College admissions scandal: some non-locals seem to think UCLA and USC are mediocre "state" schools? (Los Angeles: credit, university)

[Vic Romano]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Reading tweets and such since the college admissions scandal broke yesterday, it appears that some or most people wonder who has to bribe, especially tens of thousands of dollars or more, in order to gain admission to UCLA and USC? After all, they're not Yale or other ivy-league schools....

It seems that most of the country sees both as easy-to-get-into mediocre state schools? Are they wrong? I believe so.

Now, from what I know here on the "snobby (?) east coast, both schools are very rigorous, and usually only the top students gain entry. But...here in the Northeast and maybe other parts of the country, it appears that many or most think all state schools are far inferior, to any private school. That's not true, as many private schools have higher acceptance rates than some state schools. But it's a perception, and that's why some folks likely believe only mediocre students attend your USC and UCLA?

In reality, they're similar and likely much harder, it seems, to gain admission vs. Boston College and Boston University here where I live, as well as Northeastern University, Babson College, Bentley University, Wellesley, and Brandeis here in the Boston area, never mind Universury of Massachusetts-Amherst, OUR state school. But since all of these Boston-area schools are private, save for the University of Massachusetts, many in my region seem to deem them far superior to any state school nationwide.

People are asking, "how dumb" can this celebrity's girl be if her parents had to bribe UCLA or USC with high dollars?! In other words, any average or worse student can gain admission, as they're seemingly only mediocre "state" schools. Obviously, they're not familiar with the University of Michigan, University of Virginia and other elite STATE schools...Yes, state schools can be Hugh quality...

Well, they're not officially Ivy League schools -- so east coasters and other elite must feel why would anyone need to bribe -- or want to bribe -- to gain admission to those two California schools. No offense, but oftentimes, we've never heard of your elite Claremont colleges, Cal Tech, and don't realize Berkeley and Stanford are elite, much more elite than most of what east coast schools can offer. Similarly, you've often never heard of our elite liberal arts colleges...

I read last night that UCLA is very hard to get into if from out of state. Thus, it's mainly Californians? Really? I just
simply assumed that UCLA and USC draw from a large international student body, many of whom likely pay full tuition for the honor of attending these prestigious schools, and international students are likely targeted as desirable vs. a local student of similar performance but who likely needs all kinds of scholarships and financial aid?

This dissing of UCLA and USC by some non-locals irks me, as they know nothing about them other than they're "just" state schools, not worthy of bribes. Most Americans could not gain admission, correct?

Please educate me.

Nice try at yet another Southern California bashing thread...

[sean1the1]

I think what it boils down to is the names. If you're from the east coast like I am state schools are good, but they're still mediocre. California of course is completely different UCLA, UC Berkeley, and USC are all great universities one step below ivy IMO. Most people from out of state aren't going to know this though. They'll see the name, and associate them with.

[ryanms3030]

USC is a private university. USC and UCLA are not easy to get into which is why parents of rich kids need to pay people to get them in. None of this surprises me as I work in the entertainment industry and have known dozens of USC grads who don't seem smart enough to get into a community college. Yet they all graduated USC and got good jobs at major entertainment studios. And obviously they all have parents or other family/friends that work in the industry and have money and connections.

But the entire education system in the US is a scam from Kindergarten through college. Everyone is taught a very narrow scope of information that is curated by the elite that run the world to condition us not enlighten us. I would say maybe 10% of what I learned through 17 years of schooling is actually relevant to my life, career and ability to survive in the world

[sean1the1]

Originally Posted by ryanms3030

USC is a private university. USC and UCLA are not easy to get into which is why parents of rich kids need to pay people to get them in. None of this surprises me as I work in the entertainment industry and have known dozens of USC grads who don't seem smart enough to get into a community college. Yet they all graduated USC and got good jobs at major entertainment studios. And obviously they all have parents or other family/friends that work in the industry and have money and connections.

But the entire education system in the US is a scam from Kindergarten through college. Everyone is taught a very narrow scope of information that is curated by the elite that run the world to condition us not enlighten us. I would say maybe 10% of what I learned through 17 years of schooling is actually relevant to my life, career and ability to survive in the world

Yeah I figured that's why they were trying to get into USC and UCLA was for the film programs there.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Jonah K

Both UCLA and USC are relatively easy to get into as a transfer student from one of the local community colleges...
UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
UCLA TAP and Transfer Resources

that depends on what field you are entering and your transfer grades as well as a lot of other things. USC is and has always been a touch school. USC and Cal are both rated high.

[nmnita]

to tje person who sent a message to my rep dept. I never said USC was a public school. Of course it is private. You misunderstood my post.

[kttam186290]

Anybody who thinks USC is a "state school" is, quite frankly, stupid. USC is a private institution.

I'm sure the right-wingers who loathe anyone with an education are eating this scandal up, because, ya know, it would be "such a loss" to let anything making higher education look bad go to waste.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

Anybody who thinks USC is a "state school" is, quite frankly, stupid. USC is a private institution.

I'm sure the right-wingers who loathe anyone with an education are eating this scandal up, because, ya know, it would be "such a loss" to let anything making higher education look bad go to waste.

You do know that aside from the last two election cycles, the Republican Party has routinely garnered a higher share of college graduates than the Democratic Party?...

You can be critical of higher education without despising it—particularly admissions. I think conservatives who loathe higher education are very few.

[bowlines]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

Anybody who thinks USC is a "state school" is, quite frankly, stupid. USC is a private institution.

I'm sure the right-wingers who loathe anyone with an education are eating this scandal up, because, ya know, it would be "such a loss" to let anything making higher education look bad go to waste.

Wait, I thought right-wingers were the supporters of the elite 1%ers? Which is it?

[payutenyodagimas]

USC = University of Spoiled Children