<p>"I've been to the USC campus already and the claim that you'll get shot is totally false--the campus is very safe and well patrolled."</p>
<p>I dont agree with all the USC bashing going on. But in response to the above statement, i dont think the posters before meant on campus. they likely meant once you step off campus. I agree the campus is very well patrolled. But trust me, ive been to USC litterely hundreds of times, and on campus it is very safe. But once you step off campus, especially at night next to certain parts of the campus, it can be quite interesting and scary. Once you get off campus, USC is not that safe at all. Or it sure has not felt that way. I certainly would not call people who posted that it is scary liars. If you are denying this, then it is you who is biased and the liar. That being said, that might almost be a good thing for college students to see the real world instead if being couped up in a bubble or such. Also i think the reputation of USC as being of rich and spoiled kids is partially deserved. But most of the was in the past, where USC was comprised of mostly middle to upper class white kids without excellent stats. That has changed however in the past 10 years, and USC now has more lower income students than UCLA, but also has more upper income students as well. USC does however still use legacy for over 20% of the admits, which could also still lead to the spoiled kids/lower scores view that some hold against USC. USC is/and has been changing, in my opinion for the better. Its very selective now, and continues to get more so.</p>
<p>Murasaki -- Have you been to UCLA as well? If not, at the point when you have both offers in hand, it would be great if you could come back and visit both campuses, especially if you could talk with some engineering students to get a feel for what your life might be like at each school. Clearly, both schools are excellent in your field, but they have a different feel and it would be good if you could experience both before making a decision.</p>
<p>To CCSurfer, I'll get the chance to visit UCLA before I make my decision.</p>
<p>To ucchris, I haven't exactly been milling around the outside of campus at night but I have no reason to doubt what you're saying (I've heard similar things about off-campus), though I don't think anyone's calling anyone a biased liar. Most of what I said was directed at the claim that USC was the University of Spoiled Children. Most private universities of that type have rich kids anyway, but seeing as the school tries to be economically diverse and does a good job at it, I don't see the point of bashing it. I react the same way when people polarize things about UCLA, I just like substance more than rumor and half-truth.</p>
<p>Murasaki -- Glad to hear you're visiting UCLA as well. Definitely see and decide for yourself. (If you listen to what Bruins say about USC, and Trojans say about UCLA, you'll end up beating a path to Ann Arbor!) </p>
<p>In terms of campus safety, I don't think that even the most die-hard Trojan will argue that taking a jog through Westwood late at night is almost certainly safer than doing the same thing off campus near USC. That said, things are pretty safe on campus in both places if you're sensible. If you want to be able to walk off campus at night for entertainment, my thought is that UCLA is in a safer and more pedestrian-friendly environment. But if you're going to have a car -- and this is LA you're talking about, land of the car -- all bets are off. You'll have quick and easy access to all sorts of cultural, recreational, and entertainment activities from either campus.
But see for yourself. Talk to students in both places. See where the students without cars hang out in the evenings. </p>
<p>And while you're asking, you might raise the question of Greek life. Both schools have an active fraternity scene. I don't know how important this is to you, but it might be that Greek life has more of an influence on social life at one school than the other. If this is meaningful to you, check it out.</p>
<p>US News ranks UCLA higher than USC for undergraduate engineering -- USC takes the lead in the graduate rankings, despite being outranked by UCLA in the individual engineering disciplines. Unless you're getting >$8,000 in non-binding scholarships, UCLA out-of-state tuition is actually cheaper than USC tuition ($25,827 versus $33,892). Then there's the whole "UCLA is in Westwood" advantage which can't be praised enough. While USC's "campus safety bubble" spans 226 acres in South L.A., UCLA's unofficial "campus safety bubble" spans 419 acres plus Westwood and its surrounding estates: Brentwood to the west, Bel-Air to the north, Beverly Hills to the east and Santa Monica to the south, all of which are very safe and affluent. The differences in the leisure possibilities and quality of life are undeniable. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Well, UCLA is still a public state university - you still have to deal with relatively huge classes (especially in engineering), "impacted" majors, state budget cuts, under kept facilities, generally feeling like a number, etc. </p>
<p>So while UCLA in-state is an incredible bargain, really, I'm not entirely convinced that UCLA out-of-state is worth it over USC. </p>
<p>Plus, USC is extremely generous with merit, need-based, and other aid. A very large number of students don't pay "sticker", as it were.</p>