<p>Do you really need one, or can you survive w/out one? (Especially freshmen). Thoughts anyone?</p>
<p>buuuuummmp :)</p>
<p>SoCal do you mean USC or just in Southern California in general?</p>
<p>Both. I'm going to USC next year, so it'd be nice to hear some different opinions both from USC students as well as others from around the Southern Cal area.</p>
<p>A car is a necessity in SoCal</p>
<p>You'll need a car. Public transportation sucks in LA.</p>
<p>So even if I live on campus, I can't get by w/just finding rides with other people who are going into town? I mean, how often do people actually leave campus to go downtown? Sorry if it sounds noobish, but I've just never lived in a big city before.</p>
<p>I would think a car would be more convenient. What if you want to take a drive up to the mountains or along the coast?</p>
<p>Son's best friend goes to USC and did not bring his car. Family is from San Diego, about two hours away. He gets by with friends, taking the free shuttle, takes the train home, etc.
My son is a little farther north in Northridge (still about a 2 to 2.5 hour drvie). He does have a car with him. His dorm is a suite with a kitchen and no one does the meal plan if they can avoid it. He drives home at times and goes to the mall, and into LA. He meets up with his friends at UCLA and the friend from USC meets them there.</p>