<p>While USC is definitely a top university, I feel that it is not comparable to the Ivies and some others (like MIT and Stanford) in job placement. In these hard times, good jobs are tough to come by while some even have problems holding on to theirs. Thus, I would like to seek realistic opinion on the prospects of a USC graduate. While I know that the school is renowned for its excellent career services program and alumni networks, how big a factor are these in helping graduates secure jobs with high salaries and good potential for career advancement? I am particularly concerned with Business Admin grads, as this is a very common course of study for many students in America. It does not help that we are in direct competition with students from stronger universities which may not even offer Business (as is the case with most of the Ivies), yet are hotbeds of recruiting as their students can study anything from Economics to Mathematics and still be highly sought after in the fields of finance, investment banking, management and consultancy.</p>
<p>I intend to work in LA upon graduation because I believe Business is one field in which networking and the relationships you forge while studying are very important, and it is an advantage to work in (or at least close to) the area where your university is located. Thus, SoCal would be the obvious choice as this is where most SC alumni reside and work. Does anyone have advice on the type of jobs that Business grads should work towards in the context of LA, which is not exactly a stronghold of finance? Also, does anyone have experiences to share regarding the employability of SC grads, or perhaps the difficulties that we can expect to face?</p>
<p>I read in the NYT that even graduates from HYP in IEOR(financial engineering) are having a hard time finding jobs.</p>
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<p>Finance is a very large field, not necessarily just investment banking. I did see a lot of interesting finance books at USC and I understand this subject better than the average people.</p>
<p>S#1 graduated from USC in 2006- Marshall: Entrepreneurship and Finance. First job was with one of his professors (how’s that for networking?) in a start-up. Great experience but the company did not survive. 2nd (and current job) is his dream job with a hedge fund in LA- and it’s doing well. Boss said he only hires college grads from top schools and USC fit that category for him. S has several people working for him- I know that one is a UCLA grad.</p>
<p>I would give a somewhat mixed response – but nothing negative re: SC. My D graduated from SC in 3 years with a BS in Business and finished her Masters in Communication Management in 3 more semesters with very strong grades and recommendations. She finished last August and does not yet have a real job (still living in LA). She has done 3 internships – all for no pay (still doing one). The internships all came through the “Trojan network” – all of her hiring supervisors were SC grads and contacted her because she was an SC grad. But none of them have led to a FT position. The economy is clearly tough – the first two internships said they would love to keep her but didn’t have the business to support a new hire. So - bottom line, I think the Trojan network is definitely an asset, but doesn’t overcome a crappy economy.</p>
<p>To get a more global picture of job prospects for Marshall Business school students, I suggest you contact the USC Career placement office. Maybe there are even some job postings on-line. It is a difficult job market. I suggest trying to pair Business with another area of high demand such as the Gerontology school at USC. There are lots of jobs in Gerontology. Perhaps you could use a business/finance background to run assisted living and nursing homes. I just think trying to find a job in finance with a bank or similar institution is going to be very tough and it does not matter which university you graduate from because that area has laid off many people. The USC alumni network is fabulous and a reason to go to USC.</p>
<p>I’m in the Business Program (not finance tho). The On Campus Recruiting System is a big asset. This year some of the companies in the system are Bain, Mercer, Pwc, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Accenture, Microsoft, Navigant Consulting, BDO, Cornerstone Research, etc. etc.</p>
<p>I applied to about a dozen internships and got accepted to 4 interviews so the opportunities are still there is you are ambitious. Finance hiring is super competitive at the moment, but it will likely recover somewhat by the time you would graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>If this steep recession is part of a relatively short-term business cycle (2-3 years), the field of finance should make a modest recovery by the time you graduate.</p>
<p>So far, it seems unlikely this is a short term business cycle downturn, especially for the financial and banking sector. In saying that however, it seems unlikely that things will be worse in four years than they are right now, for employment opportunities in this sector. I’d say that in four to five years, employment opportunities would have considerably improved, especially for fresh grads who demand lower salaries and have less baggage than those with greater experience who may have loser their jobs in the current financial crisis.</p>
<p>Asking about job prospects in a local market (LA for USC) is different from how prestigious/top is the university. Barring bad markets, even sub-par state schools do well in the local market. USC is a very good school, so it will do well in LA or even California market for business. But it is no Stanford. USC has been successful in figuring out USnews ranking game, and playing it to its favor. However, if you go past the ranking game, USC is not a top top university. It fails an all too important test- AYGM. (AYGM stands for Ask Your Grand Ma how reputatable is the school. It is her opinion that will get you a job in a non-local, tough market, now, as well as 10-15 years from now). USC games are seasonal.</p>
<p>^My two cents are worth only about a penny but yours are worth only about a half a cent. </p>
<p>USC isn’t your Grand Ma’s school anymore. Many give credit to President Steven Sample, but since his tenure, USC has seen rise to admissions selectivity, rise in average SAT and GPA, major increase in endowment (OK, but everyone lost LAST year), rise in ranking on US News & World Report, and … everyone can add many more notable stats about USC, but I just want to argue your Grand Ma comment. (And I also couldn’t resist a joke with your name.) And while USC is no Stanford, Stanford is no USC- ESPECIALLY seasonally. </p>
<p>I’m just one more reason why the Trojan Network is alive and kicking.<br>
Fight On! :)</p>
<p>Anyone who has done business for a long time in Southern California knows that the USC network cannot be beat. Trojans help fellow Trojans and Trojans have a vast network throughout So Cal. As far as prestige goes, USC is getting the cream of the crop to attend their school and they have grown a lot since your parents were in college, let alone your grandmothers. Unless you are attending Harvard, there is always a “better” school, but having a school like USC, UCLA, or Cal on your degree will get you in the door for an interview at most places in So. Cal.</p>
<p>Yea I am deciding whether to attend SC and I will most likely graduate in 2013. So far the majority of these replies have been pretty encouraging :)</p>
<p>How do you rate the prospects of a double major in Business Admin and Political Science? I enjoy learning about the subject but I’m not too sure how well regarded it is, and also that employers like double degree-holding grads with contrasting majors. I’m thinking of minoring in French as well cause I love the subject, but it doesn’t seem to be very widely used in America unlike Spanish.</p>
<p>This is kind of hijacking the thread, but how effective the “Trojan Family” outside of California? I live around Boston and intend to do so after college, but wouldn’t want the USC name to go to waste.</p>
<p>“Trojan Family” means something outside of California, although is probably stronger within California. I suggest you inquire at your USC Alumni group in Boston and find out how big/active it is which would give you an idea if USC grads live in the Boston area and help out USC graduates to find jobs.</p>
<p>Knowing Spanish is a big plus in California. Perhaps you might want to consider International Relations (rather than Polltical Science) as a double major with Business Administration because of the global economy. I think the USC business school is very global business oriented. at least at the graduate school level. Many years ago, I recall seeing a very small book shop in West LA which sold French books. I don’t think French is big in LA. Remember, you may change your mind about majors/minors once you start college. This is also why USC is so good because the university offers a huge array of majors/minors to choose from. If you want to live in LA after graduation, the USC degree is very good with the Trojan family network helping to find jobs. However, I think finance is very hard to find a job now no matter which school you go to.</p>