.</p>
<p>Actually, crime has been dropping quite dramatically recently. It is only the few high profile, unusual violent crimes that make it seem like crime has been up.</p>
<p>You cited a "web popularity poll". From a website that has absolutely no credibility. Just so you know in the future, the amount of web traffic a certain web site receives has absolutely no direct correlation to the quality of a college.</p>
<p>The area around USC was a popular spot for the wealthy in the early part of the 20th century, and it has the housing stock to prove it. There are a large number of beautiful Victorians many of which are being renovated. I do remember seeing one on HGTV. I suspect the current housing market will set that trend back, but the neighborhood around USC, while hardly Westwood, is not the battleground that some would make it out to be. It's basically a working class Hispanic neighborhood with a large number of students intermixed. I believe that it is destined to gentrify regardless of what USC does or doesn't do.</p>
<p>College students, wherever they go to school, need to be careful. They have things that bad people want, and generally like many young people, they tend to be very blase about their own personal safety. It's the "I'm 19; I'll live forever; nothing can harm me" syndrome. It makes young people drive too fast; drink too much; use illegal substances; and take sexual risks.</p>
<p>So take care, and if you are concerned about USC--DON'T GO. The school has more than enough applicants who would be happy to take your place.</p>
<p>Very well said. Common sense is the guide in any city or town. Walk around, alone, drunk late at night and you are asking for trouble. The campus police are reknown for their excellence. </p>
<p>Obviously, there are no guarantees in life, but, when I was at SC in the 70s (when the neighborhood was really sketchy) my best friend from high school was murdered in Lot 8, in front of the parking office, at 5:30 in the evening. Lot 8 you say? SC doesn't have a lot 8. Right...she went to UCLA.</p>
<p>Great post tsdad. Part of the growing up process for 18-year olds is to recognize that their personal safety out in the world is something they must take responsibility for. While sheltered, suburban kids (and their parents) may worry about some neighborhoods around Columbia, Yale, U Chicago, Duke, U Penn and yes, USC, there is no reason to freak over working class urban environments so long as you are careful.</p>
<p>Of course crime can happen. Anywhere. Even in beautiful Madison, Wi (murder at U Wisc) or rural DeKalb, Illinios (Northern Illinois U shootings on campus). After the mother of a student stabbed her daughter's roommate to death on campus (!!) in April 2008 at Indiana U/Purdue in Fort Wayne, the Chancellor told the Journal Gazette, "“I don’t think that you can look at life anywhere in this country and say that anywhere is totally secure.”</p>
<p>Yeah, and this can happen anywhere too. I am not defending USC, they royally screwed up the handling of that particular case. But c'mon, let's be realistic. Arguing in a bar with a bunch of other guys to protect the "honor" of a girl will get you in trouble at least 50% of the time. To repeat once again --- if you are not a moron, there is very little chance of anything happening to you around USC, or practically any other college campus in the country for that matter.</p>
<p>It was tragic that he was killed. But it wasn't like some random person came up and just stabbed him. There was an alcohol induced fight, and the dude who was NOT a local came back with a knife. Alcohol can be a dangerous thing. </p>
<p>Look, crime happens everywhere. I live in Santa Monica, which is a nice beach city, and there was a murder down the street from me. </p>
<p>It's been said before, crime around USC is directly related to the fact that it's a university. Always lock your room/apartment, don't go walking by yourself after midnight, and don't let strange people into your room. It just takes a bit of street smarts, but you can be safe.</p>