University of Michigan v University of Southern California

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:30 years ago answer was easily UMich, but that’s long in the past.

Tough as it is for alumni to admit, Mich is now on par with Wiscy, Iowa, or Indiana - more a testament to how those schools have evened the playing field from an undergrad and research perspective.

USC has risen by leaps and bounds in terms of prestige during that period - USC hands down

No, not a chance. Kids not getting into MI and USC are being accepted to Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana

[Anonymous]

Michigan is basically a safety school for kids who can’t get into USC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Michigan is the safety for west coast kids who can’t get into Cal, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and USC.

Although this is a tangent, it is true.

The reason is, Cal/UCLA/UCSB and other UC's are mandated to take kids from California public high schools.
So kids from private high schools don't really have an equal shot at the UC schools.
USC is a great alternative, however; you can't throw a stick around here (Los Angeles) without hitting a kid with a USC parent/grandparent etc, basically a USC legacy kid. (Same with Stanford, fwiw)

So if you are a private school kid with no hooks, you look towards Michigan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck getting in to both! My DC did in 2021, EA @ U of M and RD (USC doesn’t have EA/ED) w/Thematic Option plus merit $$$ @ USC. Love USC

USC has EA as of this year.

[Anonymous]

I would say it is slightly easier to get into Michigan from this area than USC, over the past two to three admission years.

[Anonymous]

Michigan. Ann Arbor is a great college town.

[Anonymous]

MIc

Michigan!

[Anonymous]

I would say USC since I am from California (despite living in DC for 20+ years). My husband would say Michigan since he is a loyal alum.

[Anonymous]

Given similar cost, probably USC due to the weather and city. Michigan is considered the much better school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Michigan. Ann Arbor is a great college town.

That line may have worked before TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram. But now kids are too informed and savvy. If genuinely offered admission to both, how many kids in 2022 are turning down USC for Ann Arbor? Maybe 10 out of 100 — and the 10 is likely just regional bias, ie California seems too far away from their middle west or east coast home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given similar cost, probably USC due to the weather and city. Michigan is considered the much better school.

For undergrad? No. Private is always superior.

[Anonymous]

Why would you go to a crowded public in Michigan?

Is this even a question?

USC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Michigan. How is this even a question?

Totally agree. Really surprised by the responses here.

[Anonymous]

I’m sure a handful of prospective engineering students would pick Michigan but nearly every other kid would pick USC. USC actually offers most engineering majors.

[Anonymous]

Premature question. Let's wait until the game is played.