<p>century’s facilities are a bit older… although last time i checked they were doing a bunch of renovations on the cabinetry and carpeting. century used to be primarily sophomore housing but in the past 3 years or so it’s been turning into more of a 1st year community. if you’re into privacy and stuff it’s a good option but for me dorming was a better option for the 1st year. it allows you to meet a lot more people, imo.</p>
<p>I did Century mainly because it was the cheapest, and I’m not really into privacy haha, but I don’t understand how dorms can be better for meeting people. There are like 400 kids in Century and I did a two bedroom with four people so I have 3 roommates which is great for being social and stuff, wouldn’t it be?</p>
<p>both–most freshmen apply for & are placed in dorms. housing for sophomores is primarily apartments with only a few dorms even open to sophomores. altho it may not be all that appealing, community bathrooms DO have you meet people you might not otherwise & sometimes strike up friendships. also, dorms often have activities planned, moreso than apartments, where most activities are left up to the residents to plan, I believe.</p>
<p>century was/is old, according to my do who lived there in 2009-2010. not sure what is being renovated–d didn’t mention anything. it is still very convenient, which is nice indeed.</p>
<p>Trust me, you want to be in a freshman dorm. Sophomores tend to already have their own circle of friends, and it would be hard for you to break into them and get accepted. Freshmen are still forming their own, and it is definitely a lot easier to meet people as a freshmen in the dorms.</p>
<p>anyone have any insights on pardee? i wanted to live in birnkrant but not sure thats possible now that its only scholarship people. does it still have the bonding aspect and a work/play environment?</p>
<p>Yeah, those non-freshman heavy apartments (Century, Cardinal Gardens, Troy East, etc) also tend to be pre-filled with sophomores, juniors and seniors who got together with friends to request they be placed in an apartment together as roommates. You could get stuck in a situation with 3 juniors who are already close friends, of drinking age and have their own personal life. As a college freshman trying to get used to a new environment, I can’t imagine that would be a welcoming or fun situation.</p>
<p>You should do freshman housing – it’s the main way you’d meet other freshman. You may have one “roommate,” but the dorm situations are as such that everyone on the floor knows each other. The USC apartments are far less social because, as other people pointed out, everyone is pretty set in their circle of friends.</p>
<p>You’ll do yourself a big disservice living off campus as a freshman, too.</p>
<p>I know dorm life seems really unappealing – but when else will you be able to do something like this? If it’s the 40 people to a bathroom situation you don’t like, I’d look into Fluor, Parkside or Arts and Humanities.</p>
<p>What is usually the “cutoff” date starting your housing application for getting your first choice if your first choice is New/North. I applied April 8 but one of my potential roommates applied May 2nd… I know they average it so I feel like I would end up in a less favorable dorm…</p>
<p>If such a thing exists, it wouldn’t be public knowledge.</p>
<p>right, I only wanted Century for the cost but I guess you guys have advised me away from that. I guess I will look into the cheapest dorms then. What are the typical freshman dorms?</p>
<p>^ Of course, but if someone knew the approximate date they applied and whether or not they got into new/north, and also knew someone who did not get in who applied a little later, that could provide some very useful info about my chances and what I ought to do.</p>
<p>If you want to be able to stay in LA over winter break, how can you do that if you live in a residential college? I know what you guys said about Century Apartments, but would Parkside be any different in terms of freshmen social life?</p>
<p>RE: Dorm assignments - I think it’s a lot more random than we all think. Someone could have applied the day they were admitted to USC and not get into the dorm of their choice. I heard of that happening. </p>
<p>Regarding the cheapness of dorms vs. apartments – your freshman year housing will be the most expensive. I suggest you get a small meal plan if that’s your main fear. (You will NEVER use up all the meals. Trust me.) It’s your one time to have the dorm experience; after that, you are free to live anywhere you want, and there are plenty of affordable options in the USC area. </p>
<p>USC housing is placed on your University bill and usually scholarships and loans can be applied to the per-semester housing cost. (Also, take into account that at an apartment, you will end up spending the same amount as a dorm when you take the cost of supplying your apartment with food/cleaning supplies/etc. every month! It’s really a discrepancy of maybe $100 when you really think about it!)</p>
<p>To the Winter Break question:</p>
<p>Winter Break is pretty long and campus is absolutely dead at that time, so I don’t know why anyone would want to stay. Are you International? (Although, all International kids I knew went home over Winter Break to spend the holidays with family…)</p>
<p>Parkside would be different from Century in terms of Freshman social life because a large majority (if not all) of your suitemates would be Freshman instead of upperclassmen. As I mentioned before, you COULD be excluded from socialization by living in an off-campus apartment instead of the dorms freshman year. Imagine being a senior or junior and having a freshman roommate. I can imagine it would be a bit difficult, even for the nicest of people, for the main reason that everyone’s social groups are pretty set and older students are more prone to leaving campus for fun/going to 21+ venues and bars.</p>
<p>hey guys,
How many washing machines and dryers are there per floor of fluor tower?
Thanks.</p>
<p>One washer, one dryer.</p>
<p>Hey guys. Do you know if USC sorts people in dorms by majors, interest, etc.? I know that at some UCs, they put you in by college or majors, but what about this college? Thanks.</p>
<p>nope, not unless you specifically apply to the architecture floor at parkside or something. My birnkrant triple consisted of two business majors and an engineer, and we had poli sci/ engineer across the hall and journalism/neuroscience/theatre in the triple next door.</p>
<p>Hi guys. I am an international student. I am not the “social” type. Which dorm has Internet, and AC and is suitable for studying?? Could someone gives me suggestions? cuz I have no idea at all…</p>
<p>Am I still able to get into Birnkrant? I’m a presidential scholar. I started my housing application several days ago and my USC account was charged, but I haven’t finished it yet. When does it count as submitted? Thanks…</p>
<p>@chiefta you can still change it! just log into your housing account & change it</p>
<p>puttai, you sound like Parkside International all the way. A/C, a little quieter–but still social. And, as the name implies, their dining hall features international dishes, and is generally regarded as the best of the campus housing food choices.</p>