I Can't Decide Between USC and New York University!!!

<p>Im a new poster from PA and just can't decide between SC and NYU (perhaps politics or history major). Here is my dilemma - I am very nerdy and am not interested in sports/greek culture. OTOH, SC is higher ranked. Also, housing is worse at SC. What should I do? PLEASE HELP! Thx so much.</p>

<p>I am also choosing between the two, but I think I will end up at USC. I’ve lived in NY my whole life, and I thought it would just be better to explore the world. To be honest, I’m really not into sports and stuff, but more indie and hipster things. USC is in LA, which also has Echo Park, who has plenty of those people there. For you, I would go to USC, because while majority is sports and stuff, they have the film school, and I’m pretty sure you can make good friends up there.</p>

<p>I would attend USC. In USC, you can pursue both a politics and history major.</p>

<p>[USC</a> Renaissance Scholars](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/programs/ugprograms/renaissance/]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/programs/ugprograms/renaissance/)</p>

<p>Why settle for graduating one major when you can graduate with two? :)</p>

<p>I live in the new york area, only for boarding school, but I have my residency in CAli(LA). </p>

<p>I go to a boarding school that is artsy and a lot of students go to NYU because it is local, has no real sports, and has no greek culture. Well it doesn’t really have a culture. IT is really for kids that want to stay in the New York area for Filming and try and get into the Entertainment industry. But it does have diversity in other areas too, but that is its main thing. It doesn’t have a real campus, its scattered all around new york.</p>

<p>I personally would go to USC, because of the nice area and the culture of the school. BUT, if your not really into sportsand the greek culture, you should probably go to NYU.
Although I heard that it is possible to avoid all that “sportsy” stuff.
Housing is not bad at SC, its like a normal dorm room, so idk what your saying. NYU housing is worse. Sorry but it is. The school is all the way on one side of NYC, and your dorm can be close to Times Square(far).
ITs all up to you and your choice. They are both great cities! Both have great academics! And both have unique things about them.</p>

<p>Many , many kids at USC completely avoid the whole sports/ greek scene. That image of USC is old and fading fast as USC has become harder to get into and more and more intellectual kids, with no interest in "typical"college life, choose to go there. My son , who is graduating from USC this may, said that none of his friends ever attended a football game there. there is PLENTY of housing at USC, both on campus and in the immediate adjacent area. Freshman and Sophomores are guaranteed on campus housing, and most upperclassmen prefer to move into appts just north of campus and bike, walk or take the USC provided shuttles to campus.</p>

<p>USC is solely comprised of sports and greek life no matter how much people may tell you. Think about it, do you think all 17,000 undergrads are in a fraternity/sorority and fit the stereotypical image that you have in your mind?</p>

<p>Also, don’t define yourself as a “hipster” and then go searching out enclaves of like-minded people to be all insular and closed-off with. College is a time to expand your horizons, and if that means doing scary things like meeting people who play sports, people who are in fraternities/sororities, people who don’t agree with your viewpoints, and <em>shudder</em> people who are different from you, then you’d better learn to adjust quick or go find a nearby box to hide underneath.</p>

<p>Seriously, you will meet people and make friends who are not the same as you. This is a good thing. How boring would life be if you were surrounded by copies of yourself?</p>

<p>Oh, and if you don’t attend a USC football game as an undergrad, you are missing out on an incredible experience. Sorry, but it’s true. That’s like going to Italy and not eating any Italian food.</p>

<p>Also on the USNEWS ranking USC is rated higher than NYU :)</p>

<p>Hawkwings,
contrary to you one sided opinion, there are lots of other things to do at USC and in LA besides go to USC football games and be surrounded by drunks, which is what happened at the one and only game my son attended. He has found lots of similarly like minded students - most who are also merit scholarship students- who are at USC for the educational opportunities it provides. Just because a student has other things that interest him besides frats and sports doesn’t mean they will be out of place at USC, especially these days.</p>

<p>i was also considering NYU. but as i looked into it i realized usc is a 100 times better for me. I feel like if your not really sure about either it would be better to just go with usc. the thing with NYU is that its such an acquired taste, and its more of a love hate school. USC isnt all about the greeks, there are a lot of really interesting people in the cinema school and the other arts schools. Also at USC the college of arts and science is pretty much interdisciplinary. So instead of having to apply to gallitan, you’re already there. Also, i feel like NYU has lost its name factor which it once had, whereas USC is only getting better! </p>

<p>USC ALL DA WAY! Cant go wrong…</p>

<p>I was deciding between the same two schools a few weeks ago. Although quite different location-wise and socially, the schools are very similar in a lot of ways. I think I’m more of an “NYU-type” kid - I don’t care about sports, greek life, partying, etc. However, I’ve chosen to attend USC because of the unparalleled opportunities I’d be receiving in my major there. </p>

<p>I’ve heard that the social scene at USC has many different sides to it. I mean, it is a pretty huge school, so there’s a little bit of everything. Also, I like the weather in LA a LOT better than in NY. I feel like the only things I’ll truly miss out on by not going to NYU are Broadway shows and a cute guy I know, and there are probably decent LA “equivalents” of both. =)</p>

<p>Ultimately, choose which school has the most for you career-wise, money-wise, and happiness-wise. Have you visited both schools? That’s the best way to know where you’d be most happy to attend. (I visited both and liked them both equally.) Also, where is the money? Would you be paying the same amount to attend either school?</p>

<p>Here’s the top reason why I’D pick USC over NYU any day:</p>

<p>USC HAS A CAMPUS!!</p>

<p>I guess nyu “technically” does, but it sure doesn’t feel like it because it’s integrated into nyc. I imagine it would be like moving into a huge city by yourself straight out of high school, which to me sounds so intimidating. You have to really be willing to put yourself out there to make friends/get involved with anything, which would be harder for me because I’m on the shy side. At usc, it’s impossible not to make friends, no matter what your interests are. They make it really easy to get involved and there’s a really “home-y” vibe to the campus, but it’s proximity to downtown LA allows you to enjoy the perks of a big city.</p>

<p>Just my thoughts. If how I described nyu is actually what you like about it, then go there! If not, fight on :)</p>

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<p>menloparkmom: I’m not quite sure what you’re trying to say here. Yes it is true that there are lots of other things to do at USC and in LA than go to a USC football game. Why do you imply that it is an either/or question though? People can go to football games and do other things as well. People do attend football games and other activities. Nobody is asking students to make athletics their exclusive focus.</p>

<p>People get drunk at football games? The horror! Next you’ll tell me that they make crude remarks and are rude to the other team! The most likely reason your son didn’t enjoy the game is because he came into it with a bad attitude, was afraid of the loud and spirited fans who represent a completely different social group than the one he is accustomed to (understandable, interacting with any new social group is scary and USC Football fans are quite intense), and didn’t understand the game.</p>

<p>Here’s something that may surprise you. I am a merit scholarship student who is at USC for the educational opportunities it provides. I am also a fan of USC Football and recognize the unique position I am in as a USC student, where both the academics and athletics are high-quality programs. I encourage everyone to attend USC athletic events, not because of any “jockish” tendencies, but because it would be a damn shame to miss out on some of the finest athletes in the country doing their thing because of some faux-intellectual elitism that actually makes you look quite silly.</p>

<p>“Depth with breadth” is one of the goals of the USC education system. They want to create students that are experts in their chosen field, while also knowledgeable about a wide variety of other things as well. These “other things” do not only include academic subjects, but also involvement in community service, appreciation for the arts, and yes, sports. USC has dozens of club and intermural sports teams, along with its NCAA teams. Students are encouraged to explore academic fields outside their major, attend artistic events, play a sport, do community service, learn new things, and grow as an individual. The goal is to create smart, successful people who excel in whatever they do (and then donate large amounts of money to the school, of course).</p>

<p>Now, coming back to the topic that this thread was originally about. nyuuscundec, I would encourage you to go to USC because it offers a different environment than you are used to, and think you feel safe in. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, after all. You will find people that are similar to you at USC, and you will find people that are different. This is a good thing. You will have to deal with people in your lifetime that do not agree with you. Better start learning how to deal with them now.</p>

<p>And wow, I just noticed that I started off my last post with a huge typo. Personal epic fail right there.</p>

<p>“The most likely reason your son didn’t enjoy the game is because he came into it with a bad attitude, was afraid of the loud and spirited fans who represent a completely different social group than the one he is accustomed to (understandable, interacting with any new social group is scary and USC Football fans are quite intense), and didn’t understand the game.”
Oh please. Stop trying to justify the crude, boorish, immature behavior of other students by suggesting there is something wrong with DS’s attitude or knowledge of the game. He has gone to HS football games and 49er games with us for YEARS. He knows the game and knows how other teenagers can act. Sheesh…</p>

<p>The point is that it’s crude, boorish, and immature. In the student section at least. College football is different from both high school and NFL.</p>

<p>Your son may not like it. Fine, he has his reasons. But don’t talk down to us football fans who happen to enjoy the gameday experience for what it is, and don’t imply that the rest of us are lesser students because we enjoy being rude and crude once in a while.</p>

<p>Menloparkmom, my son has no interest in football, but will give the games a shot for the experience. Is it possible to buy tickets one at a time if you are a student or do you have to spring for the 7 game thing?</p>

<p>“Is it possible to buy tickets one at a time if you are a student?”
Yup</p>

<p>It has been brought to my attention that a may have elicted a strong response because of my typo. To clarify, when I wrote this:</p>

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<p>I meant to write this:</p>

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<p>And the rest of my post follows as such. Sorry for the confusion.</p>

<p>^lol
Yep. Those are two entirely different statements. I wondered …</p>

<p>My goodness! All these posters jumping up on Hawkwings! IT IS CLEAR what he meant if one examines his (or her?) statements in context. C’mon, be gracious and forgive mistakes. Your aggressive attitude actually demonstrates the opposite of what you trying to prove.</p>

<p>^^ That is the typical CC attitude. They see someones mistake then aggressively debate on how they are wrong and ignorant. I don’t see what this achieves though…they just always totally forget about the original poster.</p>