Aug 23, 2008

ON COLLEGE: USC, UCLA equally good choices for higher learning

By Jason Katz / Daily News Columnist

Q: I am very interested in going to college in Southern California - possibly at UCLA or USC. Can you compare and contrast those two schools?

A: University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California are both very fine universities.

UCLA is obviously a public institution. USC, on the other hand, is private. So, in terms of tuition, if you are a California resident, UCLA is going to be less expensive.

Both schools have large student bodies - nearly 25,000 undergraduates at UCLA and 16,500 at USC. In fact, USC is one of the largest private universities in the country.

Additionally, both universities have beautiful campuses. UCLA's sprawling campus, located in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, is huge and has lots of trees and grass and amazing architecture. Definitely bring your walking shoes if you are going to visit.

I would recommend walking through Westwood Village on your way to campus. There are many fun shops, cafes and restaurants located throughout. Also, you will definitely know you are in Los Angeles because of the high concentration of movie theaters - I walked past four or five on a recent visit.

Once you reach UCLA's campus, its immense size can be a little overwhelming (especially for a prospective student or a newly arrived freshman). I would recommend taking a tour to help break the campus down into smaller pieces - "This is where the dining halls are, this is where student housing is, this is where Pauley Pavilion (the basketball arena) is, this is one of the buildings where many freshman classes meet," etc.

However, if you are planning to visit over the summer, definitely reserve your spot on a tour at least a month in advance because they fill up fast.

USC's campus is definitely not as large as UCLA's and seems a little more self-contained. Located three miles south of downtown Los Angeles, the USC campus feels almost like its own little city within a larger urban area. What sets the USC campus apart are the many plazas and fountains around which the Renaissance-style buildings stand.

Because of the campus' beautiful architecture, many films and television shows have been shot at USC, ranging from "Forrest Gump" and "The Graduate" to "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Saved by the Bell."

The area surrounding USC is not quite as nice as UCLA's Westwood Village. One current USC student told me, "The area right around USC is fine, as long as you stay within the 'bubble,' because it is all students. Though go a few blocks further, and all bets are off."

Overall, both campuses are quite nice, with each having its pros and cons. Either university would be an excellent choice.



Jason Katz is an independent college counselor and is founder of JKatz College Counseling in Redwood City. E-mail Katz at jkatz@jkatzcollegecounseling.com.