I just got off the waitlist for UCLA and I am currently trying to decide between USC or UCLA. I would really love some input or maybe even some clarifications! Here are some facts about my situation and the pros and cons I’ve weighed out:
UCLA - admitted Undeclared
Pros:
BEAUTIFUL campus
World class reputation
Possibly lower tuition fee (I am not sure if I am eligible for instate tuition fee yet as I am a Californian studying overseas)
Academically strong in many fields - I am looking into most likely Business Econs
Cons:
Public school - less guidance, larger class sizes and difficulty in getting into classes
Quarter system - my UCLA friend complains that you barely learn anything before you’re smacked in the face with a midterm and I’m not sure how I’d roll with that
More competitive (?)
USC - admitted Business Administration
Pros:
Marshall School of Business
Nice campus, but doesn’t strike me as much as UCLA’s
Private school - more guidance, smaller classes
Spring admission (?)
Possibility in pursuing a dance minor
Cons:
Bad neighborhood
Spring admission (?)
Tuition fee
I did get admitted to the spring semester for USC and I still haven’t figured out if that’s a good or bad thing yet. Money is also not too much of an issue as my parents want me to just choose what I think is best for me. Campus culture is also VERY important to me when it comes to social life/party life. I’m worried because I hear that many USC students are rather shallow and stuck up compared to UCLA students. I want to be in a school where I know I will fit in and I really don’t know which is better for me. I am an Asian American who is driven, outgoing and social. I am also a figure skater and a dancer who is interested in joining the dance team at either school. Help!
Choose USC. Marshall School of Business > Business econ at UCLA. Marshall has SO MANY resources and opportunities plus an amazing alumni network. Don’t underestimate the importance of the alumni network in business.
Also, the kids at my school going to UCLA are just typical well-rounded smart students with perfect grades and decent extracurriculars. The kids at my school going to USC have perfect grades AND good hooks, like designing a working prosthetic hand that can be printed using a 3-D printer, winning several regional/state/national speech and debate tournaments, and interning for a congressional campaign. Obviously this is just what I’ve observed at my school, but I’m seriously jealous that I can’t go to USC (too expensive) because there are a lot of amazing people from my school heading there.
@BrownParent Noted, thanks! But tuition fee aside I would still love some input. @Irreplaceable Thank you for your take! What makes me hesitate the most about taking USC is that I felt somewhat more at home in UCLA, but of course I don’t want to let that influence my decision so much because USC is just as amazing and I also have reasons to hesitate about UCLA.
If you can get in-state tuition for UCLA, I’d recommend going there. When you say that you’re a Californian resident studying overseas, I’m assuming that at least one your parents is a Californian resident who has been living in California for some time. If that’s not the case, it will be extremely difficult to get in-state tuition at UCLA. And if you can’t get it, I wouldn’t recommend going there.
FWIW, USC is a pretty solid school these days. The Kaufman school of dance just opened up a few years ago, and you might really like the program. I’ve heard both good and bad things about the Trojan network. I would not make it a deciding factor in attending the school.
I think both schools have their far shares of shallow students because they are in LA. But I think your friends at UCLA are wrong about quarter system. I’ve been to both and I feel like I learned a whole lot more with the quarter system.
For Business I would pick USC over UCLA.
Thank you so much for your inputs! I really appreciate it @squishyboba I’ve decided on UCLA… I spoke to the residency office at UCLA and they have said that I will qualify for in-state after my freshmen year at UCLA. Therefore, financially, I would help my parents by saving some money. Moreover, I had a rather traumatic high school experience and my parents do not like the idea of Spring Admission at USC because I will not be going in with majority of the students. Although business is better at USC, it seems like UCLA may be a better choice for me, and I can always do an MBA.
