<p>I don't know whether I should choose USC or WashU.
I visited both schools, and I loved them both...
I am majoring in engineering.</p>
<p>Please help me!
Thanks! :)</p>
<p>I wish I could help, but I’m in the same boat! Except I’m going to be an anthropology major (or Health and Humanity at USC). I’ve fallen in love with both of them! I think that the social life will be more fast-paced at USC, but there is something to be said for a school with that much spirit.</p>
<p>I’m from an area where tons of people went to USC for college, so I feel comfortable commenting on it. I think it’s a great school all around, but has notable differences from Wash U. The main differences:</p>
<p>Size
16,000 undergrad vs. 6,000 undergrads (not necessary to state the pros/cons of size here… each person will have their own preference set)</p>
<p>Location
Nice campus but in a slightly sketchy area vs. Nice campus in extremely nice residential area with Loop and Forest Park in walking distance
Greater likelihood you’ll need a car, vs. enough to do nearby in walking distance and the Metro that you don’t need a car</p>
<p>Vibe
Typical vibe is more social vs. typical vibe is more balanced/laid-back (but still tons of fun)</p>
<p>From what I know about the Engineering school at Wash U, is that it is not as insular as Engineering can be at other schools. It does have a really strong community within the school, but so many students end up having a minor or studying something else in liberal arts, that you don’t feel like they’re these secluded nerds. The Engineers at Wash U plan a huge all-campus dance party every year called Vertigo, which is tons of fun.</p>
<p>Wash U is the kind of school where it’s small enough that you feel part of a community, small enough where there is a healthy degree of academic focus, but large enough where you really feel like you’re in college and do typical fun college kid stuff, go to parties, etc. I think the size is just perfect here. I think you can find pockets of that “balance” at USC, but you need to work harder to make that balance work for you. You may have to worker harder to find your own community, and the large size will probably lend more to the social environment and potentially less of an intellectual vibrancy on campus. If you’re the kind of person who really wants to absolutely let loose in college (and still have some degree of academic focus, I mean, USC is a great school), then you’ll probably find a better fit at USC for that.</p>
<p>@ElizaBennet I hope you make the right decision too. =] This is so hard!</p>
<p>@vbball90 Thanks for that comparison! =] The problem is that some of the differences for me aren’t pros or cons, they’re just differences. Ha!</p>