<p>I can honestly say that although there is name recognition in NY (I live in NY), USC’s academic reputation is not necessarily well regarded. Indeed, most people would definitely consider UCLA and UC Berkeley and Stanford to be the premiere Caifornia schools. USC has the reputation of being more a “safety school/school for rejects”.</p>
<p>I know this to be absolutely untrue, but this is what most of my friends and their parents think. </p>
<p>However, the “hot girls at USC” are actually quite well known. ;)</p>