<p>Which one should I choose? </p>
<p>I am a Biology major. Don't know if I'm going the Pre-Med, PhD, or even Pre-Pharm route. In fact, I might even switch majors entirely, so I'm open to almost any new career path/major. But for now, I'm sticking with Biology, because I'm good at it and I'm interested in it.</p>
<p>Plus, I am making this decision entirely on my own, as my parents wanted me to go to UC Berkeley. I chose not to go to UC Berkeley because I dislike the campus, dorms, and city it's in. And no matter what anyone on this board says, I am not going to go to Berkeley. So PLEASE don't post about Berkeley. This is about USC and UCLA ONLY.</p>
<p>The following categories contain stuff that I already know, or have questions about. **You can just tell me your opinion straight off and ignore the following sections. But, if you dont know much about UCLA or USC, feel free to take a look.<a href="This%20is%20actually%20more%20for%20me%20to%20organize%20what%20I%20know%20about%20both%20schools,%20than%20it%20is%20for%20you%20college-savvy%20geniuses%20to%20read.">/b</a></p>
<p>COSTS
Cost isn't the issue. I only have about a $5,000 difference (a year) between the 2 schools, and that's excluding all the subsidized Stafford loans and federal work-study that USC is offering me. (UCLA gave me about $200 and that's it, so I basically still pay $25,000.) My family is middle class and can afford both schools (as long as USC continues to give me grants, cause my family cant afford $52,000. xD).</p>
<p>ACADEMICS
Both schools are pretty much the same ranking (US News and World Report 2008: UCLA-25th, USC-27th), and both have great Biology departments. UCLA has pretty much the best hospital in western USA. Both have strong med schools. (UCLA's is better...? Not sure.) Don't know much about PhD, which depends on what I may specialize in, and don't know much about pharm, or other majors.</p>
<p>I've also been accepted to USC's Freshmen Science Honors Program, and most likely (99% chance, I guess, because I heard that as long as you apply you're pretty much accepted) will be accepted to UCLA's Campus Honors Program.</p>
<p>PRESTIGE
Well DUH, UCLA is more famous. And it's harder to get into, but that might just be rumors (8.55% acceptance rate at UCLA!!!???). And I mentioned this as a separate section because, as some of you may have guessed, I am Asian... well... Chinese, to be exact. I am considering going to China and getting a job there. And the thing is, US News and World Report rankings don't mean anything there. As far as some Chinese people are concerned: Berkeley is up there with Harvard, Princeton is about the same as Cornell, UCLA is ok, and USC doesn't even exist. I'm pretty sure that prestige will be a huge factor when I try to get a job in China, even though I am fluent in Chinese and have prior work experience in labs and in pharm companies (internships in high school).</p>
<p>HOUSING
When I toured the housing, I felt that they were about the same. UCLA was actually a lot like UCI's and Berkeley's, except smaller, and most likely you have to live in a triple. Don't worry, I've sent housing application in to both. USC was definitely the biggest, and they have the added option of Radisson Hotel and Parkside, which were both extremely nice. I want to live there, but the guide said I might have to pay extra, so I put them low down on my list of preferred housing on the USC application. I'm still not sure I've got this straight, but UCLA offers 3 years housing, whereas USC offers 2 years. (Is this guaranteed, or you're just allowed to apply, but you might not get it?)</p>
<p>EXTRACURRICULARS
This is for sports, clubs, and overall fun activities on campus. Quite frankly, I never watch football, so I dont care about the rivalry between UCLA and USC. I was actually turned off when the UCLA tour guide started talking about the immature pranks UCLA and USC played on each other. It is interesting to know, true, but not something to be proud of, like the UCLA tour guide was. The USC tour guide, interestingly enough, didnt even mention it, and for that, Im grateful. I dont really play any professional sports, but I like badminton, tennis, basketball, and a little swimming. I know that USCs band is awesome, but I am not in band. I was in orchestra, but, likewise, I am not good enough to be a professional, or first chair, or something.</p>
<p>LOCATION
This is almost a given than UCLA has the better location. I mean, WESTWOOD, come on. Plus, it seems to be safer given all of the news/rumors Ive heard of about attacks on female students at/around USC. I felt safe on both campuses, and I love both campuses, but USC appeals to me more though because of its history. You can see and feel the history in the old, but well-maintained buildings on campus, whereas the buildings on the UCLA campus (excluding the library probably) are all shiny and new. Thats why, based upon my first impressions of the schools, I felt the UCLA campus was a little superficial and that the USC surroundings were unsafe. I dont have a car and dont plan on driving either, so parking isnt a problem. Even then, I thought that parking for both schools was great. I might rent a house or apartment outside of the campus in my junior or senior year, and get a car then. I have seen studies that housing outside of UCLA is more expensive than that of USC, which is to be expected. I also like museums and stuff, so I know in that respect, USC is the best choice as it is right next to a bunch of cool museums.</p>
<p>And last but not least
PERSONAL ATTENTION
This category isnt mentioned a lot when I look at these message boards. Basically, after UCLA accepted me and sent me my acceptance letter and an envelope, and stuff. They told me about College Honors Day and reminded me to fill in my Housing application, and then they disappeared off the face of the earth. I know they have a lot of students to worry about, and they also have to deal with state budget cuts, but I would appreciate a little encouragement here! Yeesh. Now USC is the exact opposite. They have been periodically sending me stuff in the mail like financial aid package, events, parties, why to go to USC, etc. etc. It kinda makes me feel good, and I felt even better on campus. The staff members were exceptionally warm and courteous to the parents and students. Some of the students there, who werent tour guides or anything, went out of their way to give a personal tour of their campus, or dorm building. That impressed me, especially since at UCLA, the tour guide called out to at least 10 friends on the campus and not one of them, NOT ONE, stopped by to greet us (they greeted the tour guide, of course) or bestow a few words of wisdom. The staff was ok, but only helped us out when we approached them. At USC, you might not even need any help and the staff members rush up asking if you need help. Moreover, it is, Ive heard, a whole lot easier to change majors at USC than at UCLA. USC also says it makes the effort to help you graduate within 4 years, get to the grad school you want to go to, and get a job that you need. (probably because theyre paid to
?) They also have personal advisors and the professors are a lot closer to the students. Class sizes, at least the biggest, are relatively the same in both USC and UCLA.</p>