NYU vs. USC

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
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<p>Hey guys, thanks for reading this, I really appreciate it. Okay, so I was wondering, I plan on studying music industry/music business. I know that NYU's music business program is very well-known, but don't know much about USC's program at all. USC would be MUCH more affordable to me than NYU. On average, I'd get about 8,000 in aid from NYU and the rest in loans, even though my EFC is pretty low. And USC has great need-based and merit aid, which would make it alot more affordable. However, at NYU, if I were to go, I'd be applying to the Gallatin school of individualized study, where I could combine several of my interests within the entertainment/music industry such as public relations, music journalism, advertising, etc. while using the many resources of NYC through internships to figure out which part I liked best. </p>

<p>While NYU's program is amazing and exactly what I'm looking for, I don't think it'd be worth me being in debt for such a long period of time. USC is my second choice option, because of its locale and resources in L.A. If I would attend USC, i'd be going for the music industry major that isn't the more music-one, rather the other. Can anybody tell me about the music industry program? And if not, USC in general? I'm from Miami, FL. And am getting my car in August. How would it work to send it over there? Also, with NYU, each dorm has its own bathroom, is that possible at USC? Because, I dunno if I'd be okay with sharing a bathroom with a whole floor, just because I'm weird like that. And one final question: I have Washington Mutual. Are there WaMu banks around campus? Thanks, you guys rock.</p>

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<p>I wish I could answer some of your questions, but ...</p>

<p>You can ship your car here, but beware California has different smoke check restriction than most of other states.</p>

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<p>andy, </p>

<p>Have you been accepted into the music industry program at USC? If so, then you have two great choices. What you really need to consider is the contacts that will be made available through each school. Contacts are everyting in the industry. Go to the school that you feel will place more emphasis on "connecting you".</p>

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<p>Would like some info on this as well as I'm interested in entertainment/music-related journalism. Just keeping this at the top.</p>

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<p>You can gain some significant contacts from going to USC and NYU. Regardless of which school you choose, you've made an amazing choice. NYU's music business program is one of the best in the country and so is USC's. USC employs an amazing music industry staff and even offers senior courses taught by legendary record producers, former record label executives, and those with great knowledge in artist management and development. LA has a great music hub, but so does New York.</p>

<p>In the end, I'd say it depends on where you want to work for the beginning of your career: LA or New York, since those cities both have huge opportunities for you to break into the music industry. In terms of the flexibility you were talking about with NYU, USC offers relatively the same thing. I'm not familiar with NYU's program, so I can't 100% say that what USC offers is the same or better, but there are several classes devoted primarily to artist management and development, record production, broadcast, music distribution and marketing, public relations, music law, communications, digital recording and engineering, etc.</p>

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<p>Yeah,
both programs are great. Like I said though (in my opinion)- go to the one that you really feel is dedicated to "connecting you", because in the end, that's what matters most. The classes are going to pretty much be the same, ie: production, menagement/development, marketing, law and engineering (even though the cirriculum may vary somewhat).</p>

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<p>QW553, what do you mean by smoke check? As in emissions? I'm getting either a honda civic or accord or toyota corolla, so it'd be alot more fuel and emissions efficient than an SUV per say. </p>

<p>Collegegirl05, I haven't been accepted yet, but I'm weighing my options when I apply as a transfer student. I agree that both programs seem great, but I'm not sure which program would allow me to make the connections I need to make in the industry. I know that we're supposed to be the ones making the connections, but I'm not sure which program would help me out most.</p>

<p>MissSuperFantastic, pretty funny screen name by the way, :) and I'm also looking into music journalism, so I'd like to find out about that as well.</p>

<p>therevenge, thanks for the insight into USC's program. I didn't really know about alot of the stuff you told me that USC's program offers, or the amazing people that teach them. I'd prefer to work in New York to be honest, but L.A. seems like a great place too. I can't really compare, seeing as I've only been to California once, and it was a really long time ago. And thanks for pointing out USC's program flexibility. I only thought it was available in a program like NYU's. Thanks for helping me with my choices. USC is now definitely much higher up there than it was before. </p>

<p>Thanks again guys, and do you guys know if music industry majors can study abroad? Thanks again!</p>

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<p>andy-</p>

<p>This is collegegirl05's mom. The way I see it - it is not just the students job...a good program will encourage and support a students effort to contact industry executives that are alumni (of the school - not necessarily the same program). It is then up to the student to build the relationship. In my D's current school - this is a requirement in their freshman course load! The first person she contacted was an alumni, now an executive with Sony Pictures. She has since talked to her a few times via telephone, and has a possible internship opportunity as the result of the contact. Ask about this when you visit the schools. Also remember that these programs are DIFFICULT to get into...so start your portfolio now. </p>

<p>Also, I don't see why you can't study abroad, but I don't know the details. Contact that department in each school and ask. NYU has a partnership with the American School in Paris (think that's the name), where you can study abroad - I'm sure the network there is quite extensive. Don't know about USC.</p>

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<p>Also, </p>

<p>revenge looks like he's headed in a good direction at USC. Ever think about business with MI minor?</p>

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<p>collegegirl, that's exactly what I'm doing.</p>

<p>As for the abroad thing, USC has partnership's with several universities abroad so really NYU and USC are the same in this department since there are very high level colleges that have exchange program partnerships with USC and NYU.</p>

<p>You said that you prefer NYU. If you'd rather work in NY, then by all means go to NYU. Obviously, the music industry is a global industry, but for the first part of your career, you'll most likely be working in the city you studied in.</p>

<p>The music industry program at USC is also pretty flexibile compaired to other programs at USC. I have a couple of friends majoring in Music Industry here at USC and they've been allowed to take semesters off in order to tour or record with their band. If you're that active in music, you may want to take that into consideration as well, but I'm pretty sure NYU offers something like that to a certain degree.</p>

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<p>if you're talking about connections...from all that i've heard so far, USC's Alumni Network is pretty legendary (everyone past and present are part of the "Trojan Family"). the words "USC Alum" can be the ultimate hookup, especially in California, and the alumni tend to take care of grads as far as jobs go.</p>

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<p>Instead of Gallatin at NYU, though, wouldn't you go into Tisch, which I think already has a music industry program? I'm not too sure about that, but I thought there was already a music business/industry major in place there.</p>

<p>You'd probably have the most academic flexibility at USC in case you wanted to combine a music industry major with a major/minor in business admin or some other subject that interests you. Both NYU and USC have great business programs; however, I'd definitely say that USC has the stronger communications/public relations program as well as the best music non-conservatory school in the country (Tisch is better known for theater and visual arts). As others have pointed out, you should go to the school in the area you're interested in working in because you'll be making so many contacts in college that you'll already have built a network by the time you graduate. The Trojan family is legendary in helping out their grads, but that isn't meant to disparage NYU's alumni.</p>

<p>Unfortunately NYU isn't known to be very friendly with financial aid, although I've heard mostly good and not so good stories with USC's financial aid. Several of my cousins have gone to NYU (mostly into business/accounting, if I remember correctly) and while they all have good jobs they're still paying off their student loans. Another cousin my year turned down NYU which offered her a $10,000 scholarship because she'd have more debt that she would've wanted. How much debt you'll be incurring is something you might want to keep in mind if finances are going to play an important role-from what I've heard from my relatives, housing around NYU is pretty pricey, too.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I've heard from my relatives, housing around NYU is pretty pricey, too.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>no.. it's not "pretty pricey"</p>

<p>it's like hell.</p>

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<p>revenge-</p>

<p>once you got into marshall, how hard was it to get acceptance into the thornton minor?</p>

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<p>I think the fact that I was a business major did help since they never asked for my grades or an essay on why I wanted to minor in MI. Most likely it is easier to get into Thorton for a minor if you're already in one of the higher calibur schools at USC (Marshall, Annenberg, Veterbi, Cinema, etc.)</p>

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<p>think about atmosphere as well. USC has a real campus-centered environment. My brother went to Tisch at NYU, and whenever my family visited, we were like, "so, where exactly is the NYU's supposed 'campus?'" So, it's also kind of a school-spirit vs. dearth of school spirit debate as well.</p>

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<p>Sorry for the somewhat delayed response...work sucks, but it pays my bills hehe.</p>

<p>Collegegirl05's mom..hi again lol. I definitely agree that a good program should encourage students to achieve contacts in the industry, but I honestly am not familiar with which program is better for contacts in the industry. Congrats to your daughter and her internship! Does she also go to USC? I've heard about USC's legendary Alumni Network, and see that as a HUGE advantage over NYU in the post-grad employment process. I'm calling USC tomorrow for information on its study abroad programs. Thanks for the tip! ;) And I did think about the business major with the MI minor, but I am interested in classes that pertain more to the music industry rather than regular business courses. </p>

<p>therevenge....Thanks again for all your help. I didn't really know anything about USC's study abroad programs, but its one of those once-in-a-lifetime things I don't think I can pass up doing, regardless of major. I do prefer NYC as a whole, but then again, I don't remember L.A. at all, so I need to go there before making a decision. As far as programs go, you guys have me sold on USC's program over NYU's. You said the MI program at USC is more flexible than NYU's, which I agree with, but you mention specifically music industry-related flexibility (i.e. touring with a band, recording, etc.), but are they flexible enough to let me double major in music industry? Also, I meant to ask you...is it harder to get into USC as a transfer as a music industry major, or a public relations major? My primary focus is the music industry, but I wouldn't want to be denied acceptance because of lack of musical experience a la NYU. What do you think?</p>

<p>phobos...thanks for letting me about the HUGE advantage it is to be part of the "Trojan family". "USC Alum" seems to be the magic word in L.A. then? Sounds kickass. It sounds like the perfect hookup...man, I'm gonna be bummed if I don't get into USC as a transfer. </p>

<p>retroactivity....Gallatin's program would have been me taking music business classes as well as any other courses across NYU's schools at my own discretion to create my own music business "major". The official music business major, which in my opinion, is too traditional-music training oriented, is housed at NYU's Steinhardt School Of Education. I agree with the flexibility issue being alot more lenient at USC rather than NYU. I thought USC had a stronger public relations/communications program as well, but wasn't sure. Thanks for letting me know...Everytime I log on here, I like USC more and more. In the end, while I love NYC and would probably prefer being there more than L.A., USC is KNOWN for helping out their graduates with job placement, while NYU is not specifically, though it has equally high employment rates. I figure that I can have the option to go to NYC regardless sometime after I graduate because NYC and L.A. are the entertainment capitals, namely music capitals, of the U.S., and I'd probably end up going back and forth between the two in my profession. Regardless, most record labels and major firms have offices in both locales. And financial concern is also a HUGE worry, just because music business jobs are not the most financial secure, and I wouldn't want to add to the already probable amount of debt I'd be in, when I can get a likewise great music industry education at a fraction of the cost. </p>

<p>merunme-The prices of housing around the NYU are freaking expensive. My house is no big deal whatsoever, and is worth 450,000 by Miami standards. And to put it lightly, with the price I'd pay to buy a studio apartment around NYU, I could buy at least 2 or 3 of my houses. </p>

<p>katdc87....I'm not huge on school spirit, but am not one of those I-hate-school-spirit type people. And the sound of a community doesn't sound too bad haha ;)</p>

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<p>I don't think it would be hard at all for you to double major if you're doing music industry, but you may end up going to USC for roughly 5 years with the possibility of summer school.</p>

<p>As for difficulty to get into the program, I think a lot of it really rests on your grades while transferring. I have a friend who transferred via community college and he said his GPA was about a 3.5. However, he has been playing the guitar since he was 6 years old so that could have also put him over the edge. The other thing with the music industry program is that you can apply as a bachelor of music or a bachelor of science. Most likely, I'm thinking you're gonna apply for the BS since that doesn't require a music performance and is a more business focused program. The BS is a bit harder to get into since most students apply for that degree. I can't really give you a concrete answer on the terms of acceptance since I don't know every student's stats or how well their essays were, so I'd suggest that when you visit LA, you visit the Thorton School of Music and ask them what you need to do in order to gain acceptance to the music industry program.</p>

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<p>It sucks that if I want to double major, I have to go to the school for an extra year. If I were to stay for that extra year, in order to get both degrees, will I feel left behind, and will I be at a disadvantage compared to my other classmates, do you think? </p>

<p>You said your friend got into the music business program at USC. Grades are a big factor, I know. However, like you said, the music business major can either be a bachelor of music, or bachelor of science. Which program did your friend get accepted into? Ah...I know, most students apply to that program, which blows :/ I really want to go to study music business specifically, and since it is such a limited major, in terms of school that offer it, I really want to get into USC's program, but its REALLY competitive, and I can't help but feel a little discouraged. I think I am gonna visit L.A. and USC, as well as Thorton. Any idea when the best time to come visit is? Also, I'm not sure if you could help me out with this or not, but I called Thorton the other day, and they told me that alot of people that apply have both good grades, and previous music business experience, while I, truth be told, have none. What should I do? Thanks in advance. </p>

<p>-Andrew</p>

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<p>I actually have two other friends who are majoring in music industry. One of them was in a touring band and has also interned at some local indie record labels in the bay area (where he's from). Another doesn't have that much experience at all really. He played in a few bands that got some stage time locally, but nothing extraordinary. I'm assuming you're going to be applying for transfer status for the 2007-2008 school year. In that case, I suggest you start getting active in the music business. You could try to pick up an instrument--if that's possible. Also, you could contact some local indie record labels or record stores and ask if you could work there for awhile. I've got a contact up in New York that could help you out, but I think you said you live in Florida. I know there are a bunch of small labels that need help so it shouldn't be too tough to get at least an internship with them. Really what those small music labels and stores look for are people who are committed to and are enthusiastic about promoting music. That would be the best way at this moment for you to gain some music business experience. As for grades, well...I hope they're pretty good.</p>

<p>As for the double-major thing, being a year behind is not a big deal at all. There are some people who spend 5 years just getting 1 degree and still end up doing fine. Even for graduate school, they don't necessarily care too much that you've taken 5 years to complete your degree, but care more about what your grades were and what your activities were as well. Also, taking 5 years to get two degrees is normal at any college.</p>