The Infamous UCLA v. USC Forum

[aryathegreat]

I recently was accepted off the waitlist at both schools and after doing a quick search, I didnt find too many objective postings regarding the small difference between the two. I honestly cant seem to nail down a reason to choose either. Any personal advice would be appreciated.

[bk1]

The objective truth:

These schools are peers. At comparable cost, you should pick your personal preference.

[aryathegreat]

I was afraid thats all I would have to go by... Is there really nothing else?

[bdubs]

Location, atmosphere, etc??? There are plenty of ways to pick between comparable schools. It usually starts by visting both, although it may be hard considering most schools are already done for the year.

[Knock]

I was afraid thats all I would have to go by... Is there really nothing else?

Where would you rather live for 3 years? The locations are substantially different.

[aryathegreat]

Does anyone know how competitiveness differs between UCLA and USC? Since UCLA has 100 more students per year, does that affect internship/job opportunities?

[dpk711]

Does anyone know how competitiveness differs between UCLA and USC? Since UCLA has 100 more students per year, does that affect internship/job opportunities?

Both are peer schools but the Trojan Network seems to help a lot especially ITE.

[Curry]

Does anyone know how competitiveness differs between UCLA and USC? Since UCLA has 100 more students per year, does that affect internship/job opportunities?

Both are peer schools but the Trojan Network seems to help a lot especially ITE.

Not really. They tend to place almost the same in big law (alternating higher placement every 2 years i think) and their clerkship/academia/PI numbers are also very similar. The Trojan network is huge for a lot of things in California. Law isn't one of them.

[dpk711]

Does anyone know how competitiveness differs between UCLA and USC? Since UCLA has 100 more students per year, does that affect internship/job opportunities?

Both are peer schools but the Trojan Network seems to help a lot especially ITE.

Not really. They tend to place almost the same in big law (alternating higher placement every 2 years i think) and their clerkship/academia/PI numbers are also very similar. The Trojan network is huge for a lot of things in California. Law isn't one of them.

Maybe saying that the Trojan Network helps "a lot" was hyperbole but it does help at least a little bit. Many practicing attorneys prefer USC over UCLA exactly because of the network. Although UCLA is better for govt. jobs and is a slightly more portable degree nationally, USC does slightly better in the private sector. Cali BIGLAW though is roughly the same though for both.

[glewz]

USC is Really Really Really Fun.

[dpk711]

USC is Really Really Really Fun.

This. Great parties. Beautiful girls. I enjoyed my four years there.

[Curry]

Does anyone know how competitiveness differs between UCLA and USC? Since UCLA has 100 more students per year, does that affect internship/job opportunities?

Both are peer schools but the Trojan Network seems to help a lot especially ITE.

Not really. They tend to place almost the same in big law (alternating higher placement every 2 years i think) and their clerkship/academia/PI numbers are also very similar. The Trojan network is huge for a lot of things in California. Law isn't one of them.

Maybe saying that the Trojan Network helps "a lot" was hyperbole but it does help at least a little bit. Many practicing attorneys prefer USC over UCLA exactly because of the network. Although UCLA is better for govt. jobs and is a slightly more portable degree nationally, USC does slightly better in the private sector. Cali BIGLAW though is roughly the same though for both.

Cali biglaw is the same for both but USC does better in the private sector? When UCLA is seen as the more national school of the two?

Anyways, I'm not here to get into a shitting match with you. The fact is, both schools are peer schools. You need to figure out which one you like more because they place basically the same.

[dpk711]

Biglaw does not equal private sector. But yeah, I agree with Curry, pick the one which gives you more $$$ and/or the one you feel most comfortable at.

[weee]

USC is Really Really Really Fun.

This. Great parties. Beautiful girls. I enjoyed my four years there.

I enjoyed my four years there too, and I also never met one law student the entire time, you won't be an undergrad, and the Law student scene will most likely be completely independent.

Just go with your gut feeling, both schools are good.

Also I met a lot more UCLA Law people in my interviews than Trojans, as far as I can tell the focus has been much more on your Law school in the LA job scene than your undergrad for who they place you in interviews with.

[99.9luft]

UCLA hands down.

[dpk711]

UCLA hands down.

No. At least for LA, this is not true.

[99.9luft]

UCLA hands down.

No. At least for LA, this is not true.

Know some UCLA and USC biglaw first years, brosef. It is true. USC does not (despite the TLS clamor) have a clear advantage over the LA market. When it comes to biglaw, they are equal, with UCLA having advantage at some top 20 firms, and USC at others.

When it comes to g-nt stuff, PT stuff, and in some cases IP stuff, UCLA has the upper hand, from what my sources tell me.

[dpk711]

UCLA hands down.

No. At least for LA, this is not true.

Know some UCLA and USC biglaw first years, brosef. It is true. USC does not (despite the TLS clamor) have a clear advantage over the LA market. When it comes to biglaw, they are equal, with UCLA having advantage at some top 20 firms, and USC at others.

When it comes to g-nt stuff, PT stuff, and in some cases IP stuff, UCLA has the upper hand, from what my sources tell me.

As you said for BIGLAW they're pretty much identical. I will even concede that UCLA may have some slight advantages as I mentioned before with govt. jerbs and etc. But saying "UCLA hands down" is a bit too extreme. I would say OP go to each school and choose which one he/she likes better assuming the COA is similar.

[glewz]

Know some UCLA and USC biglaw first years, brosef. It is true. USC does not (despite the TLS clamor) have a clear advantage over the LA market. When it comes to biglaw, they are equal, with UCLA having advantage at some top 20 firms, and USC at others.

When it comes to g-nt stuff, PT stuff, and in some cases IP stuff, UCLA has the upper hand, from what my sources tell me.

Sounds kinda fluffy to me man, no offense.

OP, if I were you, I'd attend USC for the game-winning reason that dpk pointed out:

Great parties. Beautiful girls.

[dpk711]

OP, if I were you, I'd attend USC for the game-winning reason that dpk pointed out:

Great parties. Beautiful girls.

You. I like you.

[99.9luft]

UCLA hands down.

No. At least for LA, this is not true.

Know some UCLA and USC biglaw first years, brosef. It is true. USC does not (despite the TLS clamor) have a clear advantage over the LA market. When it comes to biglaw, they are equal, with UCLA having advantage at some top 20 firms, and USC at others.

When it comes to g-nt stuff, PT stuff, and in some cases IP stuff, UCLA has the upper hand, from what my sources tell me.

As you said for BIGLAW they're pretty much identical. I will even concede that UCLA may have some slight advantages as I mentioned before with govt. jerbs and etc. But saying "UCLA hands down" is a bit too extreme. I would say OP go to each school and choose which one he/she likes better assuming the COA is similar.

Right. The reason why i said 'hands down' is because given that they are equal in biglaw and ucla has an upper hand in other areas, PLUS given that UCLA has a better national reputation, to me, personally, it would be an obvious choice to go to UCLA. However, if, say, USC gave the OP more aid than UCLA, i can see how the situation is no longer 'hands down' and it would make sense to take more $$.

I agree with visiting the schools and figuring out the COA, though. (but then again, Westwood/Brentwood is so much better than LA). I'm too biased as an LA person, perhaps.

[Curry]

OP, if I were you, I'd attend USC for the game-winning reason that dpk pointed out:

Great parties. Beautiful girls.

You. I like you.

Cause UCLA girls are hideous and UCLA has no party life.

[dpk711]

OP, if I were you, I'd attend USC for the game-winning reason that dpk pointed out:

Great parties. Beautiful girls.

You. I like you.

Cause UCLA girls are hideous and UCLA has no party life.

The USC Law vs. UCLA law debate was arguable. But USC girls vs. UCLA girls really isn't.

[Curry]

Cause UCLA girls are hideous and UCLA has no party life.

The USC Law vs. UCLA law debate was arguable. But USC girls vs. UCLA girls really isn't.

You've never even been to UCLA have you?

[glewz]

You. I like you.

Cause UCLA girls are hideous and UCLA has no party life.

The USC Law vs. UCLA law debate was arguable. But USC girls vs. UCLA girls really isn't.

180 on that bro