Reasons to attend USC over MIT

[sfgiants]

<p>Try calling (213) 740-8885 (Marshall Admissions)</p>

[sfgiants]

<p>Hi bmwguy,</p>

<p>I contacted someone in admissions on your behalf - check your PM box for some details. May not be a perfect solution, but it’s something.</p>

[bmwguy]

<p>Ok…I’m going to call them as soon as possible.</p>

<p>How bout a more specific question:
For someone looking to start their own business, Marshall or Sloan?</p>

[Columbia_Student]

<p>[Daily</a> Trojan - Mag: no ‘Greif’ for Marshall entrepreneurs](<a href=“http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/1.204717-1.204717]Daily”>http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/1.204717-1.204717)</p>

<p>

Investors take note: **The Marshall School of Business Lloyd Greif Entrepreneur Program was recently ranked No. 1 by the Princeton Review for its variety of classes and the success of the program’s alumni. **</p>

<p>The rankings, which are assigned based on the evaluation of data turned in by the university, were published in the November issue of Entrepreneur Magazine, which hits newsstands today. The magazine has been in partnership with the Princeton Review to publish the ratings for the past two years. </p>

<p>The program, endowed by an alumnus, was the first entrepreneurial school in the nation. </p>

<p>Ben Zelevansky, director of data collection for the Princeton Review, said the rankings take into consideration academic rigor of the course, the experience of the faculty in the field and the opportunities for students both in and outside the classroom. </p>

<p>“Tom O’Malia and the entrepreneur professors are the best it gets,” said David Bloom, associate dean and chief communications officer for the Marshall School of Business. </p>

<p>Zelevansky said the program was ranked because it had a full faculty of established entrepreneurs and its academic requirements were some of the strongest. </p>

<p>Thomas O’Malia, director of the program, said the curriculum aims to teach students how to deduce which ventures will be most successful. </p>

<p>“We teach students feasibility analysis - [considering] that which is possible rather than having one idea and pushing it forward,” O’Malia said. </p>

<p>O’Malia said the model encourages intelligent failure based on sound innovations instead of trying to blindly trying to guess the next big thing. </p>

<p>“Most business schools teach students that they must get ready, aim and then fire,” said Patrick Henry, a professor in the undergraduate entrepreneur program. “We teach students to shoot without fear and then make adjustments along the way.” </p>

<p>Bloom agreed the theory behind the teachings at Greif is what makes the program so strong. </p>

<p>“We teach students an approach to problem solving and business innovation that is at the heart of everything Marshall does,” Bloom said. </p>

<p>Professors require students to interview and create connections with entrepreneurs who are working in their desired field, Henry said. </p>

<p>O’Malia said the program also promotes networking by inviting alumni back to judge student’s feasibility projects and hosting student-alumni events. </p>

<p>“Entrepreneurs have this innate need to meet people and network,” said Armen Margarian, 2006 alumnus of the program who now owns a nationwide vehicle brokerage and fleet management business that he established before entering the program. </p>

<p>Margarian said he attributes much of his success to lessons learned while studying in the Greif program. </p>

<p>“I don’t even recognize the company I started five years ago,” he said. “I learned things that I directly applied to my business.” </p>

<p>O’Malia attributed one other factor to the success of the program. </p>

<p>“I wouldn’t be able to direct this program anywhere other than at the University of Southern California,” O’Malia said. “Location and network are king.” </p>

<p>But being in Los Angeles isn’t necessarily all it takes to snag a spot at the top of the rankings; Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the UCLA Anderson School of management was ranked No. 6.

</p>

[Georgia_Girl]

<p>Rankings can be subjective. Here are the rankings for the entrepreneurship programs for 2009 (data from year before) in U.S. News.
Entrepreneurship Program at Marshall–Ranked 4th in nation
" " at Sloan–Ranked 5th in nation</p>

<p>Here is a partial list of alumni with undergraduate degrees from Marshall who have founded their own businesses.
Marc Benioff-Founder and CEO of Salesforce.com
Dave Bohnett-Founder and former CEO of Geocities.com
Henry Caruso-Founder of Dollar Rent-A-Car
Brad Hughes-Founder and CEO of Public Storage
Richard Knerr-Co-Founder and former president of Wham-O
Gordon Marshall-Founder of Marshall Industries and donor for Marshall School
Preston Martin-Founder of PMI Mortgage Ins. Co.;former vice chairman of Federal Reserve Board
Andrall Pearson-Founding Chrm. and CEO of Yum
Ed Roski-Chrm. and CEO of Majestic Realty Co., part owner of the LA Lakers
Steve Saleen-Founder and CEO of Saleen Performance. Inc.</p>

<p>The Marshall School emphasizes communication, analytical decision making and teamwork.
It is known for the many programs which involve global business issues. It also offers first year international programs (GLP/LINC). The top 10% of freshmen admitted to Marshall are invited to participate in the Global Leadership Program.
Here is the website for Marshall: [USC</a> Marshall](<a href=“http://www.marshall.usc.edu%5DUSC”>http://www.marshall.usc.edu)</p>

[vc08]

<p>

For someone looking to start their own business, Marshall or Sloan?

</p>

<p>If you ever plan on leaving California, Sloan definitely. I just really don’t think they can compare outside of SoCal. Even in California, most would consider Cal’s Haas School of Business the more prestigious one.</p>

<p>Basically the top biz programs in the world are Sloan, Wharton, Ross and a few others. I mean they shift around every now and then, but those are the best undergrad ones by far. </p>

<p>I’m hoping your posting this question on the MIT thread as well? Not that the responses on here are invalid or anything, but you should always try and look at two sides of the spectrum.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

[Columbia_Student]

<p>Starting your own business is different from working for other people in the business world.</p>

[bmwguy]

<p>

Starting your own business is different from working for other people in the business world.

</p>

<p>Definitely…I want to start my own business.</p>

[Sam_Lee]

<p><a href=“http://www.cs.usc.edu/admissions/undergrad/CSBA.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cs.usc.edu/admissions/undergrad/CSBA.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>OP, USC program isn’t really “integrated” either. It simply gives you a workable schedule by letting you take only 7 courses from the business schools (+ micro/macro econ and accounting for non-major). It seems just like a water-down version of a dual-degree that would otherwise take you longer. Sloan is simply >> Marshall and MIT engineering >> USC engineering. That said, MIT is tough and is not for everyone. Many people go there with the determination and mindset to grind through the four tough but rewarding years. If you are concerned about not having time for fun, then maybe it isn’t really a good fit for you.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t pay too much attention to the list of alums that started their own business here. Marshall is a huge school that graduates 900 undergrads each year; having a few that started their own businesses successfully don’t really tell the story (what about # of them that tried and failed?). It’s not like MIT has any shortage of alums that did just that (think of all the inventions and technogical innovations done by MIT grads in the past century).</p>

[delass]

<p>I have no experience with either program, so I cant really help. Actually, I know a prof at MIT for business or something does a pretty cool game to explain inflation. We watched a video on it in econ class. Anyway…</p>

<p>The people here are extremely biased towards USC. Despite this bias people here are still telling you MIT is the better option. Just food for thought. Good luck with your decision.</p>

[Columbia_Student]

<p>Interesting article from CULA.
[The</a> Daily Bruin - UCLA can learn from USC?s path to prestige](<a href=“http://dailybruin.com/news/2009/jan/26/emucla-can-learn-uscs-path-prestigeem/]The”>http://dailybruin.com/news/2009/jan/26/emucla-can-learn-uscs-path-prestigeem/)</p>

<p>

Essentially, the Business Economics major’s only purpose is to get students ready for graduate school. And this method in no way encourages or teaches students looking into starting their own business.</p>

<p>Alas, while USC is a private school not even half the size of UCLA, the school has done well by allowing students to focus less on GEs and more on their respective majors. Because of this approach, it has made itself a more desirable and competitive university.</p>

<p>Seeing that I am a Bruin, and that the idea of USC ever being ahead in any rankings disgusts me, I respectfully ask that the College administrators take notice and start making our curriculum more applicable to the real world.

</p>

[Sam_Lee]

<p>^

while USC is a private school not even half the size of UCLA

Not true:
Undergrads:
USC 16,384
UCLA 26,928</p>

<p>Grads:
USC 17,024
UCLA 11,548</p>

[scubaguy]

<p>I would go whereever it would be cheaper.<br>
Many do not want MIT because of the suicide rate and stress. Remember though that at MIT there are no grades the first year. Much better adjustment period.
There have been some awful physics, math and writing instructors over the last few years at USC. Also, I would check out if they require senseless GE’s that have nothing to do with anything you are interested in but have to take in order to graduate.</p>

[nastynate0315]

<p>USC is in Cali and MIT isn’t. hope that helps.</p>

[menloparkmom]

<p>“There have been some awful physics, math and writing instructors over the last few years at USC”
there have been and are SUPERB physics, math and writing instructors in the Honors Science program and the Thematic Options program at USC, which I’m sure the OP would be invited to participate in.
But, if the OP is ready and willing to work his ass off for 4 years, then I would still recommend MIT over USC.</p>

[bmwguy]

<p>Does anyone know if I’ll be able to take entrepreneurship classes at USC as part of the CS/BA program?</p>

[NerdyUSCgurl]

<p>Keep in mind though if you choose USC you’re not guaranteed all 4 years of housing! So in your junior year, you’ll have to find another apartment or a roommate and LA is expensive. So don’t forget to add those charges!</p>

[EldrWnd]

<p>USC Trustee v. MIT (full cost) I’m looking at personally taking on 140,000 loans!</p>

[Arctic92]

<p>That’s great and all… but is it really necessary to revive a thread which hasn’t been posted in for four years?</p>

[thethinice]

<p>Several of you argue for MIT because of the name, but USC has been steadily climbing up the ranks of elite universities, and while MIT probably can’t get any higher, USC might have climbed even more in the next 4-5 years. So you might be even better off with your degree from USC in 4 years than now. Just something to put into perspective.</p>