<p>I'm not a football fan by any stretch, but I was following the UCLA-USC game on the Internet that afternoon... wow, just wow. Even though we were pinned down, my expectations were exceeded in the first half alone. The Bruins will probably lose again next time though - no shame in losing to the best...</p>
<p>TheDad - </p>
<p>If the expectation is that 18-year olds, many of whom will come from suburban and rural environments across the country, are supposed to show up to a given college with urban street smarts and be skilled in reading urban "cues", then I'd say there is a problem. Another sure sign of a problem is when an area is said to okay "in the daytime".</p>
<p>I was over there last month for an MBA session over at the Marshall School, and I had to park at their parking center over on the other side of the 110 Freeway. They try to keep things pretty safe for the students, with a free shuttle that takes students from the parking center to the campus and back. They have a security guard there to make sure that the people who come into the parking center all have student ID cards (I didn't have one, but I was in a suit so I guess I didn't look threatening). The campus is maybe 3 blocks from the parking center so I decided to walk just to cruise the neighborhood, and it wasn't too bad. Granted, this was at noon, so there weren't any scary characters out, but I think as long as you're intelligent about things, you should be able to keep safe.</p>
<p>I think the location of the campus is great in that it is close to a lot of things. If you've never lived in a big city, that part of L.A. is great to experience, even if it is just for a few hours a day. Ideally I'd live over in West L.A. and just commute to USC, which has a beautiful campus inside the wrought-iron fences.</p>
<p>"University Surrounded by Crips"</p>
<p>What?!?! USC is not surrounded by Crips!! P-Stone Villians are not Crips! They are Bloods! I bet they would really take offense to that. I've met a few of them while going to USC and they are some pretty cool cats. And they wouldnt hurt a fly (unless of course the fly was wearing blue). The next closest large gang is not even Crips nor Bloods. Deadend Harpies is a Mexican gang. I just thought I'd clear that up.</p>
<p>While the area isn't the prettiest in LA, the whole ghetto factor is vastly overrated. So if you're coming looking for some danger, sorry. When I first went to tour there, I was almost scared to see it, after hearing all the rumors. I was shocked to see how it really was here. Coming from a suburban neighborhood, I've been perfectly fine.</p>
<p>It isn't a college town, of course, (although local businesses and fire stations, etc, show their 'SC pride :) ) since it's in the middle of a huge city, but that doesn't mean it's not perfect for a college kid. I can't think of a better age to live here, then as a college student. Everything is at the tip of your fingers, and you never have to be bored. The general vicinity doesn't have much to do, but everything is a short drive away.</p>
<p>And of course it isn't the "University Surrounded by Crips"! Don't you notice our colors? We're all Bloods here.</p>
<p>As far as the game goes: wow. All I can say is "Six more years!" and I cannot wait until January 4!</p>
<p>Honestly, I think many people are afraid to be where minorities live. Minorities are people like everyone else. The majority of minorities are not bad people (that sounded funny). Ignorance is rampant in every race. Many poor minorities see white people as evil but I happen to know that is not true at all. Once people are exposed to other cultures they see that although we act and look a bit different, we are all fundamentally the same. I had no idea how genuinely cool Asians were until I went to UCLA. At the same time, I was not exposed to many Indians until I went to USC and realized that they tend to be super freaken nice. I used those last two sentences to show that I am not pointing fingers and that I realize that I too am ignorant.</p>
<p>Coureur, shrug. I've been a city person from most of my life: Chicago, D.C., Los Angeles. I'm not saying that the area around USC is problem free but--like the reports of Mark Twain's death--greatly exaggerated. Frankly, a lot of the over-the-top reaction comes from folks who never seen so many black people in their life and you can make a coin-flip as to whether their response is ignorance or racism. I'm probably more disturbed by what I call the guard-gate mentality of those who live behind gated compounds in Calabasas, Santa Clarita, parts of Orange County, etc. My philosophy is somewhere along the lines of engage with the world but keep your eyes open...and your hand on your wallet; being held captive to phantoms and fears is not a great way to live. Or so says now the guy who was horribly tongue-tied when it came to asking for dates. One count of petty hypocrisy, counselor.</p>
<p>And, btw, don't go to Columbia, NYU, Temple, Penn, Chicago, and Hopkins.
Even here in lovely Madison they are problems for females. </p>
<p>Thanks, TheDad, for your comment. </p>
<p>Btw I think people should go to Columbia, NYU, etc. They are great schools.</p>
<p>Bada, fwiw, my D looked at both Columbia and NYU (and GW). Columbia had been her #1 on paper but she wound up applying to none of them. But it had nothing to do with the "urban" environment. One of D's best friends has applied to Chicago ED...my fingers are crossed for her (an annoying kid with extremely high accomplishments coupled with bursts if academic irresponsibility...I don't know how an adcom will call it.)</p>
<p>TSD, I do my best...even if we see eye to eye sometime.</p>
<p>"UCLA had three weeks off and that was one of the worst calls going back to the Eric Aftholter phantom reception. Not only would I have gone ape, I <em>did</em> go ape. I hope the Pac-10 is reviewing the officiating from the game...having watched the tape, it was only the most egregious of the bad calls. On the last UCLA play that resulted in an interception, a Trojan DB was practicing a wrestling move on a UCLA receiver...completely missed."</p>
<p>Homer alert. </p>
<p>Did you miss the SC gunner being spun around on Bragg's punt return for TD? Clear and blatant grab of the jersey. Also Havner would NOT have been able to take the fumble back for a TD. First off he was off balance and secondly there were 2 SC wide receivers right by him. I was at the game and the receivers would of easily angled him off within 15-20 yards.</p>
<p>"How is the area of LA where USC is located? I got mixed reviews of the college town."</p>
<p>Here's my honest assessment of the USC area:</p>
<p>Negatives:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The area is fairly old and dirty; it is your typical urban environment. But, the campus is very pretty and safe and the student area (north of campus) is not that bad. There are a lot of nice apartment buildings, but once again they are interspersed between old buildings so there is a odd contrast. </p></li>
<li><p>I have never feared for my safety as a student. When I am on campus the safety issue never crosses my mind, but obviously when you step off campus in the evening you have to have some common sense. USC provides things like Campus Cruiser and Trams that allow students to get to and from campus safely. If you walk or ride your bike with a friend you'll be fine. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I would not walk alone at 1 AM around SC, but then again I wouldn't walk ANYWHERE in LA at 1 AM alone. Guys do not need to worry, but for girls I would advise on being careful. </p>
<ol>
<li> It is not much of a college town. Aside from fast food places and random little eateries, USC does not boast the cool bars and restaurants that you see in real college towns. It is slowly but surely growing into a college town.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>Positives:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>SC offers either an awesome experience or very harsh one there is no middle ground. If you come in with an open mind and establish a good group of friends, SC will leave you with an experience like no other school. Head towards campus on gameday and you'll see a campus jam packed with students alumni just partying together and singing the fight song. The Coliseum - although a bit worn out - is walking distance away and SC football is just amazing. SC is in a bad area and is not much of a college town yet people absolutely love it. Does that make sense? There's something special about being a Trojan. </p></li>
<li><p>SC has very strong school spirit. One of the reasons I didn't want to go to UCLA, Berkeley, and NYU (all great schools, don't shoot me) was because they have poor school spirit. I have tons of friends that go to those schools and have visited the 1st two innumerable times and people seem so indifferent and apathetic. SC on the other hand is just vibrant with Trojan pride and it really makes you feel like you're part of a family. I can't tell you the feeling when I go back to my hometown and have a bunch of random people yell "fight on!" when I walk through the aisles of the grocery market. You're a Trojan for life, not for 4 years. </p></li>
<li><p>SC is in the center of LA. If you have a car, you are set. USC is a 15-20 minute drive (with no traffic, I've timed it) from Santa Monica (3rd St Promenade), Pasadena (Old Town), Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, and the beach. If you don't have a car, it's not too big of a problem since most students at SC have cars. </p></li>
<li><p>You walk away from USC a lot more cultured. Yes this might sound like a load of crap to some, but I'm completely honest in saying that I've learned a LOT just from the SC area. USC pushes you to be active in the community and I did my part by teaching at a local high school in the area and it was an experience I will never forget. I don't think you truly understand how open-minded you really are till you are put in an entirely different area. I'm from upper-class suburbia and it was a very eye-opening experience for me; one that i will look back on in a positive light. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Conclusion:</p>
<p>Don't psyche yourself out over the area at USC. It is a fantastic school that is on the rise. Our alumni support is ranked #16 in the nation. If our area was THAT bad, do you think alumni would pour money back into the school? No. There is a reason why so many alumni come back to the old neighborhood.... they LOVE USC.</p>
<p>Positives #1 and #2 are undoubtedly true...and is where the weight of the SC experience is for far too many people for whom academics is an afterthought. SC is a great school for four years of having a good time. You may and can make something of yourself academically while doing it. But you won't be working in an environment of dominated by peers doing likewise.</p>
<p>if you're considering usc and need financial aid, be aware that usc has a reputation for "bait and switch" in which the package 1st year is generous but mysteriously gets cut for subsequent years. Search the forums hear for more details, its what I've read here.</p>
<p>As to number two: my wife, son, and I were driving to Sheperdstown WVA last summer for the Contemporary American Theatre Festrival and some guy came up behind us madly honking his horn. He was responding to the USC sticker on the car. On the trip to Madison in September to take the new job at UW I twice had the same experience.</p>
<p>Tsdad, I was thinking about this after my last post and for you I'd like to add some clarification...which probably won't help any but I'll try. I don't think USC is any worse a school than U/Colorado or U/Arizona in term of the academic environment. It's at least a member of the AAU, which isn't chopped liver. And as an academic environment, I'd rank it a shade below your present employer. </p>
<p>However, if you go to CC's list of Top Colleges and Top Liberal Arts Schools, I'd rate it a notch below all of the former and more than half of the latter.</p>
<p>They have a huge endowment and they're spending prodigiously to buy facilities, faculty, and some top students. Over time this may have the effect of changing the overall campus culture...but as long as #1 and #2 are dominant, I don't think they will. I can think of two schools where a the same kind of sports/social atmosphere coexists with serious undergrad academics: Notre Dame and Michigan. God knows, USC isn't a joke like U/Miami or U/Oklahoma...but neither is it the academically elite place it has aspirations [in some quarters] of being.</p>
<p>Sports + Serious Undergrad Academics</p>
<p>Does the name Stanford ring a bell?</p>
<p>hes talking football wise</p>
<p>How dangerous is South Central?</p>
<p>That's really sad if #2 can't occur simultaneously with serious academics. What is it about school pride that you can't be studious at the same time? I would never want to go to a school that didn't obsessively love their university. Part of the reason I chose USC over Berkeley, for example, was this pride and spirit. Same goes for football. And I can be quite an overly-studious dork, believe you me. :)</p>
<p>Personally, I think rankings and outside opinions about schools are bogus. I think only students and alumni of schools can say how well they are being educated and serviced academically. But maybe that's just me.</p>