Any USC students/alums out there??

Question

University of Southern California...I just got accepted after apllying there! It's just that I am not sure what I'm going to do, as I have yet to hear from 5 other colleges...NYU being one of the 5. Is it likely that my best friend can still get in, though it's already about 9 of us from my school who have been accepted as of last week?? Are you enjoying/have enjoyed your experiences here?? I need some advice please!!

Answer 1

Hey there, first-year Trojan student here...

I personally have loved 'SC so far. There are a million things I could say about it, I don't even know where to start, and it partially depends on your intended major, which is...? In any case, the core curriculum isn't that bad; the only one of the requirements people hate is freshman writing (Writing 140). The coursework is manageable, and many who don't have science or math classes can avoid Friday classes without too much difficulty.

Socially, the fraternity scene is big at 'SC, but there's plenty of parties without being in a fraternity. For frat guys and any girls, there's always Social Thursday (parties at basically every house on the row), and usually an event at each house of some sort each weekend. For the non-Greeks, house parties are common and well-publicized, usually on facebook. I'm not gonna lie, sober parties are not common, but it's not too bad to stay dry even at a drinking event if you want.

The dorms are pretty nice, as well. Compared to some UC dorms I visited, they're roomy, and maintainance workers keep them clean every weekday and sometimes on weekends. The food is good but can get boring, but with improvements in the meal plans, and a good variety of on-campus restaurants that take meal plan money (including Carl's Jr, Wolfgang Puck, La Salsa, Malibu Subs), campus food is getting pretty nice.

I could go on all day about 'SC, but I'll stop here. If you have any further or more specific questions, send me an email: [e-mail]. Fight on!

Answer 2

I am currently a sophmore at USC. I've enjoyed it a lot so far. I'll start with the good things, and I'll keep it short since I'm sure you have read all about them.

The campus is nice, and has tons of good resources available for students. There is a language center that can help you revise papers, tons of computer labs, an extensive DVD collection in the library (an even bigger one if you are a cinema student), and there are always interesting people holding concerts and giving lectures (all of which are free for students). DPS is always driving around making sure that the crazies stay in their place, and making a not so safe area feel relatively safe. Also, the campus cruiser service will drive you anywhere around campus within a two mile radius (very convenient for parties or going home late at night). The professors are all great. I have not had one prefessor that was not quallified to teach the class. Most of them are active in their specific field, so you know you are learning current information from someone who knows their stuff.

Now the cons. The hospitality services seem lacking. The dining dollars that come with the meal plans are only good for places that USC owns. Many colleges allow you to spend the money at local businesses as well as on campus restaurants. Not USC. Most of the food is pretty awful too. If you live in a dorm, you will probably be eating at EVK (Everybodys Kitchen) Its atrocious.

One piece of advice. Find the Gallen Center. Eat there. They dont want freshmen to know about it.

Answer 3

Yep, I'm a Trojan.

Sort of, anyway. I got my masters degree in public health via the Keck School of Medicine at USC.

I'm glad I only went to USC for grad school. Their graduate and professional programs really are top notch! But more to the point, I have seen the social and intellectual climate of USC's main campus, and it sickens me. I'd have committed suicide by sophomore year.

I can't believe how frat/sorority-centric USC is! Dang near everybody is in the Greek System. Everybody dresses like a preppy. The girls look like they spend two hours getting ready in the morning. They're just a wee bit too manicured to seem real. And intellect? Lord. Comparing between biology graduates from USC and where I went to college, there's a definite deficit in educational quality at USC.

I went to UC Berkeley for undergrad. People were real. They were quirky. And by golly, they were SMART. Berkeley is also much higher in the rankings than USC.

Berkeley's not for everyone. USC's not for everyone. But hey, your tastes are probably quite different from mine. If you like to sponge money off your parents, wear clothes from A&F/Hollister and buy friends -- I mean, be part of the pan-Hellenic system -- then by all means, go to USC.

But that's not the environment I wanted to be in.