UCLA vs. USC (out-of-state)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UCLA has a housing crisis, all freshmen live in triples. Something to consider.

Just to be clear, UCLA guarantees 4 years of housing to its students and yes, triples are common for freshman and sophomores. Singles, even in apartment spaces most people are doubled up, are typically reserved for those with special needs.

Once a student chooses to move off campus, they lose guaranteed housing and would have to hope to lottery back in.

If memory serves two years on campus is more typical at USC. And since USC is a private, gated, campus, homeless are not allowed on the grounds, which is not the case at public UCLA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA. This isn’t even a choice. UCLA is in Westwood surrounded by Bel Air and Westwood with Santa Monica beach accessible by bus. There is no more an issue getting classes at UCLA then most other large schools. The school’s food ranking is #1 in the country. It’s the superior school on all fronts. Housing crisis is a drama filled term. The first years get housing and then for all other years you find an apartment with roommates.

USC is literally in one of the worst neighborhoods of Los Angeles and is full of spoiled rich kids who legacy status helped to buy their way in. Its ranking is far worse than UCLA.

I view them as exact equals, and before first gen/pell grant became the basis for ranking, USC was ranked ahead of UCLA.

UCLA was ranked ahead of USC before the gen/pell grant became a thing.

2017 usc was ahead of ucla, and 2018 they were tied

That was 6 years ago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA has a housing crisis, all freshmen live in triples. Something to consider.

Just to be clear, UCLA guarantees 4 years of housing to its students and yes, triples are common for freshman and sophomores. Singles, even in apartment spaces most people are doubled up, are typically reserved for those with special needs.

Once a student chooses to move off campus, they lose guaranteed housing and would have to hope to lottery back in.

If memory serves two years on campus is more typical at USC. And since USC is a private, gated, campus, homeless are not allowed on the grounds, which is not the case at public UCLA

Gee, I guess USC students never leave campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USC every day of the week -- it offers a far superior undergraduate experience with significantly more student resources

I think this is where I end up unless kid really prefers some aspect of UCLA. I just can’t wrap my head around paying private school prices for a public university. Different story if in state tuition, but op already clarified that isn’t the case here.

That is not a smart way to think about it. You need to think about what will be best for your child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USC every day of the week -- it offers a far superior undergraduate experience with significantly more student resources

Agreed.
USC professor told the students in one 300 level class, if you don’t have an internship lined up for the summer, let us know. We will find one for you.
To the person who asked ‘why pick a school for the landscaping?!’’…. It’s obviously not about the horticulture dummy, it’s the Resources of a prviate institution.

I would take this comment with a grain of salt. I know a USC student who presently has no internship for the summer and is pretty stressed out and he said the school is not helpful in this regard

[Anonymous]

UCLA and Berkeley have outsized reputations both within the US and internationally. USC is fine but frankly it can’t shake its reputation as the University of Spoiled Children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UCLA. This isn’t even a choice. UCLA is in Westwood surrounded by Bel Air and Westwood with Santa Monica beach accessible by bus. There is no more an issue getting classes at UCLA then most other large schools. The school’s food ranking is #1 in the country. It’s the superior school on all fronts. Housing crisis is a drama filled term. The first years get housing and then for all other years you find an apartment with roommates.

USC is literally in one of the worst neighborhoods of Los Angeles and is full of spoiled rich kids who legacy status helped to buy their way in. Its ranking is far worse than UCLA.

I view them as exact equals, and before first gen/pell grant became the basis for ranking, USC was ranked ahead of UCLA.

I randomly looked at 2 years. There isn’t really a meaningful differenc3
UCLA was ranked ahead of USC before the gen/pell grant became a thing.

2017 usc was ahead of ucla, and 2018 they were tied

That was 6 years ago

[Anonymous]

UCLA has the better academic reputation. It is one of the crown jewels of the UC system and their economics dept is top notch. Westwood is a nice neighborhood, but a bit cut off from main part of LA. However, being a public university, there are overcrowding issues and constrained resource issues. You also have to line up and apply to join clubs. There is more diversity, particularly Asian students and economic diversity. It's more down to earth.

USC is closer to DTLA but is less diverse than UCLA, including less economically diverse. Lots of kids from elite families there and kids of celebs/influencer types but they keep to themselves and don't really socialize with people outside their social group. The cheating scandal further knocked its reputation. It's rep in economics is lower than UCLA but it has an excellent film school.

[Anonymous]

We saw way more racial diversity, both among students and prospective students, at USC compared to UCLA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We saw way more racial diversity, both among students and prospective students, at USC compared to UCLA.

But not more economic diversity.

[Anonymous]

My neighbors kid goes to usc and the area is so unsafe. It has greatly influenced her college experience in a negative way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t forget the homeless. LA is littered with them everywhere. I’d pass on the whole area.

What looks like homeless might just be Bill Walton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We saw way more racial diversity, both among students and prospective students, at USC compared to UCLA.

But not more economic diversity.

Oh so idealistic. Most of us don’t live in suburbs of economic diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighbors kid goes to usc and the area is so unsafe. It has greatly influenced her college experience in a negative way.

If she really was negative on it, she would have transferred.

[Anonymous]

Every kid I know at UCLA is very happy and loves it. I know 2 kids transferring out of USC. The rich entitled classmates are a big reason.