I love so many things about both USC and Rice U. and...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>I'm having trouble deciding. I've narrowed it down to either Rice U. or USC, and I want to know from current students where they think I would have the <em>BEST TIME</em>. UCLAers and Californians, do NOT just post on here just to bash USC, please. I am aware of the academic programs at both Rice and USC, I've visited both campuses, I am aware that Rice is slightly higher in ranking and higher in traditional prestige-- that is not what I am basing my decision on. This is a life changing decision and it breaks my heart that I have to turn one of these schools down.... so I want to make sure I am as informed as possible. Here's the deal:</p>

<p>+USC+
Pros:
- USC is in LA (big, vibrant amazing city... but also expensive)
- USC is only a couple hours away from the beach, the desert, AND the mountains
- California's amazing climate
- Highest percentage of international students of any school in the US
- World class football team & marching band
- Good Neuroscience program
- Grading policies are easier (which results in more free time, and better grades for graduate school I presume)
- Very good pre-med internship opportunities
- Amazing alumni job network
- Movies are often filmed at USC
- Students make & show movie-grade films
- Good mix of attractive boys
- Wonderful artists give concerts free for students (Andrew Bird!!! AHHHH)
- Students can swim in the fountains
- Kids were nice and friendly in general</p>

<p>Cons:
- USC would cost $36,000 a year for me since I didn't receive alot of financial aid... so we would have to take out loans on our home equity and my parents have jobs in computer science, so they're not stable if the economy dies or something
- Travel costs would be high since I live in Virginia
- LA is very expensive and so is parking at USC, so I wouldn't have a car or be able to do THAT much in LA
- The food isn't all that great in the cafeterias
- The USC campus itself only has pockets of prettiness
- The USC architecture and dorms look like they're just made for function, not form
- USC students in general seem to be less like me: I am quirky and unique, I have frequent impulses to jump over things, I smell all my food before I eat it, I can baa really well and make good dolphin noises, I go crazy in a beat
- I wouldn't be able to get my Student Pilot Instrument Rating because that money would go to paying for USC (I already am very close to getting my VFR Private Pilot's License)</p>

<p>Questions: Does USC have good traditions? I've read about some like the primal yell and stuff... but it doesn't seem like as large an amount</p>

<p>+RICE+
Pros:
- BEAUTIFUL campus-- I LOVE ALL THE TREES AND SQUIRRELS!!
- Interesting, quirky, down-to-earth people
- Kids very active in class
- Diverse student body
- Houston has great restaurants
- Baylor medical program in conjunction with Rice Pre-med = great internships, opportunities
- Admins give Rice students so much freedom
- Pranks are plentiful
- Residential college system
- Cafeteria food is amazing
- Hispanic influenced architecture is sooo prettyyy
- Great traditions, especially streaking ones (heh)
- Voted in the top 5 Best Quality of Life consistently by US. World News
- Houston is less expensive than where I live (40 minutes from Washington DC... Sterling, VA)
- Everyone at Rice was really friendly and reached out to me and told me repeatedly to come to Rice
- RA's at Rice plan really cool stuff for their colleges (ex.: Bollywood nights, yoga)
- I could continue to take flight lessons at a small airport nearby, with the extra money
- People would probably really embrace my quirky-crazy personality</p>

<p>Cons:
- I have high standards so probably would not date at Rice
- I don't know how good the social life would be
- The curriculum & grading is EXCEPTIONALLY hard (does this mean alot less free time?)
- The Neuroscience program is not as good</p>

<p>Questions: Does USC have any of these pros and I just don't know about it???? Are there any pros and cons I haven't thought of that I should consider? Are any of my ideas about either school wrong? And which do you think I would have the BEST FOUR YEARS at??? Thanks so much for your input.</p>

2

<p>Personally, I can see you at Rice. I giggled when you talked about making funny animal noises. My twin daughters are quirky like this. Anyway, from the way you described the students and atmosphere at Rice, I can visualize you there. </p>

<p>Good luck to you! I can certainly understand not wanting to say good-bye to one of them.</p>

3

<p>I agree. Rice sounds like the place for you.</p>

4

<p>Yeah, you may not have noticed, but from the way you described both schools, you seem to like Rice better. It’s one of those subconscious things others notice, but the individual would not…</p>

<p>By the way, I can’t say I’m very good at animal noises, but my friends and I have fun in non-conventional (but not troublesome) ways. I don’t know if I’d be “quirky” or “unique” but I know partying isn’t the only way to have fun :wink: So while some things can be “generally” assumed about different schools, students (imo) shouldn’t be included in that. USC is SO diverse, you’ll find TONS of DIFFERENT kids. Same at Rice. That also applies to your dating dilemma at both schools. PERHAPS USC has more attractive guys, but maybe the one for YOU goes to Rice. Y’know?</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>I was also in this same predicament last year! I too was deciding between Rice and USC, and I chose to go to USC (although I sometimes wonder what life would be like if I went to Rice). Honestly, I did not have a very good visit when I went to Rice… the campus seemed super dead (but apparently it was because it was finals time), I ate at Lovett (and the food is horrible there), and I was super tired and cranky from taking a 6AM flight there. Much of my decision was based off of how I felt on the two campuses, and I fell in love with USC.</p>

<p>But, like the others have said, Rice seems to fit you more. Over 90% of students who apply to med school from Rice get in, while it’s only about 50-60% at USC. This might be because the caliber of people who get into Rice and USC are very different (I know people who’ve turned down Ivies for Rice while many people only went to USC because it was the “only school they got into”), but it’s still hard to ignore the statistics. You would save money by going to Rice. And you seem to love school traditions… I must admit I am pretty jealous of Rice’s traditions, cause they seem like so much fun! And I’m assuming most people get involved in them because the school population is so small… at USC, there are some traditions but the percentage of participation is not as large, probably because there are much more students. There are things such as back-kicking the flagpole for good luck before football games, and the marching band playing outside of the library at 10PM during finals… but other than that, I can’t think of any right now.</p>

<p>Okay, now time to give some points to USC :slight_smile: Part of me did decide to go to USC because I was intimidated by the academics at Rice. I thought I would do better at USC, and it has proven to be true… I don’t burden myself with constant studying, yet I still do pretty well in school. I was on the Dean’s List last semester, and I really don’t know how well I would’ve done at Rice. I love the diversity of classes you can take - from cinema to drawing to theatre to music to journalism classes - no matter what major you are. I’m an engineering major, and at the engineering school they have a Progressive Degree Program where you can get your master’s in 5 years. I think they have that for other majors too, but since you’re pre-med, it probably won’t mean much to you. Yes, the guys here in general are better looking, in my opinion :). BUT, at Rice you will probably find someone who will almost definitely be successful in the future, which is pretty important too! Social life is awesome here, though I know it is at Rice too. I’m from California, and I do love change, but Texas just did not seem like the place for me. RA’s here plan pretty cool stuff too; for example, this Thursday our building is going to a Dodger’s game. There are many things I love about USC, although I think I’m making this post too long… but yes, if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask me!</p>

6

<p>“This might be because the caliber of people who get into Rice and USC are very different (I know people who’ve turned down Ivies for Rice while many people only went to USC because it was the “only school they got into”)”</p>

<p>^ I don’t know…that’s kinda unfair. I already know a few '14 Trojans who are rejecting “better” (ranked) schools for USC. I myself am turning down Middlebury (#4 LAC in the nation…not ivy league, but more selective than some of them…and a damn good school) for USC. I’m also waitlisted at the “top” (ranked, again) school in this country. If I get off the WL, I’m pretty sure I’d still pass it over for SC. While what you say may be true for some, it certainly isn’t the case for everyone. Just thought I’d point that out for the OP.</p>

<p>BUT, I still say you’d have a wonderful time being an Owl :)</p>

7

<p>Based on the kids I know who go/are going to 'SC and Rice, I’d say that Rice is the school for the more academic and cerebral kid. The medical school acceptance rates, someone mentioned, are, indeed, vastly higher at Rice. </p>

<p>And, I think all things being equal, GPA-wise, graduate schools consider Rice to have greater academic gravitas than 'SC. I also don’t care for the area in which 'SC is. And I know that Greek life looms large at 'SC–don’t know if that’s repellant to or alluring for you.</p>

8

<p>In response to pinkie, those med school numbers are vastly manipulated. Rice is known to weed out and screen applicants, while USC does not accounting for the so called 90 % acceptance at Rice. I got into Rice, however I will go to USC over it, therefore this whole people go to USC because it’s the only school they got into is not true at all.</p>

9

<p>Yeah same. I got into quite a few top ten liberal arts schools, but I’m going to USC over them!</p>

10

<p>You obviously have less cons for Rice :slight_smile: I believe you will be much happier there! My friends are all going to RICE, and I feel like your personality seems like them/is compatible with theirs. Rice is beautiful, there are so many great restaurants, shopping districts, and all the museums are right there! It is a small school and all the students there are very studious (my friends who are going/who are there included). Especially since I come from a very competitive public school in the Houston area, I can tell you that Rice is extremely selective but that my friends who are already at Rice have said that it hasn’t been harder or easier than high school. They took me to a couple parties and to be honest, Rice is a very “wet” school, meaning that their alcohol and party policies are extremely lenient. Trust me, they study hard and play hard. You will definitely fit in.</p>

<p>You must wonder why I’m going to USC instead? I’m a big city girl and Rice is way too small/close to home for me :)</p>