Wasn’t USC entirely remote? Hard to expect that was a happy experience
One possible concern is that rising juniors registered for their classes weeks ago. OP should check with USC to make sure that they will be able to register for the courses they need in order to make appropriate progress.
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I don’t understand this post. The student was not at USC this past year.
My point was that many young people who come on CC, or their parents, are dealing with depression and anxiety that may have been partly a reaction to COVID isolation and disruptions, so it can be hard to tell how adjustment to a school, or mental health in general, might be with some restoration of normalcy. I was referring to the OP’s state of mind at the LAC.
Regardless, I do think a change of school would be beneficial for this student.
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As an aside, yes DIS Copenhagen is amazing!
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Unless you arrived at your college through a special alliance (e.g., through a program such as Posse), your chances of comparable financial assistance at USC seem realistic. I hope you can report favorable news from USC within the next few days so you will have the option of moving in that direction.
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Re: major, life after college, etc.:
No need to change majors, study what you love, but try to pick up more skills if you can. You know how to write. Now see if you have the aptitude and interest for quantitative stuff like stats/data analysis. Your psych major would introduce you to a bit of that. If you have the aptitude and interest, see if you can go deeper. Combining liberal arts skills with quantitative knowledge (and social skills) is a potent combination that could serve you well after college. Your target field is challenging to make a good living in (kind of like Hollywood, but without the big upside) so the more skills you have, the better.
BTW, I was a low-SES minority kid at an Ivy-equivalent (so the majority were from the upper-middle-class or above) so didn’t really fit in. I had some friends: one from my HS who’s BF I was already friends with and other minorities/internationals who also were “outsiders”.
But my alma mater probably opened some doors. People automatically assume you’re smart if you graduate from it.
Coming from an Ivy-equivalent as well, you’ll get the same benefit of the doubt (OK, being a LAC, fewer people will have heard of it, but the ones who have will be impressed).
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Doubtful. But most will know & respect USC.
I just don’t get the point of this post. This is a thread about a young adult’s mental & emotional health, not about prestige. Even the OP’s parents have encouraged OP to transfer due to the mental & emotional anguish it is causing OP.
Whatever happened to the concept of “fit” ? OP’s current school is a very poor fit for OP. Affordable ? Yes. Good fit ? No.
P.S. OP: Trust your parents & trust yourself.
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Op was given an extraordinary opportunity at a top LAC. Giving that up in the hopes of an elusive “better fit” elsewhere? Proceed with extreme caution. The fit may not turn out to be better, and the opportunity, both academic and social, may not be as good. Professors already have chosen students to mentor, friend groups have already formed. Large research universities do not offer the care and attention of a LAC, and many students live off campus. Might appreciate the LAC more when he has left it.
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For perspective on your situation, you might consider a prominent respondent’s reply when asked to take the Proust Questionnaire by the Boston Globe:
The suggestion appears to be not that you should stay at your “rural campus in the middle of nowhere,” but, considering everything you have posted here, that you should leave. You chose the wrong school for yourself — or at least you believe you have — and you are at an especially impressionable stage in life. You might not even like USC, but at least you would see this for yourself. Given the necessary financing, go.
Why does this feel like I’m watching an episode of “The Masked Singer”? What school is this?
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In terms of living off campus, roycroftmom is correct. Only Freshmen and Sophomores are guaranteed on-campus housing at USC. However, there are several large apartment buildings that are very close to campus and that are occupied only by students. Some rent by the bedspace, and will match you with roommates or apartmentmates if needed.
Note that housing around USC is not cheap. A single bedspace in a shared bedroom in a 2BR apartment (thus, 4 people) is around 1000 a month. You can find one for a little less if you move further off campus, but those tend to be shared rooms in houses that may already be filled.
I am not worried about housing. I have family in the LA-Anaheim area who have expressed that they’re willing to let me stay with them.
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Top 10 LAC in the northeast, in the middle of nowhere? Middlebury, Williams, Hamilton.
That’s good to hear, although Anaheim is not particularly close to USC, and the commute might get to be problematic, especially with LA=area traffic.
But definitely good that you have family close by!
OP wants to live with family. That’s a conversation stopper.
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I’ve thought about taking a train then bus to get to campus or live with my cousin at his place as he’s in the area as a UCLA student.
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I’m glad you have options!
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With all due respect, I don’t think a discussion of what can be a multi-hour commute can be called a “conversation stopper”. Fortunately, OP noted in a future post that they have family that is closer than Anaheim.
Have you had a chance to talk to your LAC advisor or a professor you feel somewhat close to? Sometimes they have ideas or suggestions that you might not have even known about. And they are in a position to help.
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I spoke to my film advisor and he told me to stay at my LAC and go overseas. He emphasized to me that USC is a wonderful opportunity and being in LA would be so good for me but the education I’ll get at the LAC is probably the highest I’ll ever get but he can see the opportunity costs of being miserable with life all together. Ultimately, like I said I’m my original post, it’s all up to me. As of now, I’m most likely going to stay at the LAC unless USC offers me a good financial aid package.
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