if you want to go to usc because it's "at the top of the rankings", please take a step back and read countless threads on this topic. This isn't undergrad. It doesn't matter where you get your dpt as long as the graduation rates and NPTE first time pass rates are in the 90th percentile, imo. You can get a quality education at other schools that won't cost you your soul. People will say some schools afford you more or "better" networking opportunities. I tend to disagree. We all go on clinicals. There's your networking. You can also network on your own time. Don't depend on school to do all the leg work for you. Make a name for yourself, you can do it!