Good to hear, ThisOneKid. And I didn’t mean to imply that USC isn’t safe. But it’s true that to many people, the neighborhood around USC is a little alarming – the same way that the areas around Yale, University of Chicago and Columbia are alarming: urban, gritty, and very at odds with the posh, exclusive campus.
Thankyou so much! @katliamom For now it is 40% USC 40% BU 20% NEU. I don’t want to go to UCSD because it’s business program is not as strong and focused as the rest. As for NEU, i’m not a fan of co-op; however, job opportunities postgrad will be amazing. Am I crazy for choosing BU over USC? I think I’d fit in better in Boston and I prefer smaller cities but I know that USC is kind of better than BU. Also, BU has grade deflation policy and the reviews for housing at BU aren’t that great… I think I’m going to have to visit them next week.
Still waiting for NYU, Cornell, and Upenn but I have extremely low expectations for those after BC waitlist and Berkeley Rejection.
Keep expectations in check, but don’t give up hope for the other schools.
Definitely visit the campuses if you can. There is a big difference between BU and USC. Have you ever been to Los Angeles? I personally don’t think of it as a “city” – it’s more like a 100 square miles of suburbs, but that’s just my opinion. Boston certainly FEELS more like a traditional city, LA doesn’t.
If you’re not a fan of co-op, definitely put Northeastern on the back burner.
Are you crazy to pick BU over USC? Not if you like BU more. I firmly believe that education is what you make of it, and that you will have wonderful jop possibilities if you work hard, and take advantage of everything BU/USC offers. And I believe fit is important, especially at the prices charged by these schools!
(You ARE aware of the work restrictions for international graduates, right?)
@katliamom Can you please elaborate on the work restrictions. I always knew that I would face some issues concerning employment postgrad but if you have any info please do share
Bottom line: as a student, you can only work 20 hours a week on campus (low paying jobs.) After graduation you get OPT for another year… then the only way you can stay is on a temporary work visa - H1B - and that’s complicated because you have to have a company sponsoring you for it, and be lucky (it’s like a lottery since more people apply for H1B than there are visas) – and the company has to prove they can’t find qualified Americans for the same position. So the reality is that many international students end up having to go home (or at least leave the US) after their OPT ends.
http://www.internationalstudent.com/study_usa/way-of-life/working-in-the-usa/
Okay thanks for letting me know! @katliamom
Final Update
Just got rejected from NYU and Cornell
Waitlisted at UPENN
OP if you need any help to decide between BU and USC, I’m happy to try and help. I can answer questions about BU as an alum and give some general comparisons to USC as a current Los Angeles resident. I can tell you that “vibe” wise that USC and BU are really different. There’s wayyyyy more school spirit/sports culture at USC, and it has a true campus–to students to whom those things matter, I always recommend USC. But, that campus is not surrounded by the nicest area. I know there are plenty of people who don’t mind it, and I’m not meaning to knock USC… but personally I hate the neighborhood its in. I’m not a city wuss–I was born & raised in DC, lived in Boston for 8 years, and have been in LA (Hollywood) for 5, but the part of DTLA that USC is in has some serious rough patches. It’s not for everyone. Boston is a very different kind of city–it’s small, historic and pretty gentrified/safe. If the broader neighborhood/area matters to you, I think BU gets the extra points over USC. You may also want to weigh whether you plan on getting a car–you don’t NEED a car at USC, but you might if you want to get around in LA easily (that said, I live in LA without a car XD). You don’t need a car at all in Boston.
But, congrats on your acceptances! You have only good choices to make!
@proudterrier Thank you so much! That was very helpful. Do you have any idea of how their business schools compare? I feel that USC offers a much more opportunities in terms of alumni and career resources. Do you have any idea of the general campus vibe? Which is friendlier? Thanks again!
I’m not an expert in the business schools, but I can try to help! What arena of business are you interested in? The respective locations of each school might have specific pros/cons (I know, generally, that USC has A+ connections to Hollywood). Questrom (formerly SMG) I know has a lot of corporate connections (a roommate who got her MBA at BU ended up at AT&T corporate) and is very hardcore–there’s a LOT of work, especially senior year. I also think of Questrom as a school on the up & up–I mean, it was renamed b/c of a massive investment that’s bringing in new faculty & building space; the business school is an area BU is heavily investing in.
I would describe the personality of USC vs. BU students and thus of campus culture as different. Both are friendly, but in different ways. USC, with the higher “school spirit” and an excellent party culture; I’d say it is friendly in an extroverted way–if what I describe sounds like a fit, go for it. (my USC friends are VERY outgoing, and diehard Trojan fans, lol. I’d describe them as “party people,” too) I think of BU as more nerdy/creative/New Englandy–definitely influenced by the location, friendly but not in the laidback Cali way, and BU is NOT a party school and can’t compare on the school spirit scale (we have pride, but no one paints their face and goes to all the games!). So I really think it depends on your personality and what you want. It can be a lot of fun to be swept up in school spirit, and SoCal is kind of amazing. But if you want the New England college experience + if you lean a bit more introverted/intellectual, you may prefer Boston and BU. (btw that is not to say USC isn’t intellectual–it is–smart cookies go to USC and it’s an amazing school. But Boston (the city) has this very specific flavor/culture b/c of all the colleges that LA doesn’t have… the college experience in Boston is pretty special, but I am of course insanely biased!)
LOL on Ithaca being sketchy. It is one of the most sought after communities and is routinely at the very top of any rating of college towns. it is the quintessential college town. And while many upstate NY communities are in economic despair and relentlessly impoverished, Ithaca is thriving. It is such a quaint town with everything in the town designed for young people-although many older people summer there. It also has great restaurants-with world class cuisine. Outdoor activities year around and great indoor venues because it is viewed as a great venue for top performers I’d not say the same for the city that is roughly 50 miles east but Ithaca is wonderful (or Gorges).
Google “top college towns”. You’ll see Ithaca on every list.
@proudterrier Thanks so much. I think i’m leaning more towards USC because I consider myself an extrovert and kind of love the campus. I am going to visit this week and I hope I can make a decision. I am scared that LA/USC will be too sunny, too happy, too typical Californian basically. There is nothing wrong with that but It’s just a bit different from my culture. Basically, I prefer USC as a school, Boston as a city, and both are equal but different in terms of which business program I want.
Also, I got into Northeastern U. BU and USC are much better right? I didn’t find NEU exciting or challenging from what I heard, even though it has excellent job opportunities. Am I right?
@lostaccount You clearly didn’t read the thread. I said sketchy is the wrong word to describe Ithaca and that people should stop commenting on it. Anyways, I got rejected Cornell so it’s useless to look into Ithaca now isn’t it?
But thanks for the help! Really! @lostaccount
@confusedsenior28 Again, I’m biased, but yeah I’d put BU above NEU 
Definitely go with your gut–if you’re not feeling NEU, cross it off your list. Hopefully the USC visit will help you with your decision… it has a lovely campus, and I can say that you do get used to it being sunny all the time out here Personally I’ve liked how SoCal has tempered my East Coast personality a bit. Everyone is so chill out here; I like it! Will you get to visit BU/Boston, or have you already done that?
Yes Definitely! Stopping by Boston first actually for a few days (I reserved tours for both BU and NEU) then I’m going to LA. I’ll let you know what happens. (I’m kind of hoping I will get off the UPenn waitlist hahaha)
Tell us your impressions of each college!
NEU student here! While especially in admissions NEU emphasizes the philosophy of integrating academics and practical, particularly through co-op, NEU / BU / USC are still academic peers. If anything, USC would be above NEU / BU.
That said, I am very much in agreement with @proudterrier - go with your gut a bit - fit is important. I felt much more at home at NEU compared to BU - there’s some significant differences between them despite the general similarity.
Reading through the thread, I agree that it sounds like it should between BU and USC in your case.
Hi everyone! Just to let you all know that I chose USC and I enrolled! But I am still on the waitlist for UPenn. I really love both schools and I wouldn’t mind attending either. Anyways thanks for all ur help guys!