<p>Gah I'm still waiting for my financial aid package, and such, but I'm pretty sure I won't be paying much (I'm quite poor). Well anyways, I'm having a tough time seeing why I should take USC (IN SPRING TOO! GOD!! >.<) over UCLA.</p>
<p>I'm majoring in Biochemistry and Id like to know how cutthroat the bio classes/competition is at 'SC. I know at UCLA, all my friends who are pre-med suffer from the fierce competition and do extremely poor (even in their first years when they're taking GEs). Going to 'SC in this category may help me cause I'd be starting at a community college where taking GEs would be easier and I could start with a higher GPA. But I'm not sure how good USC is at Biochemistry or in generally any other bio field.</p>
<p>My other question is about housing and the surrounding area. As a spring admit, there's a good chance I may not get a dorm; as a matter of fact, somebody from spring last year told me they had to live on an apartment complex. My question is...are these the apartments that happen to reside on the USC campus or are they several blocks away? I'm worried about the distance from the school because I know USC is in an extremely ghetto and dangerous area. Also, if I were to live in an apartment my first year, does that mean I'd have to cook on my own? Or would I be able to get a meal plan and eat food on campus? I can't exactly cook >.<...so...it's vital that I can get a meal plan and eat the food on campus. Also, what exactly do people do on the weekends and such? Besides on campus parties and whatnot, what else can one do? My friends at UCLA always tell me they head out to Santa Monica and Westwood where there are restaurants, shops, and movies. I don't want to stay on campus at USC 24/7 :(</p>
<p>My last question is, how big exactly are classes at USC in your first and second year? Are GEs humungous lecture halls with like 300 people in them? I thought USC was "smaller" than UCLA, which also has like 300-400 people in their lecture halls...or more. Honestly, the difference between like 300 and 500 wouldnt be significant to me.</p>
<p>Seriously, the neighborhood surrounding USC isn't that bad. Yeah, there is crime, but the rate is about the same if not lower than that of UCLA. As for the housing situation, it's hard to say as alot will have to do with how big the Spring class is. The smaller the class the greater the chance you will be in traditional Frosh housing. </p>
<p>I double majored in Biology and Classics at 'SC and the premed classes were not cutthroat at all. I've heard horror stories about the UC's but at USC people were pretty chill. I enjoyed my Bio classes alot and had some very good professors. Freshman Bio lecture when I went was huge, but the professor was still accessible. Chem lectures were much smaller. Once you got out of Freshman bio the Bio lectures were smaller.</p>
<p>As for my non science classes, I had some as small as 3 people (in my upperdivision Classics classes), so USC does offer small sections.</p>
<p>The housing that they will put you in if you do not get a dorm is close to campus (no more than a 5 minute walk or so), and many spring admits end up getting switched into freshman housing anyway. The area of USC owned housing is north of campus, which is pretty much only USC students, so it's not a bad area. You can also get a meal plan while living in an apartment, so don't worry about that.</p>
<p>The largest GE class I have ever heard of was 200. Most of my GEs have been about 80 students or so. General biology or chemistry would consist of 150-200 students in the beginning, but class sizes gradually get smaller as you move into more specific classes.</p>
<p>UCLA is not exactly crime free either. Last year, TV reported 2 incidents on UCLA campus, assault against 2 women walking at night. UCLA is a large campus so you get plenty of exercise from the dorm to the class. If you need to nap at mid day you can't easily walk back to your dorm. Check out the thread "where can I nap on UCLA" in the UCLA forum. At USC, I believe you can go back to your dorm easily because it's smaller campus.</p>
<p>UCLA may not be crime free, but I can say it is not as bad as USC. Not to mention the surrounding area looks nicer and more lifelike.</p>
<p>I agree, that is one of UCLA selling points. It's closer to the ocean, much cooler, temperature wise. USC surrounding does not scare me because some of my relatives work nearby and they make it home alright. I think one should use good common sense when walking around the USC surrounding neighborhood at night.</p>
<p>USC has emergency call stations things ever foot it seems. I have never felt unsafe on campus, nor in the area, but I have only ever been off campus on game days...</p>
<p>My first roommate at USC (I was a transfer) graduated at xmas so in January, my new roommate was a spring admit. I was living in an apartment complex (one of the USC owned ones) but it was super close. It was literally right across the street and I think the aparatments are a better location than the dorms because they were closer to my classes in the cinema school buildings. Cross the street one way was the campus and gym, and the other way was the grocery store so its really coneneient! The only thing that is a bit of a walk is the dining halls. You just have to look at the map of housing because there are a couple apartments that are a bit further away (like beside the frat/sorority houses) but most are really really close. I wouldn't worry about it. And there are buildings in the aparmtents that have all freshman (not many buildings but a couple) so een if you did get put there instead of a dorm it wouldn't be bad. And honestly, it beats living in a dorm room anyways! The spring admits i know have been very happy with their choice. They either went to community college near home to get GE's out of the way and save money, or a couple traveled, one girl interened, and I'm sure some people just chill at home for a semester (which is probably not the best choice...) Anyways, I think Spring admit is great! I wish I had had that option looking back! In the whole 4 years, it really doesnt make much of a difference and u can still easily graduate on time.</p>