<p>Last week, I received a call from USC congratulating me on my bump to Fall 2012 (yay!). I am now going to have a fuller freshman experience... kinda.</p>
<p>My parents are refusing to pay for any sort of housing that is USC-owned (they also refused to sign up for financial aid, which boggles my mind), since we already have a place in Pasadena (where my brother lives at the moment). I am legitimately disappointed at the thought that my social life is now limited (and I probably will not be making very many new friends since I won't be living in a dorm :..). The drive is about 20 minutes when there isn't LA traffic.</p>
<p>Are there any other first-year commuter students out there? Has anyone else been in the same situation? I like the idea of living off campus, since I have more time to concentrate on studying and have my own bathroom, but the 20-minute commute and limited social life disappoint me quite a bit.</p>
<p>Try to make a couple of good friends and stay with them on Friday nights? I think only living 20min away will actually work for you. By staying later, you will also avoid rush hour traffic. I commuted in college and the mistake I made was not staying on campus long enough to bond with other freshman (the campus was 2x’s the size of USC as well which didn’t help.)
Also joining a few clubs with weekend activities is an idea.</p>
<p>Definitely join clubs and stay on campus to meet people - Freshman year is crucial for building social relationships.</p>
<p>I had a friend who lived in a place in K-town, and he would just make friends and hang out with them in their apartments until after dinner when he headed home - He managed to get a relatively good social life going, and also beat traffic like squiggles said.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips! Luckily, I have a few friends who are living on campus, so at least I’m not completely cut out of the social bubble that USC has to offer. I definitely plan on joining clubs.</p>
<p>I also received a letter from USC Marshall today alerting me about my acceptance into Bus Admin (I had my application reevaluated because I requested a major change). Are the classes at Marshall more tightly-knit, as in people usually befriend each other, unlike most college classes where you go to class with a bunch of students and then leave? I was thinking about applying for BCA (only 50 students), but since I just got accepted into Marshall, I don’t think there is much room left in that program.</p>
<p>When I was going to college, all I wanted to do was get out of the dorms.</p>
<p>Check out the sororities. If that interests you at all it will be the best way to make friends and be involved. Or consider joining the band. I’ve encourage my daughter to look into it because I’ve heard from several sources that it’s a great experience. I don’t think you even need to know how to play and instrument, just be willing to learn.</p>
<p>Marshall classes are generally huge; you’ll make friends, but only if you actively try to meet people. Just say hello. :)</p>
<p>My best friends out of my marshall classes were those I was paired up with for group projects. Also consider joining one of the marshall student orgs which is a great way to meet people like TIS, trojan consulting , or one of the accounting orgs if you decide to go towards accounting.</p>
<p>Do the Marshall student organizations do things often on the weekends?
I was looking into the DSP co-ed fraternity, but I’m not sure if my parents would like me to join a frat. I’m assuming it’s expensive as well, so that’s another factor that my parents will stand against.</p>
<p>There are two business frats. DSP and AKPSI. AKPSI is more of a social fraternity for those interested in business where as DSP is more professional oriented. I’d say the marshall orgs do however the main benefit is having an instant social circle of people to do stuff with at any given time. You’ll tend to become friends with a lot of people from your major so it makes sense to join one of the orgs related to it.</p>
<p>Have you asked about available space in the BCA program and/or how you apply?</p>
<p>The Marshall classes are HUGE so I don’t think there will be much bonding there. I mean, you can but you’ll have to try hard. Clubs are a great way to meet people. There are tons of clubs just go to the activities fair and pick something mildly interesting to you.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned sororities (so I’m guessing you’re a girl) and they are a great idea to make friends and form the bonds you want but it is expensive (a couple thousand dollars expensive) so I don’t know how your parents will feel about that. I think some houses have scholarships but I’m not greek so I could not tell you how that works…</p>
<p>I’m actually a guy hahaha. I think I’ll make a decision about frats a little later. My parents are pretty against it (I am too, kinda, but I like the connections that DSP provides).</p>
<p>However, I was accepted into the BCA program yesterday, so I am pretty excited. Hopefully the BCA program will allow me to meet even more people (especially since I’ll be taking classes in SCA and Marshall) and overcome my currently restricted social life haha</p>
<p>@kid2kid, I called Marshall admissions and asked them if there was still time to apply, and the lady said yes (so I’m assuming there is still room, but probably only a few spots left). The lady also told me to contact the head of the BCA program, who gave me the link to the application, which can be found here: [Joint</a> Programs | Business Administration | USC Marshall School of Business](<a href=“Home - USC Marshall”>Home - USC Marshall)</p>
<p>I’m wondering if commuting from the Valley will work. If I have no morning classes, yes, but as a night owl… Morning classes will be a nightmare with having to leave early to beat traffic or sit in it. I commuted down to East LA for a summer for a morning class, but that was just a summer, lol.</p>