<p>Hey, whats up?</p>
<p>I'm bored at work and want to answer some questions. I had a lot of questions coming into USC and can probably answer anything you ask.</p>
<p>Greek life, the surrounding area, meal plans, where to live, social life, girls/guys, whatever.</p>
<p>UHm Hi! I dont know if you are able to answer this. But what is the difference between the 4 types of biomedical engineering majors? </p>
<p>Biomedical Engineering</p>
<ul>
<li>Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)</li>
<li>Biomedical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering) (B.S.)</li>
<li>Biomedical Engineering (Electrical Engineering) (B.S.)</li>
<li>Biomedical/Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)</li>
</ul>
<p>What university do you go to?</p>
<p>WorriedJrGirl -</p>
<p>I can’t say exactly the specific differences but it appears that they are just different emphases on biomedical engineering. This site: [USC</a> Department of Biomedical Engineering: Undergraduate Programs](<a href=“http://bme.usc.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/]USC”>Undergraduate Programs - USC Viterbi | Department of Biomedical Engineering) talks about the curriculum and information on all of the four you listed, just click on each one on the side.</p>
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<p>The best one.</p>
<p>What made you decide to go to USC?</p>
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<p>It was a logical decision economically. They offered me more money than all but two schools, and the cost of attending USC turned out to be minimal. On top of that, USC is a great school and coming from the east coast, I wanted a change. USC is very diverse for a private school, and this was an attractive feature. People assume because USC is expensive that the school is for wealthy Californians, and with merit-based and also need-based scholarships USC is affordable for many different income levels.</p>
<p>Los Angeles was also appealing, despite the lacking of the immediate surrounding area. Don’t be fooled, it is an urban area and common sense needs to be applied, especially at night. But if you here that USC is in a ghetto, extremely dangerous area, it’s not true. The immediate area around USC is working class and has improved over years. USC is a university that seemed to have everything that came together, something that other universities couldn’t compare to. I don’t think you can go wrong with a college experience at USC.</p>
<p>Is it possible to have a sophomore dorming experience where I can still meet a lot of new people? I know nothing can compare to the freshman res halls but what housing options are ideal if I want a social experience?</p>
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<p>I imagine you would want to live on-campus then. I would probably suggest Webb Tower as a good housing option, as it’s on campus, close to Fluor Tower and the Lyon center, and also close to Cafe 84 where you might be able to socialize, since Cafe 84 is close to Century and Cardinal Gardens, two popular apartment choices with mostly sophomores.</p>
<p>If you want a social experience, maybe consider a meal plan. Most freshman have the Cardinal or Gold plan. If you live in a dorm, you have to get the Cardinal plan which is unlimited meals at EVK and Parkside throughout the semester. It’s expensive for a meal plan, but some people find it worth it. See if it is for you or not.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you can find this ideal social experience or not, but it’s pretty much Webb Tower or some off-campus apartments. Century and Cardinal Gardens might not be terrible options either. Do you have any other living preferences?</p>
<p>Hey, thanks for this thread. I’m considering studying abroad at USC for a semester next year.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How exclusive is the party scene? I’ve heard some people say being a guy + not in a frat = very little chance of getting into parties. True?</p></li>
<li><p>What is the student body like at USC? I’ve read somewhere they take on a very large number of international students, is this very noticeable around campus or are the local students still the vast majority?</p></li>
<li><p>Do people go out in LA to bars and clubs on the weekends or mainly just go to college parties. I’m just trying to get a sense of the culture over there.</p></li>
<li><p>How difficult/easy is it to get on-campus accomodation?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hopefully they make sense, thanks for any help.</p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>Very interesting. :D</p>
<p>What’s your major?</p>
<p>ok, I’m not Tr0jan, but here’s my perspective:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>From what I’ve observed, it is hard for guys who aren’t in fraternities to get into parties, just because most fraternities want to keep the ratio of guys to girls in their favor. Some events charge twice as much for guy to get in as girls, with the same principle in mind (I believe a recent fraternity concert was $10 for girls, $20 for guys).</p></li>
<li><p>Haha if you’re a guy from Australia and you’re even remotely attractive, you’ve got it made. As far as the general feeling of international students on campus, some assimilate very well, and some tend to group together. I think that generally speaking, the internationals in IRC tend to hang out more with other internationals, whereas the ones who live in the other dorms tend to hang out with whoever. I’m guessing that’s because in IRC, you’re bound to meet more international students, while in the other dorms, you’re bound to meet more American students, and you tend to befriend the people you see often.</p></li>
<li><p>I haven’t observed much of getting out into LA, but it’s compeltely possible that people do and it’s just not on my radar. I’m Greek, so I’m more aware of what’s going on with that scene.</p></li>
<li><p>If you’re talking about living in USC housing, I think it’s guaranteed for freshman year, and you can usually get it for sophomore year, and then it’s harder after that. But I know a senior living in Parkside Apartments, so it’s not impossible. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Please add on/correct me where I’m wrong, other USC students! :)</p>
<p>(and I know this isn’t directed at me, but I’m a BA Theatre)</p>
<p>kaymac - I’m still deciding on what to declare my major as :-)</p>
<p>Wisdom pretty much summed it all up. Guys can have trouble getting into parties on the row if they’re not in a frat. I, am not in a frat. But I’ve went with specific groups of people that I’ve been able to get into frat parties with. I mean, they’re fun and everything, but you can have a social life outside of parties at the row. There are house parties, dorm rooms, and many other ways to socialize.</p>
<p>There are a lot of international students here! You can meet people from all over the world, it is a great experience. There is a TON to do in LA - don’t think that everyone just sticks around campus all the time. Maybe freshmen do, but upperclassmen go outside the USC area and explore Los Angeles.</p>
<p>What are USC’s most important factors concerning admissions? I admit that I feel discouraged to even apply because I didn’t score a 2100+ on my SAT’s.</p>
<p>So, my son is a freshman and lives in Parkside A&H, and loves it, and being close to the Parkside cafeteria. Can you explain how the lottery will work for soph housing, and when that process will start. Also, can sophmores still live at A&H if they want? His major is engineering, and loves how close it is.</p>
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<p>It’s hard to determine USC’s most important factors. Through prowling this forum during admission decision time when I wasn’t sure if I was going to be accepted, talking to current friends who were accepted, and talking to rejected students, I can tell you USC is NOT the school that is only looking for extremely high test scores and a high GPA. This is not the case.</p>
<p>Do NOT be discouraged to apply. I didn’t even submit my SAT scores because they were so low, and my ACT is in the low 1900’s when converted to SAT, I believe. I got accepted, and for Fall! USC is looking for a diverse student body. Highlight something in your essay that makes YOU stand out. How are you different? I can almost guarantee you my essay that I wrote was unlike any other applicants’.</p>
<p>However, a high GPA and test scores will significantly increase your chances of getting into USC. But you never know what can happen, or how much money USC will offer you. If you have decent scores and a rigorous academic history, it is up to the rest of your application to speak for you. If you want to you can send me a PM and I’ll tell you a little more about my admission statistics and my essay if you are curious. My essay is very personal so I don’t want to talk about it here. Good luck!</p>
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<p>As per USC Housing website, Parkside Arts & Humanities is “Available primarily for Freshmen”
This means that competition for Parkside A&H is probably intense for upperclassmen, assuming there is a high demand. There might not be, and your son might be in luck. If he really wants to live at A&H he needs to send in his housing application as soon as possible! This will increase his chances. What about Parkside Apartments? They are just as close, so when he fills out the Housing Application maybe Parkside Apartments could be his second choice. I believe Parkside is a little cheaper as well.</p>
<p>Housing comes first-come first-serve, I believe thats what you mean by Lottery. Housing applications become available sometime during the Spring, I can’t say exactly when and it doesn’t say on the website either. Good luck!</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on the PETA organization?</p>
<p>Most of the freshmen dorm buildings will leave a few spaces open for older students. I know one person who has lived in Birnkrant for four years, and I have some friends who are now sophomores and living in Parkside because they liked it so much last year.</p>
<p>The lottery work like this: you submit your application, and then you are randomly assigned a draw time. When your draw time comes up, you log in to the housing website and pick a housing slot. If you don’t get what you wanted, then you can apply for reassignment, but that only occurs after the entire housing assignment process is complete for everyone.</p>
<p>I haven’t heard anything about PETA at USC, so they must not have very good publicity.</p>
<p>Thank you very much wisdomsomehow and Tr0jan, your responses were much appreciated.</p>
<p>Just to follow on about the housing issue. Basically, I’ll be in my third (junior?) year next year, when I plan to study abroad. It was mentioned that housing on campus is harder to get after your second year, so where do all the 3rd and 4th year students stay? Do they live in like university owned residences or are they just spread out around the city?</p>
<p>I suppose I like the idea of living with a group of people who I’d be going to college with, and not just some random apartment block. Thanks in advance for any help!</p>
<p>upperclassmen tend to live in student apartments right off campus.</p>
<p>are you here for a year or a semester? That might have some effect on it. </p>
<p>There are a fair amount of spring admits every year, though, and some people who graduate a semester early (or late).</p>