The college where we decide to spend four plus years of our life is almost always deeply rooted in our personality and identity. Whether the college was founded in the 1600s with a rich history, or if the university is a 21st-century modern campus recently formed, each college's past impacts each student's experience.
It's interesting to think about how much pursuing higher education has changed over time. For current high school seniors, the options are overwhelming. I recently came across an interactive tool that maps out when colleges originated. It got me thinking about when USC opened its doors, and how its age affects the student experience today.
The University of Southern California was founded in 1880 – which is on the slightly older end of the scale. While SC is nowhere near as old as Harvard University, established in 1636, it certainly has some history under its belt.
Old versus new universities each have their separate pros and cons. It's impossible to say that one college is 'better' just because it's older and has more experience. But there are some things students experience at older colleges that they wouldn't if they attended a newer university.
Pro: Pride in a School's Past
Attending a university with a long past means following in the footsteps of countless legacies that have paved the way to get you where you are today. You've probably been preached to about the first graduating class that consisted of only three students in 1884 or the first football game held in 1888 where USC dominated their opponents 16-0. Regardless of what your school's story is, it's ingrained in your brain and something you likely take a lot of pride in. Your school's motto may be in a foreign language, but you can recite it backwards and forwards.
Pro: An Athletics Program With History
Being founded earlier gives an athletic program more time to get up and running. With a combined 130 national championships, USC clearly has a track record to back up its 19th-century founding. Newer colleges are less likely to have dominant teams in multiple sports as they are more focused on ironing out their academic programs when first founded. It takes time to earn titles and build a reputation in collegiate athletics.
Con: Old Buildings That Desperately Need Renovations
One of the not-so-glamorous parts of attending an older school is the older buildings that accompany the campus. While buildings frequently get renovated and upgraded, there's sure to be a handful of buildings or dorms that are historic landmarks that the university can't part with. From frequently broken AC units to ceilings that could cave in at any moment, students at newer universities don't understand the struggle. VKC isn't the most snazzy, but luckily SC has been building places like USC Village.
The age of a university isn't the perfect determinant of the quality of a university, but it does reveal something about the culture at the school. Regardless, I sure am glad I ended up at SC -- even if it's relatively "over the hill."
Go Trojans!
