<p>Son is tied between these top 3 choices. Looking to major in Computer Engineering but also interested in other fields such as business/entrepreneurship.</p>
<p>I would think he will do better in a smaller environment, no relatives in the U.S., grown up abroad in major cities, will have to take international flights.</p>
<p>He is into tech, but a well rounded laid back kid. Likes to hang with a varied interest group. Not heavily into sports/parties. Enjoys movies and eating out with friends.</p>
<p>All the 3 choices have their pros and cons but I am posting this thread here as I find USC posters are extremely good at replying ;) So also WashU, so will post it there as well!</p>
<p>I am assuming that you are international and that FA is not an issue. USC has a larger international network and has better international reputation, is in LA area so much easier to get to, has a good CS program. It has a party school reputation but a serious student can do well there.</p>
<p>WashU has a very good CS program, is ranked highly.</p>
<p>UT Austin is good but a state school. If finances were not an issue, I would go with USC as they also have a very good business program. If he is going to working outside the US, then USC will be better.</p>
<p>Thanks^^. Yes finances are not an issue. We visited USC and the other colleges on his list just recently and liked the feel of the campus and student vibe. Everyone looked happy and busy.</p>
<p>I know people talk about the area outside USC, we have no issues with that, given that USC is a complete campus.</p>
<p>Our only concern is that it is a big school and so is there a fight for resources? Are the kids collaborative like they are at say WashU? Son is at an international school of 3000 students, with over 1200 in HS and he did not take advantage of the resources like he should have, also because other kids were a lot more competitive and were on the ball. He did not want to be one of them so he chose to find his own passion which turned out to be great as he is an iPhone app developer now and is doing quite well in that area. He is a happy kid and comfortable with who he is, does not give into peer pressure but enjoys being around people.</p>
<p>Since the schools he’s choosing among are so wonderful, he may have to look at some of the smaller points which will really affect his quality of life for the next four years.</p>
<p>In USC’s favor:</p>
<p>1) Weather–you cannot underestimate the sun and warmth of SoCal on students. On the USC campus, kids are outside talking and studying between classes. In the midwest, they are mostly inside and bundled up and hustling to their next class. The weather also may affect transportation home (flight delays and cancellations) due to snow and ice.</p>
<p>2) Transportation–to get home from LAX is quite manageable. There may be cost savings as well.</p>
<p>3) Food in LA–there is a diverse range of great ethnic and international foods at local restaurants. In general, there is fresh food available year-round. </p>
<p>4) Alumni Network–USC’s alumni are really second to none. They support the university and make internships and employment offers much easier. This is true in the SoCal area, but also throughout the US and world. For example, a world-famous company in the Seattle area recently came to USC campus to hold initial interviews. The head recruiter was a recent USC alum.</p>
<p>5) Spirit. Everyone on campus belongs to the Trojan family–even those kids (like mine) who are not the “football” type. Everyone wears USC t-shirts and smiles at everyone else. “Fight on!” And the marching band is awesome.</p>
<p>One great asset of SC is the diversity. Students there are quirky, nerdy, sporty, quiet, loud, handsome, funny, imaginative, artistic, musical, studious, laid back, serious, talented and sometimes inventive. The many international students lend a great deal of cultural richness to student life.</p>
<p>Everyone is not sports mad. There is an amusing YouTube video called “Pete on the Street”. Pete Carroll, the famous former football coach at SC, stands along the sidewalk on campus and interviews students. They have NO idea who he is! One can see from the video not all student live and breathe big time sports. One aspect you should know is that large numbers of students are on “club” teams in volleyball, tennis, swimming, soccer and even hockey! LOL These students are there for fun and to keep active.</p>
<p>The entrepreneurship program in Marshall is ranked 3rd in the U.S. There is also a joint degree in Viterbi which may interest your son, Computer Science/Business Administration.</p>
<p>I will answer your PM with more information.</p>
<p>I am a current engineering student at USC and can say that Viterbi definitely has a strong computer engineering program and a lot of diversity. I’m from California myself, but I have friends and classmates at USC from all over the US and the world. Viterbi has a small, tight-knit community feel within a larger university. The amount of resources available to USC and Viterbi students is incredible. There are several opportunities for students to get involved in research as an undergrad. Viterbi has its own career services and own engineering career fair for jobs and internships that I have utilized every year I have been a student here (I am now a senior). We also have an academic resource center that provides free tutoring. I have never felt like there is a lack of resources here in any respect. There are definitely a lot of dorms on campus and apartments near campus with the laidback feeling, and others with more of a party atmosphere. I watch movies and hangout at my friends’ apartments almost every week. </p>
<p>Regarding a collaborative work environment, I have never felt that my peers were competitive in a cutthroat way. We are constantly working on group projects and lab reports and helping one another understand engineering concepts (because believe me, the engineering program at USC is extremely challenging and time consuming). However, the collaborative work environment allows me to be more productive in getting my work done, and have free time to enjoy activities outside of my academics. I have absolutely loved my experience at USC and at Viterbi. I wish your son the best of luck in his college decision!</p>
<p>Viterbi Student,
Please come back and post more often. We need you! There are so many technical questions about engineering and few of us are engineers who usually answer questions. lol </p>
<pre><code>It was great to read a student’s opinion. Thank you!
</code></pre>
<p>Please let me add that USC also has two areas that might become important to your son: Computer Sciences Gaming classes, and SCA film/ video classes. Your son has a talent for apps and SC takes small platform computing (phones) very seriously and very creatively.</p>
<p>The Computer Science department has a new chair, Dr. Shan-Hua Teng. Dr. Teng holds his master’s degree from USC and his Ph.D from Carnegie Mellon. He was previously at Univ. of Illinois and a research professor of mathematics at MIT. His research interests are lengthy, with the most prominent involving the smoothed analysis of algorithms and combinatorial scientific computing.</p>
<p>Known as a theoretical computer scientist Teng holds more than 10 patents. He has been awarded the NSF Career Award, a Sloan Fellowship and the 2008 Godel Prize.</p>
<p>I do not know the size of the CS dept, but I will try to discover the number. There were 444 Viterbi graduates last May in all departments. Those were undergraduate degrees. </p>
<p>A little tidbit…A professor from Viterbi was honored with an Academy Award at the recent ceremonies.</p>