<p>I’d say social life is a bit better at USC though Stanford students also experience good social life. Overall academically, Stanford is a better school but its business school is not for undergraduates while USC has an undergraduate business school. Like molliegym said, sports is really a big thing at USC and it also has a reputation as a party school. Geographically, Stanford is in NorCal while USC is in LA. Both are great schools.</p>