<p>i got into CAL for spring 06 semester, UCLA honors, and USC business school w/ pre dental emphasis </p>
<p>here is my take on each college: USC- exactly the major and programs that i want to do... but 45000 per year way too expensive horrible area, very dangerous, awsome campus, good social life, great networkin, connections in future which is priceless
UCLA- very nice area in westwood, very safe, i dun have a certain major there the closest thing to business is econ, its on a quater system, so its really hard to do well, cuz its juss midterm and final, before u kno ure failing, u already failed
BUT UCLA has the HOTEST GUYS out of the three schools, and UCLA
has THE BEST FOOD......but ucla is way too big, you dun get much attention, you are merely a number there so hard to get recs for grad school</p>
<p>berkeley is the same but the area sucks and i heard weird ppl, bad sorrounding area but they are on semester system, and there is the hass business school but u have to apply for that in sophmore year and its really hard to get in, so if i dun get in im SCREWED</p>
<p>but berkley is more prestigious everyone knows it, a degree from CAL is very valuable, u are mor likley to get hired if u have a CAL degree</p>
<p>however ucla and CAL is SOO CHEAP:
CAL is 23000 while ucla is 22000 while USC is 45000</p>
<p>i got into the business school with a a predental emphsis which means they are goin to prepare me for dental school.. i really want to do business and dental but more business than dental but dental is more stable i have a direction and business is relaly broad i dunno if i will like it and its a very unstable career. therefore i will grad with a business degree and get a job if i decide that i dun like the job i will apply for dental school and then become an orthodontist. the business degree will come in handy ...that is why the usc program is the best fit for me. and which is y i am leanign towards USC
but i feel like i cannt turn down CAL for usc like its almost wrong in a way.. i dunno PLEASE HELP and advice would be GREAT thanksss....</p>
<p>I turned down Cal for USC, so it can be done. I just knew that USC felt right. USC still has great academics, so it's not like you're turning down Harvard for a CSU Dominguez Hills. </p>
<p>USC's area is not that bad, also, and UCLA's still has bad things happen there (and I've seen homeless people everytime I've gone to Westwood).</p>
<p>You would agree with me though that it's more important to compare the crime statistics than the homeless population, no? In that case both schools are incredibly safe.</p>
<p>I turned down Cal for UCLA, so again it happens. Not everyone is in love with Berkeley...except for the Goldman MPP...DROOL</p>
<p>I agree completely. I was just trying to show that although Westwood is prettier than the area around USC, it's not immune to homeless people that follow you around, which may not always be safe. Both actual campuses are quite safe.</p>
<p>My dad looked up the numbers on crimes on USC's campus and Rice (small college in a very good end of downtown-ish Houston, surrounded by the medical center and expensive homes), and per student they were the same except that USC had a higher rate of theft. USC will tell you that they're biggest problem is stolen laptops.</p>
<p>I know many who have chosen USC over Cal (and Caltech too). In fact, one of my best friends even transferred to USC from Cal. His reason? In his words "he wanted to wipe the liberal stench off himself and actually make a lot of money after graduation." Take that for what you will, but realize that it (choosing USC over Berkeley) is surely not uncommon.</p>
<p>TO address the crime issue, I think USC's crime rate is greater than the school would like its prospective admitees to think, but that said, is significantly lower than what the outside perception is.</p>
<p>While USC isn't in the most friendly neighborhood, it has more safety resources than any school I've ever seen (with NYU a close runner up). Public Safety Officers are always patrolling and their presence is always felt. It gives a nice peace of mind.</p>
<p>Oh, in that case, Annenberg is a good choice. I have a buddy over there right now, but he isn't doin' so hot. The market is shiet right now, and he's finding it tough even with his masters. Goes to show you how even the foot in the door doesn't get the body in as well.</p>
<p>Yeah, all social science departments in America are pretty liberal, except for Bob Jones U., maybe. But that's not a real school anyway.</p>
<p>Still, Cal grads on average make quite a bit of money. Quite a bit.</p>
<p>On average. Now, that should be qualified- When I make that statement, I'm going with offical UC figures. I think the average was like $75000 or something in that ballpark.</p>
<p>That includes Forbes 500 Cal grads, as well as starving PhDs. So, the standard deviation is large...</p>
<p>However, yes. Why? Because they're bright, hard-working, diligent people to begin with. Why shouldn't they do well?</p>
<p>There are Cal and UCLA grads in the Forbes 500, and there are Cal and UCLA grads driving taxis. It's what you do with the degree that counts.</p>
<p>i chose USC over cal and ucla too...usc is just better overall in my opinion because it offers a wider variety of majors/minors and has incredible programs for everything. Plus, USC students have soo much spirit.</p>
<p>i picked usc over la and cal as well...and i had a regents at LA. but in the end, i just felt that a degree at usc would get me further <em>shrug</em> hopefully i'm right :] </p>
<p>USC is "about" on par with alot of the top private universities for tuition and is somewhat more expensive than out of state public fees, but the disparity sometimes feels exaggerated. I currently dont receive financial aid at SC (am applying for a scholarship though) and i know my family doesnt pay even 40k for tuition......granted i dont count living expenses and whatnot.</p>
<p>The reason i went to USC is exactly the reason you lean towards it, it had the programs that best fit me. It had one of the best buisiness programs (although at the time i was interested in engineering but the same logic can apply for Viterbi :) ), it has one of the few video game production/designs programs amongst 4 year schools and it has connections to the entertainment/film industry, so i went. The area can be a bummer, but it isnt "horrible". Just when i want to go to a nice club or restaraunt i usually drive into hollywood or beverly hills, which on the weekend doesnt take long at all.</p>
<p>--btw, i had heard the USC dental school is literally pretty much #1 in the nation. I think Tuffs is second.......i say this because i was studying with a professor for a final today and for some reason he just blurted it out........yeah, he's kind of a strange guy.</p>