<p>UCLA gal here…
My D is going into her second year at UCLA and here’s why she didn’t even apply to USC…(and USC people, understand this comes from a SoCal family)… She did not want to spend another four years with the same kids she went to h.s. with. The other big h.s. in our neighborhood was the number one feeder h.s. to U.S.C. While on campus, the kids there and the tour guides, they all seemed just like the kids she had grown up with (not that this was a bad thing, necessarily, just a “dull” thing.)</p>
<p>My D wanted something “different” than her current life, and that won out over U.S.C.'s reputation.</p>
<p>So, in the end, she applied to, got in and picked UCLA. And she has not regretted it (other than during the frantic end of quarters.) She made 8 student films her first year and was in one school production. She is eager for the new year.</p>
<p>I guess my point is, aside from the “prestige” of a program (and USC and UCLA are both very prestigious) there is the “fit” factor. No matter how good a program is, if the school does not feel right for the kid, the kid should not go there. You need to tour schools and see how the schools feel and get your list down to size… based on “feel”, not just “name”. </p>
<p>Think about Emerson and CCM, though. Great schools.
I was kinda surprised not to see Emerson on your list…</p>