<p>....help. please?</p>
<p>Can you provide some details about what you want in a school?</p>
<p>sorry. i'm looking at engineering, probably industrial at usc and probably mechanical at vandy. maybe engineering science. definitely industrial at usc.</p>
<p>USC Engineering > Vanderbilt Engineering
USC National Reputation > Vanderbilt National Reputation
USC Alumni Network > Vanderbilt Alumni Network
USC Sports > Vanderbilt Sports
USC Location > Vanderbilt Location
USC Social Life > Vanderbilt Social Life</p>
<p>This one isn't even close. Go to USC.</p>
<p>theres a chance hes talking about University of South Carolina...</p>
<p>If it's University of Southern California vs Vanderbilt then choose Southern Cal. </p>
<p>If it's South Carolina vs Vanderbilt, choose Vanderbilt. </p>
<p>= )</p>
<p>Same problem ... pre-law looking for undergrad in political science and international relations and i got into the thematic option at USC ... or vandy </p>
<p>i love LA, and the fight on trojan football spirit, but i am afraid of Watts </p>
<p>Nashville may be too low key for a girl from chicago, and it doesn't have an international relations major (its an interdisciplinary option) ... yet it seems that the name itself has more international prestige and gives me a better chance of getting into law school</p>
<p>I would choose USC, which is not in Watts (although watts isn't even that bad an area). </p>
<p>Gymnast: USC is like any urban university, nothing to be afraid of (especially if your from chicago). The school is 15 minutes from Hollywood, 20 minutes from Beverly Hills or Santa Monica, and just 3 minutes down the street from Downtown LA. What does vandy have nearby?</p>
<p>Um Nashville? And Vandy > USC.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i love LA, and the fight on trojan football spirit, but i am afraid of Watts
[/quote]
yeah, Watts is at least 15 minutes away, if not farther...i'm reasonably certain that USC's closer to Hollywood and almost Beverly Hills than it is to Watts. and i also know that people like to think it's close to Compton, when Compton is even farther away from USC than it is from Watts.</p>
<p>USC's immediate location is really nothing to to worry about. if anything, it's proximity to Downtown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and even many of the big Southern California beaches should make it appealing. i've been going to USC for a year (my first year's over in two weeks...), and i've been from Hollywood to San Pedro over the course of my stay, so i can attest to this.</p>
<p>so i guess you could tell...USC all the way. engineering here is amazing, alumni network and school spirit is better, and weather is even better...and nothing in the world could match the academic and social experience i've had in just the last year. i'm excited and ready for 3 more.</p>
<p>Vandy's size will make a huge difference. Their engineering program is superb, labs are well-equipped, there are plenty of opportunities for research. In terms of social life / sports Vandy is known to be big (for top 20 school). Your gen-ed courses will be a lot smaller, easier to get into classes, advising is great, Nashville is a very fun and safe town. Campus is amazing, facilities are great. While USC might have more weight on the west coast, Vandy is well-known nationally. </p>
<p>Go to Vandy - if you don't like it there you can always transfer to USC, but it would be a lot more difficult to do a reverse move.</p>
<p>if you're in USC's thematic option honors program, your GEs will have 28 people in them each... that's definitely not bad. and there are tons of amazing research opportunities, even for freshmen, and the facilities are incredible. their advising is something they pride themselves on being good at and when i went to visit, all the students agreed that their advisors were always available and helpful. in terms of social life/sports... obviously usc can't be beat.</p>
<p>USC has the problem that it's in California...</p>
<p>Just kidding, of course. I think Vanderbilt has more prestige on the East Coast, South and Midwest, while USC has more prestige in the West.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt obliterates USC on all accounts. But it is all about fit, so if you want to go to a lesser school - fine by me =) lol</p>
<p>you guys are indirectly telling me what i already knew. both are damn good schools, and people in different regions hold different assumptions about different schools. Does anyone have any suggestions concerning industrial engineering vs. something more traditional like mechanical? marketability, etc, actual level of capability at graduation, etc. any other comments would still be wonderful. and yes, i was referring to southern california, not south carolina. what duke? i got waitlisted, what if i get in and have to choose between mechanical engineering there and industrial at sc. i know duke is a better school, but how different are the two, in the end?</p>
<p>Based on everything I've read, Vandy would probably prepare you more fully.</p>
<p>is there anyone here who attends either of these schools?</p>
<p>nashville(am i spelling right??)...pahh...go to la...easy call fo..</p>
<p>kinda biased isnt it??</p>
<p>
[quote]
is there anyone here who attends either of these schools?
[/quote]
if you had read my post earlier in the thread, you would have seen that i attend USC :rolleyes:</p>
<p>if you have any questions, fire away, i'll try my best to answer them.</p>
<p>
[quote]
USC National Reputation > Vanderbilt National Reputation
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is stronger academically than USC. If you look at Peer Assessment scores or any major national ranking Vanderbilt will always be placed higher. Vandy is also stronger internationally than USC (London Times).</p>
<p>
[quote]
USC Location > Vanderbilt Location
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Vanderbilt's campus is an arboretum in a really nice area of Nashville. You are in walking distance of Centennial Park with lots of trendy stores and restaurants nearby. The area around USC is somewhat sketchy. </p>
<p>
[quote]
USC Sports > Vanderbilt Sports
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If you would have said "football" I would have agreed, but you are wrong by saying Sports. USC's football team is one of the top in the country but SEC tailgates are hard to beat. If you are a fan of traditions, theres something nice about dressing up and taking a pretty Vandy girl as your date. Vanderbilt's basketball team is stronger than USC's. In the last four years, Vandy has 3 seasons with 20+ wins (including two Sweet 16's). This year both teams got knocked out same round (Byars/Foster with All-SEC honors). And Vanderbilt is ranked #1 in the country for baseball and for good reason. Every scout has David Price as being the first pitcher taken in the college draft, Minor and Weathers are both lights-out pitchers, Pedro Alvarez turned down $1 Million dollar Boston Red Sox contract to play for Vandy and is tearing up the record books. Tim Corbin is building a dynasty -- grab your tickets to Omaha, the Dores will take home the national championship.</p>
<p>
[quote]
USC Social Life > Vanderbilt Social Life
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is the only top 20 academic school that has ranked on Playboy's Party Lists. The parties are amazing, the girls are drop dead-gorgeous, and at the same time you are earning a prestigous diploma. Its a pretty sweet deal.</p>
<p>Honestly, I'd visit both schools and see which place feels like home. I'm from New York, turned down Ivies to attend Vandy, and its the best decision I have made in my life for what its worth. </p>
<p>Go Dores!</p>