<p>Hey I know New and North are connected and pretty much the same, but could anyone tell me a benefit of choosing one over the other? Por favor</p>
<p>Ah, thanks War Chant. In that case, do you know how the food is at EVK and Parkside? When I went during ExploreUSC, it seemed like there were vegetarian options (:</p>
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<p>There really isn't any benefit imo, they are pretty much the same building. The main difference is in what floor you get. Floors 2, 3, 4 tend to be more social than the 1st. The 4th floor of New/North is shortened and only has about 1/3rd of the rooms of the other floors.</p>
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<p>Both have the standard Rice as well as Pasta and Pizza which change every day. The main entrees are usually meat but there is usually some vegetable next to it. Both have salad bars with every possible topping. EVK has a Mexican bar. Parkside has an American themed bar where they have Burgers (Veggie too), Fries, etc. In the end, you'll probably end up going to the one you live closer too the most and you will get sick of it. The Lot and Cafe 84 also have some vegetarian options. I'm sure you saw some of this when when you went to ExploreUSC.</p>
<p>Thanks War Chant! If people get sick of it, do they continue eating and bear it? Or do they just forego the meal plan and eat elsewhere offcampus?</p>
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<p>Most freshman have the Cardinal Plan which has $510 dining dollars and 10 meals a week which roll over if unused. Last semester, my dining dollars were the first to go and at the end of the semester I had ~60 meals left over. It got to the point where I'd go and use a meal just to get a drink or a piece of fruit or something. When I got bored of Parkside/EVK I'd go to the places under Tuscany and the food places on Figueroa.</p>
<p>How active are the Residential Colleges at USC? I really like a lot of what was said in the Housing brochure but can anyone give any background into what actually goes on? One of my biggest interests is trying to find opportunities to get away from USC and explore LA and the outlying areas. I'm especially looking into info about the Brinkrant Residential College and its activities.</p>
<p>Also, anyone have any experience with the Great Outdoors floor at Pardee? It seems like a really interesting option. What are their activities like?</p>
<p>Could anyone tell me about the "Quiet Community"? I was looking on the Housing site and it said something about that. What's that about?</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about the Birnkrant triple option?</p>
<p>yea birnkrant triple sounds pretty cool</p>
<p>I believe the Birnkrant triples are the largest "dorm" rooms. Of Course, an apartment is bigger.</p>
<p>I currently live in a Birnkrant triple and I think it's the best deal on campus. You have two, double-sized rooms for three people, so it gives you the most space per person in freshman dorms. One room has all the beds and the other has all the desks, so you have a space for sleeping and space for studying/hanging out. I've been able to nap during the day while other people are in the other room and me and my roommate have been able to sleep through our other roommate coming in at 3 am drunk. We have a curtain that separates the two rooms so that I can be crazy and stay up until 2 or 3 doing work while my other roommate can go to bed at 11 or midnight. It's a great option in an awesome building!</p>
<p>Penguin, I am really looking forward towards a Birnkrant triple, but I was wondering what you use the extra space for. Like what do you have that fills up the space? Of course there are the desks, but that still leaves a lot of room.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info on Birnkrant triple . They looked like a good set up to me. I've heard Birnkrant is a popular first choice? Anyone have any information on other buildings. How is it with no A/C?</p>
<p>For people wondering about AC, I currently live in San Diego, which is just south of LA, and don't have AC, and rarely have a fan on. California is usually not hot (unless you go to the desert) like say arizona.</p>
<p>Which dorms have co-ed floors?</p>
<p>My son was just accepted to USC and put his housing deposit down. Which meal plan is the best. The brochure lists 4 plans. He thinks the choice is the gold plan (10 meals per week and $700 in dining dollars or the trojan plan (something like $2970 in dining dollars only). Does anyone have an opinion?</p>
<p>I havent been able to decide which would be best either; I guess it depends if he likes the dining hall food or not.</p>
<p>All this is assuming 18 week semester.</p>
<p>The cardinal plan is good if you use up all the meals per week, and can eat most breakfasts in the dorm, like a bagel or cereal, or possibly reheat something from last nights dining hall meal. Assuming 21 meals a week, theres still 11 it doesnt cover, and 7 of those being breakfast, that leaves ~72 meals per semester for the dining dollars. Thats 7$ per meal, which should be adequate.</p>
<p>However, if the dining hall can be used for all 3 meals a day, then the residential fast pass would be better. But if he gets sick of the food, then it will kinda suck.</p>
<p>The trojan meal plan is nice: about $7.71 a meal, 3 meals a day, 7 days a week.</p>
<p>The difference in price between the cardinal and gold plan is $170, and you get $190 more dining dollars. So keep that in mind.</p>
<p>About the quiet community, people in parkside said its basically a study floor. There's not partying or loud music.</p>