USC (US) vs UCL

I have been offered places at both the University of Southern California to study B.A. Economics in Dornsife (might try to internally transfer to Marshall) and at UCL to study History, Politics and Economics in SSEES with an offer of AAA. Apart from the obvious difference cost of tuition, would anyone have any input? My goal is to graduate from undergrad and try to do a masters at Wharton, HBS or CBS and work in finance in New York.
Thanks.

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Tbh I don't think USC is really as reputable as UCL.It's more where the California rich send their kids that couldn't get into UCLA/Berkeley/Stanford in my estimation...

If you're a UK student eligible for funding from SFE I think it's an easy decision. If you're an international student the differences in cost may be a lot closer (or may even swing in favour of USC if you get any scholarship funding or similar) so that could be a bigger factor in making a decision.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Original post by artful_lounger

Tbh I don't think USC is really as reputable as UCL.It's more where the California rich send their kids that couldn't get into UCLA/Berkeley/Stanford in my estimation...
If you're a UK student eligible for funding from SFE I think it's an easy decision. If you're an international student the differences in cost may be a lot closer (or may even swing in favour of USC if you get any scholarship funding or similar) so that could be a bigger factor in making a decision.

I would agree that UCL overall brand may be stronger than USC but the HPE course is in SSEES and has a 45% offer rate which IMO kind of devalues it a bit because when I went to the offer holder day they looked like they were begging the students to come. Also would you agree that UCL isn’t really as reputable as UCLA/Berkeley/Stanford anyways?

Reply 3

random_matt

Original post by Anonymous

Personally, you sound like you just want to go to the US, so go there. UCL is a better institution; but I doubt it would hinder your aspirations if you decided not to go there.

Reply 4

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Anonymous

Stanford debatable, but given that UCL has bilateral exchanges with UCLA and Berkeley (as well as the other UCs) evidently they feel it's equivalently reputable.