Imagine if you will a person from the DMV moving to Southern California and stumbling across a “College and University Discussion” web forum purporting to offer insight into colleges. You find a lengthy discussion of schools like Georgetown, Johns Hopkins and UVA. With apparent authority these anonymous posters spout utter nonsense based at best on narrow outdated experiences.

That’s the impression created by the discussions of UCLA, USC and the Claremont colleges on this site. I’m not going to engage or enable the nonsense, but would just say to anyone interested in any of these colleges you owe it to yourself to visit these colleges and see for yourself. UCLA, USC and the Claremont colleges offer three VERY different college experiences – one may be right for you, but if two of these are your “top choices” you haven’t looked enough.

Anonymous wrote:Know several music and film major students currently at USC.
According to them it is is a great school for very talented students (local and overseas) who want to study arts, film directing, music, etc ...
The Greek life is very active.
There are a lot of very rich students.
There are a lot of very attractive people.
It is a party school.
The area surrounding it is very shitty and very dangerous at night.

what exactly do you learn in film school?

I've heard from some people in the industry that it's better to be a super strong writer/creative type from the english or arts department at Y or H than one of film school kids.

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lived for many years in California (but who first lived on the East Coast, and in the Midwest), this is my observation.

Some of the most successful, wealthiest, and connected I met in California attended USC. The USC alumni network is vibrant, strong, and incredibly deep in California, and frankly, USC gets a tremendous amount of respect in hiring and placement in that State as a result.

Before I lived in California, I considered USC a strong regional university, similar to NYU or Northwestern. After living in California, I would say that USC is in a different category, largely because its home is California, which is itself such an important place.

If your student plans a future in California or the West, then they cannot go wrong with USC.

there's a HUGE gap in USC alum base between norcal and socal. It isn't equal in strength all throughout the state.

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lived for many years in California (but who first lived on the East Coast, and in the Midwest), this is my observation.

Some of the most successful, wealthiest, and connected I met in California attended USC. The USC alumni network is vibrant, strong, and incredibly deep in California, and frankly, USC gets a tremendous amount of respect in hiring and placement in that State as a result.

Before I lived in California, I considered USC a strong regional university, similar to NYU or Northwestern. After living in California, I would say that USC is in a different category, largely because its home is California, which is itself such an important place.

If your student plans a future in California or the West, then they cannot go wrong with USC.

Absolutely correct. My DH went there. The alumni network is outstanding.

Those of you that know USC well, do you think it would be good fit for an African American kid from a DC private who is very handsome and popular and might be intersted in sports marketing or TV production. Are the fraternities diverse?

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lived for many years in California (but who first lived on the East Coast, and in the Midwest), this is my observation.

Some of the most successful, wealthiest, and connected I met in California attended USC. The USC alumni network is vibrant, strong, and incredibly deep in California, and frankly, USC gets a tremendous amount of respect in hiring and placement in that State as a result.

Before I lived in California, I considered USC a strong regional university, similar to NYU or Northwestern. After living in California, I would say that USC is in a different category, largely because its home is California, which is itself such an important place.

If your student plans a future in California or the West, then they cannot go wrong with USC.

One of my dad's graduate degrees is from USC. I have been very impressed with the contact he receives from USC - he consistently receives a veritable ton of contact ranging from letters to magazines and newsletters to meet/greet events in the DMV area. If I had a child interested in USC then I would strongly consider it given how active the alumni office is since that activity can be an important part of establishing a network of contacts in a given professional or geographic area.

Does anyone have a DC that goes here? If so what are your thoughts?

As someone who lived for many years in California (but who first lived on the East Coast, and in the Midwest), this is my observation.

Some of the most successful, wealthiest, and connected I met in California attended USC. The USC alumni network is vibrant, strong, and incredibly deep in California, and frankly, USC gets a tremendous amount of respect in hiring and placement in that State as a result.

Before I lived in California, I considered USC a strong regional university, similar to NYU or Northwestern. After living in California, I would say that USC is in a different category, largely because its home is California, which is itself such an important place.

If your student plans a future in California or the West, then they cannot go wrong with USC.

Anonymous wrote:Thoughts? How hard to get into??

very for an out of stater. my niece got in she had an interesting "hook" which i believe gave her the edge to get in.

Does anyone know what housing is like for upperclassmen? I see that all freshman live on campus. I know they are building more housing, but was wondering about off campus housing. Is the off campus housing right next to campus? How is that for students in terms of safety?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NYU, Tulane, UMich, USC are in the same tier. Some of you parents, or alums, are in serious denial.

How about we start the New Year trying not to put everything into tiers. It is no way to live your life. All of the schools listed are perfectly fine schools.

Agreed. And they're perfect fits for countless students.

Anonymous wrote:NYU, Tulane, UMich, USC are in the same tier. Some of you parents, or alums, are in serious denial.

How about we start the New Year trying not to put everything into tiers. It is no way to live your life. All of the schools listed are perfectly fine schools.

Know several music and film major students currently at USC.
According to them it is is a great school for very talented students (local and overseas) who want to study arts, film directing, music, etc ...
The Greek life is very active.
There are a lot of very rich students.
There are a lot of very attractive people.
It is a party school.
The area surrounding it is very shitty and very dangerous at night.

NYU, Tulane, UMich, USC are in the same tier. Some of you parents, or alums, are in serious denial.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do kids who get into HYP choose USC due to $$$

No. It's a peer to UMich and Tulane, and in-state kids that can't get into UCLA or Berkeley.

in exactly which department is it a peer of Michigans?

Not a Michigan booster btw - but USC is honestly a regional school.

. That's because there are so many opportunities in LA so graduates stay. Kind of like NYU in NYC.

NYU is a great comparison.

No one would say NYU is michigans peer