<p>The obvious reasons for SC over UCLA are establishing great connections and attending a smaller, private university...but what else? I know the GREEK system is better as well. What are some other reasons I should choose SC over UCLA. I have some people in my life to convince...like my parents who would have to foot the bill.</p>
<p>-small campus, which makes for a fun atmosphere, and an easy walk to classes. This also helps you to learn your away around quicker.
-football! You'll have some amazing Saturday afternoons in the fall, walking through campus, smelling the barbeques and seeing everyone in cardinal and gold, bonding.
-I don't know what your major will be, but we have some very strong programs
-individual attention
-many small classes (also depending on your major)
-the Trojan family.
-having students everywhere around you who love their school
-you can get a super good job when graduating, and pay off those bills quickly :)</p>
<p>And the list goes on...</p>
<p>Feel free to ask any questions!</p>
<p>Thanks for your input!
I absolutely LOVE the Trojan Spirit, and know that that would make for a wonderful college experience. I also love the smaller college feel USC has opposed to UCLA. To be honest, I am slightly concerned about the stereotype of superficiality among the Sororities, as I am very interested in getting involved in the Greek life. I know you get that anywhere... but how great is it at USC? Also, my major is going to be Political Science... do you know anything about that at SC? Thanks so much for your insight!!</p>
<p>I applied to SC as a poli sci major as well. Hopefully i get in.</p>
<p>Well, first off, you have to take all of USC's stereotypes with a grain of salt. The University of Spoiled Children has taken a major hit, and now more and more students are here because they worked hard in high school and deserved admission. </p>
<p>Next, I have to admit that you will find superficial girls in the sorority system at USC. But these girls are in schools everywhere, not just USC. And if it is really important to you to avoid as much superficiality as possible, then there are definitely a few sororities that you can aim for that are really down-to-earth, with really cool girls, that are overall less materialistic than some of the sororities here. And, who knows, you never know which house you're going to fall in love with when you rush.</p>
<p>Sorry, I'm an English major, so I don't know much about Poli Sci. :)</p>
<p>I guess sororities are basically the same anywhere...and I know that they are a fabulous way to make friends and enhance your social life.</p>
<p>What about USC's overall reputation compared to UCLA? I understand that US World Report ranks them 30 and 25, respectively. USC is "the school" in Southern California because when you graduate it's like a big fraternity where everyone takes care of one another, but what about nationwide? Does SC command the same level of status outside of So. Cal.? I hate to say this, but I've been asking around in my AP classes which school I should go to, and hands down they say UCLA. (I am from the Bay Area) I know that I should select a college which personally suits me best, yet I am indecisive because of what I've been hearing about which school is better and maybe carries more prestige nationwide for later on. Any thoughts on this?</p>
<p>The thing about the rankings, though, is that UCLA has been fluctuating between 25 or 26 for years now. They haven't improved. USC, on the other hand, was something like 41 a few years ago. We keep getting better.</p>
<p>USC alumni definitely takes good care of their "family". It is true that this is really prominent in Southern California, and less so outside of it. But that is just because USC alumni are so prevalent down here, not that alumni elsewhere are less caring. :) UCLA, I'm sure, does have a better nationwide reputation, but that is just because everyone else is slow to accept an increasing school on the west coast (people hate the west coast, and this is seen just as much in football, where eastern schools don't respect the western schools as much- moral of the story is, we won the national championship!). USC is getting more and more well-known. We also have a huge international student population, so we are getting really well-known around the globe. </p>
<p>You are right in saying that you need to find a school that fits you best. Tour them both and see which one feels like home to you, where you can see yourself. I think you can't go wrong with either one (although I'm biased and I'll say that you would have an amazing experience at USC! :) ), because both have great academics, and USC is catching up to UCLA in rankings, and has already surpassed them (and Berkeley) in incoming freshmen SAT. I know that it is hard when everyone is telling you one thing, but you just need to go with what feels right, knowing that how a school is perceived does not say how good the school actually is!</p>
<p>Is it just me, or conservative people don't like USC?
BTW, I was @ the Meet USC prgram yesterday, and I absolutely lovely.</p>
<p>Some of the seniors that I know tha like USC, also like NYU. Thos that hate USC, dislike NYU. So maybe they just don't like the lifestyle?</p>
<p>I'm glad you had a good time Tony!</p>
<p>I don't know about the whole conservative thing, because USC has a reputation for being uber-conservative (not so much anymore, though).</p>
<p>usc is getting so good, its practically even compare it to lower IVY's.</p>
<p>i care alot about location, and USC is in the craphole of LA, with olvera street, macarthur park, East LA (Watts), chinatown, and south LA (Compton) surrounding it.</p>
<p>ucla has beverly hills/west hollywood (east of ucla), burbank/bel-air/brentwood (north of ucla), and santa monica southwest of ucla.</p>
<p>ucla is also in the westwood village which is always highly esteemed for its college life. ucla is also next to other great LA sites like universal city , the entire hollywod scene, the intersection of hollywood and highland where the kodak theater and graumann's chinese theater (among other things) are located.</p>
<p>sorry i thought this was a open pro/con thing but apparently you want to be convinced of why you should go to usc over ucla, my bad</p>
<p>rExRuN467 , uschicka , I need Advice!! (if anyone else can help it would be great!)
Ive been accepted to USC, and I really really want to go there. The problem is (at least MY PARENT'S PROBLEM IS) location. LOCATION LOCATION!!. everyone keeps on telling them that this isn't a place to send a young girl, to live on her own & bla bla bla... Since my whole family lives abroad or in other parts of the country, i'm going to be completely on my own at USC. Staying in the dorms.
So what i want to know is, How bad is USC's area?? and is that "bad area" reputation really worth my turning down such a great school? I'm looking for the Overall great college experience (social and academics combined) and usc seems to be the perfect fit...So PLZ tell me, should i enroll or not?!</p>
<p>honestly i'd rather live in the ghettoes of LA than in nice areas in other states. LoL okay maybe that's stretching it---but honestly being in beautiful sunny so-Cal makes up for being in a not-so-nice part. </p>
<p>the thing is, even though the IMMEDIATE area surrounding USC is bad--the GREATER area isn't. USC is actually conveniently located and isn't too far a drive away from the beaches, the nice areas, etc...also, Downtown LA is really starting to clean up and develop. </p>
<p>The campus is like an oasis really, and the area around it doesn't deter people who are used to living in super nice places from going---I'd say, if location is the only thing bothering you, definitely enroll. I have yet to meet a USC student who says they couldn't stand USC because of its location, most people that go there love it fervently despite the flaws about the area.</p>
<p>that's exactly what i was thinking. I really want to live in L.A. I still have to decide between USC, Bentley college, BU and others...But USC is definitely my first choice (but it just doesnt seem to be my parent's!).</p>
<p>USCkixass,</p>
<p>Living just a few miles from USC and being an L.A. native I hope my thoughts will be helpful. I do not believe this is in any way a "dangerous" area for students of USC. Yes the people who live there are more middle to low income, and yes they are of color. Unfortunately that seems to be the criteria for a less-than-good neighborhood and I've never understood why. But if you drive around you see very well-kept homes and lawns, and people trying to work and make a living like the rest of us. Now I've been to Baltimore for example and seen some areas where I was afraid to stop at a traffic light, and told my husband to lock the doors--because the people on the street looked openly hostile, and were openly dealing, and there was an air of desperation so evident that told us not to pause there not even for a second. You won't find ANYTHING like that around USC, okay? </p>
<p>However there is NOWHERE in the city, even in Brentwood or Westwood, where I would walk around alone at night. So that goes for USC too. You just don't do that in L.A. because it's a big city and bad stuff happens all over the place in big cities. You have to use good judgment. You see can see people in gang attire in the nicest areas and fashion malls--because we're a mobile city. I don't need to tell you you should avoid a confrontation with such people, wherever you are.</p>
<p>I also want to add that there is a huge gentrification movement going on in the area, from Koreatown (a few miles northwest of USC) to downtown, to the West Adams area. A lot of young people and families are discovering these areas and buying homes there and the housing prices are just soaring over what they were a couple years ago. That means if you want to buy a nice 3 br house in decent condition near USC, be prepared to spend $500K and up. (Of course it's all relative because Westwood & Brentwood now costs $2M and up). But my point is, the really downtrodden areas are now getting cleaned up, and the middle or so-so areas are looking really really good lately.</p>
<p>But I attended USC for my masters about 20 years ago, went at night, and even then did not worry about the area or crime. It is an excellent school and yes, the social and academic advantages are why you want to go. Talk to anyone who's been there one semester and they'll say "oh the area, no problem at all". And as Pixidanzer said, it is SO convenient to getting to other parts of town from there--the beach, Hollywood, etc. In West L.A. near UCLA, the traffic is simply horrible, it can take you an hour just to get across Westwood during rush hour. Hope all this rambling is helpful.</p>
<p>I have decided that there are pros and cons to both schools. Both are great academically, and each campus has its ups and downs. I think that USC has a better combination of social and academics, whereas UCLA might be slightly lacking comparitavely in the social department. I am actually going down for Spring Break to visit my cousins who live in Seal Beach, so I am going to visit both schools once again to see which one feels right. Are there any suggestions you can make for what and where to visit in USC? I've already been down the Greek row and LOVE that set-up, and I've seen the bulk of the campus because of my interview, and I have a guy friend who showed me around last spring break. I'd really appreciate any tips on what to see that could reveal some greater aspects about the school I didn't already know about from a few short visits! Thanks! (I'm leaving tomorrow, so if I could hear about it before then that'd be awesome!!)</p>
<p>Ya, ucla's greek "row" (rather scatterdots) is totally unorganized and a hassle for party hopping. The sorority houses are on the other side of campus on hilgard i believe. Let's just say SC knows how to party and to have a better time :)</p>
<p>TaraMom and pixidanzer: Thank you so much for your advice; I am definitely taking usc into serious consideration and will do my best to convince my parents not to worry about it...
- FIGHT ON! - (see, i have tht school spirit in me even before enrolling! i cant wait to get there!!)</p>
<p>USCkixass, </p>
<p>Can I give you my insight on the situation? lol, you may be amused, but please don't laugh. :) I live on an island in southeast Georgia (major seclusion from the real world, i must admit.) I go to a high school of 80 kids total. The environment I live in is super super safe. </p>
<p>That said, when I went to USC, I wasn't startled or bothered by the surrounding neighborhood. Obviously I would use good judgement in venturing places with my friends at night. I hope my opinion helps you somewhat, coming from someone who definitely would've been alarmed if USC was in a true "GHETTO", as some people on CC have referred to it.</p>