I’ve narrowed down my selection process among the universities I’ve gotten into to USC and Vanderbilt. My intended major is Mathematics, and I may potentially double major or minor in any one of English, Economics, or History. I want to work in finance, preferably in investment banking or consulting. I’ve lived in Mumbai, India, for the past eight years and while I am ethnically an Indian Muslim, I carry American citizenship and therefore am not an international student. I’m an extremely social individual who is extremely focused on the social and party scenes and these universities, in obvious addition to the rigor and strengths of these universities. I know that Vanderbilt is academically considered a better school than USC, but I’ve lived in California, and am used to the culture. The high diversity and international student population at USC is extremely interesting to me. If I feel as though I can have a comparable social experience at Vanderbilt, I think I will choose it over USC.
Can you help me choose?
3,865 per year.
Both schools are academic powerhouses (USC is a top 25 college as well), and you can’t go wrong at either one. Since you’re considering the social scene, note that USC has a vibrant social life, especially with Los Angeles as its playground. The campus is one of the most diverse, with a huge number of international students, and all sorts of programs that value cultural diversity. Also, nothing can beat the Trojan Alumni network for finding jobs and just having someone to help you out, no matter where you are in the world. Have you visited both campuses? Doing so should help you decide between two wonderful choices. Congratulations!
Hmmmn, this is a real toss-up. I think this is one that certainly has a nexus to what your regional preference might be–post graduation. I think overall, Vandy has a slightly higher ranking–and is better known in the SE and some parts of the NE. USC has a higher ranked business school–and that their accounting and real estate programs are among the best in the nation.
Again, where you plan to work might help your decision-- certainly from a west coast and Asian market vantage, USC is a more prominent name-value, and has an incredible and well documented alum network. As well, depending on your particular preference, USC has a very large Asian student population–which could very well assist in your alum connections post-graduation. Again, to a certain extent, a regional call. All things being equal–and given your background and objectives, I would probably sway to SC myself.
Go Vandy 
USC might be in LA but it’s in a terrible neighborhood so the location might not be so much of a plus.
I hate to be a downer but you should look at the crime statistics around USC. You need to be very careful when you veer out of the immediate campus into the surrounding neighborhood. Its very urban campus, while extremely diverse, within LA offers everything anyone could want in a large city but it is not located in the safest part of the city.
@collegeparentnew,I won’t argue that overall academics considered, Vandy is higher. However, as to applied to the specific business progams, USC actually has more ranked programs, and delineated ties to the business community. From a cultural perspective, I also prefer SC, especially if you were coming from an Asian community. And crime rates are similar to Ivy schools like Columbia and Yale—
Through the years, there has been a lot of discussion about the USC neighborhood on the USC space of CC, so do your research and don’t depend on people who have never set foot on or around the campus. True, it’s an urban environment that requires street smarts, but the campus security is the best (while maintaining good relations with the surrounding community) and they patrol a large area outside of campus too. I actually prefer USC’s location to other LA campuses, because it’s so close to the revitalized downtown. My sons walk there often. It says a lot about a school when it’s in a perceived “bad” neighborhood yet remains a dream school garnering 52000 applications.
Congratulations on such great options. Compare the majors and program offerings and if you can visit to see what fits. My daughter got into USC Marshall undergrad but choose Vandy where she recently graduated. She loved Vanderbilt and it gave her a different experience getting away from L.A; she probably would have enjoyed USC too. Although the schools are quite similar in many respects the cultures are different. Vandy is also in a major city yet it feels much more suburban on campus than USC. The freshman dorms and commons are just beautiful. I doubt anyone at either school are complaining about a lack of social life.
Also, as I recall when she started Vandy did not have a business major per se, but did offer a 5 year program MBA. Not sure what current offerings are…
“It says a lot about a school when it’s in a perceived “bad” neighborhood yet remains a dream school garnering 52000 applications.”
Actually it says a lot more about the weather and overall location then anything else. For example Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach have acceptance rates of 46 and 31 percent. Put them someplace else other than the Los Angeles basin and their rates would be much higher. By the way, CSLB had 55000 applications last year.
Congrats on two great choices. You have not talked about the $ so I suppose that we should assume that the $ is comparable at the two schools or otherwise not a factor. The schools are ranked comparably too in most of the major ranking services. Ultimately, it would appear that you will have to decide for yourself whether you are more comfortable staying in CA or whether you want to try something completely different. You should be able to do well after college with a degree from either school. Good luck.
Vandy is no longer considered academically better than USC. They are considered equal.
I think you would be far happier socially and culturally at USC, as it is far more ethnically diverse than Vandy.
At USC, over 60% of the accepted students for the class of 2019 are non white.
And with the billions of $$ that USC is pouring into UG education and housing, its a great time to be a student there.
You have two great universities to choose from. Take everything into consideration to see if it is the right fit for you. But I would have to agree Vanderbilt has had, and continues to have the higher academic reputation. Selectivity is just one factor leading to its higher USNR ranking.
Vanderbilt admitted 9.5% of its applicants with the mid-range Sat Critical Reading and Math Scores at 750-800, and ACT scores of 33-35. Whereas USC with a much larger applicant pool admitted 20% with the mid-range Sat Critical Reading Scores at 620-720, Math 660-760, and ACT scores of 28-34.
With regard to the earlier comment about diversity, USC’s has a high percentage of non-resident aliens at 13% (mostly asian) and 23% asian population and so the Asian population is almost equivalent to the 37% white population. Vanderbilt’s population is over 60% white and its Asian population is just below 13%. At Vanderbilt the African American population for example is 9.5%; the African-American population at USC is published as 4% of the population left after excluding the non-resident aliens.
“Vandy is no longer considered academically better than USC. They are considered equal.”
Not to me…there are great students everywhere, but Vandy has just skyrocketed lately in terms of enrolling academic stars. I think it’s the stronger choice from an academic viewpoint.
I think it’s arguable which is the better school academically. While US News has Vanderbilt rated higher than USC in its national rankings, it has USC higher than Vanderbilt in its global rankings. Each school will have some programs better than the other school’s. On the whole, I’d rate them about even, academically.
As for campuses, Vanderbilt’s is greener and quieter. My daughter lives in Nashville, and it’s an awesome city. USC seems to have been almost totally rebuilt since I went there in the late 80’s. Even the old buildings have been refurbished, and the campus feels very modern, busy and wealthy. You can’t lose by going to either of them.