USC: The good, the bad, and the ugly

<p>Hey guys! I am a junior in high school and have been looking at USC's music Industry major for college. I would love to go tour at USC to really get the feel for it, but unfortunately I don't have the finances to visit (I live in ATL). Is there anyone that goes there or had visited that could tell me their first impressions, the vibe, and just what they felt about USC. They have an amazing music major and I would really love to go there, but I feel I need to know a good amount about the school before I apply. Thanks guys!!</p>

<p>It’s a fantastic program. My daughters piano teacher went there for MS and she boasted it’s second to Juliard. USC built so many new buildings since my daughter graduated. It’s amazing. She also collaborated with this USC student who interned for Hans Zimmerman, I think he is pretty famous in the music industry.</p>

<p>before we go any further, can you afford to go there? have you run the net price calculators and had The Talk with your parents? what are your back-up plans if USC is out of reach? can you afford those places?</p>

<p>It’s a relatively small campus given the number of students, so it feels crowded. That kinda’ bugs me, but I have to say there’s an energy at USC now that wasn’t around when I went there in the late 80s. A lot of the buildings have either been drastically remodeled or replaced in the last 25 years, so except for a few buildings, it feels like everything’s new.</p>

<p>Not a whole lot going on in the area right around the campus, though that’s changing.</p>

<p>The music program does have a good reputation. USC seems to be sinking a lot of money into its arts programs, and a new dance school is opening up next year.</p>

<p>Great school spirit.I still wear a USC t-shirt at the gym.</p>

<p>It is a bit worrisome that you can’t afford a visit. While expensive, USC is pretty generous with merit aid, but you have to be an excellent student to get it.</p>

<p>USC is a school you MUST visit before making a decision to attend, should you get in. We know students who thrived on the energy there, and had no qualms about the location of the campus. But we know others who were very uncomfortable living in that neighborhood and never felt at ease. Take a bus trip if you have to, but see it in person.</p>

<p>I’m applying to USC (not for music.). My dad went to USC for grad school so naturally wanted me to visit. I can’t speak for music (my music expertise ends past school orch),but I have a friend doing film there (kinda artsy?) and he says that USC definitely gives a lot of attention and support to its music programs. </p>

<p>I love love the campus, it felt like a fancy public school. and the school spirit is amazing! The thing kind of itching me is that it is in a kind of sketchy area of L.A. I know my friend feels completely safe, but it definitely depends on you Also the price tag is crazy. Honestly, I’m applying to USC as a reach and probably won’t get in, but I would just suggest applying, and definitely visiting before deciding to attend</p>

<p>Jkeil911 if I got accepted, my parents said they would find ways to pay for it. They are very supportive of me and would try their hardest for me to get the best education possible. I also am a good student academically and have a well-rounded resume containing clubs like beta, national honours society, and other leaderships groups. </p>

<p>The other schools I am looking at are NYU and Belmont University in Nashville</p>

<p>okay, OP. Just be aware that YOU can only borrow $5500 the first year and a total of $27K for four years.</p>

<p>OP - I think your comment about not being able to afford a visit has caused this thread to be focused on the money aspect because USC is very expensive and is a fantasy school for a lot of people. You say your parents would find ways to pay for it, and sure, they can cosign, borrow, or pay what they choose to pay for your education. What you do need to know is that USC, like many schools, is very pricey - it is in the top tier of colleges as costs to attend goes, so it is good to discuss with your parents the reality of spending this amount on your education before you get too invested in any school.</p>

<p>USC’s music school is outstanding and definitely worth investigating, although my advice to every kid applying to college nowadays is that it absolutely has to be a dispassionate business decision. You CANNOT allow yourself to get emotionally invested in any one school - really - and if you’re looking at the music industry program as a means towards working in the music business (a great entry point, to be sure), then be sure to examine as many ways into the music/record business as possible. I’m a film school grad in Hollywood and can assure you that Hollywood has been gutted across the board in the last 15 years by all of the changes wrought by the Internet and digital media. The business model hasn’t been completely figured out. It is what it is. But if you’re in Atlanta (home to a happening music business) then you should be out hustling in that neck of the woods as well and busting your tail there before you consider transplanting yourself to Los Angeles. Remember that Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine endowed a huge fancy program at USC and yet neither of them ever went to college in the first place. Frankly, Warren Buffett and many others are now questioning the cost/benefit of going to college as cost and value are not the same thing.</p>

<p>USC is very eclectic - so there is no one “vibe”. It’s a personal choice based on a number of factors. It’s too easy to fall in love based on a stereotype or hype. Sometimes the myths are true, sometimes they aren’t. We had a tight budget but found a cheap airfare (off season). My kid and husband fell in love the minute they were on campus, but she realized she couldn’t pin her hopes on a program that turned down 96% of the applicants. It worked out, she was accepted so I went wit her to Preview Day (it was my first time on campus) and she fell in love again. So did I it was such a perfect fit for her in terms of opportunities, campus culture, the brick buildings, the ambiance, the surrounding town. She’s been happy ever since. </p>

<p>HOWEVER - that “fit” part is just that. Fit. It might not be a fit for you and that’s the risk you take without visiting.</p>

<p>Try finding videos on campus. There are many that give a glimpse of campus life at USC - a lot of it prepared by the students. That’s a good start. </p>

<p>But also, remember, the most coveted programs tend to take fewer students than the university in general. And the university is turning down 82% of the applicants.</p>

<p>So have a back-up plan. There are some schools that assign automatic merit aid based on grades and scores. And while I do agree with USCAlum05 that Dr. Dre didn’t go to a “fancy” program - most people who don’t go to college have fewer job options as a back-up plan if their music doesn’t work out. </p>

<p>Do your best - but have plans in place if USC doesn’t work out. At least half of the kids accepted to USC go elsewhere and I suspect that has everything to do with price tag. I know my D had a roommate lined up based on the admitted students FB page and the girl had to drop her plans when her family realized that even a Parent loan would mean a monthly payment they couldn’t afford.</p>

<p>Best wishes to you!</p>