<p>Sorry to sound ignorant, but I'm assuming that most of you guys want to go to USC and based on test scores, it seems that you guys are pretty qualified. My question is, why USC, when you might be able to shoot higher?</p>
<p>I've been a Southern Californian all my life, and both of my parents graduated from USC, but I've never really taken the school that seriously. I know a good friend who goes there, and she had issues adjusting to the drinking environment, and also told me that there are people there who are much less qualified than she is. I've visited the campus and nothing seems to stand out. I've been inside Century and it just seems really drab. The town doesn't seem to be student-friendly. The tuition rivals that of the Ivies, but they are generous with scholarships. Most people I know either love it or hate the University of Spoiled Childern, and I guess I'm just apathetic--is there something I'm missing? What do you guys like about USC?</p>
<p>USC offers majors and minors that many other universities do not even have classes in. For me, at USC i wish to pursue music recording and music industry because I have experience recording, producing and writing my own music as well as recording local bands. If you have heard of the band Addison Groove Project, I have actually worked a little with their work during the past year. At USC i can pursue my love of music that I most likely would have to put on hold if I attended another university, which is why USC is my #1. Also, I want to go to school in california and coming from out of state, I basically have 0 chance of getting into a state school and I do not have the academics to get into a school like stanford. Therefore, USC is the obvious choice. Everyone is different, and I understand how you don't feel so highly about USC as I do. My dad teaches at Harvard and if he really tried could probably get me in (probably not because, well yeah, im an idiot), but I would never go there because I want to get out of Boston and experience a new environment. I hope this is somewhat helpful.</p>
<p>Northwestern had been my number one choice, but when I visited the USC campus and heard what they had to say, I was very impressed with the emphasis that professors and school officials put on academics. USC is one of the few schools that encourages students to double major and promises to get them out in four years. Since I want to go into two very competive fields of study (film and journalism) the L.A. location offers lots of connections and opportunities...also, USC offers great programs in both these fields. Also, the students I saw on campus seemed very friendly and open, I didn't get the "little rich kid" vibe. The only downside is the cost...and I know I will probably get better scholarship offers elsewhere, but I'm still hoping USC is a possibility.</p>
<p>Graduate Engineering is a lot better than Undergraduate Engineering at USC....but both are good. (This is not from a direct souce, so I might be wrong...)</p>
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Since I want to go into two very competive fields of study (film and journalism) the L.A. location offers lots of connections and opportunities...also, USC offers great programs in both these fields.
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<p>Wow, you are going to get little to no sleep ;). You really can't lose double majoring at the film school and annenberg.</p>
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Most people I know either love it or hate the University of Spoiled Childern, and I guess I'm just apathetic--is there something I'm missing? What do you guys like about USC?
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<p>USC definitely isn't for everyone. It's a very social school that will either give you the experience of your life or one that is very "cold". I'm going to be blunt and say that if you're a introverted nerd then this is definitely not the school for you. </p>
<p>I truly believe the reason why you see so many top CEOs and highly successful SC alums out there is because of how kids develop here. I've met so many kids here that carry such a strong social life and excel in the classroom. These are the future CEOs and Fortune 500 leader types. People vastly underestimate how important communication is to being successful in the future, and NO school in the nation offers as many diverse people as USC. It's such an incredible asset to be able to meet intellectual kids, trust fund kids, sons and daughters of CEOs, internationals, the materialistic types, the down to earth types, people of different ethnic backgrounds, the partiers, the music junkies, etc. You're undoubtedly going to have to coexist with these types of people in the future and having coexisted with them in college only makes you more apt to succeeding. </p>
<p>Ironically there's a backlash among alumni in regards to the direction the university is taking. A LOT of alums do not want to see the university take high scorers over scions and those that truly want to be Trojans, even if it means that USC doesn't climb up the rankings as a result. I am in that bunch that would rather see the school as it is, than climb up the meaningless ranking system. You're truly family when you come to USC, and the school will drill this into your head from the 1st day you step on campus. </p>
<p>So why do I like USC? Well like I stated above I love the diversity and the family ideology, but I also love the fact that it has such a great balance between academics and social life. It's a school where you can get a great education, have a strong social life, and have a great chance at becoming successful. Not many schools can boast that.</p>
<p>universities should be judged the same as an operating business, that is, do they produce a profit, and does the return on shareholders equity grow - each year. There are universities that exist becasue thay have existed, often growing from humble beginnings and living on repuration. They do not grow; they do not earn a profit. Yet, unlike a company that would be losing share value, they charge higher tuitions and somehow attract more and more student applications. It is based on a past model. USC is not based on past anything, traditions aside. The point of USC is to give each student the tools to achieve goals. That means get a job after college, and a career, and quite frankly, to go off on their own in business, the professions and the arts. Therefore, USC emphasizes what its grads do. It is not the buildings, nor is it about years in operation: it is about what Trojans do in the world. USC has a small campus in a downtown area. How did USC have repeat football champions? It's a matter of will, desire, a program, a great coach and players. Mostly it is that will to succeed, quite beyond mere ambition. It takes tenacity, goals and risk. That's what USC offers every student who will grab it. Some may slide, but that is their choice. Take a look at the school motto. Here's the ball, kid - do something with it. Don't talk about it, don't philosophize about it, don't walk away from it. It's not about grades, or wondering about what might have been. It's all about taking risk and doing what USC will help you train for. That's how a great business runs: planning, training, and then just execute. Take the ball; do great things. The world is wide open for your business. Take pride in your achievements. But take the ball.</p>
<p>I was wondering about your statement about the negative reaction of USC alumni to the academic changes at the school. See the statement below from a 2003 speech from President Sample:</p>
<p>Twelve years ago, about 10 percent of our entering freshman class were legacies that is, students whose parents or grandparents are USC alumni. As we cranked up the academic standards here at USC, there was widespread concern that the percentage of legacies in the freshman class would shrink. But do you know what happened? When we boosted our standards, we suddenly were flooded with thousands of applications from Trojan legacies. Today almost 20 percent of our freshman class are legacies, so our commitment to the Trojan Family has actually been enhanced by higher academic standards.</p>
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Twelve years ago, about 10 percent of our entering freshman class were legacies that is, students whose parents or grandparents are USC alumni. As we cranked up the academic standards here at USC, there was widespread concern that the percentage of legacies in the freshman class would shrink. But do you know what happened? When we boosted our standards, we suddenly were flooded with thousands of applications from Trojan legacies. Today almost 20 percent of our freshman class are legacies, so our commitment to the Trojan Family has actually been enhanced by higher academic standards.
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<p>Well it's odd that he said that seeing that I know personally a few people who's grandparents and parents are major donors (think 6-7 figures) and are very active in the university and have seen their granddaughters/sons and sons/daughters denied by the university even with fairly decent scores (high 1200s and 3.7/3.8 gpas). </p>
<p>Maybe they were one of very few legacies that got denied? But I would seriously question how the son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter of a very active alumni would get denied yet the number of legacies admitted would rise 10 percent? </p>
<p>If Sample is true to his word then I commend him 100%.</p>
<p>Yes, I too know a qualified legacy who was denied admission. I'm not sure exactly what his stats were but he currently goes to UCSD, so they must'ev at least been competitive in USC's application class, especially when one considers where his father went. Fruthermore, because his father had attended school with the current director of Housing and Hospitality Services at USC, he was able to convince them to write a letter of recommendation in favor of his son. Yet he was still denied. </p>
<p>Despite this, tsdad is right. If you go to the admissions page and download the .pdf of this year's freshman class profile, indeed 19% are SCions. When I first saw this number, I found it distressing, yet I take solace in the fact that as our admissions standards have risen, so have our legacies. Pretty interesting.</p>
<p>i think navy_blue asks a good question. my question for all of you people (who really do sound smart, and i appreciate the thought that goes into these posts) is whether you think usc's reputation is good, when considered against the "top-flite" schools, and whether it is worht going there with a half-scholarship when i have a full offer from case western? also, is usc's bme any good, b/c case western's is #4 in the country. thanks alot.</p>
<p>I'm sure this is going to sound really cliche, but the truth is, that the college search and decision process is all about finding the school that is right for you both academically and socially. While USC may be ranked really high, it may not be the best school for some. I would say, go to Explore USC, see the campus, experience it, and then make the decision on what school is right for you. That is truly the best way. Visiting the USC campus made me realize what a great fit it is for me, maybe it will do the same for you.</p>
<p>Basically, I feel that no one should EVER choose their college based on rankings. Princeton Review doesn't rank USC very highly, but they are number one in my mind. That's what it really comes down to.</p>
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i think navy_blue asks a good question. my question for all of you people (who really do sound smart, and i appreciate the thought that goes into these posts) is whether you think usc's reputation is good, when considered against the "top-flite" schools, and whether it is worht going there with a half-scholarship when i have a full offer from case western? also, is usc's bme any good, b/c case western's is #4 in the country. thanks alot.
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<p>I think it really depends on your personality and what you want out of college. You can go to the #1 ranked program in the nation but if it isn't a fit for you, you'll find yourself extremely disenchanted. </p>
<p>If you're really curious about USC I'd suggest coming to visit during the school year and sitting in some classes. Try being a USC student for a day and see whether you like it or not.</p>
<p>yeah i guess you're right. i think i just have no idea what the **** it is i want out of college or anything. i have zero idea about where i'm going or how i'm even going to survive biomedical engineering. but whatever, we'll just wait and see. i think i'll try going to an Explore USC thing if possible.</p>
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yeah i guess you're right. i think i just have no idea what the **** it is i want out of college or anything. i have zero idea about where i'm going or how i'm even going to survive biomedical engineering. but whatever, we'll just wait and see. i think i'll try going to an Explore USC thing if possible.
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<p>I guess if there's one advantage in choosing SC it would be the fallback of switching into another good program. I don't know too much about Case Western, but I think of it as like a Babson, exceptionally solid in one area and not so much in others (but still relatively good). I could be wrong, so please inform me if I am. </p>
<p>In a demanding major like BME, it's always nice to have a backup plan. I came into USC debating whether to go pre-med or pre-pt, but ended up going into business and I look back and think how lucky I was to choose a school that is well-rounded. </p>
<p>I guess you can always switch to another concentration within engineering, but it's something you should consider. It played a part in my decision, and it ended up saving me a lot of headaches.</p>