<p>Well, before I make my final decision, I was just wondering, what if you were accepted to both UCLA and USC and they both cost the same? I was accepted to both and I have to pay about the same each. $7,500 a year for UCLA and $7,800 a year for USC (they had GREAT financial aid). Most people I know say to go to UCLA simply because its cheaper. Then again I read in another thread that for OOS, UCLA is not worth it for the OOS price (which is like $40k something right?) I mean my question really is, if USC, a private school, is the same price as UCLA, a public school, wouldn't it be better to attend USC? Especially since I would be paying $7,800 a year and not $50,000.</p>
<p>if the price is definately not an issue, i suggest you look at the quality of the program for your major. each school is great in similar and different aspects. but i will say that the UC's are mainly in-state people, so it lacks diversity whereas USC has a high percentage of international students and out-of-state students.</p>
<p>I have the same issue and my major is undeclared... haha</p>
<p>I had this same predicament. I would basically pay like 5000 if i went to USC and 7500 if i went to UCLA. I ultimately chose UCLA after visiting both. UCLA is just so much nicer.</p>
<p>Why go to USC when you can go to UCLA? xP</p>
<p>it all boils down to your program and major, but just generally speaking, if ucla was 40k a year (and had everything the same), i would have still chosen it over usc.</p>
<p>UCLA: bel air, westwood
USC: ghetto</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>i had the same issue as well!! I'm bio major, and I chose UCLA.</p>
<p>visit both campuses, check out majors and programs in both. other than that, there's not much we on the forums can tell you. both colleges have their pluses and minuses, so it's really up to you. here're some main points for both schools off the top of my head.</p>
<p>if you want to do anything business-related, i would suggest usc. we don't have a business major, and the marshall school is great. also, film (hello, george lucas's huge donations!). as you probably know, the main distinction for usc is their tightknit alumni network, which admittedly, is awesome. </p>
<p>also, it's a private school, so you don't run into some of the public school issues (lack of funding for programs, inability to get into some classes, crowding). their greek system is also stronger, i hear. and the social scene, in general, is a lot rowdier and active than ucla's. plus, you can support a winning football team! (though you lose out in basketball season.)</p>
<p>as for ucla, the location is a HUGE plus, although it might not seem to be that important. westwood is a great college town, while the area around usc is...not. remember, you're going to be living at or near the college for 4 years. </p>
<p>you also get that public school distinction for ucla, so you're allowed to brag about how you're "not spoiled" like those usc kids, even though there's not that much correlation. ucla's also slightly higher ranked right now in uni rankings, and being part of the uc system has it's benefits, connections-wise, with other uc's.</p>
<p>just my 2c.</p>
<p>if you want to do econ, for the sake of USC's superior alumni networking and existence of a business school, go to USC. Then again, if you absolutely hate USC, then by all means come to UCLA (you'll fit right in)</p>
<p>UCLA hands down... but, I'm a little biased as a graduating 4th year...</p>
<p>oh lordy. i actually got a full ride to usc (the trustee scholarship, i believe) and nothing from ucla. no regents, no alumni scholarship, nada. money wasn't a big issue for me, at least not the uc rate. at that point, i had not decided my course of study, so i didn't really look at a specific department. it's kind of hard to articulate what made me choose ucla, but i am happy that i did. even though i'm not so happy about my department (economics), i enjoy my management classes and a bunch of other courses i've taken. i also really like the school life and people i've met. in my opinion, a lot of the things people worry about regarding a large public university (enrollment problems, large population size, etc), haven't really affected me personally. and in terms of networking and career stuff, i've actually gone through a very successful recruitment period. so i've gotten where i wanted without usc's vaunted business and alumni network. just keep in mind that a lot of points that the schools try to market themselves to you may not matter... and on the flip side, a lot of criticisms that people make of either school in reality, may not matter either.</p>
<p>If you ask which school is better in the UCLA forum,most people will tell you go to UCLA. If you ask this question in the USC forum, most people will tell you to go to USC.(duh!)
Both are very good schools, both have strengths and weaknesses, it all depends what major you choose, and your personal preferences (ie huge school, versus mid size,very urban versus suburbs, etc.)
By the way USC is NOT in the "ghetto", yes the surrounding area is not as nice as UCLA's but definitely not "ghetto".
You will get a good education at either one.</p>
<p>UCLA is a more renowned school (USC is rapidly advancing, but UCLA is much more well-known outside of CA)</p>
<p>Westwood is the ultimate college town, South Central/Watts is not (don't underestimate the importance of college town...it helps define the experience for many people, be it Ann Arbor, Chapel Hill, Berkeley, Boston, Charlottesville, or Westwood). To the above poster, YES, South Central DOES qualify as a "ghetto." 3rd highest crime rate in US is a pretty good indicator, though the very immediate area to campus is nice.</p>
<p>Outside of Marshall, UCLA tends to have more higher ranked departments.</p>
<p>It's very hard to "buy your way in" at UCLA. No, most people at SC didn't do this, but it's not exactly uncommon, either.</p>
<p>UCLA isn't known as a spoiled rich-kid school.</p>
<p>Greek life/preppiness is more prevalent at SC, which could be a plus or a minus depending on your views of that atmosphere.</p>
<p>SC is a private school, so you'll tend to get more hand-holding. However, you'll also tend to get wealthier people, which often times means snobbier, more arrogant people (again, obviously there are many exceptions, and you'll find some of this at any institution, but it's not called the U. of Spoiled Children for nothing).</p>
<p>Both schools are "good," though their reputations vary depending on what major you intend to go into. I really don't think diversity will be a problem--both schools are welcoming of it, and both universities draw people of all backgrounds.</p>
<p>Good luck in your decision. I'd go to UCLA paying near-full tuition even if SC offered me a full ride. But that's just based on my experiences with the students and alumni at SC, who I've found to be successful yet often times pretentious and arrogant/ignorant of the real world (and trust me, this has nothing to do with the rivalry).</p>
<p>Good luck in making your decision. Go with your "gut feeling" and I doubt you'll have any regrets.</p>
<p>USC is catching up but is still not on par with UCLA.</p>
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Outside of Marshall, UCLA tends to have more higher ranked departments.
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<p>Not quite. Latest US News ranking of business schools has UCLA Marshall at #11 and USC Marshall at #21</p>
<p>Search</a> - Business - Best Graduate Schools - Education - US News and World Report</p>
<p>UCLA business school is not Marshall. Please get it straight especially when you have a screen name as with UCLA in it. LOL!</p>
<p>I think it's funny when people who don't like USC, call the area ghetto/watts/south central. People who do obviously feel the need to think they are beyond being in a poor neighborhood That or they aren't familiar with la, and if they are, they probably have never gone south of the 10 Freeway.</p>
<p>Watts isn't even located within 5 miles of USC's campus. People who seem to discredit USC simply on location, are most typically the students who will still call it University of Spoiled Children. Beyond that, whats the huge fear, USC's campus is much safer than the area around it, if people have such a negative opinion or choose not to attend USC simply because of it's location, it's better for USC, because that just means not as many ignorant people will choose to attend this school.</p>
<p>In my opinion, if both schools were the same cost , I would chose USC, and that has to do beyond me preferring USC than UCLA, but because they offer something UCLA could never offer at the undergraduate level and that is attention, connections, and cultural diversity.</p>
<p>If it was a choice of attending UCLA for 7,500 and USC for 20,000+ I'd choose UCLA. UCLA's tuition is on the rise, so that 7500 is easily something that can turn into the teen thousands.</p>
<p>Are you calling Watts a ghetto? Just another poor neighborhood.</p>
<p>The truth is that people don't care if USC is in a poor neighborhood. Some just care about the crime statistics in certain areas. Sounds sensible to me. One can still attend USC and have a fabulous time, but don't say that the surrounding area is great. It isn't. No problem at all with USC's campus.<br>
It would be nice to feel safe in the surrounding area too, that's all.</p>
<p>No need to denigrate UCLA. The area is just so much nicer around UCLA and even dedicated USC fans acknowledge that fact.</p>
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I think it's funny when people who don't like USC, call the area ghetto/watts/south central. People who do obviously feel the need to think they are beyond being in a poor neighborhood That or they aren't familiar with la, and if they are, they probably have never gone south of the 10 Freeway.
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<p>You're right, I'm sorry. All the celebs are just DYING to live in the beautiful neighborhood that surrounds SC. I heard the home prices are challenging Malibu's!!!</p>
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Watts isn't even located within 5 miles of USC's campus. People who seem to discredit USC simply on location, are most typically the students who will still call it University of Spoiled Children.
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My friends at SC call it the U of Spoiled Children....too bad they're "discrediting" their own school. :(</p>
<p>I agree with/stated pretty much what Adultparent said: SC has a really, really nice campus, but the surrounding area is NOT a college town, nor a safe one! Please don't fool prospective students into thinking it is. SC is a good school, that is quickly accelerating in the professional arena. But South Central [where USC IS located, according to the map that is the world atlas)], is not a good area. That's important to some people, others could care less. The OP has to determine how much having a college town matters to him.</p>