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The University of Southern California

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityA- Faculty AccessibilityA-
Useful SchoolworkA- Excess CompetitionB+
Academic SuccessB+ Creativity/ InnovationB+
Individual ValueA- University Resource UseA
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyA- FriendlinessB+
Campus MaintenanceA Social LifeB+
Surrounding CityB+ Extra CurricularsB+
SafetyB
Describes the student body as:
Friendly, Approachable, Snooty

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly, Helpful

Male
SAT1360
Quite Bright
Lowest Rating
Safety
B
Highest Rating
University Resource Use
A
He rated most things higher than other students did.
Date: Apr 02 2008
Major: History/Histories (art history/etc.) (This Major's Salary over time)
I will be graduating from USC in May and have come to love this school! Initially, I was not very excited about coming to USC. I thought it would not be academically rigorous and full of shallow upper-middle class sorts doting on a handful of stellar athletes.

Turns out, USC is incredibly diverse and there's a circle of friends out there for anyone at this school. There's no question that many at USC fit the stereotype of the "University of Spoiled Children," but I'm a nerd and I've met many bright, hard-working people who love USC. Fraternities and sororities are a big deal in many students' lives, but I've only gone to two or three parties on "The Row"—the heart of Greek life at USC—and never felt like I was missing much. One certainly doesn't have to join a fraternity or sorority to have a social life.

Faculty and students are generally friendly and approachable (in humanities departments at least). The quality of the student body seems to improve each year. USC is definitely a "trendy" school and is becoming very selective, taking less than a fourth of applicants these days. What I most dislike are the science courses (all USC students must take at least two), which tend to be very large and impersonal. Avoid dorm housing, by the way, if you want peace and quiet in the evenings.

The campus is very nice, but you'll feel trapped unless you have a car (or a friend with a car) since the area around USC sucks and Los Angeles has a lousy public transportation system. It's not as unsafe as some people imagine. Just don't walk alone on dark streets at 2AM. It's really just a matter of common sense.

I would definitely recommend USC. I did very well here academically and just got accepted into a top doctoral program in my field. Can't really complain about the results. The worst part about going here is probably the immediate area (South Central LA), though the school has been making great efforts to develop the area in recent years. It seems that USC is just getting better and better and consequently harder and harder to get into.

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The University of Southern California
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