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Education Quality   B
Collaboration/Competitive   B

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Quite Bright
First of all, USC is the great school. And my "actual" department is extremely great. USC reputation is very good and the academic is very strong.

However, I just want to point out one thing that many international students have to suffer at the moment they are starting their academic at USC. It is about The American Language Institute (ALI).

If you asked honest opinion from international students who have a chance (been forced) to take any ALI classes. The same answers will be, it's the "USC rip-off" campaign, and nothing else. This ALI only need your money, the knowledge came later. Many incoming students who already impressed the school environment (by their own department) have to stop the impression with the dark-side of USC... "The ALI".

Why? First, it's very expensive, the unit price is almost the same as a very good class offering by the "real" department in which student intends/more-than-willing to take. Second, the class is not in-any-aspect good. The quality of teaching is bad. The teachers attitude are even worst. Third, the most important, ALI always come-up with stupid policies to force you take its classes. If your TOEFL < threshold, you need to take it... even year 200x I can't believe in USA still have this kind of scam publicly. I know it's informed by admission, but it's like you buy a car bundle with motorcycle... it's lame... Top schools never allow this to happen... OR if you are TA, no matter your TOEFL score (they know how to deal with this hah), then you will need to take stupid EXAM (not even by any standard test) and the people who examine you are the ALI's staffs who are ready to put you in some classes... ... these classes never improve TA skill at any rate.. everybody knows.. it's just for money...but no one say it outloud... It's a SIN... TA is now just a scapegoat.. Believe me, international TAs can teach if they are selected by the department.. the only people who cannot teach are those in ALI school.
Individual Value: A+, Education Quality: F
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Nov 11 2009 2nd Year Female -- Class 2007  
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Quite Bright
Great school, But rec facilities are horrible, always overcrowded. The gym is fully equipped for a small D3 school not a 32,000 D1 fully funded school.
Education Quality: A+, Individual Value: B-
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Nov 08 2009 1st Year Male -- Class 2011  
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Quite Bright
I have graduated from USC's Marshall business school quite a while back. I have to say that I was totally dissatisfied with my college undergrad experience at USC. I think my huge dissatisfaction stemmed from the a-hole attitude that L.A. people have in general. I also HATED my experience living in the dormitories. I lived in Marks Tower during my freshmen year, and had problems with neighbors turning up their music deliberately to annoy me. I talked to my RA and the head RA, and basically, they didn't seem to want to help me. There was also this a-hole indian punk named ajay who always kept bumping into me who wanted to start fights with me. Basically, USC students in general are immature and childish people. I also had a horrible experience living in the dorms during my sophomore year. I had students around me throw trash in front of my door and place a condom on my doorknob. I wish I would not have gone to USC and spend a single penny for this school. I will not send my kids to this corrupt, a-hole, attitude problem-laced school in the future.
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Oct 22 2009 4th Year Male -- Class 2005  
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Quite Bright
I am a hardworking student, who enjoys learning for the sake of learning. I am a freshman here, so I have been here for around two months....and WOW did I make a mistake. I really am not happy with my decision. Here are the good and bad things about the school:

Good:
-The weather is really nice....can't beat the California sun.
-Generally, people are laid back and approachable.
-You do feel safe on campus, despite it being in a bad part of town. There are always security cars driving around.
-Most of the buildings are clean and newer.

Bad:
-The majority of teachers are awful. They may be very smart, but are not good at teaching. They treat you as a number, not a person, and are even a bit rude. When approached during office hours, they are hardly welcoming, and make you feel as though you are wasting their time.
-While most students are approachable, they are in general very obnoxious, loud, and immature. I have never seen such a concentration of immature people in my life.
-This is a serious party school- DO NOT come here if you are the least bit opposed to drinking/partying. I am very opposed to it, therefore I am having a hard time finding people with similar views.
-The students are generally very spoiled. You always see girls with their $500 boots whining and complaining to each other about how awful their lives are and how they have a midterm coming up or something.....hello- midterms are part of college.
-Counselors of all sorts are very rude and unhelpful. I don't blame them for being tired with all of the crap that the spoiled students give them though.
-This school is way too focused on it's name, and not focused enough on its students' success. All the school cares about is money and reputation.
-This school is way too entranced with football and drinking. That is about all there is to do here. If you are into those things, you will probably love it, but for someone who isn't, it is not the right fit.

I have only been here for 2 months but WOW was it a mistake.....I realized it right after orientation (pretty soon, huh?) that this was not the place for me. I cannot wait to transfer.....seriously, I'm counting the days.
Extracurricular Activities: A, Faculty Accessibility: D+
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Oct 22 2009 1st Year Male -- Class 2013  
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