I got accepted in USC with partial scholarship, waitlisted in UCLA, and waiting for Berkeley. Should I keep my hopes up about getting waitlisted? And, what is the common opinion (besides the factor that is located in a worse part of LA) about the USC faculty, and the business program?

I am also in a similar position. Other members' opinions would be most welcome...

S.

I looked on llm guide blogs and usc students are talking about their school. i think its good for the perspective of their side. -- you will see it -- Why USC? My experience at USC Law School 2008/2009 LLM program.

if you got a partial scholarship from USC, just take it. I doubt you will get any aid/grants from either of UCLA or Berkeley, and that is even if you make it off the waitlist, statistically the odds of going from waitlisted to admitted are against you (us). I got waitlisted at UCB too, but don't care since i accepted my Cornell admission offer (want to pursue Environmental concentration).

As to USC, it is a great school and very well-networked in the California market, it has very strong connections with the L.A. enterntainment, real estate, and business communities.

The school is extremely wealthy, given that its alumni have done extremely well and been extremely generous to the school in the form of endowments. Yes, USC is located in downtown L.A. but the area has seen a lot of redevelopment in the recent years with billions of dollars been spent in high end retail and residential complexes. If you have ever seen a basketball game where the LA Lakers play "home turf" what you have seen is the Staples Center Arena, which is literally two blocks away from USC, asa you can see, it is not bad, it was about ten years ago but not anymore.

In any case, generally speaking, downtown LA is 10 times better (i.e. cleaner and safer) than downtwon Berkeley, but Berkeley is way more expensive in terms of rentals!

In terms of location, UCLA is the best, as it is in the middle of posh neighborhhod of Westwood (you have probably heard of the Playboy Mansion, it is located a few minutes walk from the UCLA campus).