I’m a high school senior from St. Louis, MO who was just recently accepted to both USC and NU. Because of financial aid and a NMF scholarship to USC, the cost of attending both schools will be extremely similar. I have always had my heart on USC because of its proximity to the heart of entertainment, Hollywood, and my desire to continue acting and working in the entertainment industry. However, this was honestly mostly just because I never even considered NU because I didn’t think I would get in. I was accepted into USC Marshall where I hope to also double major in Annenberg communications or minor in theater. At NU, I was accepted to the school of communications. I love L.A, but I know USC isn’t in that great of a part of LA??? Also, Chicago is very close to STL, so the commute back home would be a cheap train ride away. However, the alumni network at USC is very enticing as the career field I am going into would require some amazing connections. Yet, I also hear NU has a great alumni network as well. Another thing I am concerned about is the lack of party culture at NU? I’m not exactly sure how the social scene is at NU, but USC definitely trumps it in that aspect. For a student who would want to party occasionally, but not super often, which school is better?
This is all sooo stressful trying to decide, so if someone could give me some insight, it would be very much appreciated!!!
Definitely USC. The network for communications is fantastic, not to mention the campus life, nightlife, and other opportunities available. Having been accepted and attended an elite university, I sometimes wish I went to school in LA.
NU and USC were in the final pool of schools in my oldest’s admission process last year. He didn’t choose either at the end for a few reasons: 1) NU was too close to home; 2) he really did not like the academic schedule - starts mid to late September and ends in mid June; 3) he wasn’t too keen on the quarter system but we know NU touts it because students can take so many more classes; 4) his HS friends have stated that classes move at a rapid speed and exams also are very frequent due to the 10 week quarter system. USC was his 2nd choice, but since he only received the Presidential award, he took the full tuition option at Lehigh.
@sensitivebean Consider the cost of transportation. You’ll need to fly to USC. NU is a 5 hour drive home for holidays or any other time you want to come home. USC you’ll need to carefully consider if you will come home more than just holidays. Then consider how you will pack and transport your stuff.
" I have always had my heart on USC because of its proximity to the heart of entertainment, Hollywood, and my desire to continue acting and working in the entertainment industry"
Take a look at the Communications alumni who attended/graduated Northwestern:
USC is in the middle of downtown LA. Not the greatest location. Total traffic gridlock. Crap neighborhoods all around it. You are basically stuck on campus. Northwestern has the purple line of the CTA to downtown Chicago, about 40 minutes away. USC has warm weather. Chicago…doesnt. Both are great schools.
Respectfully, that is incorrect on a lot of levels. USC is just south of Downtown LA. While traffic in LA is bad, USC is located right next to the metro which will get you to Downtown LA, Hollywood, Pasadena, Long Beach and Santa Monica. DTLA is 10 minutes by train, Santa Monica is like 25, Hollywood is 40. Also DTLA is no longer just a place to work, it’s now a vibrant community with a ton of things to do. In no way would you be stuck on campus. Also, the neighborhood isn’t “crap”. Is it urban? Yes. But it’s not unsafe.
The area around USC isn’t nearly as bad as people make it out to be. Just across the street to the south are museums, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the LA Coliseum, and a new soccer stadium. The area several blocks to the west is lower-middle class, but the houses are well maintained. It’s not like the poor neighborhoods in the Midwest and East where houses are abandoned and crumbling.