<p>@Aznpimpfoyou
Yes, there are a lot of cute Asian girls, and a lot of attractive girls in general. I’d definitely go as far as to say USC is definitely one of the top schools as far as the attractiveness of the student body.</p>
<p>@1x612nt13
The rumors are true. Engineering classes are predominately male at USC, probably something like 60-70 percent if not more. However, it’s pretty much this way at any engineering school you go to. </p>
<p>However, there are a ton of ways to meet new people. Some of the top ways (in my opinion) are:
Joining a club or student org
Pledging some kind of fraternity (social or academic)
Taking some smaller classes (30 students and under), where it’s easier to get to know people
Being outgoing at orientation (I still hang out with some of the people I met then)
ALWAYS keeping your door open, especially the first three weeks (past then people have already established their core groups of friends)
Being in a social dorm (Birnkrant, New/North, Pardee)</p>
<p>Meeting people is always easiest at the beginning. Remember all the freshman are just as nervous as you are about being in a new situation (although a lot of them try not to show it).</p>
<p>The majority of the guys aren’t jocks. But there are plenty of Southern Cal bro types in many clubs and fraternities. It’s a culture that you might mock at first (and probably continue to mock), but it will also probably become an attitude you can appreciate (since those guys are ridiculous).</p>
<p>Yes, the neighborhood is sketchy. Not dangerous at all (in almost everyone’s opinions), but there are going to be some dirty streets and suspect alleyways. </p>
<p>You don’t need a car, but you need a friend with a car. If you think that’s a challenge, don’t worry because you’ll find at least two cool people with cars before the end of the first month.</p>
<p>The food off campus is pretty good (Chano’s Carne Asada Nachos are amazing, you’ll have them at least 10 times freshman year). The food on campus is okay at Parkside, good at the Campus Center (Wahoos Fish Tacos especially) and simply awful at EVK ( a community dining hall you will grow to hate with the exception of chicken nugget tuesdays.</p>
<p>The dorms are surprisingly roomy. I think the social dorms are the best experience (Birnkrant, New/North). The nicest dorms in terms of rooms are Parkside Arts and Humanities and the IRC. However, I’d say the social life there is lacking. Whatever you do, avoid Marks Hall and especially Trojan Hall, which doesn’t deserve to be called a dorm. </p>
<p>The best part about USC is four-fold: you have all the options of a big school, the comfort of Southern California (weather, women, Mexican food), the feeling that your school is on the rise and the fact that this school REALLY loves itself and takes pride in everything related to it.</p>
<p>The worst part is that you can sometimes feel like USC would climb over your cold, dead body just to grab another dollar. There’s also a certain shallowness to the schools culture that’s just something I associate with rich kids at a fancy school. This might sound harsh, but these are feelings that will probably crop up at some point.</p>
<p>Finally, some words of Day 1 advice.</p>
<p>If you are shy, get over it during the summer before school starts. Talk to random people on the bus or at McDonalds or wherever. Just don’t come into SC shy or you will miss opportunities. </p>
<p>If you want to pledge, you DON’T have to do it fall of freshman year. Spring rush is less competitive and generally less work. Just don’t throw yourself into a situation you might hate (let some friends suffer as fall pledges and report back to you haha).</p>
<p>Study what you like. Any school within SC can be transferred into somehow. Some take more work than others, but keep an open mind and follow your passion. If you don’t really care about Pre-Med you won’t compete on the same level as people that do.</p>