<p>I’m born in raised in NY - your claim that no one in NY heard of USC is simply false (All NY natives as you put it) It doesn’t have the instant recognition of a Stanford, but I have yet to meet anyone that didn’t at least know of USC whether its via athletics, the marching band, George Lucas, or “gasp” an academic program. I’ll admit that many assumed “USC” was U South Carolina, but when you mention Southern California - they get it. </p>
<p>Also, the second highest source of out of state students is from New York and a Princeton Review national survey of students and families ranked USC as one of their top 10 dream schools. I think its safe to say USC has some name recognition nationally. </p>
<p>[Princeton</a> Review’s 2010 ‘College Hopes & Worries Survey’ - TheStreet](<a href=“http://www.thestreet.com/story/10709802/princeton-reviews-2010-college-hopes-worries-survey.html]Princeton”>http://www.thestreet.com/story/10709802/princeton-reviews-2010-college-hopes-worries-survey.html)</p>