Hey everyone. I chose to attend usc a couple of weeks ago but have recently been admitted to upenn from the waitlist. I have to make a decision by tomorrow so I would appreciate all the replies I can get. My intended major is either communication or public policy (or both). In terms of FA, I would be paying room and board at usc (18k) versus 34k a year at UPenn. I have career goals of working for disney, or somewhere in the entertainment industry. I love the sunny weather, school spirit, and vibe of usc, however, i also like the penn campus a lot. Does anyone have any thoughts as to what direction I should go?
Anyone???
I think part of your decision needs to be financial. Where would the extra money for UPenn come from? If you will need an extra $48k in loans, think carefully about your life after graduation. I don’t know typical salaries for Communication/Public Policy roles but loan payments may consume a large part of your salary.
Ultimately, it depends on what your priorities are.
I was in the exact same boat five years ago, and I ended up going with USC. I loved Penn and could have gone there virtually for free (I had a full tuition scholarship at USC, but my EFC at Penn was literally $500/school year), however, I chose USC because like you, I wanted to work in the entertainment industry.
If you’re serious about working in entertainment, I’d recommend choosing USC, simply because of its location and industry connections. While you could always come out to LA and intern here in the summer, it’s so much easier when you’re already living here. Also, in the entertainment industry, USC has a very reputable name.
The school spirit and the weather were also huge factors for me, especially as I was in the marching band at USC.
That said, it’s hard to beat Penn in terms of reputation, so if money isn’t an issue for you/you’re not 100% set on working in entertainment/school spirit and warm weather isn’t a huge priority for you, then I would choose Penn. If I hadn’t been set on working in the film industry, I would have chosen Penn too (as much as I love USC).
Son’s roommate at USC just graduated in communications and will start working in the corporate office at Disney. He is super excited. However, the Ivy name is very tempting and is it worth an extra 16K per year?
@LayraSparks thank you for your response! Were you in SCA or Annenberg? As someone who was accepted to annenberg, would you still recommend USC over Penn if I am not in SCA (but very serious about the entertainment industry)?
@southerngal3 I was in SCA, so I understand it’s somewhat different. But plenty of people in Annenberg still minor in SCA/volunteer on sets etc. so I’d say that the majority of the opportunities are still there. It’s not really about having SCA listed on your resume, it’s more about the connections you make.
Both of my daughters attended USC and from Florida. There are undergrads there from all over the world, so I would not focus on the “fish out of water” notion. Almost everyone adjusts quickly. Soon, they are all simply USC Trojans. I would instead focus on where you may want to live and work after college. If in NYC or the northeast, Penn may make more sense and for a variety of reasons. Good luck with your decision…
Over a third of 20,000+ undergrads are from out of state, so you’ll maybe be one of the odd 7,000 out, not odd one out. You’re going to do great in your major at either of those schools–choose for geography and culture. Good luck and have fun out there!
I agree that you aren’t going to feel out of place at USC. As far as fashion industry connections, I’m guessing USC will be a little better for that. USC will have a more laid back California vibe. Penn will probably feel a little more serious and preprofessional. No bad choices though, good luck.
We are from California and there is no odd man out there because CA is really diverse to begin with. When standing in the middle of the Ronald Tutor Campus Center (lots of dining there) it feels more like Times Square with everyone from everywhere. It’s so cosmopolitan and fantastic. You won’t feel out of place, that’s for sure!
My daughter, who will soon be an USC senior (CAMS major within SCA / Music Industry minor), had a similar choice back in 2017. She had gotten into USC and all was set on going, but then she got off of the wait-list at Princeton. The finances were reversed, however, as it would have been cheaper to attend Princeton. But she ultimately still chose USC. I have asked her about that decision a few times since then, and she says that she is still 100% confident with her decision to choose USC over Princeton, Rice, Emory and others.
After touring Penn and Philly, my daughter did not even want to apply to Penn. She only applied to three Ivies… Yale, Brown and Princeton. But you frankly could not go wrong choosing either USC or Penn. They are each great schools. But they are also extremely different from each other in my opinion.
Both of my daughters chose USC in part because of a # of factors not even directly related to the prospect of an USC education or its projected college experience itself, namely being in L.A. and close to the entertainment industry, the on-campus job opportunities, the SCA and SDA volunteering opportunities, the internship opportunities in the area and the global strength of the Trojan Family (alumni network) – and especially the SCA Network.
All that being said… you simply need to make the right decision for you. Hopefully you choose so…
Good Luck
Hey guys - would you usc or upenn be better for something like fashion PR? I need to make a final decision in a couple of days. Also, I’m just now finding out that usc is majority in-state? I live very far away, and don’t want to feel like the odd one out. Can anyone speak to those things.
Hey guys - do you all think that upenn or usc is better for something like fashion PR? I hope to major in communication. Also to the alum - do you regret choosing penn? I’ve talked to some people and read some things about alum wishing they chose somewhere less pre-professional and cutthroat. Thanks!
@WWWard are you CA natives? I’m a little nervous about being that far from home. Also, I received an appeal for FA at Penn so it’s 8k less than USC now. But I’m still torn. Are you able to send me a message? I had a couple more questions for you, but I don’t think i’ve been on CC long enough to start messaging people.
@southerngal3 No. Florida. They were too a little at first, but they realized that a 4.5 hour non-stop flight is not too bad. Duke, for example, would have been a 9 hour drive.
Okay… will do. Messaging you now…
Native Californian here. We loved Penn when we toured a couple years ago. And Penn is cheaper. We’re not big fans of the area surrounding USC and the whole “Fight on” was not appealing to us at all.
USC is a great school, but I’d pick Penn.
Historically Annenberg at Penn has been more focused on political communication, so if you are interested in public policy, that would be a better choice. If you want to work in entertainment, USC might give you a smoother entry, although plenty of Penn alumni work in the entertainment industry too.