<p>USC is 1/8 schools that I applied to transfer to because of their outstanding pre-law&law programs. However, when I went to their transfer day... All I saw was Mercedes/Range Rovers/BMW in the parking lot and girls all decked out in designer clothes, including the guys. I grew up in a 'white' upper middle neighborhood in San Diego since I was seven and frankly, do not want to endure the same thing like I did in high school. I guess all I'm asking is that... are students there as pretentious as their fake bleached hair and plastic boobs?</p>
<p>Try Cal…</p>
<p>Today USC has a large percentage, compared to other private colleges, of Pell Grant recipients–the Country’s poorest students. It has also used merit awards very successfully to attract many top students who couldn’t afford to be full pay at $50K privates. Sure, there will be plenty of Beamers like at any private college, but that saying is based on USC’s population 30 years ago.</p>
<p>Berkeley is one of the eight colleges, I have applied to and am in the midst of waiting to hear back from… :]</p>
<p>Ahhhh, I’m not sure how to respond to your comment about 30 years ago without being mean, but 30 years ago, USC was not a prestigious school as it is now. [No puns intended.]
But with the pell-grant, that’s an interesting fact. I heard from others that USC was one of the hardest private schools to get grants from; thus, I’m scared of the tuition fees.</p>
<p>Yes, it was a different place 30 years ago. USC has used their money to climb in the ranks, mostly by offering merit aid to get students to enroll who otherwise would have gone to better schools. It worked and the student body has changed dramatically. Donations from all those wealthy families allowed it to change. I still wouldn’t call it prestigious, but it’s certainly more so than when it really was for well off, not so bright kids.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t call USC prestigious? It’s still pretty high up there man. Ranked only only spot behind UCLA! I don’t know how you can’t call that prestigious-</p>
<p>USC is a great institution, offering some of the best academics for a variety of majors. However like the University of Miami, it caters to a certain spectrum of students. One being the children of the jet-setters, who were raised flying private jets and eating caviar, and then on on a whole other level, are the struggling middle-class students who chose USC because of the generous merit scholarships they receive. If you do not fit one of those categories, than USC may not necessarily be the right fit for you. At these upper class universities, it is harder to interact with down to earth students. They’re there, but just a minority. Hope this helps. I mean USC is a stereotypical place as is the University of Miami, but it still has it’s fair share of middle-class, down to earth students as I mentioned due to the hefty scholarships both of these universities offer to the best and the brightest.</p>
<p>nope USC isnt for spoiled children. Because I’m not there. obviously :]</p>
<p>I’ve met and talked to a lot of alumni there who will readily admit that the school definitely still lives up to that stereotype. I’m sure not everyone is spoiled and rich but the stereotype exists for a reason.</p>
<p>My kids are both attending USC and no, they are not plastic and we love them dearly. They do not have any car and know it is a honor and privilege we are bestowing on them by paying for them to attend USC. S is there on a substantial merit award, as are MANY of his & D’s classmates (about 10-15% of their graduating class each year). D is there as a transfer (which saved us significant tuition as well).</p>
<p>Many of the alums I know from USC admit they would never be admitted if they applied today and are fiercely loyal to the school. It combines the best of a lot of things and my kids are getting an awesome education.</p>
<p>There are kids there with wealth my kids can’t even begin to imagine but a lot of “regular kids” who are grateful for the generous merit & need-based aid that make it possible for them to attend.</p>
<p>^ racist much?</p>
<p>Yes, the stereotype at USC exists but there are others that work hard and come from different social classes. Like many have said previously, USC provides large amounts of financial aid to students who really need that money to go to USC, a prestigious top tier university. You can relate this with the Ivy League universities.</p>
<p>No one has been interested in stealing my kids’ bikes–someone stole the lock & chain off my D’s bike but left the bike. The “trick” is to have a bike with only one working gear–also helps if it’s really ugly. You can pick it out quickly and they are much more interested in stealing something with a higher resale value than the ones my kids purchased. They were very cheap too, so if they are stolen, they will just buy another cheapo junk bike that is servicable.</p>
<p>USC does award LOTS of need-based aid and a lot of merit aid, so it has a more diverse student body than many campuses. Many kids were lured there by the significant aid.</p>
<p>spoiled for education sounds good to me =)</p>
<p>This is a terrible thread that just further enforces a stereo type… (UCI- University of Civics and Intergras, UCSB-University of Casual Sex and Beer, UCR-University of Chosen Rejects)</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>wow, I’ve never heard of those before, wonder who would think of those things… if I go to UCR, I’d feel offended…hm… University of Chosen Rejects (ouch!)</p>
<p>I also heard that UCI = University of Chinese Immigrants since there are many Chinese there… :(</p>
<p>Probablly many rejected, disappointed and/or jealous applicants have time on their hands to come up with “clever” words for the initials for good Us & spreading nasty info about them. Sad.</p>
<p>yeah… OR, it has nothing to do with any sort of ulterior motive / general resentment, and students are simply poking fun at undeniable trends at these given schools.</p>
<p>ps. they’re called ‘acronyms’. try not to read too far into them. </p>
<p>i’ll share one more for the hell of it</p>
<p>UCLA - U C Lots of Asians</p>
<p>Usually Caucasians Living around Asians</p>
<p>nudge nudge, pinker. :D</p>
<p>UCLA…</p>
<p>University of Caucasian-Loving Asians
University of Caucasians Lost in Asians</p>
<p>UC Left of Amar (that a Mt.SAC reference; go Mounties!)</p>
<p>I am a transfer FROM USC, so I felt I should put my two cents in. As a kid coming from New York, it was terrible. University of Spoiled Children definitely applies to a larger portion of the student body than people like to admit. Greek life is also played down by the administration, it was a GIGANTIC part of social life. The campus is eerily empty on Friday and Saturday nights because the whole greek gang have their mixers and dinners and such. Greek life was not for me, and making friends was made much more difficult. Also as an out of stater, so many people were from Southern California and knew each other already. It was incredibly clicky, and there were so many “spoiled children” around, that the saying people always give “you can always find a group of friends/people you like” is made much more difficult. </p>
<p>Without a car, you are ****ed. Granted you can always hitch rides with friends, but I really despised being completely reliant on people for everything. USC is in a TERRIBLE neighborhood. There is nothing around campus. You need a car to not go insane. There is tons of crime, and it is honestly a scary place to live. </p>
<p>I absolutely hated it, I really tried, but the cons GREATLY outweighed the pros. I’m sure me being from NYC has a lot to do with it. But as someone who partied in high school, and was not particularly sheltered by their parents, I found nothing about USC very exciting. The thrill of eating whenever I wanted, coming home late, drinking, and not being restricted by parents, was not really a novel experience for me.</p>
<p>I will say that I absolutely loved academics at USC. I loved all my professors, and really enjoyed my classes. But I could not handle any other aspect of life as a USC student and I couldn’t stand being there another semester. So I went back to NYC, was a visiting student at Columbia spring semester, and next year I am going to Wesleyan. I know it’s different for everyone, but honestly a lot of people who go to USC will secretly tell you they don’t actually like it very much, and I’ve met many people (graduates and current students) that secretly just suffer through because they know the connections you make will be great for your career.</p>
<p>I’m not saying no one at USC loves USC, there are many that do. But honestly, there are also many people who really don’t like going to USC, and people are a bit subconsciously programmed to respond with the USC Admissions PR phrases when asked about the school. The reality of going to USC is much different, in my opinion, than the image they paint for you. </p>
<p>To sum up: If you’re from California, have some friends who go to USC, or fit the “spoiled children” stereotype, I feel fairly certain in saying you’ll probably have a good time. If what I’ve described above does not so appealing, take another look at the side of USC Admissions doesn’t advertise.</p>
<p>I know some people might take offense and open up a bit of internet whoop-ass on me, but I just want to stress I’m not saying USC isn’t a great school. Academically it’s fantastic. But all I’m saying is that while many people do love USC, no one ever seems to hear about the sizeable number of USC students and alumnae who don’t feel that way.</p>
<p>To answer the original poster specifically:
“All I saw was Mercedes/Range Rovers/BMW in the parking lot and girls all decked out in designer clothes, including the guys.”
- This is a typical sight at USC.
“are students there as pretentious as their fake bleached hair and plastic boobs?” - YES. And many more than people like to admit.</p>