USC is one of the top colleges in America. It is ranked 20th in CS in the United States. USC has a very good network and hence one can find alumna in various companies. It has an excellent set of features to help you study. Being close to Silicon Valley gives me more opportunities to get hired.
Course Curriculum
The course work is up to date, at least for the coursework I have taken. Professors taught well. Some courses are research focused and more theoretical based on coding such as algorithms and design.
Exams
A good GPA is required. USC places great importance on GPA. Fall admission, standards are generally high (GRE - 320). For spring admission (GRE 315 assignments). A well-written SOP and LOR are required. I scored GRE - 315 (156 Verbal, 159 Quants) and TOEFL - 103
Placement
Companies come for talks and during career fairs. I don't know the statistics but generally, people apply from LinkedIn and other job search sites. Because of this many people are kept.
Internship
I interned at CarmaCam as an unpaid intern. I apply through a college portal and I was offered an internship based on my previous knowledge.
Events
Campus life is one of the best experiences. There was a lot of activity around campus before the pandemic. USC has many research facilities like ISI, ICT, MINDS etc.
Fees
1 unit for $2100. A CS student requires 28 units. The total cost is $58800.
Scholarship
No, I didn't receive any scholarship.
Faculty
The faculty-staff ratio is good. The professor is really knowledgeable. Mr. Satya Raghavacharya is the professor who impressed me the most.
Hostel
Housing is expensive. On-campus accommodation is expensive, even when shared. Outside, it may be less expensive depending on where you stay.