<p>Hawkwings: our squirrels are not vicious. They like chicken nuggets. And unlike northeast squirrels, they have very sad, scrawny little tails. They don’t get as bushy because the winters aren’t as cold.</p>
<p>I dunno, carnivorous squirrels, those seem pretty dangerous to me…</p>
<p>We <em>do</em> have tons of squirrels here in the Northeast. On the whole, they’re not vicious, but here on Long Island there is an epidemic of squirrel rabies. Sad. Now that’s thread derailment on my part. Sorry.</p>
<p>To sum up: USC and Vandy are both amazing schools in wonderful places. Each has good name recognition with those in the know and each has engendered misconceptions in the general public. (Don’t most schools? In my experience, they do.)</p>
<p>The only difference I’ve been able to discover is that USC has a stronger program in the area the OP’s daughter is interested in.</p>
<p>OP: What are your D’s feelings?</p>
<p>Gotta stop talking about squirrels! My daughter has a squirrel phobia (no joke!). One of the things she had in USC’s plus column was a lack of squirrels!</p>
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<p>They aren’t as highly educated and knowledgeable about colleges, then. I agree that before I started investigating and learning about colleges, my impression of USC was “Univ of Spoiled Children” (confirmed by experiences of people my age who had gone there and felt that to be the case), as well as some undifferentiated “oh, they have big time sports there, and some silly rivalry with UCLA that is of no consequence to anyone not affiliated with either USC or UCLA.” And as a non-Californian, all those California schools do blend together in my mind. I’ll be the first to admit that.</p>
<p>HOWEVER … it only takes a little bit of investigating to recognize that indeed USC is a fine, world-class school. I think this is one of those things where you just have to understand that the strength of each school is going to be in different areas of the country. NY is really not the center of the universe, so “what they think in NY” isn’t really of any consequence unless you want it to be. I have watched my friend’s daughters at USC and Vandy and they are both having wonderful experiences – just different. But neither uniformly better than the other. I would say one commonality is that social life / socialization is predominant at both schools, but has a different flavor at each. However, that’s personal preference and fit. Anyway, your D needs to make the decision and “what your friends think” is of zero consequence.</p>
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And we like it that way. I miss everything about NY - the way people talk, what we think is good food, style, pace…I go crazy when I go to west coast (not LA) like SanFran area, people are so nice, they say hello, and they want to chat with you at a grocery line (no, just ring me up, throw my stuff in the bag and let me be on my way).</p>
<p>If it makes you feel better, oldfort, I don’t like that about the midwest :-). No, I don’t want to chat with you, I don’t want to ask or answer faux-friendly questions about how it’s going today since we both know we don’t really care and it’s just words and there’s no real meaning to it – just ring me up efficiently and move on. See, you can take the girl out the east coast but you can’t take the east coast out of the girl! </p>
<p>Miss Manners had a saying that I’m going to butcher, but it had to do with disliking that faux chit-chat because it implied that the person standing in the line with the groceries was the social equivalent of someone who was actually working for a living (meaning the cashier). (It was a diss to the person standing in the line, not to the cashier.) So don’t worry, oldfort, this is one transplanted east coaster who likes plenty of efficiency!</p>
<p>OP, please come back with the final decision is made and let us know what happened.</p>
<p>In the meantime, it appears the comparative values of each insutitution have been discussed to death and we’re now on to the wildlife comparisons at each (not the students!) I can confirm that there have been no coyote sightings on the USC campus. Members of the Trojan Marching Band, however, have been known to get into interesting costumes when they’re not doing an official performance.</p>
<p>I really think this young lady cannot go wrong either way. She’s weighing two different experiences, but both fine places. That’s a good place to be in.</p>
<p>We’re talking, talking, talking. We’ll definitely let you know. Thanks, thanks, thanks to all!</p>
<p>Oldfort and Pizzagirl, I used to travel to the east coast regularly for work years ago. I am a dyed in the wool midwesterner, and I was so turned off by what I considered the “coldness” of so many easterners. I would walk into a small shop & say hi … only to be met with a stare. Fortunately, my MIL was born & bred in West Hartford and explained the ways of the east to me … like addressing folks as Mr. or Ms when I wrote a follow up note after meeting with them for business. Huh?! We met, we talked, we are adults … that would merit first name basis in these parts! :)</p>
<p>I did learn to operate within the culture, and I learned not to take it personally. But yes, we are much chattier in the midwest. ;)</p>
<p>I am a dyed in the wool midwesterner, and I was so turned off by what I considered the “coldness” of so many easterners.</p>
<p>That is why it can sometimes be a bit of a “culture shock” for a Midwesterner or West Coaster to go to school in the NE. </p>
<p>Kelsmom…the trick to getting friendly treatment…have a dog with you…works like a charm. LOL</p>
<p>Anyway…either school is very good, however it doesn’t sound like Vandy has all that this student needs for her major/career goals.</p>
<p>Gee. Everyone talks to me and me to them in NYC. So I kind of don’t understand. I have also lived in West Virginia and California. West Virginia was a bit different; CA not. I have extensively visited Atlanta, Wisconsin and Arizona, and I still don’t see that much of a difference.</p>
<p>It might surprise folks, but in a survey conducted by the international travel industry NY was voted the friendliest city in the world.</p>
<p>But then again, I also like Paris and the Parisians.</p>
<p>Of course, this is all very much off topic. Sorry OP.</p>
<p>Hawkwings- I certainly would say it to his face. He’s one step ahead of the NCAA. Oh wait-they caught him!! Are y’all proud of that? One can only hope that the fine program in East TN that he screwed doesn’t suffer anymore for his misdeeds. Professionally, I am familiar with the lawsuits against him. Not pretty. You don’t want to argue this one with me (or anyone else). Isn’t USC’s program in trouble anyway? Isn’t it a 2 year post-season ban? He’ll fit in great! I HATE cheating in college sports.</p>
<p>For many years I worked for a Chgo-based company that merged with a similar company headquartered in NY. I “got” the culture immediately, but many didn’t. The biggest thing to me was that out East, 2 people could vehemently disagree on a given business issue – and then say, “Hey, let’s have lunch together.” In the midwest, it was much more nicey-nice, and sometimes some things were left unsaid that really did need to be said. Personally, I think there’s little difference in friendliness anywhere. I think there is a difference in social chit-chat, but to me social chit-chat isn’t true friendliness.</p>
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I had to smile at that. “Hey, it’s just business, nothing personal.”(add a bit of Brooklyn accent to that)</p>
<p>This is really getting off topic.</p>
<p>i know for a fact that you’ll find much better barbecue in nashville, tennessee than los angeles, california! choose vanderbilt.</p>
<p>MomofWildChild - Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t recall the op posting “My daughter was recruited to USC football and I’m wondering what everyone’s OPINION is of the coach?” Why don’t you start a thread yourself where you can shout your pompous opinions and call others childish names. This isn’t the thread for it, and there is no need to “argue” anything.</p>
<p>Both these universities the op’s daughter is waivering between are excellent options with pros and cons – as in every choice in life. I’m sure she will make her choice, and have a fantastic college experience.</p>
<p>Food throw down? Okay then. LA will surely beat Nashville for Mexican food, and I mean good Mexican food. Forget refried beans. Try salsas galore, enchiladas in mole, 'ritas, Mexican seafood. Yum! :)</p>
<p>I don’t even know why I’m getting into this but here goes. Yes USC is on probation, but no it isn’t because the university “cheated”. It’s because a player and his family took money from a wannabe agent NOT affiliated in any way with the university. It’s ridiculous that the book got thrown for that.</p>
<p>As for Lane Kiffin, I have dealt with him and his staff personally and have nothing but good things to say. In my dealings with him, he is in no way a scumbag. </p>
<p>As for the OP, you really can’t make a bad decision here. USC is a fine institution as is Vandy. I will say one thing about getting off of a waitlist that could be negative. You will be getting last pick at housing and maybe even last pick at registration.</p>
<p>Food: No contest. USC is located in Los Angeles, where like New York, you can find any kind of food you want and it will be authentic. Mexican, Korean and Dim Sum are my faves and are easy to find close to campus. We also have a fleet of food trucks everywhere including the famous Kogi truck (Korean BBQ tacos).</p>