USC vs UPenn for Undergraduate?

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
1

I understand USC is a weaker school with a stronger CS program and UPenn is a stronger school with a weaker CS program, but both seem somewhat equal in terms of CS. Both schools are my top choices and both are in urban environments that I think I’ll love. I’m wondering what might be a better choice for a school? Cost is not an issue. Also, If I attend UPenn I will be applying for their AI: Computer and Cognitive Sciences program.

2

Where would you want to end up after graduation? I think the difference of east vs west coast could make a difference in the tie. Overall, you really can’t go wrong and it doesn’t appear that either choice is a bad one. If you want to go for AI and like UPenn more, go for it!

3

It would be a little easier getting a job on the east coast if you went to Penn, and a little easier getting a job on the west coast (or at least California) if you went to USC. Any knowledgeable employer would be very happy to receive a resume from someone who went to either Penn or USC.

4

East vs West like they said.
And seriously, if employers are even differentiating colleges at that level, then:

  1. You are thinking of the business world in which some companies are very prestige hoggy (UPenn will trump in this case)
  2. You are thinking of certain fields of grad schools which are also very prestige hoggy >.<

In terms of CS ‘weaker’ or not, etc:

  1. Difference isn’t noticeable in undergrad.
  2. No one really cares that much of ‘weaker’ in undergrad.
  3. Materials learnt will be pretty much identical.
  4. That’s grad school rankings and seriously, no one really cares.
  5. That’s what high schoolers tend to think. Seriously, no one actually cares.
  6. In fact, I will go so extreme and say that even if you graduated from a decent state school, your opportunities are probably the similar (and could also be better so ~). Ya, no one really cares but your families’ ego and yours.

As for opportunities in CS, both USC and UPenn pretty much provide identical door opening at start.
Although if you ever want to go through the business world or some prestige hoggy world (eww, why would you unless you never had passion for CS to begin with (?) or CS has another bubble >.<), the name UPenn does wonders.
My father’s friend who was an engineer in MIT lost his engineering job (all his department got smited) during his late 40s but because that friend was from MIT, I believe Samsung decided to recruit him (not electronics but more in the business section) <= This is rare but hey, just noting.

Anyways, chose a place you want to be at for 4 years while being the more affordable of the 2.
Personally, I would take USC in a heartbeat. USC looks so fantastic far away.
Ivy league? Pssh, What’s point of spending 4 dull years there when you can spend it in sunshine. (coming from a so called Ivy leaguer and trust me, 4 years of fun is so much more important than your dull rankings since companies don’t bother to look at it as long as the university itself is credible)