<p>Everyone at USC boasts about the trojan network and how good it is. No doubt that USC's reputation is all over LA and maybe even California. My question is how strong are the connections outside of thr state likr in the east. Would people even know what USC is? Even if someone heard of it, would it has such a high rep in places like New York compare to LA. I mean just how useful is the network if i plan to move out of LA or california. Comments? Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>As you say, it depends on where you plan to live. In HI, they do look out for one another. It may also depend on your field. </p>
<p>This summer, D interned with someone who had attended USC cinema school (but he was also a family friend). S (EE rising senior) was hired for a robotics internship with NASA this summer; don’t know whether it was or was not due to a USC connection but believe it probably helped. There were 200 kids from all over the US at his site in Newport News, VA. </p>
<p>I can say that many, many businesses come to job fairs at USC campus to recruit. The engineering school has its own internship & placement office.</p>
<p>USC isn’t a little “no-name” school only recognized in California. It is a highly respected private university that is nationally ranked among the best universities in the country. (There are many threads observing USC’s very respectable place on various ranking lists such as US News & Princeton Review – you might want to check them out.) When students are asked what other schools they considered before choosing USC, you will hear Cornell, Stanford, Brown, UCLA, Notre Dame, etc.) The student body is international-students travel from all over the world to study at USC.</p>
<p>Threre are Alumni Assocition groups all over the country, Linked in, etc. Thre are “school” specific ones in additon to the University as a whole. … i.e. Marshall School of Business has Alumni Group as do others.</p>
<p>Sure, the Trojan Network is probably a bit stronger in California, but it’s all over the country, and it’s strong - that’s why the reputation is there and holding. You know the saying “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” 
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<p>Most Universities are the pride of their local communities and local employers often look to the graduates in their hometown when they can. It’s much simpler to hire someone who already lives in the area. </p>
<p>That said, you should choose your university based on your academic and career objectives, interests and the fit/feel. My daughter turned down other offers from prestigious & respected schools because she fell in love with the feel of the school and had specific major/minor goals as well as plans to study abroad.</p>