<p>I just came back from Freshman Orientation on June 15-16 and it was AWESOME. Now I'm so pumped to go to USC. If anyone has any questions about Orientation feel free to ask. Fight On!</p>
<p>what happens there? how was like staying in the dorm? how was the food? how were the people? lol</p>
<p>yeah ek, please give us a brief run-down of your trip. Thanks!</p>
<p>Since I live close to campus my mom, dad and myself drove up the morning of orientation. When I got there, I went through registration getting the USC course catalog and a whole bunch of other materials including the dorm key and card (which btw if lost = $100). After registration they held the introductory session at Bovard Auditorium. After that, we split up into a bunch of little groups that were lead by orientation advisors or OA's. They gave us a tour of most of the campus and ended by sitting down on steps someplace and having a discussion on student life. Then we all went to our respective "academic expectation" sessions where they basically tell you the breakdown of the credits you need to get a degree. After that there was lunch with pasta salad, hotdogs, and hamburgers followed by placement testing. This is what everyone was dreading the most. Luckily since I was in the freshman honors science program they let me skip the tests, but I heard that none of the tests were that hard, with chem being the hardest, math next, and physics being the easiest. However, I only got out of math and chem testing so I still had to take spanish which consisted of listening, reading comp., and vocab. It wasn't too hard. After that I went with my family to take a tour of Parkside Suites which is where I'm staying next year. It was amazing. The building looks as good as new and everything is kept in perfect condition. It also has two pool tables and a tv in a lounge on the ground floor. After that we went to a sit-down dinner with some delicious chicken, salmono and pasta. Then there was a lecture on living in the dorms and campus safety. Then the fun stuff started. We got back into groups, went to the THH building for another discussion on campus life and then proceeded to the pep rally. The pep and band were AWEsome and made me want to join band. They really got the Trojan spirit up as we went to the 10 oclock social. The social lasted from 10-12 and there were a couple of things you could do. On the ground floor there were refreshments and tables where you can just relax and have a converstation with other students or OA's. The second floor they had board games like Taboo and Trivial Pursuit and the third level had music and dancing. End of Day 1.</p>
<p>Day 2
The students were assigned to New/North and the parents who decided to stay on campus stayed at Birnkrant. New/North looked a little run down on the outside but the rooms were pretty large with linens, towels and a pillow provided. I got up at around 7:00 and went to breakfast where they had eggs, fritatas, muffins, bagels, and danishes. After that was the FERPA session which talked about how students have the power to conceal their grades and health records from their parents. Then they gave a talk on the freshman seminars which meet once a week for a value of two credits that are supposed to be an extra, interesting, stress-free class. We got back into our groups and got our emails which everyone was excited about because we could now get facebooks. Then there was the expo where a bunch of clubs and organizations set up tables loaded with information. After that we got our placement test scores back and I found out I tested out of the spanish requirement. Then came the student lunch with sandwiches, chips, an apple, and a cookie. At the end of that we split up into our majors to finally register for classes and orientation was finished. Overall, I was really impressed with how friendly everyone was and the attention from the faculty. In the advisement session for the freshman honors science program, there were only 6 students and 5 faculty members. Then for registration advisement there was me and only one other person working with our advisor. This gave me the impression that the faculty truly cares about our experience at USC and sets USC apart from the UC system.</p>
<p>Just so you know, the threat about having to pay $100 if you lose your USC card is just that, a threat. It costs about $10 to replace it, and if you lose your activity sticker, that costs about $15 to replace. They're just trying to scare ya! Glad you had a good time at orientation!</p>
<p>were everybody's parents there?</p>
<p>haha, i actually didnt go to the orientation "at" SC back when i came some years ago, i was at the Midwest one at the Mcdonalds corporate campus, so it was fun when i was on campus this week watching all the people in their cute little nametag things.</p>
<p>how hard was the spanish placement test? i would think it would cover the basics and intermediate stuff up until third year of spanish, but i'm a little hesitant about the listening comp (some of those speakers speak too damn fast). rather, is it a test that we need to study alot for?</p>
<p>Glad to hear about, ek1000. Now I can't wait until my orientation! (I'm going on June 30)</p>
<p>Ek makes a good point. I did my undergrad at a UC, and although I'm thankful to have received what I consider to be a very good education, there is a saying "you're a bRuin for 4 years, but a Trojan for life." Well, I didn't go to ucla but it pretty much applies to every UC- there's not a whole lot of feelings of strong ties to the schools. That's the best thing about USC in my opinion- everyone takes so much pride in the school.</p>
<p>magicdude198 - the spanish placement test wasn't too hard...for all of the sections the questions start out easy then gradually get harder. for the listening, they start with simply constructions and present tense and by the end theyre using compound tenses and subjunctive. Their speaking speed is manageable. about whether you should study or not, the short answer is no. since the purpose of the test is to see how much spanish you know and place you in an appropriate class, you dont want to cram before, get placed in a course thats too advanced and then get screwed over.</p>
<p>Well, in my case, I want to test out of the Spanish requirement just like you did, so I won't have to take Spanish ever again. It seems I can do that, since I took AP Spanish. Thanks for the relief.</p>
<p>I'll second ek that the orientation was great. I took the math, chem and Latin placement tests. The math and chem weren't bad, although I'd say chem was easier than math, the Latin was more difficult, but it was definitely doable, I placed into second semester Latin which I'm not sure if I'm going to take or not; I also placed into calculus and chem 105. I had a great time at orientation, I got to meet a lot of new kids which was great since I'm going in not knowing anyone. The OAs were really nice and friendly. Orientation has gotten me so excited for being at USC next year.</p>
<p>uhm....if we're staying overnight in the dorms or whatever living space we provided ....do we have to bring our own bedsheets O_o?...or do they cover the basic blankets, pillows, etc.?</p>
<p>i mean, it doesn't say to bring it...but i was just wondering if they do provide that for us for orientation...since we have to bring it for the school year itself..</p>
<p>We stayed in New/North and they gave us two sheets, a blanket, a pillow, and towels.</p>
<p>thanks ^^ that was really helpful :D</p>
<p>also...did you have your measles immunization verification materials with you? i have a photocopy of my immunization card, but i dont have it signed by my physician...did anyone at orientation not have it? and if so, what did they do?</p>
<p>Hmm....They never ask you to show the immunization card but I just checked the confirmation email and it says to deliver it to the Student Health Center which I guess I forgot to do....oops...</p>
<p>USC sent another paper that says the deadline is sept 2nd...so i guess we're safe...</p>
<p>gosh..i've never been on this forum when someone else is on...everyone seems to be gone when i post...</p>
<p>we dont have to take placement tests if we want to minor in something do we? i want to minor in spanish, but i'm completely sure of this idea yet...should i just go ahead and take it?</p>
<p>hey, does anyone know if you have to take your placement tests if you're admitted into the honors engineering program?</p>