<p>Texasmathwhiz: UCSF is specialized as well, since they mainly focus on Medicine and only have a graduate program.</p>
<p>True. I guess I put it ther ebecause I'm specializing in medicine.</p>
<p>I thought we were just ranking for undergrad. If it's grad too, UCSF has to be somewhere near the top of my list and Cal Poly falls since it focuses on undergrad.</p>
<p>UCSF doesn't "mainly" focus on medicine, it ONLY has graduate programs in medicine (dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharm). And if this discussion were about grad programs, UCSF would be first, easily.</p>
<p>if it were just about grad programs, stanford would probably be on top with berkeley close behind.</p>
<p>Grad Programs</p>
<p>Stanford=Berk=UCLA</p>
<p>FYI, UCSF also has grad programs in various areas of biology(cell bio, molecular, micro...) for which they are highly ranked. And if we really want to get into grad programs, Scripps Research Instituate in San Diego has some of the best science programs in the country(Top ten in bio and chem according to US News).</p>
<p>rooster,</p>
<p>Stanford is better than Caltech in engineering in terms of the availability of broad engineering specialization and courses, but not its curricula. On the average, Caltech engineering students know more about engineering stuff in depth than Stanford engineering students upon graduation :)</p>
<p>From the CC POV:</p>
<ol>
<li> Stanford</li>
<li> CalTech</li>
<li> Berkeley</li>
<li> UCLA
.
.
.</li>
<li> Clown College of Pottersdam
.
.
.</li>
<li> The Institute of Golf Tee Design</li>
<li> USC </li>
<li> The College of USC Doesn't Deserve to be 464!!!</li>
</ol>
<p>Ok here's my real list:</p>
<p>Academic Reputation:</p>
<ol>
<li> Stanford</li>
<li> Cal Tech</li>
<li> Pomona College</li>
<li> Berkeley</li>
<li> Claremont McKenna</li>
<li> Harvey Mudd</li>
<li> UCLA</li>
<li> USC </li>
<li> UCSD</li>
<li> UC Davis</li>
</ol>
<p>Real World Reputation:</p>
<ol>
<li> USC (South)/Stanford (North)</li>
<li> Cal Tech</li>
<li> Berkeley</li>
<li> UCLA</li>
<li> Claremont McKenna</li>
<li> Pomona College</li>
<li> Harvey Mudd<br></li>
<li> UCSD</li>
<li> UC Davis </li>
</ol>
<p>Yeah I expect an uproar for placing USC at the top but that's to be expected from people that really don't understand what goes on behind the rankings. I placed USC #1 because of the prominent alumni and networks throughout the southland. USC is a powerful institution that really controls things in Southern California. I am reminded of a conversation I had with a very wealthy and well connected CEO who will I will not name, to paraphrase what he said:</p>
<p>"I remember one of my operations was connected with SC and there was something very borderline in the way it was being transacted (but legal) that had the possibility of slighting the name of the school. I'm not joking, at the first scent, the school had the LAPD literally busting my door running searches and the best DA on my a**. Believe me, USC owns Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California, more than you'll ever believe..."</p>
<p>Before you start flaming, consider the following questions: how is it that a "overrated academic institution" with "less than elite reputation" receives so many donations and support from big name companies and philanthropists? Does it strike you as being odd that a school that is ranked in the high 20's and low 30's receives more donations than Harvard? </p>
<p>Also note that in almost every high position in local politics, law, entertainment, real estate, business, insurance, accounting, finance, sports, media, etc. in Los Angeles/Orange County there is an SC alum.</p>
<p>Is USC a university or a pyramid scheme with a football team?</p>
<p>Um... no. USC does not raise more money than Harvard University. The Council for Aid to Education, a subsidiary of RAND, gives the following data for fundraising in 2003.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908051.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908051.html</a></p>
<p>I find the claim that USC controls the LAPD highly dubious, despite amusing anecdotes that claim otherwise. Did the university administration have a role in the Rampart scandal a few years back? Such a story also supports the claim that USC's reputation is strong, but only in its immediate surroundings. How many universities can make that claim? USC is a fine school, but let's not overstate the case.</p>
<p>Stanford trumps USC in its own backyard. Why else did that kid from the O.C. want to go to Stanford so badly?</p>
<p>afterhours -- with your logic, Bama should be a top tier school since they place many in high positions in Birmingham. LOL</p>
<p>Living in SoCal, I know many SC alums who are big supporters of their school, i.e., they donate big time, but NONE of them even comes close to claiming that their school's academic rep is as good as Stanford or Berkeley. Not surprisingly, they do claim parity/superiority to UCLA, however.</p>
<p>UCLA Admit Rate: 23.5%
USC Admit Rate: 29.9%</p>
<p>flopsy:</p>
<p>IMO, the selectivity of the UC's is way over-stated since we have the 'Calif common app- -- one fee and apply to all 10. Many kids who have absolutely zero chance of getting in to LA or B (2.9 gpa and no hook), send the $60 in anyway for a lottery chance. It takes much more work to complete an app for USC or other private school.</p>
<p>For business and for entertainment related majors, USC pretty much dominates in its region.</p>
<p>Strong and respected sciences and engineering programs(tons of research) but not yet on the same level as Stanford, Berkeley, CalTech.</p>
<p>Best sports tradition of any CA school, though Cal, UCLA and Stanford not far behind.</p>
<p>Stanford has the best sports teams in the country, so USC doesn't even come close. Stanford has won the Sears Director's Cup for 10 years in a row. Just being good at football doesn't make you the best sports school in the nation.</p>
<p>UCLA's School of Theater and Television is not too shabby. Granted, SC's business program is solid, but that's only bcos it's the only top local school that offers an Undergrad biz program. Hass has an undergrad up north, but Stanford does not. OTOH, for grad B-school, UCLA has a better rep. </p>
<p>Rooster: winning sports teams is great, but Cal would do much better in the Sears cup if Rugby (I seem to remember that Stanford forfeited a rugby game so they wouldn't get hurt!) and Crew were included. But, SC does have a tremendous program bcos they spent big bucks on it in the 60's-80's. Now they're spending big money on academics to improve those rankings as well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Um... no. USC does not raise more money than Harvard University. The Council for Aid to Education, a subsidiary of RAND, gives the following data for fundraising in 2003.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Fundraising and donations? TsDad already posted this:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0770757.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0770757.html</a></p>