USC is not submitting by mail this year! decisions will be out march 26
Serenity Now!
No serenity. This talking keeps me from worrying too much. It helps time pass by
@cowboysfan2001 You are not going to get an unbiased comparison of USC and UCLA on this page. There is, however, another thread on CC (and many others I’m sure) comparing USC, UCLA and UCB and offering many data points to the questions you mention. I would suggest you pose your questions there.
^^^ Likely true. But in reality, you are going to find some form of bias across CC. It is all subjective after all.
I have had at least one child at USC from August 2014 forward. And we of course started dealing with them in the fall of 2013 when my older daughter first applied. There have been a handful of issues that I would have preferred been handled differently by USC over those last 6+ years, but when evaluating everything in terms of admissions, financial aid, academic advising, the course registration process, student/parent communications, housing, etc., I remain very content and satisfied with USC overall. Over time, I believe that most students and their parents come to think of USC as a well-oiled machine that really endeavors to meet and surpass the expectations of everyone who has become a part of their extended Trojan family.
Now clearly my family’s opinion were first and foremost swayed by the reality that both of my daughters were admitted and attended and then had tremendously satisfying experiences while at USC. I fully acknowledge that our experience is our family’s alone. But it is also why I still come back to CC and post about USC in hopes of helping others by answering questions or sharing our insights. I, like @CADREAMIN , have had extremely positive experiences regarding USC, and we welcome the opportunity to assist others as they possibly embark on a similar journey.
And its understandable then that many have contrary experiences. Some simply opt to lash out against USC because they were denied a merit scholarship or later denied admission altogether. And I understand how that disappointment will forever change certain individuals’ views of USC. After all, 89% or so of all applicants are likely going to fail to be admitted this cycle.
For those who do gain admission and then must decide where to enroll. I would certainly not base your decision on something as simple as CC posts, regardless of whether someone like myself is decidedly pro-USC or not. I would do ample research and not just here on CC.
Good luck…
I do think unless a person had a child attend both schools, it can be difficult to offer a fair comparison, which is why any other thread on here is likely to offer equally biased opinions. Having said that, I do try to always present the good, bad and ugly about USC and not paint it all unicorns and rainbows. Overall we have been thrilled with our experiences and subsequent results of a USC education, but when things aren’t great, both @WWWard and I call out the situation.
What is funny across CC is how obvious the “lash out” posts are - the zinger posts by someone with no experience other than perhaps applying, and perhaps not getting in, or not getting a scholarship, or enough aid, or that doesn’t like a certain football team won that weekend, etc. Some posters hang on to bias based bitterness for a very long time. Those are least helpful and most obvious.
No question, they are both excellent schools, but of course they are different. The best comparison I can provide of the two schools is the factors we used in choosing USC over UCLA in three different instances. Meaning they were accepted and we went to things like the engineering open house and other student welcome events, tours, random visits, sporting events…so it wasn’t a slam dunk, we went in open minded for each student. So call it actual data or at least, actual perspective. It included:
- we like private education (did public until hs, then switched over)
- USC provides major flexibility - being able to change and double major was most important criteria for us and most influential difference. The worst thing is having to get a major one really doesn’t want and not be able to explore others after spending all that time and money. We felt UCLA discourages double majoring cause they need to push kids out to make room for next batch. USC will let you stay as long as you want as long as you can pay the bill.
Now if you are 100% sure of your major this may not matter (is any 18 year old?), but in our situations it did. - the connections and lifetime network of USC - it’s a very real thing. We felt a stronger loyalty to helping others out of USC. People give back at USC, we like that. We felt a large part of the pop at UCLA just gets their education and runs into the sunset.
- AT UCLA, mine didn’t like randomly assigned housing (without a survey or by major) so an engineer/pre-med could be placed with someone less serious. They wanted to be with like-minds throughout their housing and not rely on making friends in class which can be challenging. USC matches room mates and does great job at it overall.
- did not want three in a room, ever
- everytime we went to the UCLA general services (many many times) area it seemed dirty and chaotic
- the cost difference wasn’t as much as stated if factor in 5 years for UCLA and all the other perks of a private education, we thought value was there
- UCLA never felt cozy, always felt like the masses and inpersonal
- they all had that “this is home” feeling when visiting USC after admitted - it really is a thing you can feel and see
Of course those were our factors which certainly don’t mean a thing to some people. Everyone has to come up with their own reasons, likes and dislikes before they choose, so those are the ones we used.
I can’t compare the actual education or experience because mine only attended one of them. But let’s face it, can anyone going wrong in choosing either of these schools? Likely not. If one doesn’t send kids to both schools (or a student didn’t attend both), comparison data just isn’t great data. Frankly some of the best info is from transfer students that attend both!
Good luck, there are so many great schools out there waiting for your brilliance and hard work!
My D did not apply to UCLA because of the size. Initially she didn’t even want to tour USC because she felt it was too large. But we were touring Lmu with a friend and he also wanted to see USC.
I agree with most of @CADREAMIN. My D has already changed her major and has two minors and will graduate in four years.
Our high school sends many kids to both schools and from my personal perspective, they attract similar students. Obviously smart students but also students who are involved and enthusiastic. Students that want big sports and lots of spirit. Work hard and play hard philosophy.
I live in CA so cost is a factor and many choose UCLA for that reason.
@WWWard Thank you so much for your input. I definitely don’t plan on making a decision based on a CC thread. I also am not confident I will be admitted into both universities. The decision might be made for me.
Earlier you mentioned the only public school you’d be okay with sending your kids to was UVA. I am curious as to why that is? What’s so special about UVA?
For the sake of people uninterested in the differences between USC and UCLA, I am going to start my own thread where people can give students deciding between the two insight. Here is the link for those interested: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/2178686-ucla-v-usc-p1.html?new=1
@CADREAMIN and @WWWard thank you for your posts - all of them! We live in Austin Texas and USC is the only out-of-state university he (my son) has applied to. USC is his reach school but his dream school as well for the music composition program. He was admitted to the University of Texas but doesn’t like that he’s more of a number and less of an individual. The private universities have been a much different experience and have also been much more “generous “ with scholarships and grant monies for him. He comes from a high school with not too many resources available for him. We like the fact that USC looks to see if he took advantage of the resources his school has and does less comparison to a student with an abundance of more resources across town. This seems to true up the comparison and gives kiddos, like my son, a better chance for admission to a top university. The state schools (at least in Texas) from our experience do not take the same approach to evaluating students - not sure if it’s because they lack the employees in admissions to do this but it does place a biased burden on those in less privileged areas (at least for the more “specialized” majors, I.e. music composition)
@cowboysfan2001 You’re welcome. UVa seems like a great university. All of our research into it was very positive, and it seemed far more similar to a private university via its nature, size and offerings than a traditional state university. Plus, I know two people who attended. Each of them loved their experience there. They too described it as far more like an elite private university vs what it technically is… an elite public university. Good luck… hopefully you have both to choose from.
@CADREAMIN Very well said.
@fd1676 You’re welcome. Good luck.
We’re from San Antonio, and our son chose USC (SCA) over UT (Moody) last year primarily for this reason. UT is humungous, even within the major (RTF). Plan II is great for working closely with students and faculty, but very selective. He has transitioned well into campus life at USC and definitely doesn’t feel like a number.
Our son’s school is very similar (minimal resources, very small class, etc.) so he personalized his essay answers with word pictures and stories descriptive of his environment. No graduate in the school’s 20 year history has every applied to USC, so they never heard of his school. His assigned admission counselor seemed to be intrigued by that.
@romns116 Fantastic to hear your son is thriving at USC. Great to hear affirmation on our experiences with UT vs the USC process. We shall see but if not USC then he will opt for a small local private university that has an outstanding music program as well. Thank you for taking the time to read my post and to respond!
Coming from an East Coast perspective, I can tell you that as it relates to the perception of the caliber of the schools, USC and UCLA are pretty much on the same level. I personally prefer the smaller size of USC and the fact that it has semesters vs. quarters. For anyone lucky enough to get accepted to both, you should visit and see which one feels right. I do think the student to faculty ratio is much smaller at USC…another bonus in my eyes.
As it relates to the veri-tax soap opera…
There have been many different and logically thought out opinions on this. We did NOT apply for aid but I have to admit, I am curious to see if the veri-tax email that some people received does correlate with an acceptance, so maybe when people post decisions next week, we can say whether or not we got the email (if we applied for aid). Not a big deal either way but I feel like it would be interesting to know, and useful for future applicants.
Also-same with the SDA open house postcard! (Obviously not that it is happening anymore) Can you let us know if you received the card and also were accepted? Thx!
@collegemomjam we received the veri-tax email. My son really feels like he won’t be accepted so we may blow this whole veri-tax email accepted “conspiracy “ out of the water! Haha. But seriously, we plan to post next week the outcome
@fd1676 but your son got into UT Austin sooo he may be very well qualified
@biochemmajor11 agree. He is well qualified but probably pessimistic after the UT experience. Walked away not feeling very special and he’s probably being over cautious and not wanting to seem too invested in USC to me - trying to be a “tough” guy about it. I, however, am always optimistic and try not to compare his stats and high school experience to others especially with USC as they really do seem to take a better holistic review
I received an email from usc ( a follow up for the veritax since my form hasn’t gone through) that I need to fill out the form still. Is this automated? Since decisions are already made and I’m getting an email about FA, is this a good sign?
For those who applied for FA as well, I would just start to prepare yourself for the wide disparity in how each college and university approach that subject when it comes to gift aid, loans, etc. Back in 2012-13, NYU was among the schools my older daughter was considering. Then, her best friend got in and was shocked at how little financial assistance was being offered by NYU. That reality altered her best friend’s dream scenario, and she ended up having to attend a state university here in Florida. It led to my daughter not even applying there.
When both of my daughters were eventually reviewing FA offers, the range was quite shocking… with USC, Emory, Princeton and Rice among those being the most generous, and with schools like UTexas and UMiami offering the least. UTexas was in fact the very worst… as the only school offering $0.
So just prepare yourself. If admitted to USC, the FA offering this cycle might even be better than the generosity that allowed me to send two daughters there, including a year when they overlapped. Their changes in FA policy for this next class is supposed to be a big improvement. Hopefully so… as it would be a shame to get in to a dream school scenario only to realize a week later that it is simply an unrealistic financial burden for the admitted student’s family.
Best of luck on both fronts… getting in… and being able to make it work financially.