UT vs. UNC vs. USC

College Search & Selection
1

<p>So I have to make a decision between UT, UNC-CH, and USC.</p>

<p>UT is in-state with business honors and a $2500 scholarship.</p>

<p>UNC-CH is obviously out of state and USC is private, but have not received FA pcakage for either university yet. FAFSA EFC is approsimately 13k and USC is known for having GREAT FA. I'm not riding too much on UNC and their FA, though I would really love to go.</p>

<p>I have no clue what I want to major in currently. I'm a journalism major at USC & business at UT.</p>

<p>The major downside to UT is obviously the huge size and the fact that the majority of my class will go there. I want to branch out for college and get out of my comfront zone.</p>

<p>From a completely objective standpoint, where do you think I should go?</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
From a completely objective standpoint

[/quote]

Well be warned you won't get that from me, I'm obviously very biased :) I'll try to be as objective as possible though.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I have no clue what I want to major in currently. I'm a journalism major at USC & business at UT.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well that's one thing in favor at USC. you can just do GE courses your first year while you figure out what you want to do, then you can even do a double major or minor in completely different fields if you really can't decide between two things. You have a lot of freedom to change your major and/or take classes outside your major, and unless you're in engineering or cinema or another super rigorous program you don't really have to decide for a year or so.</p>

<p>Hopefully USC FA will come in soon, they actually are quite generous, that might make your decision easier. :)</p>

3

<p>If you can afford UNC (along with commute, etc.) - that is where I would go. Nice, safe campus, super college town, sports, and a little better reputation.</p>

4

<p>UNC hands down... but I am bias as well....</p>

5

<p>Usc!!!!!!!!!</p>

6

<p>Are you talking about the real USC (So Carolina) which was here first, or the other USC on the left coast? hahahahahaha!</p>

7

<p>USC(e) = Bottom of the SEC</p>

<p>USC(w) = Top of the PAC 10</p>

8

<p>Both UT and UNC are academically better than USC.</p>

9

<p>If you're talking about U of Southern California, go for USC.</p>

10

<p>Some Objective Data (from 05-06):</p>

<p>Acceptance Rate:
USC 27%
UNC 37%
UT 51%</p>

<p>SAT Scores
USC 1270-1440
UNC 1210-1390
UT 1110-1360</p>

<p>I would put USC at the head of the pack, although both USC and UNC are far ahead of UT in terms of academics.</p>

<p>Oh, and namtrag, when South Carolina breaks into the TOP 50 universities in the country then maybe we can a real debate over the "USC" acronym. Being as the school can't even crack the top 100 (currently 112), that might be awhile.</p>

11

<p>


</p>

<p>lol. In your mind maybe, but certainly not by any scholarly measure. Not according to the National Research Council, London Times, USNWR departmental rankings, and not even the USNWR undergrad rankings, where UT has a higher peer assessment score than USC and very close to UNC's. Nice try, though!</p>

12

<p>According to US News, UT is ranked #47 while USC and UNC are ranked #27. Plus, UT's size is such a big turnoff!</p>

13

<p>JWT, do me a favor and re-read annn's post above ^</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

14

<p>


</p>

<p>As I tried to explain, I was talking about the peer assessment score, not the overall ranking which is comprised of non-academic factors. UT's large size also has allowed it to have unparalled resources that UNC and USC don't match</p>

15

<p>Peer assesment is also the only non-objective measure in the USNWR rankings. It's merely a polling of academics as to the quality of their peer institutions.</p>

<p>USC (and UNC) are much more selective than UT (see data above). And i'm not sure what "resources" you're speaking of, but USC ranks 24th in Faculty Resources, while UT is 114th. Care to offer some specific "resources" that UT has that USC/UNC don't have?</p>

16

<p>UT has better engineering for one. And since when did selectivity equate to the quality of a school? The reason UT has lesser quality students is because a Texas law that says it must accept students who were in the top 10% of their graduating class. </p>

<p>Of your choices, I would go with UNC, great great school.</p>

17

<p>I am aware of that law. Although UT can still only pull 68% of freshman from the top 10% of their high school class (85% for USC, 74% for UNC). Student selectivity and overall school quality are not at all independent of each other. In fact, they are highly correlated. That should be obvious by seeing how the best universities are also the most selective universities. Any good student will learn from all of those around him/her, including classmates.</p>

18

<p>Georgia Tech has a very high acceptance rate and yet it is a top 5 engineering school. Selectivity does not always imply a good program. You know there are plenty of schools who are selective, but quite frankly, aren't that good. The point is UT is a great school, it shouldn't be disrespected because of its selectivity. In terms of its faculty and research, it is easily on par with Michigan, Berkeley, UNC, and Virginia.</p>

19

<p>hey ann i konw how you feel i applied to UT and USC (im from texas) i got into UT but still waiting to hear from USC </p>

<p>UT is better for business than USC
USC is better than UT for journalism</p>

<p>its not really a matter of which school is better, its more of which school is better for your major.
what do you want, journalism or business?</p>

20

<p>UT and UNC are on par for business, but USC is in LA + trojan network = great for business (& plus, USC is only one ranking behind UT; it's not better by much)
while UNC > USC > UT for journalism</p>

<p>I honestly want to pick the overall better school just because it's what, 70% of college students that change their major at least once?</p>