JoeMahmah wrote:
As a former Bruin it pains me to concede the fact that USC is far better in SoCal because of the alumni network. If Entrepreneurship/Entertainment is your thing, then USC blows UCLA out of the water. However, if you want to work in finance or MC outside of Los Angeles, I would argue that UCLA has a noticeable edge, definitely in NYC, and even in SF.
The cultures are a little different as well with UCLA admissions more focused on creating team players, while USC is focused on creating leaders. It's similar to the difference between schools such as Kellogg/Tuck (emphasis on team players) and Harvard/LBS (emphasis on leaders).
I understand where you are coming from on the money front. Historically, USC is known to be pretty generous with regards to financial aid.
How about for Finance in SoCal? What are the chances for getting into Investment Banking in the LA area coming out of USC? I am a career switcher into Finance, so I would probably target second tier banks or boutiques in the LA area. Do many Trojans get Associate positions at these smaller banks? Thanks!