<p>oki doki, well, I have an extremely tough decision on my hands. I want to major in Chemistry and do pre-med. I know UCLA is excellent in this area, but I like the individualized attention at USC. I got invited to apply to the Honors program at UCLA, and the Thematic Option program at USC. I also requested an application for the Freshman Science Honors Program at USC, and I applied to that. Would the Honors program at UCLA give me as much attention as USC? I like how USC makes me feel special and how much they care about me. I am also interested in Study Abroad in the United Kingdom/Scandinavia, and after checking both programs out, either one sounds good. The cost and area are big pluses for UCLA, though I would rather keep the cost out of the equation. I'd rather go where I'd be happy- I'll pay whatever it takes. On a side note, my family and my family's friends are Trojan fans, so I feel a little distant from UCLA. However, my best friend is leaning towards UCLA. With all of this in mind, where is the better fit for me?</p>
<p>Edit: Oh yeah, I got into Revelle College at UCSD and waitlisted at Georgetown (I love Washington DC). What about those, too?</p>
<p>Well, you're right for trying to find the best university <em>for you</em> since certainly it might be different from your family or best friend's best fits.</p>
<p>My best friend from HS went to UCSD and I went to USC, sure it would have been nice to go the same place, but everything turned out cool and we're still great friends and still get together on weekends. I imagine it's a lot easier than in the past, what with instant messaging, cell phones, and facebook, we keep in touch all the time.</p>
<p>I don't know how the honors at UCLA works, but it sounds like you're all lined up for honors (thematic option and FSH) at USC, which are really good programs that'll give you a real good foundation for the rest of your education.</p>
<p>So irrespective of your family and friend, which are you leaning towards, or is it a dead heat? :)</p>
<p>I've got a similar problem USC vs UCLA. For me I really enjoyed Westwood when I did a summer program at UCLA, but I also have good friends at USC and they love it there. I like the housing options much better at USC (no forced triples!) and l like the dual major possibilites, and smaller class sizes. At UCLA it's going to feel more crowded, but it's also more lively because the surrounding area offers more. When I visited USC everyone had on Trojan colors and buttons because it was game day. It would be fun to see footbal there. Academics are going to great at either one so no worries. Both diplomas will open doors... I think it's more about the freshman experience that you are after....Good luck....I may just flip a coin.....:)</p>
<p>well, I'm going to visit UCLA again on 4/11 for Honors Day, and USC the next day for explore USC. I'm hoping to click with one of these schools. I'm leaning towards USC right now, but I'm trying to keep an open mind until I visit both schools. My best friend, on the other hand, seems to have already passed up USC without giving it a chance. I don't think she's ever even visited the campus. But whatev. We could still keep in touch if I went to USC.</p>
<p>It seems like i get smaller classes and better professors, and maybe even research opportunities. Is this true, and what are the downsides to these programs?</p>
<p>From what I've heard, the honors/thematic options involves A LOT of writing, so if you didn't like AP Lit, don't do it. If you're dedicated, though...</p>
<p>I actually did enjoy AP Lit, but I'm kind of scared/excited about TO and FSH programs. They seem like they would offer me a lot of opportunities, but the amount of writing is a little daunting. Anyone else in a similar situation?</p>
<p>well obviously FSH is for science and doesn't involve any writing at all :)</p>
<p>I don't know about TO, particularly, but I can say that college writing is actually a lot different from AP language and AP lit (and different from HS writing in general, and a lot better, IMHO).</p>
<p>I dunno, some people like TO and others not so much. I'll say this, though, if you can do all the writing, it seems the courses are a lot more interesting and educational than most of the regular GE classes. Plus, there seems to be an easier grading curve.</p>
<p>But I'm not in TO, so all my stuff is just from what I've heard :)</p>