I’ve been accepted to both (and only both, lol–8 rejections :D) and I’m weighing my options as many high school seniors across the country/globe are right now. I plan to visit both schools (if possible; I know that I’ll be visiting Michigan next week… still trying to plan the Cali trip) and want to make the best decision possible.
So, currently, my major at both is supposed to be Political Science. But that could change–I’m much more social science and liberal arts focused, though. I’ve noticed Michigan consistently outranks USC in ranks for these types of programs–how apparent would that be in their curriculum? Also, I wouldn’t mind transferring within USC from Dornsife to Annenberg–how difficult is that? I’ve been thinking about that.
Also, what are the job and law school prospects for both? I’ve decided that, if I go to grad school, it will be for Law School. If not, I want to be employable. Could anyone provide some insight on the employability/placement I would have after graduating from those two schools, assuming I did equally well at both?
Socially, I like aspects of what both have to offer. Michigan seems like a great community, and actually, I’m a HUGE football fan. On the other hand, USC is in California… who doesn’t like warm, sunny California?
And lastly, don’t worry about the money difference between the schools. I think it’s going to be close enough to the point that I’ll consider it a negligible difference.
Thanks!
“On the other hand, USC is in California… who doesn’t like warm, sunny California?”
On the other hand, USC is near south central LA…
I’ve heard the bad areas are far enough separated from the campus to where it isn’t a problem. In any case, I’m visiting so I should be able to make my own judgment about that 
My daughter was accepted to both of these schools (different major). What is the main difference (besides weather and CA vs. midwest)? What would make USC a good choice compared to Michigan (or vice versa) in terms of culture, attitude, atmosphere? Are they similar or very different in those characteristics?
They’re similar in some ways, i.e. sports culture, but different in others, i.e. student body.
Michigan seems to be the stronger purely academic and more national in standing school. USC seems higher in social connections and networking opportunity, especially in the California region.
Michigan is significantly larger, though USC is large for a private school.
As far as the people go, please note I’m going off of stereotypes, which are never 100% accurate but USC is known to be more attractive (and judging based on the accepted students groups, this IS true) but also more pretentious… though I’ve yet to see the second part proven true. USC has a more affluent student body, but Michigan isn’t a poor campus either–far from it, actually.
Michigan students are known to be more “down to earth” than USC students, too. And note, both schools have comparable levels of in-state vs. OOS students. USC has 43%, and I can’t find the UMich number, but I’ve seen it somewhere around 50%.
Both seem to have similar levels of Greek life if that’s desirable or not.
Racial diversity must go to USC. I can’t find the USC data, but Michigan has 2/3 white people, which isn’t a difficult figure to beat. True diversity, though, is difficult to measure and (to me at least) is something beyond racial diversity.
@ProudDad26
@YaBoyTony
Michigan is NOT significantly larger.
2015 enrollment at USC: 43,000
2015 enrollment at Michigan: 43,651
That is less than a 2% difference- barely noticeable, if at all.
Academically, Michigan seems to beat USC in most categories. Michigan has a higher total endowment and a higher endowment per capita (more endowment $$ per student). I see USC MAYBE having a more vibrant social life because SoCal, and definitely having better weather.
As for the social connections/networking opportunity, that is very debatable. Michigan’s alumni network is very strong and far-reaching, although probably less concentrated in California than USC.
@yikesyikesyikes whoops, I’d always assumed Michigan was larger because I’d looked at undergraduate enrollment–28,000 as opposed to 19,000 in favor of Michigan–but thanks for clearing that up.
This is all really helpful. thanks!
@YaBoyTony You’re fairly accurate in terms of the stereotypes about the people in both schools. To be fair though, there are a lot of rich OOS kids at Michigan, as well as some down to earth people at USC. However, because Michigan has the larger undergraduate student population, Greek life less pervasive in the campus. You can avoid most of it if you choose, whereas the smaller campus at USC makes that more difficult. Also, your “USC is more diverse” fact comes with a major caveat: many of these students contributing to the diversity are straight up international students, rather than Americans of different ethnicities. Perhaps you like that, perhaps not. Regardless, that is worth noting, as it separates USC from other colleges