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<p>lol at people getting so ridiculously butthurt over this.</p>
<p>To OP:
I too had several concerns when we investigated USC with D. We actually visited 3 times before she made a decision. She was also concerned about fitting in since she is more like your D than a typical Greek. After vising 3 times (including overnight), she found more kids like her than she had in high school! We were lucky to visit students hanging in their dorm rooms who were friendly, inviting, and my D’s worries were gone. She picked USC over Princeton and Stanford because they had a strong program in her major (the other schools did not) and because of the overall feel. </p>
<p>We are thrilled that she has enjoyed her first few months at USC and can’t wait to see her this weekend (Parent’s weekend). She doesn’t have any friends who went Greek, and doesn’t think this dominates the feel at all. Those who are interested, though, can find a lively scene. She goes to USC sporting events and many other activities-- even more than in high school (we are happy about this). </p>
<p>My suggestion is to visit the school and see for yourself. Come at different times, like we did. Visit dorms on your own and talk to current students. See if you both can picture her here. We needed to do all this (and tour surrounding neighborhood). Since we live in a large city, the area around USC isn’t sketchy to us, but I wanted her to be sure about going to college in the middle of a city. </p>
<p>You can pm me anytime with questions about USC, although as a freshman parent, I am still just learning.</p>
<p>Historically, USC has been synonymous with a strong Greek system that dominated campus social life. In the past 20 years, however, USC has been transforming itself, supposedly via expensive consultants, in attempts to raise its USNWR ranking and stake its claim as the Stanford of Southern California. The Greek system at USC is still strong - the strongest and biggest on the West Coast, I believe. But the student body is changing. It is no longer known for its conservative, wealthy (Protestant, originally) LA families who were more interested in strong alumni/legacy business connections and a desire to decimate their mutual nemesis, Notre Dame, on the football field, rather than emphasize academic excellence.</p>
<p>As others have mentioned, the important thing for OP’s daughter is that she is able to find friends like herself at USC. It sounds like that will not be a problem.</p>
<p>Found the comment interesting about visceral dislike of USC campus - not sure who posted it. We visited USC this year, prepared to dislike it because of its location in south central. Both of us agreed it is perhaps the most sublimely beautiful campus we’ve ever seen.</p>
<p>Our experience was very similar to camomof3 (#1) in almost every way. </p>
<p>There were a few campuses I liked as well, but USC’s red brick buildings, many lovely fountains and tradtional “quad” seemed like the quintessential college environment to me. The campus is used in many movies because of this, and it’s convenient location to the industry.</p>
<p>Old reputations die hard, I guess… but I have come to respect this school very much due to my personal experiences over the last 3 years as a parent who was not a “rah rah Trojan” when my daughter was evaluating where to go.</p>
<p>My d is very pretty 
and is working her tail off while having the time of her life at USC. She had/has ZERO interest in joining a sorority though she has friends who did. Some are enjoying it, others did not. I am dipping my big toe in the water here by suggesting Greek Life at most any school is only as important as the student allows it to be. She played an intramural sport for a couple of years and is in a club. Her dorm friendships are many and solid. </p>
<p>I like the idea of a previous poster of waiting until the acceptance letters arrive and then deciding. Angsting over future decisions might just make the next few months more of a strain than need be. Choosing a college was probably the biggest decision of her life our daughter made at age 17. It was a step for us as parents to allow her to do it… We were actively involved in her life, and I guarded her childhood fiercly. But we respected her instincts regarding her college choice (tuition issues aside.)</p>
<p>Incidentially, I don’t think having a strong “you can always transfer” attitude going in is good either. But I also don’t have a rigid belief that you can’t transfer if need be … and a student is truly, deeply unhappy - after giving a school a fair chance. It happens all the time…</p>
<p>I did suggest she might want to explore the sorority possibility…but she looked at me like I was crazy! She told me in no uncertain terms “It wasn’t her thing…”</p>