<p>I know this forum will be biased, but assuming I get into both schools and I want to study something along the lines of IR/business, econ, polisci, and I want to learn French and Arabic, which school should I pick? (I'm OOS and confident that I will get in to both schools)</p>
<p>Pick the university where you think you'll be happier and fit in best based on your interests and goals. There's very little overall difference, if at all, in terms of academics and social life between the schools.</p>
<p>I agree with rushrules, it really depends on how happy you think you'll be in either school...both have excellent reputations in those fields.</p>
<p>However, if you have any financial restrictions, you may want to think twice about shelling out $50k a year for USC.</p>
<p>Well, it would be around the same for UCLA since I am out of state.
I am planning to visit both colleges in the fall and do interviews so I am sure I'll get a feel for which one I want to be at.</p>
<p>It wouldn't necessarily be the same for UCLA if you do summer sessions and not live in the dorms for all 4 years and manage your finances frugally. That and even if you take the entire suggested UCLA package OOS, it is cheaper than USC.</p>
<p>pick the one that gave you more money? or pick CAL since their program is like the best isn't it? lol</p>
<p>when i walked onto ucla and took the tour, i knew that this was it. i loved everything about it.
take a tour of both schools. look at the student body just walking around. imagine yourself walking around.
thats what i did at least</p>
<p>
That's a rather myopic view. What if the OP receives full academic/athletic scholarship to attend USC and not UCLA? Or what if USC gives the OP a larger financial aid package such that the cost of attending USC would be cheaper than at UCLA? </p>
<p>The OP hasn't revealed whether or not finances will be of any concern.</p>
<p>This was in particular response to this:
[quote]
However, if you have any financial restrictions, you may want to think twice about shelling out $50k a year for USC.
[/quote]
I was only referring to the face value. Yes, it's true that one needs to consider the costs in the end once scholarships, grants, and so on are considered in addition to the offered packages. Thanks for the addendum.</p>
<p>I'm middle class so I basically get screwed on need based financial aid. I'm hoping for a scholarship, at least half or full. My very last resort is ROTC. My ACT is 32 and my SAT is 2050, and though not stellar, I have heard of other students with my scores, ec's, etc getting full scholarships.</p>
<p>First off, it's Cal, not "CAL." Cal is an abbreviation for "California." CAL is an acronym...that doesn't mean anything.</p>
<p>Anyway, all fussiness aside, you should visit both campuses first. Both will give you fairly similar undergrad experiences.</p>
<p>From someone who resigned from a service academy, don't go into ROTC unless you really want to. You shouldn't pursue it if it's a "last resort." I came from OOS to UCLA and the Aid package was ho-hum....I would imagine USC would give better aid to OOS students (private school, no focus on in-staters) so if finances are a concern and it's a significant difference I'd say take USC. If finances aren't a concern of the difference between the two aid pakages is minimal then go with w/e fits you best.</p>
<p>I don't go to either school, so I think I'm rather unbiased. But let me try and lay it out for you. UCLA is ranked about 15 spots higher than USC in most areas. USC is known as the "University of Spoiled Children" to many people in SoCal, due to it's well-known white, affluent student body, though most SC students would try and refute that statement. UCLA selects its student body purely on brains, while USC considers wealth and connections. That being said, USC is a great school that would no doubt serve you well. But UCLA is more respected admissions-wise due to its non-partisan stand, especially if you were admitted OOS. Good luck in your decision, whichever school you choose.</p>
<p>I am OOS and got admitted to both. I ultimately picked UCLA. Even with USC parents! :D</p>
<p>Go look at facebook groups Why UCLA > USC and all of those...</p>
<p>I like the campus feeling of UCLA better than USC.</p>
<p>Basically if you want to trade more attn for a better location and slightly better name, pick UCLA.</p>
<p>ps: i was in the same boat during the final weeks of april, but a visit to LA did it for me.. i was sooooo torn btwn those two schools.</p>
<p>the food is soooo much better here. i hear it's ranked no. 1 now. here:
Summary of the good points:
-UCLA is rated "Most Selective", by the Princeton Review, with an admissions selectivity rating of 98 (on a scale of 60–99). UCLA received 50,694 applications for the Fall 2007 freshman class, continuing its record of having the most applications for a single class, a title it has held since 1998.
-#2 in college food (#1 Cornell U doesn't count cuz they have a culinary school)
-2nd largest Jamba Juice in the west coast
-Daily Bruin: best college daily for three years
-UCLA is making efforts to reduce class sizes
-90% of undergrads receive a degree from a dept ranked among the best. many of its popular departments are ranked in the TOP 10 of their fields
-campus residence community nestled in the Bel Air Hills
-its acceptance rate for this year is only .5% off from Berkeley, so its standards are climbing.</p>
<p>btw, if you don't like asians, don't go to UCLA! 38% asian, 34% caucasian...USC is more white but not as white as MN, where i'm from. ;)</p>
<p>When you visit be sure to visit the adjacent off-campus areas as well.</p>
<p>I chose UCLA over USC out of state because it was better for my major (Computer Science), had a better academic atmosphere and because it was cheaper tuition, even from out of state. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>i was torn too, but once i got on campus and went through the tour and figured out how much USC cost... i was sold on UCLA. it wasn't originally one of my preferred choices but now i can't imagine myself anywhere else. i am utterly, incredibly happy.</p>
<p>that said, it really depends on how u feel about the campuses and honestly where you can see yourself at. visit the surrounding areas AND AND AND don't forget, these are the next four years...</p>
<p>btw definitely take campus tours with the schools. dont visit by yourself-- you need someone to sell the school to you instead of wandering around lost in ackerman or near the SC bookstore (:</p>
<p>One of your interested majors is business, and to my understanding UCLA does not have a undergrad business program, the closest to such being business economics. From their website, UCLA mentions that this major is not intended to duplicate a undergrad business program and that it is essentially economics with an emphasis in business. </p>
<p>I am also considering both schools, but currently USC seems to peak my interest a little more because of its Marshall school--which, although not highly ranked and has its infamous grading curve, also comes with the Trojan Family alumni network, a great bonus for business. </p>
<p>I believe I'm lower class, so I believe financial packages from both schools should be generous for me, so money is not a major issue as of now. If you get accepted to both come April-May, please tell me which one you decided to go with! Provided one gets accepted to both, the decision would definitely be a very difficult one indeed.</p>