<p>I don't know why I keep thinking about my college decision even after I signed my USC housing contract, but only after I decided on USC over other schools have people been telling me that I've made the wrong decision. </p>
<p>Can anyone tell me why going to USC would be better than going to Cal with a regent's, except for something related to football? </p>
<p>Is the student population at USC that much different than Cal's, you think? </p>
<p>I originally thought that because USC is a private school and it offers a 10:1 student ratio, there could be a better focus on academics and etc, but I realized later that the undergrad population of USC and Cal is essentially the same. Plus, Cal is better recognized for graduate schools, isn't it? </p>
<p>Yes the students at Cal and USC are very different... in fact these schools are complete opposites. Yes berkeley has a better reputation and is a better school but I think your choice depends on what type of college atmosphere you are looking for.</p>
<p>Also, don't just go by prestige and reputation...</p>
<p>For instance, when my friends and I were choosing our schools last year, one of my friends was choosing between UCLA, Berkeley, or UPenn(Ivy League)</p>
<p>He decided he didn't want to go to Berkeley and then it was between UCLA or UPenn. He ended up choosing UCLA over an Ivy League. He absolutely loves it at UCLA and is having a blast. Who knows what would have happened if he went to UPenn or Berkeley. My other friend at UPenn said that the one going to UCLA probably would not have had a good time at UPenn: totally different environment.</p>
<p>I agree with others...don't base anything on reputation. Most of Berkeley's prestige comes from its graduate programs anyway. If you want to get to know teachers and get more personal attention, USC, in my opinion, is the better choice. But if you hate USC after a year you can always transfer, so don't worry too much.</p>
<p>Based on what the people who went to berkeley and transferred to USC say, they hated the fact that berkeley was so impersonal - basically, good luck trying to get your professors to remember your name. :)</p>
<p>Personally, I would turn down berkeley for USC easily myself. I would have a tougher time turning down stanford vs. USC. I never applied to berkeley so I can't say that I did turn it down.</p>
<p>It's such an individual choice...my daughter had a Regent's to UCSB but although the campus was lovely and the chancellor's a charming guy, it just felt too big and impersonal, even in the Regent's program, although the student population is about the same size. USC felt more like "home" to her when she visited and she also really liked the way she was treated and the positive, upbeat vibes she got from people at USC. And although UCSB has the same size student population, most of the classes at USC are supposed to have a much lower student-professor ratio than at a UC.</p>
<p>That said, a lot of people love UC's and they do have a good rep. I'd follow the advice of others here...give USC everything you've got and see how it works for you. If by spring you're not happy, start working on a transfer. I've given my daughter the same advice -- go in with a positive attitude and embrace all it has to offer, but if for some reason it doesn't work out, it's not a lifetime commitment. :)</p>
<p>There are a lot of students that choose USC over other more presitigious schools because it is a better "fit." (IE Student body, major, social scene, scholarships, etc). Dont let people tell you that you made a mistake - try USC for a year and you'll probably love it - if not, transfer. But USC is a great school, and its a ton of fun!</p>
<p>Sonyvaio - Did you visit, and tour USC? If so, then you already know part of the reason why you chose USC. I will not put down CAL because it does have a good reputation. I will instead state some of why we chose USC. It is not an instituion, it is a family. There is support from every level and angle of USC. From the Facutly (being taught by Professors, and not TAs), to the staff (going out of their way to assist students and families), to the students (I challenge you to spend 30 minutes reading USC threads, and then read another University's threads ... you might choose the other school that you were considering). In USC's threads, there is a tone of respectability, and of commraderie, and of support. You will not sense arrogance (apart from this note) within the USC threads. Students are excited to be going to USC. When you walk around the campus, it is a friendly atmosphere. I challenge you to walk around the other campuses and report back on what you sense (there) compared to what you sense at USC. You are going to be at your school (whichever it may be) for 4 long years. I gurantee that you will want to enjoy your time. I can only speak for what we sensed and felt at other schools, and what we sense and feel at USC. It is inviting. It is awesome. Down the road, it will make little difference if you received your BS or BA from USC or one of the top UC campuses (as they are all great schools). However, for the rest of your life, you will look back with fondness (or not) on the school that you spent 4 years (or more) attending. In my opinion, you chose wisely, and years from now you will realize how what a wise decision that you made. Enjoy.</p>
<p>It's the old "road not taken" thing. No matter how carefully you pick, there are wonderful beautiful schools that you had to turn down. It is scary to commit and on top of that listen to everyone's opinion. My daughter has heard all kinds of comments, both postive and negative on her choice to attend USC. The people that have some of the biggest opinions against USC are actually kind of nervous about their own choices--that is perfectly normal too. I think the best way to deal with it now is to go in with an open mind, and trust that moment in time when you weighed all of the options and knew it was the right school for you. If it doesn't meet your expectations, (and I bet it does), you can always transfer.</p>
<p>You guys are really awesome and I'm assuming you guys are going to/ or have family going to USC right now. You're right about the family thing and I really appreciate the responses you've given me.</p>
<p>I'm glad to hear that my assumption that USC is more personal than Berkeley has proven true for many of the experiences and I'm less worried about having chosen USC over Berkeley.</p>
<p>And I've thought about the transfer solution as well. If I truly do hate USC's atmosphere I can always transfer if I truly do hate it and go somewhere where I think I'll fit in.</p>
<p>I think one of the biggest reasons I'm a bit wary about USC is that I had my eyes set on different colleges (specifically two small liberal arts colleges in MA named Amherst/Williams) and I sorta applied to USC on a whim. When my financial situation didn't work out at those two colleges, I was forced to choose between the large research universities I didn't really know much about (I've seen USC's campus, but never toured or visited classes or dorms) and I basically chose USC because it was a private school and because it offered me a pretty comfortable amount of money. </p>
<p>Thanks again for your responses and Thanks!!</p>
<p>Funny you should say that...my daughter was wait listed by Williams. She also applied to USC on a bit of a whim because her uncle went there, it was the last application she submitted...she had applied to UCSB for financial reasons...but always planned on going to a "small" school. (She was accepted at Wake Forest, Wheaton IL, Redlands, Sewanee...all much smaller than USC.) We didn't truly look at USC seriously until she got her aid package; we hadn't thought it would be as affordable as other options and were pleasantly surprised. Once we made a couple visits, we were really sold, especially when we learned that although it's a big campus population, there would be reasonable personal attention compared to a UC...but it was still an agonizing decision -- as someone else wrote here, it's "the road not taken" syndrome. It came down to Redlands (a fine school -- doesn't have the rep of SC but she'd be the third generation in our family to attend) and USC as her favorites and the best financial offers other than UCSB. We decided the reason she was having such a hard time deciding was that Redlands was like Disneyland and USC was Disney World...two places we love which share many great qualities but are also quite different in some ways. It's the same with Redlands and USC, and it was really hard to choose between two quality but very different experiences. She felt like whichever choice she made, she'd have a bit of regret about not experiencing the one she turned down. (And isn't it really hard to start saying "no" to schools, in general, after spending so many months/years getting the doors to open and the schools to say "yes"?) In the end, although the "small" school was still tugging on her, her gut was telling her to take the bigger adventure of big city, big campus USC and all it has to offer, and that in its own way it's as "family" as Redlands would have been.</p>
<p>I share this just so you'll know that it's been a hard choice for others...even though we're thrilled about USC!! I honestly think it will be a great experience. :)</p>
<p>well, we were heartsick when our son chose USC but he is SO HAPPY & we are all off to Orientation tomorrow.
(He's Marshall, for business...his 1st school choice was Stanford but he didn't get in EA...now he says if Stanford called begging he'd stick with SC!)</p>
<p>I'd say: go for it & enjoy
DON'T WORRY.
Take a year abroad.
Enjoy the scenery.
Pack into that Trojan network.</p>