USC Business Administration or UCLA Communication Studies for a career in Marketing?
I love USC’s Program but not the location. I love UCLA but felt unsure about the Comm Studies major.
What are your thoughts? Perhaps based on your experience?
Bump
@purpleishskies First of all, congratulations to you for getting accepted to both schools! I got accepted into UCLA for comm. studies major, and am still waiting for USC Annenberg’s decision. I live in the greater LA area, and personally I also really love UCLA’s location because it is so close to Westwood Village and Bel Air. Don’t get me wrong, USC’s area is unsafe, but the university itself is beautiful! IMO, for a career in marketing, I strongly encourage you to attend USC, merely because of the strong Trojan alumni connection. You could perhaps live in downtown LA or Pico-Union area (if you don’t like USC’s housing), and commute to USC. I am really nervous for USC’s decision! When did you hear yours?
UCLA no brainer. UCLA ranks in top 20 in most grad programs. Haven’t seen USC rank in any top 20 in subject manner.
@uclausc2015 thanks for your input! Actually, I just heard back from USC last week.
@robertwalter I agree UCLA is prestigious and ranks higher than USC but I think there’s an exception with my case since at UCLA i got in as a comm major whereas at USC its for biz admin within the marshall school of business–one of the BEST in the nation…
I’m completely torn between the two right now. I have a week to decide…The thought of withdrawing from UCLA scares me and I worked so hard to get that acceptance letter from them. However, I believe that Business Admin is more suitable for my career aspirations. Yet, I’m still hesitant of letting go UCLA. Upon graduation I would like to work in the US for a couple of years but will eventually return to my home country in Asia.
Any other feedbacks?
I think for both majors, either Communications or Business Admin, USC wins. Have you seen the new Annerberg
Building? It was on the news.
UCLA has slightly higher prestige. But don’t fall for the prestige, I’ve looked on Facebook of my oldest daughter’s high school kids who graduated from college in 2012. Those who went to UCLA didn’t do any better than USC grads. But the USC grads with specific majors like accounting or premed or Computer Science from UCI did much better career wise.
Very hard decision. Either choice is great. I think ultimately, in a case like this, go with your heart. Congratulations.
@DrGoogle valid point. I also think it’s what we make out of our experience that will determine our success. Thank you for your input.
@lindyk8 Indeed! Everyone tells me both are great schools and that I should just go with my first instinct. I am losing sleep over this! Haha. But once I decide, I won’t look back-- I have to end my ''mourning" period, dust it off before the academic term starts
Anyone else with an insight/input?
bump
You should do some googling, every year this kind of thread pops up, it’s not an unusual combination to choose from.
go with your hart, you can’t go wrong with either
One way to dice it is would you rather go to Annenberg or UCLA? Would you rather go to Marshall or Anderson? You are comparing Marshall to UCLA comm. So it is more than USC vs. UCLA. Do you want to do the MBA or the Masters in Communications? I think if you want the Masters in Comm, you should go to UCLA; if you want the MBA go to USC. Since you have not been accepted to Anderson or Annenberg, your career goals (MBA vs. MA) should dictate this decision- which gives you the “tickets” you need?
If the Marshall MBA is widely known in your home country and that is what you need, then that is what you should do. Achieving acceptance at UCLA is a “sunk cost”, let it go and move on. End of story.
What you said there answers your question. Let go of the fear. Many aspire just as much to the excellent Marshall MBA program.
@DrGoogle I did. It’s just that I want to hear more from what those who have graduated/currently attending-- what experiences/perspectives are with each program. Some of the threads about USC/UCLA are from a few years back and there MIGHT have been some changes here and there. I guess the more recent the better. 
@ItsJustSchool You brought up a good point that made me put some more things into consideration. Appreciate your input!
@artloversplus I will! Thank you.
Anderson Is only for MBA means graduate school. Did I misread this but your post is asking for undergraduate right? Because Anderson MBA is slightly harder to get in and stronger than USC Marshall MBA. Only USC has undergraduate business program. But if you are unsure, USC is strong in both majors.
@DrGoogle Yes, undergraduate.
What’s holding you up?not sure about your major? Money? Prestige? Safety?
@DrGoogle Truthfully, I am more confident majoring in Business Admin than in Communication Studies. After checking out the curriculum/course description, etc-- extremely ready to learn and immerse myself in the subject.
I’m just concerned about safety and the students at USC. Many come from extremely wealthy family and I just don’t know yet if I can keep up with the lifestyle. I know I need to have more self confidence and not let that intimidate me too much cause if we’re talking about snobby rich kids they could be in any university… Not generalizing USC students though, just SOME people that I might come across.
For safety, unless you are rich Chinese student you shouldn’t worry. My daughter lived there all 4 years, she never came home in the summer, she rent a cheap room in the frat house and live there. Nothing happened to her. She was not that savvy or street smart. I did hear 2 cases of Chinese students either got killed or hurt. I think it’s important to keep in mind, not too flaunt your wealth if you go to USC. My kid had a beat up Toyota Camry, and didnt go anywhere further from the campus at night late. Basically have some common sense, be aware of the surrounding.
Regarding extreme wealth, expect that at any school that parents pay $60-70k for tuition, there is no way around it, it’s just not USC. My daughter was in a sorority and she met all types, but she ended up be friends with students who are exactly in the same SES level as her family. She did room with kids who also are on financial aid. As she said, she was in between the two extreme. In other words, don’t get intimidate. So what, if there are more snobby rich kids, you don’t have to be friends with them. There are tons of other people. And you should NOT feel that you have to keep up with them. You need to focus on you and your studies.
I second what @DrGoogle says. Also, if you stay north of campus (especially in university housing or housing with university affiliation), you will have a very different (and safer) experience than West of Vermont or South of Exposition. USC is VERY safety conscious, and staying in the University-patrolled areas is safe.
Regarding wealth- some very well-connected families with deep ties to business in Los Angeles send their kids there. No need to try to keep up (I don’t think students, in general, judge you for your family’s wealth), but recognize the potential upside of the wisdom and knowledge in these families, if they get to know you.