<p>So I was wondering about USC's freshman orientation program. I know that a lot of colleges do their freshman orientation the week before school actually starts where they incorporate orientation into freshman week where fun activites, etc are planned for the freshmen. Does USC have a freshman week along with the orientation or is it just the orientation during the summer and then we just move in and start classes just like the sophomores, juniors, and seniors.</p>
<p>Also I was wondering about the dorm situation. I applied for the Birnkrant double but according to what I've been hearing I won't get it since I applied so late. My other top choices were New & North double, Birnkrant triple, and Arts & Humanities double. I applied really late (April 30) so I was wondering if I have any chances of getting my top picks. Also, I heard about New/North being really social and Birnkrant having a good mix of social and quiet, but I was wondering what the Arts & Humanities personailty was.</p>
<p>And then I also read on here that a lot of the students don't stay on campus on the weekends and how 50% of them go home on the weekends (this was posted in 2004 so it has probably chaned). Does this drain the social life on the weekends or is it just as vibrant with students throughout the week as it is on the weekend.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Orientation during the summer is for freshmen to get together, go around campus, hang out, make friends, and register for classes. There is also “Welcome Week” which is pretty much the week before classes start. There are TONS of activities for freshmen organized by basically every official and unofficial group on campus, be their university staff, greek, club sports teams, academic organizations, social clubs, whatever. Basically, if you’re a freshman and it’s welcome week, you shouldn’t need to pay money for food or use your meal plan for the entire week, considering the amount of free food that will be handed out to you.</p>
<p>You will probably get a New/North double, there are lots of those. If not, then probably Parkside. There is no one “personality” that every dorm has, from what I’ve heard, Pardee used to be crazy party dorm before I lived there. New/North is usually pretty crazy, but that’s mostly because so many people live there. A&H lends itself well to getting to know your suitemates very well and not so much the people in other suites. After all, there’s two doors between the hallway and your room, not just one.</p>
<p>Lots of people stay around on weekends. Obviously some local kids go home, but it’s not like campus empties out or anything.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help hawkwings!! After looking at the Arts and Humanities Dorm I would like to change my preferences. I would rather live in the Arts and Humanities instead of the New/North dorms. Should I send the housing committee an email saying that I want to switch my preferences?</p>
<p>yohaha…personally I think that’s a good idea. Parkside is great, and I’m sure you will like and appreciate the suite arrangement and the Parkside cafeteria. My D was very happy in Parkside, having lived in both AH and the neighbouring IRC. (They are very similar)
There is a misconception that these residences are not social and are isolated from the rest of campus, but it’s not so. There are plenty of activities and lots of opportunity to meet others, and USC is really so compact, that things are still close by (and everyone has a bike). An added feature is that you will have air conditioning.</p>
<p>If you can no longer access your preferences, give housing a call, or send an email.
Best of luck!</p>
<p>You can still change your choices, as of a few minutes ago. I’m sure once they start dolling out rooms, that option will go away. (My son’s first choice was also Parkside Arts & Humanities).</p>
<p>USC Housing sent out an e-mail today: you have until May 9th to change your preferences / roommate requests. So we still have the rest of this week it looks like!</p>