I’ve been accepted to all three colleges recently, and I’m not exactly sure of which one to choose even though USC was my absolute dream school (after reading reviews, I grew more and more aware of reality). I made a list of PROS and CONS at each school and it would be much appreciated if you could help me in my decision!!! I am confident that I can handle difficult coursework and juggle between different problems (I’m planning to double major, or at least major/minor in music and chemistry or physics, then go to medical school). Money is not a problem because all three cost me about the same.
UC Berkeley:
PROS: REPUTATION, insane academics and educational equality especially in the sciences, activist population (very involved - I want to be involved in the community), semester system
CONS: Lots of homeless??? - I’m fearing that berkeley might be dirty, music program seems lacking definitely in comparison to LA and USC, environment is not known to be nurturing (some say it prepares you for real life… are people just saying this to account for the rough community?), outrageous undergrad class sizes (more focused on graduate, I hear), may be harder to double major here than USC?, may ruin my chances of going to medical school as classes will be difficult and make it harder to earn a high GPA
USC:
PROS: Thorton is amazing!!! I want to participate in a chamber/concert choir there, and major in piano performance, Thematic Option and Freshman Science Honors, seems to be more focused on undergrad than grad (smaller class sizes), counselors and faculty cater to your needs more at a public (just like they should), easier to build connections with teachers and get letters of recommendation for medical school, semester system, beautiful flat campus, easiest to double major in (they encourage it and commend the best through the Renaissance Scholars program), strong study abroad program (I want to learn French and study in Paris)
CONS: Dornsife’s GEs are known to be a money sucker and unit waster, arrogant? community environment and too focused on greek system (which may or may not be bad to me - I’m not sure if I like or dislike the idea of the greek system yet), reputation is least of of the three - USC is an up and coming school and reputation will follow within the next ten to twenty years but for now it’s meager at best, community around is not safe? (from what I hear)
UCLA
PROS: reputation is good, good community in Westwood and beautiful campus, strong science AND music programs (although thorton at USC is probably a tad better), strong study aboard program?
CONS: I’m scared of being just a number at UCLA - there are so many undergrads and it seems as though UCLA cares more about graduates (although this problem is notably less at UCLA than Berkeley), may be harder to double major here than USC?, quarter system will be stressful (the other two schools are semester),
Thank you!!!