<p>Hi! I'm a rising senior and I currently have no clue what I want to do with my life looool. For a while, I had my heart set on going to UCLA because of its prestige and beautiful setting. After contemplating for a while, I realized I have no clue as to what I would like to major, and in addition, my description of a dream college had changed. Initially, I had wanted to attend a massive urban college with a huge population. However, I had realized that though I wanted to live in a very social environment, I wanted a small academic learning environment that is present usually only in small private colleges. The things that I want are vastly different from each other. My interests are splattered all across the board. I am thinking of applying as a Neuroscience, Psychology, or else Undeclared - Humanities or Social Science major. I know psychology at UCLA is crazy competitive. </p>
<p>What are the pros and cons of these schools : UCLA, USC, UCSD and Pomona College?</p>
<p>What are the rankings of these majors and programs at these schools? </p>
<p>Does the name and prestige of a school really matter later on in your job career?</p>
<p>Does prestige matter more or the quality of the program/curriculum, whatever of your major?</p>
<p>If you have attended any of these schools, tell me about your expierence, the enviornment, anything! :)</p>
<p>You sound like the Pomona type. Pomona is more academically flexible than the universities you listed, and you don’t have to apply into a major. And you get an unparalleled small and nurturing atmosphere. The majors you listed are all among the most popular majors at Pomona- Neuroscience and Psychology especially.</p>
<p>The thing that distinguishes Pomona from other traditional liberal art colleges is its relationship with the Claremont Consortium- four excellent liberal art colleges located adjacent from Pomona. With the Claremont Consortium, the atmosphere feels more like a mid-sized university of 7000 students, but the academic experience is fully a liberal arts education. The other four schools are: Scripps College, Pitzer College, Claremont McKenna College, and Harvey Mudd College. Through the consortium, Pomona students have access to 2,500 classes, 7 dining halls, and the events happening at every single college, which makes for a more vibrant and active experience than other liberal art colleges could offer. Pomona is also in the heart of a very urban area of more than 18 million people- located right in the middle of the line separating Los Angeles from the Inland Empire. </p>
<p>The catch is- Pomona offers NO merit scholarships, and it is a very expensive school, so if you can’t qualify for need-based aid the other schools will be significantly cheaper (their need-based aid is fantastic, however). It is also insanely selective, with admission statistics rivaling that of Ivy League schools. Pomona also doesn’t offer any pre-professional programs on the merits of being a liberal arts college, so if you have any interest in engineering, business, nursing, or other professional careers, don’t come to Pomona expecting to learn these fields. Unlike the other three, Pomona is more intellectual, sending a significant amount of alumni to graduate schools. </p>
<p>You really need to expand your list. Pomona, UCLA, and USC are really selective, with acceptance rates ranging from 12.9% to 21%, and UCSD is quite selective too (35% admit rate). You need matches and more safety schools.</p>
<p>I agree with nostalgic that you sound like the Pomona type. Very much so. Do you want to stay in California? Many of the smaller LACs in CA tend to be religious, but there are a plethora of smaller LACs to the east of us. If you want to stay in CA, are nonreligious, and need more of a match or safety, have you considered SLO or UCSC? Though Santa Cruz is big, the house system makes it feel like a smaller college.</p>
<p>Before you go further, I’d recommend you sit down with your folks and have a money discussion. Many of these Us can be very expensive. If you’re a CA resident, instate tuition may be a fraction of the private Us. </p>
<p>As was mentioned, Pomona doesn’t give merit awards. USC does, but depending on your field of study tends to be a larger school–in any case it’s a more urban campus than Pomona and UCSD. </p>
<p>USC does encourage multiple majors, including divergent fields, if that is an attraction to you. Private Us tend to allow students more flexibility in switching majors and getting their courses when they want. My relative who went to Pomona was very happy there but my kids who went to USoCal wanted a larger U. USC does award merit $$.</p>
<p>Although a Pomona student cannot major in engineering, I believe he/she could take engineering classes at Harvey Mudd, and probably gain enough engineering background to be competitive for admission to grad school in engineering?</p>
<p>Apply to some mid tier UC schools, or lower UC schools. I would consider how much your parents make into the equation. Someone I know didn’t any merit aid her second year and now she is debating going to a JC for a year and transfer back to her school. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter where you go, as long as you kick *** there and make connections. SFSU has an honors program in which you would have a full-ride. Seriously, look into the lower schools. I think some other csus have that free ride thing as well. Good luck, by the way, usc gave my brother nothing when he applied four years ago, can’t imagine now. CSUs are dirt cheap, consider it.</p>