USC MBA reputation

I also get the sense the university is poised to grow in this regard. They've taken a very proactive stance in establishing a presence and connection with the "Pacific RIm," and as any process like this goes - it takes time.

So while I wouldn't say it's a reputation to be blown away by currently, it is a reputation that is known and steadily building. Considering Haas' obvious presence in the bay, and UCLA always being the bridesmaid to Haas, I think SC has been very smart in making this a focus of theirs. That said, I hope the momentum that is pushing the university as a whole starts picking up with Marshall. It's a great school that should be performing better than it appears to be.

I think this is a brand whose value will grow in the future. Look at the progress they've made in just the past 20 years.

Agreed. I could see Marshall becoming a top 15 school in the next ten years.

I'll try my best to share my experience about USC that is hopefully relevant to Marshall
I didn't attend USC for my MBA, but I got another graduate degree from there.

First of all, I find the campus to be amazing. The student body is also very diverse and there's a ton of school spirit. I compare it to my undergraduate school which has a reputation for school spirit, but USC blows it away. It's in an urban location in the heart of Los Angeles but the campus feels very college-like so I personally enjoy that.

Second, I know that USC has fallen in rankings (what happened?) and I'm a bit sad about this because UCLA Anderson and USC Marshall were considered peers just a few years ago but now the gap has gotten much more noticeable. However, I don't think recruiters pay close attention to rankings like people do here because USC is still highly respected in SoCal. In my own recent experience, having USC on my resume has gotten me interviews at some of the most competitive and highly desirable firms that I would have no chance at otherwise (100% truth). I'd argue that many firms in SoCal view UCLA and USC to be the same level (from undergrad level to grad level), because I've gotten shortlisted for interviews that only UCLA Anderson, Caltech, and candidates from those type of schools were invited to. However, the reputation difference starts becoming much more noticeable outside of CA. UCLA Anderson is considered regional, but USC is even more so.

Third, if you're sure about living in Southern California for a long time and you're not bothered as much about rankings, USC is worth considering further. I'm still involved with USC even after graduation and I attended a casual luncheon on campus last week to meet new admits for the program that I graduated from. The lunch food was of extreme high quality (short rib steak, crab cake, fresh seafood, tons of different desserts, etc) and this is just an example of some of the benefits that you can get by graduating from USC and living in SoCal. I basically went to campus last week for free lunch . When I go back to campus for these type of events, people call me "as part of the family". I don't know many schools that actually say that to you face to face and make it feel that way. I know my undergrad school couldn't care less.

I live in Southern California and I'm very proud to be a graduate of USC here. There's certainly the network, the many benefits of living near the school after graduation, the "brand" it gives on my resume for SoCal company recruiters, etc. I don't know everyone's different situations but if you're interested in entertainment, F500, marketing, finance (even some of the elite SoCal finance firms), non-MBB consulting, and these type of fields in the L.A. area, I think USC could be a good choice.

I 2nd this opinion. I went to USC for undergrad business. When I graduated the MBA was top 20 and falling due to bad reviews from mba graduates. Undergrad is still top 10 if I'm correct. But, seriously everyone in LA is either an alumni, someone that knows an alumni, or a wannabe...lol...I hate to sound elitist. It's all how you work it...but I had no problem getting interviews and offers and that was in a down market. Now that I have experience, my degree is becoming less of a factor in obtaining positions.

UCLA or USC is held in the same regard, no matter the rankings. Everyone still thinks USC is top 20..lol... As far as USC being known nationally or internationally, I am not so sure. One thing for sure is that the business school is full of Asians who plan to return home to work. So, even if not now, USC is definitely building an alum connection abroad. And they will see the fruit of that labor through recognition down the line...