<p>Here's from my S who lived in NEW last year:</p>
<p>-Part of the 4th floor was the "Business Hall" but, according to S, you really wouldn't know it. Everyone interacts with everyone and it didn't seem that that group did anything special (but he was not part of it so they may have had planned activities that he didn't know about.)</p>
<p>-It is definitely possible to choose whether you want to party or not. If S needed to study or was sick, and Roommate wanted to party, R would go elsewhere (or vice-versa.)</p>
<p>-The noise never woke S up or kept him from going to sleep. He says the walls are pretty thick.</p>
<p>-Even though it is known as a Party Dorm, the majority of students there are not big party-ers. There are, of course, a few who are very outgoing and tend to set that reputation. But it is like anything else like this. People see the loud ones and a stereotype is set based on those. There IS a balance of different types of students.</p>
<p>-S is in Marshall, had five classes each semester while in NEW, and did very well in all of his classes that year.</p>
<p>I want to get this housing application done ASAP, but I wanted to know, is it permanent? As in, say I chose Birnkrant as 1st choice then decide in a month that Radisson is where I really want to be, can I change it...easily?</p>
<p>And on the topic of radisson, can anyone go into detail about what it's like living there? I imagine a hotel has its perks but it's definitely not a traditional college dorm.</p>
<p>Where do upperclassmen who don't get housing go? Assuming they don't have family in the area.</p>
<p>Well its great to know all this. I just applied for housing earlier today, and listed North as my first choice. Come to find out, after you apply for housing, there is still plenty of time to go back and change your housing choices, while still holding your "place in line" so to speak : D</p>
<p>Are you able to go to USC and tour the dorms? A lot depends upon where you live now and how much time/cost is involved to visit. It sounds like you will feel better if you see first hand what the dorms are like before committing. I also think there is a USC housing thread on this forum (but I don't know how to access it for you).</p>
<p>The date you sign up is important. The housing choice can be changed many times. I forgot the final date. My daughter got her first choice easily and she did not sign up until sometimes in late Feb.</p>
<p>Something to be aware of: If you have early priority and find a roommate you want to share with and who has a late or later priority, Housing will average out the priority dates. This happened with my D, though she still got her first choice.</p>
<p>If I'm applying for new/north, which options should I pick? For New there's EVK and College Hall, and for North there's Harris and University Residence Hall.</p>
<p>Are these largely the same, or does it make a difference whichever one I pick?</p>
<p>Basically, EVK and Harris have rooms with sinks while College and Uni don't have sinks. Between New and North there really isn't much of a difference as people mostly think of it as one big building.</p>
<p>Can anyone provide details on the communal bathrooms in the dorms? I've never had to share with so many ppl before and I was wondering if its uncomfortable/inconvenient/unhygienic? Also, does any dorm have a particularly good or bad reputation for its bathrooms?</p>
<p>when we visited during Parents' weekend, I looked into the bathrooms (New/North) and they look pretty clean. s says that they clean them regularly but be aware that there will be times when they will be dirty. The showers have a small area with a bench and double curtained so there is a bit of privacy.</p>
<p>I was looking at the information for housing and I was wondering what the financial advantages of picking one dorm over another. My parents are urging me to go with some of the less expensive options as far as housing go but if my financial contribution is 18,000 dollars every year, does it matter what dorm you go for? It seems to me like you would be paying the same thing (now I know that it might mean you have to face higher loans from the school but if I have scholarships to cover that... does it mean I'll have to pay more?) Same goes for the meal plan.</p>
<p>No that's just what I estimate my EFC to be. I'm saying if my family is supposed to pay 18,000 a year does it make a difference what dorm and meal plan I have?</p>
<p>It DOES make a difference. Your financial aid will be figured on an estimated cost of attendance (COA). The figure is the same whether you pick the least or most expensive housing/meal plan. Last year it was $52,000. The housing/meal plan part of that was $11,000. Only the very cheapest combination (I think it was the deans hall) even came close to that amount. The other dorms/meal plans were $12,000 - $16,000. </p>
<p>Soooo.... if you choose a housing/meal plan that is $16,000, your actual costs will be about $5,000 more than the estimated cost of attendance ($57,000), but your financial aid will be figured on $52,000. It will cost you $5,000 in addition to your EFC.</p>
<p>If they didn't do it that way, you would find all of us on financial aid living in a penthouse suite in the Radisson!</p>
<p>As I said earlier, Deans' Halls have the same meal plans as the rest of the residential halls. You are talking about Honors House, which is off campus apartments that are completely different. Please be careful about spreading information, as it can confuse people if it isn't correct.</p>
<p>Nikara, I did not make any statements or claims about what meal plans are offered in the Dean’s hall. My statement was that the only housing/meal plan combo I was able to find in the $11,000 range was the Dean’s Hall. My materials (“Living at USC, Freshman 2008-2009”) listed the Dean’s Hall as $3,085/semester. Combined with the Residential Fast pass plan of $2447/semester, that is $5,532/semester or $11,064/year. The other combos available to me were over $12,000/year.</p>
<p>I am sorry you find my posts misleading and unhelpful.</p>
<p>Nikara, thanks for the clarification, I made the mistake thinking it was for Honors dorms. Here is what from the meals plan brochure:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Honors House Meal Plan
The Honors House Meal Plan provides 10 meals per week served in Honors House and
consisting of breakfast and dinner Monday through Friday. This meal plan may be used
only in Honors House and is not valid at any other TrojanHospitality location.
Residents of Honors House will be enrolled in the following meal plan:
$1,710 per semester
<p>Actually any regular dorm, Pardee, Marks Tower, Birnkrant will cost the same. Singles, rooms with sinks and suites are more expensive. The cheapest housing would be at the apartments which don't require a full meal plan.</p>