<p>Any opinions about USC vs UCLA vs Berkeley, for a composition major with a possible second major or minor in computer science, humanities, etc?</p>
<p>Comparisons both specifically in the composition department, and generally (academically, atmosphere, faculty approachability, etc) are welcome! </p>
<p>Obviously UCLA is more beautiful and in a much nicer neighborhood. But there are the continuous threats to UCs by state cuts, and those get passed on as tuition increases and sometimes 5 year plans to complete 4 years of work.</p>
<p>We are in-state, though the UC tuition is getting up there toward private school prices.
Still haven't heard from several others. No offers of aid so far.</p>
<p>Congratulations on all his acceptances! You should let Bass Dad know the complete list to add to the files! </p>
<p>Berkeley is a very different animal than the other two - there is no school of music, no performance majors. Different aesthetic of professors. Great computer music program, though. And great computer science in the university, of course.</p>
<p>I think your son is going to have his work cut out for him making a choice from these, and his other acceptances, and the ones certain to come.</p>
<p>Check with UCLA to see if a 2nd major would be possible. My understanding is that it is not possible, but that may depend upon what that 2nd major is.</p>
<p>I just noticed this thread and will indeed add musicmama’s son’s acceptance by the three schools mentioned. I will assume that USC is for a BM in composition and the others are for a BA in composition unless musicmama says otherwise.</p>
<p>First, congrats to your son! As far as majors and minors, USC actually encourages kids to do both and often do two minors. I can’t say enough good things about Thornton, the program and the instructors. Several UCLA professors are now at USC, which seems to be a trend with all of the budget problems we are having in California. As for the areas, yes, UCLA is nice. But USC is very safe, with some of the best security I’ve ever seen. Also, the campus itself is immaculate, and beautiful. It’s flat, so most kids have bikes and ride them everywhere. You see lots of friendly smiles as you go around campus, and not so much at UCLA, where kids tend to keep to themselves. My daughter is at USC and has a couple of friends at UCLA. Also, these kids are now having to take some of their classes online, a big disappointment to them, but a reality with the UC’s more and more. And if class size is important, USC has much, much smaller classes. The kids also have the benefit of an advisor that they can actually get in to see almost any time. No problems at all with getting the classes you want, either–even as a freshman! They actually like coming to USC to spend the weekend! My daughter was accepted at all three schools you mention and chose USC and would do it again in an instant!</p>
<p>Is UCLA a BA and USC a BM? I know this was true for jazz, but I don’t know about composition. That is a HUGE difference. There are countless threads that go over the differences, so I won’t here.</p>
<p>UCLAs school of music is well funded (thanks to H. Alpert) I am not aware of how generous the school is towards undergrad comp majors, but I do know that performance grad students can and do get very generous offers. I am not aware of a mass exodus of professors out of the music dept. On the contrary, the SOM is pretty stable and they have some heavy hitters in both performance and music theory.
While living in So Cal for so long, I have given up on spitting contests with USC boosters…it is a pointless excersize (but USC students smile and UCLA students dont…oh please spare us)</p>
<p>For aesthetic reasons, I prefer USC over UCLA…but that’s my biases. From hearsay, it seems like USC (with someone like Donald Crockett on the faculty) might just be a bit more in-tune with/and aware of, the current trends and newest developements in contemporary music…no small thing when deciding on a composition program. Likewise, if the interest is in film music, both USC certainly on par with UCLA (facilities, contacts etc). I personally would not recommend UCB for undergrad composition.</p>
<p>BassDad, What are you adding the acceptances to? A database? He got in to others, too, but USC and UCLA are ones we are comparing the most… though I’d now add UC Santa Barbara College of Creative Studies, Oberlin and Bard, (Both Oberlin and Bard gave acceptances from the colleges but waitlisted for the conservatories.) and Santa Cruz and Davis. Pretty exciting, though we can’t afford most of them without more financial aid than we are getting at the moment… still waiting.</p>
<p>I know the 2 schools are big rivals. I must say we have received kind treatment from both, personal attention even at these early stages. One comp professor in particular from UCLA has been amazing with us, friendly and accessible, informative.</p>
<p>Aesthetically, we love UCLA with it’s hills, gorgeous landscaping and sweeping vistas… and the feeling that you can walk off campus into the neighborhood without fear.</p>
<p>It seems (several days later) that both schools have advantages and disadvantages… aesthetic, financial, musical. I keep hearing about USC’s graduate film comp certificate program… but I like that UCLA has this new (3 y.o.)masters in composition for visual media, designed by Jerry Goldsmith and Paul Chihara, that undergrad composers can sometimes take classes from (unlike USC which keeps firm boundaries around theirs).</p>
<p>Yet USC’s course requirements outside the major appear a little more flexible.</p>
<p>We are waiting on aid from both schools. By the way there are teachers from USC that have gone to UCLA too. But USC seems to be swimming in funds, and certainly has shinier PR, and a fancy list of famous composers. Are they better teachers? I don’t know.</p>
<p>i prefer UCLA over UC Berkeley. UC Berkeley has no performance program. For a composer, learning how to perform is very important, but they should develop strong relationships with strong performers.</p>