<p>I was floating around on studentreview and all I see is how stuck up/materialistic/snobbish/rich-parents-type the kids are at usc.</p>
<p>Is this true?</p>
<p>Also, is the social life dominated by greek life? I don't plan on joining a frat but i still like to party :o</p>
<p>There were also hints on staff biases and racism... how is USC for indians (Asians) especially at Marshall.</p>
<p>Also, I Know the Marshall grading curve has been abolished but is it still in place?</p>
<p>Sites like studentreview typically represent less than 5% of the student population and the ones that post there tend to have a grudge or grievance. The reality is that the majority of students at USC are on financial aid, and from my experience, have been very nice and down to earth. But the best thing you can do is visit and see for yourself - if that’s possible.</p>
<p>international… not feasible or id love to visit all the unis before making decision… but that’s what places like CC are for huh?</p>
<p>thisismyhandle: </p>
<p>When my son and I were at the USC Explore session 2, we went to many of the scheduled events and heard wonderful presentations from currents USC students and staff. BUT we also went to various things on the campus just for a casual look. We only saw and heard good things. One good test is to sit in a casual setting such as a cafe and listen to and watch students. Everyone seemed either very friendly OR very focused on their studies. </p>
<p>I have done the same thing at other schools and came away dismayed with student language and dynamics. As suggested by others here, the BEST way to know what the student body is like is to visit the campus yourself.</p>
<p>Also- depending on who you talk with and what you read, USC Greeks make up between 20-25% of the total. So you don’t have to be in a frat or sorority to fit in.</p>
<p>thanx @ naudiver & yorkiemom</p>
<p>Like many great universities, USC has a really dynamic mix of types of students. And maybe you can see some of the differences when you look at engineering majors, or fine arts majors, or business majors, or whatever–just like you might at many other schools. Since USC has so many “types” from Architecture to Pre-Med, the great unifier is the warmth of the Trojan Family. The campus is really happy. Students openly smile at other students on campus–no matter what major, ethnicity, or whether they wear a Greek sweatshirt or not. If you do get to visit campus you should try it. Smile at a student and feel the Trojan spirit.</p>
<p>I’ve also been reading about how the whole trojan feeling is entirely football based. If you don’t follow american football, and as an international applicant I don’t have much exposure to it, you are a misfit at USC. Is this true?</p>
<p>Is the student body very segregated? I read that people more or less close themselves into ethnicity based groups…</p>
<p>The more I read about USC the more I see stuff about Frat’s controlling most parties on campus, and that if you don’t rush, your left out on the social scene…</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>If you are referring again to studentreview I would just stop reading it if I were you. As an Alum and someone that worked on campus for over 5 years I can tell you that it is a very diverse and integrated place. You will always find groups, but they are not necessarily defined by race, economic or geographic status. As far as the frats go, I never once went to a frat party and still had plenty of social opportunities available to me. </p>
<p>Football is big - no doubt about it, but there are plenty of folks that don’t follow it and are doing just fine. Keep in mind USC has the largest international student enrollment in the US so you wouldn’t be alone.</p>
<p>I am so impressed with madbean, yorkiemom and nauidiver for their calm and kind responses to you. I am going to do my best to follow their example:</p>
<p>Only 20% of the student body is involved in the Fraternities. Which means 80% are not.</p>
<p>My own daughter does not follow football, and is not at all a misfit. She fits in very well. Her freshman year, USC was in the Rose Bowl. I told her that her grandfather was having a Rose Bowl party. Her response: A Rose bowl party? Is that football? Who is in it?</p>
<p>Segregated: She has friends from, literally, all over the world, from every socioeconomic level, and every ethnicity. You will only be “segregated” if you choose to segregate yourself.</p>
<p>Rich: More than 60% of students receive need-based financial aid.</p>
<p>And just a personal note about your opening post: please remember that many of the posters here are parents of the students you say are
It takes many deep breaths to respond in a positive manner.</p>
<p>thisismyhandle, you are on college confidential so you can use the search function to see many years of posts on various topics regarding life at USC. Posts are from current students–those who are intellectual, sports-minded, social, quiet, Greek, creative, International, double majors, et al and most are a combination of several of those–and they each share their unique view of this school. You should make sure you hear many voices from students who actually attend USC (on some boards, you can’t be sure who is posting and what their agenda may be), so do look up past posts to get a bigger view.</p>
<p>The best we can tell you is there is a good mix. Ethnic groups often self-segregate on big campuses (their choice), but USC is known to be very comfortable for international students which is why USC has the largest % of internationals in UG in the US. All schools will contain students you may not want to hang out with, and many that you do. There is no overriding snobbish culture. Some kids are from wealthy families like at any private university–including ivies, but it’s wrong to put them down just because of their family! Would you do the same about the huge portion of students on FinAid? Of course not. </p>
<p>School spirit is about much more than sports. Your questions are important, but if you are very closed to the idea of new experiences like football games, big American Universities will be quite a shock!</p>
<p>Thank you for that.</p>
<p>@ alememom… I did not intend to offend, or make people squeamish… those adjectives were for the lack of better alternatives…
I was just trying to get a big picture… </p>
<p>@madbean… I’m all for it, hell, the major motivation behind travelling a couple of thousand miles to get an education is largely based on having an enriching experience, I was merely trying to picture what is ahead of me.</p>
<p>I have a decent amount of Indian friends at USC and my own sister has been living in LA for a couple of years now… my effort only reflects on the fear of becoming one of those people who regret picking a university… I don’t like the concept of transferring, I want to be able to pick the right one and stick with it…</p>
<p>Again, thank you all.</p>
<p>Alright, as an actual freshman and not a parent of a USC student, here’s the honest, honest low down:</p>
<ol>
<li>USC has had the “University of Spoiled Children” stigma attached to its name for ages, and while the university has changed SO much in the past decade or so, there is definitely still a presence of the “stuck up/materialistic/snobbish/rich-parents-type” on campus - the majority of students are on financial aid on scholarships, but there are kids who have the means to pay for USC on their own, and you will definitely see them around. More so, we live in Los Angeles, and there’s a certain superficiality that just breeds in the town, and you have no way around it.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>But, I have to say that I think it’s funny that the most stuck up kids I know are in the Cinema school, not the ones with the trust funds and millionaire daddies. Great thing about college is that you get to be picky about your friends and you will definitely find amazing people here. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Okay, if you pull out the numbers only a third (or less) of the student body is involved in the Greek system. But it sure feels like a hell of a lot more. Especially if you’re in Marshall, it will seem like EVERYONE is Greek. (But we’re obviously not.) Social life is pretty dominated by the Greek scene, at least with the big parties, but the Greek’s domination has definitely toned down a lot because USC’s cracked down. If you’re a guy and not in a fraternity, you’re not going to get into any Greek parties, and you’re going to have to find somewhere else. But girls can get in anywhere, regardless if they are Greek or independent. Parties are everywhere, but Greek ones are always the biggest and baddest. It’s just easier for guys to be in fraternities if they want to party. Not essential, but simply easier. </p></li>
<li><p>I’ve never ever EVER heard of professors being racist, especially because we have such a large population of internationals, Indians and Asians. I’d say that diversity is overrated at USC because like others had pointed out, lots of ethnic groups self-segregate and stick together. There are obviously tons of exceptions, but I think it’s just a cultural thing and there is definitely a place for everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity. </p></li>
<li><p>The Marshall curve has been abolished but generally midterms/finals are curved according to your class performs. But just like any class at USC, it all depends on your professor.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m curious what gave you that impression?</p>
<p>I’m applying to the cinema school, so…</p>
<p>Go to YouTube. There are many videos about SC with varied subjects. One in particular is called “Pete on the Street”. Before he left for the NFL Pete Carroll was one of the most recognized and famous college football coaches in the U.S.</p>
<p>In this video Pete interviews students on campus. I think this will give you a good view of the importance of the sport to many. Most of the students he stopped had no idea who he was! In the background you can see students walking or riding by. The diversity of the student body is evident.</p>
<p>Caucasians are a minority at SC. It has one of the most varied student bodies in the nation.</p>
<p>shicko: My major is Business/Cinematic arts, so along with the core classes of a Business Administration major, I get to take Cinema classes as well. I’ve taken Intro to Cinema, Intro to TV, as well as having a boyfriend who lives on the Cinema floor of New/North. Generally speaking, lots of Cinema kids stick together and have sort of an elitist attitude toward everyone else because they think they’re going to be the next Spielberg and have amazing jobs and be famous and whatever. It’s just sort of an arrogance that comes with being accepted into the most prestigious Cinema school in the country. And I get it, the kids have obviously proved themselves, but I just know a LOT of kids who are pretty snobby about it and think they’re better than everyone else. </p>
<p>But don’t let that deter you from applying because the Cinema school is fantastic and I love being apart of it! There are definitely down to earth people too, but like I said, it’s sort of the Hollywood effect where everyone thinks they’re going to be the next big thing. Hope that makes sense.</p>