USC vs Carnegie Mellon

Hi All, If there is no difference in price and location is not a factor, which school would you choose for mechanical engineering? We are having a very hard time helping a senior makes this decision. We have mentioned the difference in campus size but since she didn’t get the opportunity to visit either school, it is hard for her to see what that feels like. No other stat sways her. Any opinions? Is this an easy choice for anyone? Thank you!

Ok so I know this wasn’t in the two options listed, but as an affordable option maybe look at Boise State? Engineering-wise its really good all around, location is nice, super college oriented town, my dad did Masters there and loved every second of it. Its like a 5 minute walk to downtown which is really nice too. IK its not one of your options on there but maybe take a look you never know.

Both of the schools mentioned are offering basically full scholarships so affordability isn’t an issue. I suppose we are just trying to help her decide between 2 schools who may rank pretty similarly in different lists.

Carnegie Mellon is an apex engineering school in one of the nicest cities for a student.

USC is in a terrible area. I visited three years ago while on a business trip. I would not recommend picking USC unless you visit.

You can safely pick CMU without visiting, USC not so much.

Thank you. I’ll go research apex. I’m very far out of that profession so I know very little. Surprised by your comment about location. Very helpful. I know the area around USC isn’t great but I was told the campus does a good job with self containment.

What area are you from? Do you know Pittsburgh or Los Angeles at all? I have family in Pittsburgh, and it’s become a nice city again and Carnegie surrounded by a nice park in a safe area (it’s not a perfect city, though). I love Los Angeles and would let my daughter go to USC (staying away from certain areas outside of campus walls). However, we are familiar with Southern California and Los Angeles (live in the Bay Area of San Francisco). I agree with another writer that you need to really investigate USC’s location before you commit if you cannot visit. It also depends on your background, where you are coming from, etc.

@crdub Apex just means tippy top, you dont need to research it. USC is great too but the area is bad and yes you can stay inside heavily guarded walls but who wants to do that. South Central LA is a bad area.

Pittsburgh is so much nicer.

Thanks so much OTB. So is CMU has more prestige or is more highly regarded? People we have talked to feel it is but I want to make sure she is getting opinions from people considering these schools today. These opinions are from my friends who are older and may be biased since they are from the northeast.

We live in the midwest at the moment. I was surprised by the description of the location because our CA friends said the area wasn’t great but never said it was a deal killer. I’ve been to Pittsburg (I like it) and to LA (love it) but never to the area where USC is.

CMU is more prestigious for engineering, no doubt. USC is fantastic too but CMU is right there with MIT.

The issue is since you haven’t visited, CMU is a better choice.

Where in the Midwest?

Kansas but we are transplants who won’t be staying so current location isn’t influencing her at all.

Thank you all for the input. We keep hearing that CMU is better choice for Engineering academically speaking and now we hear that the location is much nicer. I felt that the size of CMU would be a better fit for her personality so I think this is shaping into a definite vote for CMU. Thanks again!

The area around USC is much better than it used to be. In fact, Staples Center (for the Lakers and Clippers) is not that far away; 3/4’s of the area surrounding is fine; just some to the south to avoid. As someone said, though, if you have not been to the school, it makes it tougher for someone to recommend going without your seeing it. Carnegie is well known in the Northeast and by older people. Most in the West (students for sure) have not heard of it and even many adults outside of academia. It’s a west vs. east thing, just like many in the East have not heard of the Claremont schools, etc. We asked for current location just to see what your background is on rural vs urban, east/west, that sort of thing.

I think that the area around USC is fine (and getting better with the new USC Village opening up); then again I came of age in New York in the 70s, so everything is relative

I personally would pick USC over CMU, but I moved to sunny So Cal from the east coast, so I’m biased.

That said, CMU may be the better choice for mechanical engineering, but I don’t really know. Either way, she can’t go wrong as they are both great schools. Is there any way for a quick visit?

CMU is one of the best schools in the country for engineering. And they don’t give out full scholarships easily. Congrats!
Sunny LA is nicer place to live than Pittsburgh, but I’d still pick CMU. CMU will definitely be more competitive so she should be prepared for that.

The weather in Pittsburgh is better than LA 8 months out of the year, the cost of living is lower, far lower and there isn’t so much traffic or crime.

Pittsburgh also doesn’t have the smoggy temperature inversions.

Location is something she is considering but to be honest it is a distant second. The biggest issue she is grappling with is quality of the engineering program. Perceived or in actuality. I know that is is rather subjective but we were hoping there was a strong lean one way or another. Another issue is that one school (USC) has the exact major she wants and the other has a more general program. That would be a good tie breaker except that she doesn’t have a strong reason for wanting that exact major. It all falls under engineering so she is being advised to take the higher regarded school but it’s still a tough decision for her. And what if USC is 5K more year? Does that sway anyone?

I am shocked and received full tuition from USC without attending the trustee scholarship weekend.
The difference in n any engineering ranking will be negligible for.either entering the cwork force or grad.school. for work force it would.come.down to East.coast.west.coast.advantage.
One thing you can try to.research is to.find kutneach departments total.research dlars.at.the two.schools.
I visited USC, the safety of the campus pretty.much extends 1-2 miles from.gates of campus and heavily safety.patroled
Free.rides services.exist.for.students in evenings too.

USC weather is beyond incredible, comes with huge and active passionate Alumni network. I would pick USC, much less.to.no.geekiness but much better rounde d smart students.