Hello! I am currently trying to choose between UVA and USC and I am torn because they are both such great schools. I am planning on double majoring in Neuroscience and English. I have no received my financial aid from UVA yet; but I think it would be similar to USC’s offer but probably a bit more generous. UVA would be a 9 hour drive from home while USC would be a 4 hour plane ride. My parents aren’t totally cool with the idea of moving to California so that would also take a lot of convincing. I just want to know which school will provide the best opportunities and how my future will be different with either choice. Thank you 
Wow! What a fascinating choice. Two very different schools.
“Opportunity”-wise, there’s very little difference between them. USC has a larger contingent of ‘legacy’ admits, many of whom stick to their own like glue. UVA has a good deal of tie-in to the political and business scene on the northeastern seaboard. Both schools have productive med-school feeder programs. I moght hesitantly suggest that your proposed dual major might find more faculty acceptance at less traditional USC, but it’s been 15 years since I was a grad. student at UVA, so they may have lightened up.
It really may come down to where you want to be. Charlottesville is a small town, and unless you feel like drunken frat binges, it can feel like it. It’s a very short car trip to the Smithsonian, however. I found the storms in fall and the humidity in Spring oppressive, but your mileage may vary.
USC, of course, is in Sunny Socal, just an hour from the beach (or skiing at Big Bear). It’s mighty urban. On the one hand, I hate driving in LA, but there’s really no good public transpo system available, so you have no choice.
Don’t worry about the future. Either school could get you into the grad. program at the other school, which is one way to measure their equivalency. I think in this case it has to come down to what type of environment you want for four years. Do you picture yourself doing your reading bundled up with cocoa, or outside in tge sunshine? City or near-rural?
Double majors are common at UVA!
We had a summer intern who was a double major in drama and politics. He used to say they were the same thing. Haha.
Charlottesville has changed A LOT in 15 years, @ProfessorD. Come back and see us soon. It’s a small city these days. 
Yes, Cville has become a much more cosmopolitan place than it was 15 or 20 years ago.
Live in Southern Cal but have connections to UVa. I’m a UCLA fan so ill try to be unbiased, but UVa is the better choice imo. You obviously live on the east coast and California would probably be very exciting but a lot different than where you live. The party live at both schools is great, and sports at both schools are great. They’re both good schools, just depends on what you think is good for you. GOOD LUCK
In an case anyone didn’t notice, that is an old original post.
And yet immensely relevant and informative!