USC vs Lehigh vs Umiami

I recently got into all three of these schools, but since I haven’t been able to visit any because of covid, I’m having trouble deciding between them. I don’t really have any strict criteria I’m looking for just that I want something that isn’t too sorority centered and has lots to do in the surrounding area. Also, I got into USC for the spring so that’s definitely holding me back a bit. My major in USC is business at the moment but that will probably change. At Lehigh and Umiami it’s bioengineering (I’m very indecisive). If anyone can talk to the campus culture and campus in general, that would be great.

USC in California or South Carolina?

Congratulations on getting into 3 great schools!
If you are looking for things to do in the surrounding area, I would eliminate Lehigh.
That leaves USC and Miami. Although you won’t be able to start at USC in the fall, that may not be a bad thing considering COVID.

USC has a great business school. I’m not sure how easy it is to change majors so I would look into that. Now is a great time to reach out to all of the schools virtually and see if you can speak to some students to get a better idea of fit.
Good luck!

@simba9 in Cali!

@emmm16 USC is more prestigious, but UMiami is a really good place too. Know many top students that could have gone elsewhere thrive there and have gone on to great graduate schools. PM me if you want more info on Miami.

I went to grad school at USC. It’s kinda’ hard to compare it with other universities. The first thing I want to say is that the campus is small and cramped, so if you’re looking for the wide, green expanses and leafy walkways between Gothic buildings that you find on many college campuses, you’re out of luck. On the other hand, the campus is clean, very well maintained, and all those people in close quarters means there’s a lot of energy on campus.

USC has a reputation for being overly-fixated on Greek life, but nobody forces you to take part in that. The stereotype that all the students there are rich and the kids of movie stars and business tycoons is also false. When I attended, the people there were the normal students you’d find anywhere else.

The area right around USC isn’t your traditional college neighborhood,. There are few hole-in-the-wall bars and clubs, cheap mom & pop cafes geared towards student budgets , or bookstores immediately across from campus. There are shops and restaurants right next to campus, but they tend to be chains and are rather upscale. You have to walk several blocks away to find the cheap places to eat, drink and shop that I normally view as serving a college student crowd.

The weather’s great in LA during the school year, as it will be in Miami. One nice addition to the USC neighborhood over the last few years has been the rail line that runs right by campus and takes you downtown and to other places in the LA metro area.