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37 Reviews Found
Likes
- Only 2 courses per semester
- Many subjects and specializations to choose from
- Engaging campus events and food
Dislikes
- Some courses were not engaging enough
- Career Fairs were not fruitful
- Extremely limited Scholarships
- I searched using Whatsapp groups, Telegram groups and through seniors for initial accommodation. Then looked through websites like Apartments.com and Zillow.com
- $850 for a shared room in a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit. Apartment had a swimming pool and a coin-operated laundry-dryer machine.
- I didn't have as many challenges, as I was able to contact the right friends to get my housing sorted out.
- Make sure to ask about roach issues. Try to share apartments with known people or at least have phone calls with them before moving in with them. Leases are usually for one-year terms, so make sure you find good roommates. Consider going for a private room if your budget allows. If sharing, go with known people or try to see compatibility with strangers.
- Less than 0.5 miles from campus. Most Indian students live off campus in a 1-mile radius.












Likes
- Great array of courses: There are lots of interesting computer science as well as data science courses to choose from. The courses are extremely in depth with lots of projects to get your hands dirty with.
- Professors are extremely knowledgeable: Victor Adamchik, Mohammad Reza Rajati.
- Campus is beautiful, with a great mix of historic buildings as well as modern architecture. A regular trip to Trader Joe's, is an absolute must when taking a walk through the USC Village.
Dislikes
- The cohort size for certain classes is large making a one-on-one interaction with certain professors a little less common
- Being a CS student i couldn't explore more than 1 course outside my domain
- Limited on-campus jobs making it much more competitive
- I chose an off-campus housing. There were several whatsapp groups that are shared with us well before time as soon as we get our offer letters. Through those groups I connected with some people and got a flat together.
- I was lucky enough to connect with someone from the Spring intake, so i was able to join them as soon as I landed in the states. So the house was very well set-up for me beforehand because they were already living in it.
- The rent is 1000USD for a private room. My house is a 15 min walk from campus and 5 min walk from the grocery store as well as the indian store. You don't have to worry about housing, you will be provided with resources to get in touch with the right people for everything from a house to even the furniture!






 - Pallavi Pandey.jpeg)
Likes
- Strong alumni network (Trojan Family)
- Good computer architecture program with in depth Courses and labs on CPU and GPUs and expert faculty in hardware design. Research centers like ISI, Labs as sportlab, scip-lab
- Lot of Campus events and activities, min 3 events per week
Dislikes
- The surrounding area faces issues with homelessness and crime.
- Tuition, housing, and living expenses in Los Angeles are high, Even USC is a expensive Private college
- No RA and TA for Graduate students in Viterbi, Only PhD students.
- Found my accommodation via WhatsApp groups.
- Monthly rents vary from 700-1600 based on no. of sharing in a room
- Challenge was to find a good roommates, since we are moving to new country
- Search for accommodation with friends on university WhatsApp groups
- Accommodation is 10 min walk from campus. 0.5 miles. Most of the students stay in the same area as I'm


Likes
- Alumni Connections
- The manner in which professors teach
- The structure of the assignments to learn efficiently
Dislikes
- The traveling one has to do till the campus to go there is usually a good amount
- The competition for each of the positions that are open is a lot
- Connecting with other people is a little bit difficult, it's not as easy as other colleges
- Off campus is the best type of accommodation you can go for, cause not only is it cheaper than on campus but you also get to meet a lot of students in your vicinity and you can connect based on the location you are at.
- Moreover if you are on campus you are automatically enrolled within the food program which only mainly consists of non-vegetarian food so if you want flexibility it would be better if you chose off-campus housing. Average rent is $650-$800.




Likes
- Great opportunity for research
- Strong alumni base which is helpful while finding jobs
- Good campus
Dislikes
- Nothing as such because I was there during covid
I chose the University of Southern California (USC) for my MS in Computer Science due to its outstanding reputation and the comprehensive, cutting-edge curriculum it offers. USC is renowned for its strong emphasis on research and innovation, providing access to world-class faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. The factors that drove me to accept the offer include the university's robust industry connections and the vibrant tech community in Los Angeles, which offers excellent internship and job opportunities. Additionally, USC's diverse and inclusive environment, along with its extensive alumni network, ensures a supportive and enriching experience. My overall experience at USC has been exceptional. The collaborative atmosphere, coupled with ample resources and extracurricular opportunities, has significantly enhanced my academic and personal growth. Choosing USC for my MS in Computer Science has proven to be a pivotal decision, aligning perfectly with my career aspirations and providing a solid foundation for my future endeavors.
Likes
- I liked the facilities at the university. They are very helpful and always appreciate us for everything.
- The environment of the university was also nice for Indian students.
Dislikes
- I didn't like the placement of the university.
- If you really need a job you have to search for it yourself.
- Every student can relate that placements promised to us during the admission time are not really fulfilled.
I liked the program of ms in computer science and I thought that it would be a better career option that I had decided to step into. Our university also helps in making connections which is a skill that I needed to develop. Overall my college experience was great. Faculty members are helpful and always ready to support us. I'm quite disappointed about the placement but overall a great learning experience.
Likes
- The community I was able to find in the film school, the friends I made, and the connections.
- I was fortunate enough to establish that will set me up for a strong career.
Dislikes
- The administration’s clear prioritization of profit— ignoring Greek life’s rampant sexual exploitation, arresting and detaining students for peacefully protesting against USC’s investment in Israel, etc
I enjoyed my time at USC. I felt it was academically enriching and that I learned a lot, as well as made many long term friends. The administration very often made it apparent that they cared more about money and profit than the well-being of their students, however. This is not new for USC, which has been involved with many, many scandals. Scholarship, a top film school in the world, location, extremely low acceptance rate, the greater university it was a part of, and its school spirit and prestige.
I love the unique program of Intelligence and Cyber Operations that USC offers and I thought that it would be a better career path that I had originally decided to step into. Instead of majoring in data science, I would just minor in it to apply it to a different field I was interested in -- cybersecurity. Another reason I took this offer is that USC is close to home and was a cheaper option than the other option I was deciding on. I loved that USC is a social school, built on making connections which is a skill that I needed to develop, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall my college experience at USC has been phenomenal and I definitely wouldn't change a thing. It truly is a great place and I want to make sure I can make use of it for the next three years. I know this is cliche but it is the people that make USC what USC truly is. I would love to continue meeting new people and enjoying my time at USC!
Likes
- To be honest as I have mentioned the overall experience is something which makes things great. Good faculties with great ratio where students can have one on one interactions with students, taking courses from other school allows to understand more about different schools, their teaching styles.
Dislikes
- Fees could be a bit on a lower side, the amount of credits which I take from the other schools are restricted like for ex. I need to take 16 units from Viterbi then I can take rest of them from other.
For admission I required SOP, LOR’s, CV. I mostly focused on demonstrating my past experiences and how did it align with my future program aspirations. One of the top colleges for MEM, Engineering department ranked amongst one of the top in the nation, program structure and flexibility for ex. I can take courses from Business School. It’s great overall. Good campus life with reasonable chances of getting part time job, good infrastructure facilities for recreational activities and enough libraries to make sure we study right before the exams
Likes
- The environment, experience, coursework, people. The best things are the events that keep on happening in the campus to make sure students don't feel alone and have the feeling of fun by having free food, games etc.
Dislikes
- I think the university is in a not so good area. There are regular petty crimes but that's the in general state of the USA. Other things include lesser meal options for vegetarian but that's again the in general state of the USA
"I think the key in general is to ask the professors under whom you have worked to write a recommendation letter so that they can relate and write exactly what you did for LORs. For SOPs I think dictating your like and showcasing the skills required and core values of the universities to your profile makes a lot of difference. I had made it to the final round of Dartmouth just based on making my profile align with the uni values. CV: should be professional one with college and professional work properly filled. " "USC, the main reason was the tag of MEMPC for my program and it's reputation, and the second reason was the flexibility of the course to go through marshall school of business to pick and choose my course. Other factors included the location and weather as well. " I like the overall experience of the university. There's so much to learn, live and experience. It's thrill for sure can be stressful but at the same exciting to learn how to make your own path.














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