<p>I was accepted into the music program of both these colleges. If possible, I would like to double major in math. I am a California native but am willing to live in a colder climate. Both schools offered some financial help so cost will be similar. I'm not big into sports or the party scene but am interested in a school where people don't all leave on weekends. I'd appreciate all opinions and ideas to help me make this tough decision.</p>
<p>northwestern seems to fit your needs best.</p>
<p>I know many double majors in music and math or econ, and they're all very happy here at NU. And people definitely don't all leave on the weekends at NU, if anything more people are around on weekends than during the week.</p>
<p>I'd go with NU if cost is similar for following reason (even I admit I am biased):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>NU is a smaller school with a more intimate feel. Most students definitely stay on campus and in Evanston during the weekends. USC's population makes it almost like a state U and students go to other parts of LA since where USC is located isn't pedestrian friendly and there's not much there.</p></li>
<li><p>NU's math department is ranked in the top-20 and the program is likely a more rigorous one. There's also a unique MENU sequence available if you want to pursue it and it's intellectually challenging.</p></li>
<li><p>If all else equal, I'd go to the one in another part of the country just to experience something new. It's one of the reasons I came from Hong Kong. Chicago is one of the most dynamic cities in the US and it's very different from any place in California.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>@ Bassoon player</p>
<p>I would definitely consider Northwestern. USC is the type of campus where a lot of students would leave campus and go home on the weekends if they are local to the area. LA is a very large city with many things to do and see. It's also nice to experience a different part of the country. It may open more doors for you career-wise in the future.</p>
<p>I think you're going to be happier at Northwestern, the way you describe things. However, there might be big benefits to being in LA if you want to be involved in the "music business". If that is your ultimate goal, USC might provide a lot of opportunities (internships, connections).</p>
<p>My cousin was from Southern California (attended UCLA) and went to NU for dental school. He never went back home. Go to NU.</p>
<p>I can see why. I live in LA; too many fake/flaky people are in this city, IMO. I won't go into details. ;)</p>
<p>^ Agreed. L.A. is not an intellectual city. Chicago, Boston and San Francisco are much better IMO.</p>
<p>im in the same boat (communications major) but im actually leaning towards usc. is the trimester system rough at nu??</p>
<p>communications school at NU is the second most grade-inflated college (after music) at NU and people i knew that were in that school seemed to really enjoy their study and i would envy them as I was going through the chemE grind!!! as long as you are getting good grades, i don't think you need to worry about the trimester system.</p>
<p>^edit: now that i think of it, it's not the 2nd, more like the 3rd most grade-inflated. i tried to find the article that listed the average GPA of each school but couldn't.</p>
<p>My older D was interested in pursuing voice at NW so we did a 3-day visit and played Music majors. It was all she'd hoped for and she was leaning that way, but there was a late change in plans. The Evanston setting was great. The music administration building was dilapidated, but I believe they're building a new one. The music activities and events were first-rate. However, if you're planning on Music Performance, I believe a double major would require 5 years.</p>
<p>^just want to add that the music school has three buildings; the music admin building is the one that's old.</p>
<p>here's more info about MENU in case you may be interested: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/354143-menu-how-hard.html?highlight=MENU+northwestern%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/354143-menu-how-hard.html?highlight=MENU+northwestern</a></p>
<p>Northwestern. I'm still trying to get in my head that USC is a top 30 school... still find it hard to believe. They must be throwing scholarship money around like crazy to get truly bright students to consider going there after 50 years of mediocrity.</p>
<p>@ Bassoon player</p>
<p>If you want to do a double major in math and music performance, you should look into the 5-year BA/BS program at Northwestern.</p>
<p>What DunninLA says. </p>
<p>And rankings shmankins. Of the two, Northwestern still commands more respect academically, and attracts stronger, more interesting students.</p>
<p>I have always heard that the USC kids going home on the weekends makes it really hard to form a sense of community. This seems to have been a persistent trend - I heard about it 20 years ago and I still hear it today from people who are familiar with that campus. People at NU don't go home for the weekend.</p>
<p>^ Yes, it is true...Daddy comes and picks up his USC kid on the way home to Orange County from his L.A. office. :)</p>
<p>With all due respect. USC is filled with many interesting kids. My son was one of them.</p>
<p>YouTube</a> - The Qwesi: An Exploration Of Post Irony</p>
<p>Also see this: <a href="http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/11925.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/11925.html</a></p>