USC vs. UCLA Physics

College Search & Selection
1

I have been accepted by both schools to study physics (B.S.) and I can’t decided which school to choose.
Both schools have great engineering programs (UCLA ranked #18, USC ranked #28 - US News), indicating strong STEM. However, I have heard that UCLA is generally more theoretical, whereas USC is focused on teaching students to go into professional fields as oppose to academia. USC has smaller student to faculty ratio, but otherwise, these schools are very similar. Cost of attendance for me is 11k at UCLA and 25k and USC.
For me, money isn’t a huge factor (but definitely still important), but receiving a personalized education is. I hoping to get a job after undergrad and not pursue graduate school.

Is there anyone who has studied physics at either of these universities and could shed some light on what it is like to study physics at these schools/anyone who knows if one is significantly better than the other?

Thanks!

2

Mistake–thought you were interested in engineering.

3

“Physics” is by definition a theoretical subject and not necessarily a “professional career” type such as various fields of engineering. It only approaches to hands on career when you talk about it in the context of “applied physics” which is what engineering is all about!
Both USC and UCLA are research type of schools and are very similar except for one being a private and the other a public (and with all familiar pros and cons) but both prepare you to the same exact type of career (that is why there is so much rivalry between the two!)