USC or Wake Forest!?

dubcongress · 05-29-2009, 01:51 AM

Hi guys,
I am in the enviable position of being accepted into Wake Forest, Univ. of Southern California (and Brandeis). I think I have narrowed my search to Wake and USC, and would love to hear your thoughts/opinions on these two schools. I was accepted into Marshall School of Business and believe I will have to apply to get into WFU's Calloway School of Business. Your thoughts on these two schools? Is one clearly better? How do they compare nationally in terms of prestige? Is one clearly better for putting students into top grad/professional schools (Law or MBA)?

Your insight is very helpful, thanks!!

Yuta · 05-29-2009, 03:04 AM

USC is ranked 10th this year for its undergrad. business program according to USNEWS 2009

Best Undergraduate Business Programs - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report

dubcongress · 05-29-2009, 05:55 AM

very impressive.

any other thoughts on these two schools?

dubcongress · 05-29-2009, 05:43 PM

thoughts,,,,?

moss · 05-29-2009, 06:53 PM

Where do you want to work?

If its west coast, SC.

Georgia Girl · 05-29-2009, 07:31 PM

You have some good choices....
SC is a large research university in an urban area, although the campus is like an oasis with courtyards, fountains, plazas, palm trees, tropical plants and many flowering trees.
USNews is sometimes controversial, but here are some figures from the last college rankings issue.
USC ...Faculty resources 25th
WF ... 35th

USC ... Faculty/Student Ratio 1/9
WF ... 1/10

USC ...Selectivity Rate 22% From SC website 2008
WF 42% From USNews 2007

SC's business school is highly ranked. In the last rankings Accounting was 5th, International Business 5th, Entrepreneurship 4th and Real Estate 7th. There is emphasis on Global Business, especially in the Pacific Rim.
Is financial aid a factor in your choice? Have you visited both campuses? What about the campus vibe? Where do you feel most comfortable? SC has one of the most diverse student bodies in the U.S. Is this a plus or a minus for you?
Here are a few alumni of the Marshall School of Business:
D. Bane: Chrm. and CEO of Trader Joe's
H. Caruso: Founder of Dollar Rent-A-Car
Yang Ho Cho: Pres. of Korean Air Lines
C. Elachi: Director of JPL
S. Goodall: Pres. of J.D. Power & Associates
B. Hughes: Founder and CEO of Public Storage
P. Locatelli: Former Pres. of Univ. of Santa Clara
P. Martin: Former V.P. of Federal Reserve Board
P. Orfalea: Founder of Kinko's
A. Pearson: Former Pres. of PepsiCo
S. Wang: Co-founder of Pinberry Frozen Yogurt Chain

Many of these transfer students are quite familiar with Marshall. Perhaps they could add their opinions.
You asked about graduate school placement. Check on the Marshall website. There are comments about internships, placements, companies which recruit at SC and other information: USC Marshall .

dubcongress · 05-29-2009, 10:13 PM

I understand that USC has some great credentials. There's no doubting the school's prowess. Being from California and having many friends at USC would make attending USC like the obvious choice. HOWEVER, I have always been a trailblazer... I value taking the road less traveled and "doing my own thing." I am very independent in many ways. Although I would be very comfortable at USC, would probably join my friend's fraternity, etc. etc., I am leaning more towards Wake because it would offer a completely different perspective and experience. What I want to know is: If I were to pass on USC for these reasons, would it be a prudent decision? Is Wake a good enough school to justify my logic. OR, is USC clearly that much better (or maybe not at all) that I would be dumb to pass on it??

dubcongress · 05-30-2009, 12:55 AM

anyone...? really appreciated!

alarasus · 05-30-2009, 05:12 AM

seems like you have your mind set.

iansown · 05-30-2009, 06:45 AM

I would choose Wake Forest over USC because just like you, I want something different from what I'm used to. Wake Forest can very much hold it's on as a Tier 1 school. USC is ranked a lot higher, but research has shown that it's not the school that you go to that makes one a success. And even if that's the case, WFU is a top school as well.

SM88 · 05-30-2009, 04:25 PM

i go to USC so my answer would be biased....but Wake seems like a nice school.....depends if you're built for the west coast

calexifornia · 05-31-2009, 04:22 PM

wow so one of my best guy friends is having this same dilemma. he's currently at fordham (blake, if you are dubcongress and on a forum i will laugh)

anyways, i don't know how anyone could pick any school over USC. i love it. and i personally think that my friend belongs at SC over Wake Forest.