<p>I think the OP will make his or her own decision just fine. So instead of chiming in with which school is better mantra, I will post my own personal observations about these schools.</p>
<p>FACT: USC is actually more diverse than UCLA in terms of socioeconomic distribution of the student body.</p>
<p>While USC is known for strong academic advising and alumni connection, UCLA is pretty much “swim or sink” oriented.</p>
<p>If you are not proactive and determined enough, you will be drowned in the sea of overwhelming crowd. You will be disappointed if you are not the kind of person who can personally navigate your own path at UCLA.</p>
<p>But for me, I was not like that in my first year, and I ended up spending entire freshman year sitting alone in my dorm room, even on Fridays. I absolutely hated myself. However, after taking a year off and doing my own business for a year, I finally got a heathy perspective, realizing that it had to be none other than myself who needed to push myself to accept many different social climates and perspectives at UCLA.</p>
<p>Many proud UCLA alumni who have publicly demonstrated their allegiance to UCLA often fall in the category of strong-willed, perseverant, socially active, and culturally tolerant people.</p>
<p>In essence, USC is a safer choice for many, whereas UCLA is kinda of “high risk and high reward” type of institution. In self-acknowledged extremity, UCLA is either a bust or life-changing for students.</p>
<p>If you are interested in staying in Cali, you cannot go with either one of them. Both universities will give you the similar caliber and number of opportunities, with or without business major. I have worked and interned at several financial firms (some super major and some boutique), and the distribution of USC and UCLA background people is virtually same.</p>
<p>On another note, UCLA still fares better in international scene, especially in Asian region. While UCLA is considered a top tier school, USC is considered still a up-and-coming school.I do not necessarily agree with this perceived reputation of USC, and I personally think that USC is way better than even NYU. </p>
<p>Personally, this is an unfair stigma, I believe, for USC. I would rate USC and UCLA in the same bracket of educational institutions in many aspects - socially, culturally, job prospect wise, and so forth.</p>
<p>While many of the posters here and at the UCLA board are fiercely competitive over the Top Dog status in LA, I am rather baffled by the fact that NYU gets talked about more often that USC does. From many students I have worked with, USC and NYU should never be compared - not even. The level of personal diversity factors and academic profile of USC students just blows away that of NYU students (with the exception of NYU Stern students). The East Coast bias defintely is in work here, and I absolutely dont agree with it.</p>
<p>OP, just follow your heart. I know that you know that we all know that your heart is already set on one of the schools. You just wont accept it, and it seems to me that you are looking for some justifiably “logical” and “rational” answers. Often, those who makes very personal decisions independent of logical and rational factors are the ones who make the most out of their decisions. While I am a very business-oriented person who is often very obsessed with each and every factor, both anticipated and unfathomable, I really dont think that you should approach to this decision-making moment with the cerebral mindset of business issue. Just follow your heart, as cliche as this may sound.</p>
<p>For your information, I picked UCLA over UC Berkeley, fully knowing that UCB is considered far more superior to UCLA academically. Still, truthfully, I have not regretted even one bit at all. Granted, there were many moments when I pictured myself studying at UC Berkeley, but my ponderance was not out of regret, for sure.</p>
<p>You cannot go with either school, and I really dont think that you will reget on the choice you will make. </p>
<p>I think you would strongly consider UCLA (I have no reason besides the fact that I went to UCLA :), but even if you are choosing USC over UCLA, no one, even those UCLA posters, will make any objection about your decision.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>