Answering Questions about Housing/Overall Opinions from a current Freshman

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
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<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>First off best of luck to all of you throughout this stressful time. One thing I realized is that you'll end up somewhere that you're "destined" to be, even my friends who didn't get in here love where they are and others who came here not wanting to be at USC have come to love it.</p>

<p>Anyways, this is just my advice. For housing, if you are a social person who wants to meet a lot of people, go to New/North. If you're social but would like to have the distractions not directly down the hall, live in Pardee. Another alternative that has its positives and negatives is Radisson, depends on who you are. Parkside is nice, food is good, but it gets old being far away from the rest of the freshman housing. I currently live in New/North and can't imagine living anywhere else.</p>

<p>Other things to consider, especially if you love sports is that the basketball team will be really good next year w/ OJ Mayo and the Galen Center is literally outside of my window from New/North and as for football, Parkside is close but walking through campus with all of the tailgating fans is awesome to see and at Parkside you'll miss that.</p>

<p>Also don't worry if you get accepted but are undeclared there's sooooo many options with what you can do and many people with majors end up changing them or picking up minors easily.</p>

<p>As for the Greek system, I'm in it so I have a biased opinion but it truely is a unique and great experience, you can fit in almost any house (guy or girl) and there's plenty of ways to be active outside of Greek with the numerous clubs the campus offers.</p>

<p>Anyways if those of you reading this do end up getting accepted at USC, I can't stress enough how awesome this school is and that you need to come here (unless scholarships come into play at other schools, I understand) but the price is WELL WORTH IT.</p>

<p>Write some questions if you want, and I'll start checking on here again soon, because just like all of you I was once here hoping to get in and worrying about it and even checking this site daily. But don't be discouraged if I don't respond quickly, due to Facebook (which you'll come to love), academics and my social life, I actually am quite busy.</p>

<p>Best of luck and Fight On!</p>

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<p>i love USC, no admission question here...haha</p>

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<p>noooo! let's keep this thread clear of admission questions. those can be answered in another thread but this is a good opportunity to have a thread devoted to student life at usc.</p>

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<p>successfully edited, haha</p>

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<p>I just got back from Explore USC and I am going to second TCannonT with the fact that USC is beautiful and amazing and so much fun. I stayed in Pardee though and didn't think it was that much of a "social" dorm, I think that having gender-based floors kind of changes that. It wasn't super-quiet or anything, but I would definitely go New/North if you're looking for something social (haha I like how I'm giving advice and I don't even go there yet).</p>

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<p>How was Explore for you j07? I was on the student panel on Thursday :)</p>

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<p>Misoobishi, are you in BAC/MD?</p>

<p>TCannonT05, Explore USC was awesome! Can you study in New North or is it too loud? And what about Century Apartments... are those too far away?</p>

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<p>thanks pmcharkins :)</p>

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<p>Nah I'm not in Bac/MD but I am pre-med :)</p>

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<p>would it be isolating for a freshman to live in an oncampus apartment? is it hard to meet people that way?</p>

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<p>I know a couple people who lived in Troy and Century and found it somewhat lonely. They were both transfer students though, so that might have made things different, because I know other students living in those same apartments who are perfectly happy. </p>

<p>It depends what you want. If you’re planning to pledge, or if you are a naturally outgoing person, then you’ll probably be just fine living there. But if you aren’t planning to pledge, and you tend to be a little more shy, then you might be better off in the freshman dorms, where close proximity to other freshman will ease your social adjustment to college. </p>

<p>Just my thoughts. Others might disagree.</p>

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<p>Misoobishi - Explore was so much fun! I was hardly even considering USC when I first landed in L.A. and now it's moved up about 084028402 spots on my list. It was so pretty and everyone was so nice and helpful.</p>

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<p>I'm glad to hear it! :) When I went to Explore last year, USC wasn't very high on my list either, but after it I totally fell in love with the school!</p>

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<p>Wow Misoobishi, that's so cool, you are my first in-person sighting of someone I recognize from CC :)</p>

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<p>hahaha Oh dear, you recognized me? I was the crazy girl who talked about how gorgeous Jude Law is. Which he really is. :)</p>

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<p>Jude Law rocks my world.</p>

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<p>which meal plan should we choose, cardinal or gold? i've eaten at both evk and parkside and i can't decide which one i could stand to eat at for a year.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the responses,
1st to kmc00...I get a lot of my studying done in New/North and Leavey Library is close for those times that I realllllllllly need to do the work and thats what a lot of kids here do to crack down and get stuff done. I don't know too many people in Century but it's pretty good location between campus and the Row (if you're going to be at the Row a lot) so I can't tell you either way about that.</p>

<p>2nd to imsilly...I think on campus apartments have their goods and bads but I think the location is good, next to Lyon Center and Cafe 84 and also the rooms are nicer w/ a common living area compared to dorms. A lot of the water polo/baseball athletes live in Fluor and Webb so that can make it fun to meet them. People I know actually really like it in Webb and Fluor.</p>

<p>3rd to bluebeard...if you can convince your parents to letting you upgrade to Trojan, DO IT. Because I think Cardinal is really limiting especially if you live by EVK it gets old quickly. So with Trojan you can eat at Carls Jr., Wolfgang, Upstairs Cafe, etc. and not be limited by meals at EVK or Parkside.</p>

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<p>Yeah I wish I had Trojan :) I usually pick up stuff from TroGro instead of eating at EVK... in fact, I'm not sure why I did Cardinal again this semester haha Oh well.</p>

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<p>A friend of mine also recommended Trojan. Just to add. ;)</p>