Did anyone else’s student get assigned to the Cliff Apartments? My son is very upset, he applied for the Pre-Med Living Learning program in East Quad, with Green Quad as his second choice. He definitely wanted co-ed and NOT south campus (most of his classes are a 20-25 minute walk away). Instead, he is in a building primarily used for graduate and married student.
He called the Housing office, and was very calm and well organized in his ask. Unfortunately, they weren’t very understanding, supportive or helpful about making a swap before move in day. We live up north, and would like if we didn’t have to come twice, once to move him into Cliff, and another if he gets a chance to move in September. Does anyone have any insight on the process, possibilities, or ways to make it work out for him?
Thanks!
It is not likely they will switch him before the waiting period is up (However many weeks that is). He may be disappointed but it is not the end of the world. They used this dorm for freshmen last year as well and if there are still married or grad students they are likely to be on separate floors. Plus Bates and Bates West are right there with lots of freshmen and a cafeteria. It’s really not that bad a walk - I walked that far 30 years ago when I was there and there was only 15 minutes between class. He won’t be far from science building and other classes (including some freshman sections of Univ. 101 and others are offered in different spots around campus. He is still pretty close to East and Green - which may be why put him in Cliff - so he can probably do some a class there if offered.) In addition, my D had a music class at band hall, a business class in engineering, etc so may have classes closer than you think. Lots of kids live in the Greek village or live in Capstone but are business majors - he won’t be the only one walking across campus for class.
If he does hate it and wants to move, chances are he will find some friends to help him - no need for you to worry about coming back down. Offer to buy pizza for any helpers and he’ll have plenty of assistance.
I don’t know what the procedure is for requesting room change, but I suspect it won’t do much good to contact housing until after classes start and they see who actually shows up and where they have space. I doubt at this point there is an extra room anywhere. I’m sure the housing site has the “how to”.
Here’s hoping he gets a great roommate and it all works out! Good luck.
@scmom12 Thanks for your response. Since I posted, my DS has done some significant research. Based on it (there is already a very active FB group and group chat with students placed there), the only freshmen placed there are boys, and he really wanted coed housing. His program’s classes are primarily in a building totally on the other side of the campus, and though he has no problem with the walk, it’s the getting there on time in the morning that concerns him. Unfortunately, though it will probably be a blimp on the radar screen by December, it is really un-nerving him now.
DS is going down for orientation this week, and has an appointment with housing, but I agree, they do not seem to even want to talk to incoming students. The people on the phone were pretty adamant that they are not going to help him at this stage – in fact, one person said to me, “we only guarantee housing, we don’t promise that students will be anywhere they request.” If I could predict, due to all the minuses with Cliff (far, single gender housing, not the Living Learning community he wanted, none of the people he has connected with through FB, accepted students day, etc are living there, kid he planned to live with says he is also planning on changing), he will probably want to move. And I know he will get plenty of help from classmates. As a mom, I was just hoping that we could set him up for success, and at least have housing worked out. But alas, I don’t think it is meant to be. Most of our interactions up to this point with USC have been so positive, helpful and welcoming, so this lack of partnership is pretty jarring.
My son chose not to get one (nor use the university buses), but a bike seems like a good option if he’s worried about that location.
Yes! My son is a freshman as well and was assigned Cliff apartments too. We are also from up north. Perhaps there will be a large number of freshman in the apartments this year? My son is studying sports management. We are headed there next week(18th of July for orientation)
@Retailmom…have fun at orientation. I didn’t go with my son, he said there was a pretty good mix of kids with/without their parents. So far he has only heard about boys assigned as freshmen to Cliff, he is hoping that there are undergraduate girls as well. My son is studying exercise science. I guess they hear about move in times and roommate assignments on Friday. We will see then…