<p>I was wondering how USC is in terms of graduate school placement and preparation.
Will USC undergraduates be disadvantaged in terms of graduate school admissions, compared to small private schools like Amherst or big public schools like Berkeley?
Does anyone have experience in how USC is viewed to medical school committees and such?
Does anyone know how USC places as a feeder school to the top graduate universities?
How is the faculty-student interaction? Are most facult members concerned mostly about their research and stuck up, or are they open to students and their questions and wishes to take initiative? </p>
<p>Do you believe that it's mostly one's own individual action that determines where one is able to go to graduate school after obtaining an undergraduate degree? </p>
<p>How has a USC degree helped you with life, personally? haha.</p>
<p>Sorry for the broad questions, but I would really appreciate a USC person's opinions in these issues, especially one interested in medical/graduate school.</p>
<p>"Do you believe that it's mostly one's own individual action that determines where one is able to go to graduate school after obtaining an undergraduate degree?"</p>
<p>You just answered your own question. Graduate schools, for the most part, do not look at names, but rather how you applied youself throughout the years at undergrad university and your resulting accomplishments/gpa.</p>
<p>I also believe it matters how well you've gotten to know professors in your field of study, so they can write personalized recommendations on your behalf. In some schools, students do not get to know professors & are often taught by Teaching Assistants. It is up to the individual student how much contact s/he chooses to make with the instructors, but grad schools expect letters from professors in the field you intend to study.</p>
<p>Its basically everything/ whatever u were doing exactly before beginning ur grad study. Grad school basically want individuals with focused carier goals, strong research or relevant experience, good GPA and excellent LORs/SOP. Names doesn't matter. Its your overall effort that does!</p>
<p>Well let's not get ahead of ourselves now. Of course, as with any other juncture, when weighing candidates all things equal, factors out of the students' hands (school prestige, ethnicity, location) begin to play a part..</p>
<p>That's not to say that going to any particular school will hurt you. But there's a reason everyone scrambles for that September US News...</p>
<p>Obviously schools in the upper tier will have better grad placement. I could say that any school ranked 40+ will suffice. However, most schools in the top 20 or top 30 are all reputable and academically equipped.</p>
<p>anyone know specifically about USC journalism majors going into journalism grad schools (Berkeley, Columbia, etc.) I was also planning (thanks to the Dean of the Annenberg school's advice) to have another major in addition to print journalism. With a double major to ensure well-roundedness and a more liberal arts vs. strictly pre-professional background, would my chances of going to a good grad school increase? This is a very specific question but if anyone has an answer feel free to share.</p>
<p>I would still appreciate your help--I'm still indecisive.</p>
<p>Let's take a sample situation.
If you could go to USC nearly free, but to Amherst with around 80k in loans, would USC still be a better choice...</p>
<p>Considering these factors:
1. Plans to attend graduate school and Overall Costs
a. (USC does not rank as a top Graduate school feeder, but Amherst is Number 9--Apparently Amherst is better known in graduate school circles) <a href="http://www.wsjclassroomedition.com/pdfs/wsj_college_092503.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.wsjclassroomedition.com/pdfs/wsj_college_092503.pdf</a>
b. Yet, graduate school costs around 50k--further driving up total expenses. USC will be significantly cheaper in the long run. The question is: will the greater chance to attend a top graduate school be worth it in the long run--is it possible to pay off loans without committing suicide? Is the greater risk worth the greater payoff? Will I end up regretting not going to my first choice school in the future?</p>
<ol>
<li>Educational Quality/ Freedom
a. USC has a large undergraduate and graduate, meaning there is a greater chance for one to become a number, a greater emphasis on faculty research and the graduate students, and less intimacy with faculty. On the other hand, Amherst offers the mystical liberal arts education, emphasis on personal attention, small class sizes, nearly unrestrained academic freedom because of the five college consortium and the minimal general education requirements, and opportunities to take a greater role on campus.
b. On the flipside, USC is known as a research university--but on the same note, to obtain an internship, there will be more competition and Amherst also offers research opportunities. </li>
</ol>
<p>Is this a question of Education versus Money?
I would really appreciate your comments because I have still been agonizing over this decision and am still looking for answers that can answer the deficiencies of either choice. </p>
<p>There's a new program at USC starting in the fall that'll let you get both bachelors and masters in 5 years, if you maintain a 3.5 GPA and get approval. I really, really like that because that means no GRE, no hassle applying to grad school, and I only have to complete 2/3 of the regular master's requirements (because I've already satisfied some in my bachelors...)</p>
<p>so consider that. No other university except stanford has a comperable combo undergrad/grad program.</p>
<p>EDIT: Where did you get the idea that all you are is a number at USC? I've never felt like I was ever treated like a number, the classes are relatively small, and interaction with professors is high.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. If i do go to USC, ill definitely look into that.
However, when I was talking about Graduate school, I meant specifically for medical school or possibly law school.
Do you think that changes the picture perhaps?</p>
<p>What are you thinking of majoring in? It sounds like your really haven't decided, in which case it might be best if you save your money by going to USC & consider transferring after you've gotten your lower level coursework out of the way & have more focus if you decide Amherst would meet your needs better. This would save you money & allow more to be available for grad/pro school.</p>
<p>USC is a GREAT school. It will not hurt your chances at getting into med school or law school at all. It's one of the top schools in the country! I still haven't heard about transfer admission but if I get it in I would pick it over other schools anyday :-).
Plus, you can't beat the cost! </p>
<p>Sonyvaio,
did you ever get the PM i tried sending that day your inbox was full? When do you leave for nysc?</p>
<p>"There's a new program at USC starting in the fall that'll let you get both bachelors and masters in 5 years, if you maintain a 3.5 GPA and get approval."</p>
<p>Does this apply to all majors - even some of the pre-professional programs (like Business)? If so, that'd be amazing, but I'd be surprised.</p>
<p>The program that jbusc sounds great-however, I've heard that USC doesn't offer master's degrees in psychology, so would this program still work for that major?</p>
<p>They've had the 5-year program in engineering for a while now and it's being replaced by a new university wide program. </p>
<p>There are some restrictions on which master's you can go for with some bachelors (the two departments have to agree, on some level) but it should be fairly universal in engineering and the college at least, I don't know about other professional schools.</p>
<p>The details are still being worked out but they'll be published in time for the fall. Until then you know as much as I do :)</p>
<p>I know Cornell has a program similar to this also. They're School of Industrial & Labor Relations (kinda like undergrad law school) has a 5 year Masters program. I heard it's really good.</p>
<p>the one thing to keep in mind for all grad schools is the kind of grad school that you intend to go to (medical, law, business, or just graduate study like PhD) if you are going to law school, then your LSAT score counts for up to 2/3 of your application to law school ... at business school (since everyone works fort least 4 years) things like advancement within your company matter more than where you go to school ... as always, it is BETTER to go to the school that is BETTER, but its not necessary ... my dad got into MIT for his engineering PhD from the University of Florida (granted, he literally got straight A's at UF) ... to bring this conversation back to USC, i personally have 2 friends at USC who are going to Harvard law and one who is going to NYU law, so its definitely possible to go to the best graduate schools if you go to USC ... you will just have to get better grades/test scores at USC than if you went to Stanford or Harvard</p>