<p>Ok, so I live in Massachusetts (Cape Cod to be exact) and obviously I know that I'm going to have to fly into LAX or something, but how do I get from LAX to USC? Is their some kind of tram, or bus route, or do I have to catch a taxi? (I really don't want to be cramming a bunch of stuff into a cab.) </p>
<p>Also, on a totally unrelated note, if I'm a CNTV major, do I still have to take the math/science placement tests? (I know I have to take foreign language.) </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I can't really help you on that but I can tell you this - I'm actually from Harwich - but if you want to fly to LA from Boston, go Qantas (the Australian one). They have flights that go from NY to LA to Sydney - so just hitch a ride on the NY to LA (if you can make it to NY cheap). You'll save something like $100 because they want to make that part cheap and jack up the price on the flight to Sydney. Good luck - if you go to the college website I'm pretty sure they say they have shuttles.</p>
<p>I have a question, too - could someone sum up the neighborhoods and parts of LA? I know the difference between Beverly Hills and Compton, but what about the stuff in between? Thanks. (And is there a T system like the one in Boston?)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.laalmanac.com/LA/lamap2.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.laalmanac.com/LA/lamap2.htm</a></p>
<p>USC is located near downtown la, the neighborhood is okay, not that great. actually just a few days ago a pregnant woman got shot right outside the campus.
from LAX to USC it only takes about 30 minutes at the most (probably less) you can take a bus to USC or hire a shuttle to take you from lax to sc.
usc is like 35 minutes away from my house</p>
<p>Hey pkb260, are you going to USC as a freshman or are you a continuing student? </p>
<p>Also, how do you just buy a ticket for the NY to LA leg? All I could find were full trips (with stopovers in LA) for $1000?</p>
<p>There are not direct train routes from LAX to USC. If you are bringing a lot of stuff as a freshman, having a parent come with you and renting a minivan gives you the most flexibility and allows for last minute runs to Target and such.</p>
<p>The second best would be taking a cab to campus. There are minivan cabs if you have a lot of luggage. </p>
<p>The group shuttles are not a good idea if you have a lot of baggage. They are basically 15 passenger vans with the back seat removed for storage, and luggage space fills up quickly. There was barely space for my one checked bag coming home for Christmas, and I imagine move-in day is far more crowded.</p>
<p>I've been to LA to USC a couple times. I rented a Hertz car with GPS system...if you have a car and a newcomer, a GPS system is very helpful. Also, I googled a map from my hotel address to USC using the addresses to Ramada Inn on Figueroa and The Shrine on West Jefferson. Both are across the street from the USC campus.</p>
<p>If you do the shuttle, try SuperShuttle or Primetime Shuttle service. Cost is approx. $15 each way. You can get on with no reservations at LAX under the "Shared Rides" sign but you need to make reservations from the USC campus. You can make reservations online or by phone.</p>
<p>Actually, during peak times (after breaks) you should make a reservation for the shuttles. Otherwise you'll be stuck a while waiting for a shuttle.</p>
<p>As for rental cars, most companies don't rent cars to anyone under 21. And those 21-25 usually have to pay extra fees.</p>
<p>Why not Flying with one bag and FedExing everything else?</p>
<p>Yeah that's probably what I'm going to do.</p>
<p>My experience with the airport shuttles has been mixed, particularly on the LAX end of things. Even with a reservation, I had to wait on the curb for close to an hour for a downtown shuttle to come by. The employee at the stand had poor contact with the dispatcher, who seemed overwhelmed and confused. </p>
<p>A "reservation" online does nothing but pre-pay for your ticket. You still get to wait in line with the dozens of other people also waiting for a van. There is nothing coordinated about it.</p>
<p>As for the shipping solution, be aware that USC will <em>not</em> accept deliveries until move-in day, and if the package arrives early it will be turned away. If you can live for a day or two on just essentials out of your suitcase, shipping Fedex is definitely better than juggling bags at the airport.</p>
<p>If you come with your parents that means you can bring 6 bags on the plane plus carry-ons. That should be enough for males. When we moved in our son in 2003, I was stunned by how much some of the young women brought.</p>
<p>USC is in watts, which is a mostly black neighborhood with a high crime rate, and the location of the cryps and bloods gang, one of their locations. I lived their for 7 years, before moving to Ojai, which is 2 hours north of usc. Be SURE not to wear red(bloods) or blue(cryps) colors outside of the campus, and in areas like compton and south watts. I witnessed 3 shootings in the area as a child. I am not trying to scare you away from usc, because i want to go there next year!!!</p>
<p>whoa, not wear red or blue outside of campus? wow - that's crazy. can you do a full rundown of LA from pasadena to long beach?</p>
<p>I think Evan is exaggerating the issue. Cardinal red happens to be one of the USC colors, and is featured prominently in school clothing. If this gang problem was true, then every person wearing their USC sweatshirt off-campus would be gunned down. I don't get the feeling that USC is in the middle of gang battlefield. USCs dangerous inner-city reputation is undeserved, and the campus is just as safe as any other large school in an urban environment.</p>
<p>USC is not in Watts. Watts is just north of the 105 before the 105-110 interchange. USC is further up the 110 near downtown and the 110-10 interchange. Check the map I linked to. The official area in which USC is located is South Los Angeles.</p>
<p>I always wondered about the whole "don't wear solid red or blue" thing, because would you really get shot if you simply wore a solid red or blue shirt but in a very non-gangster way? For example, a solid red polo shirt that is more tight than baggy, normal-sized pants, and a hairdo that isn't shaved or really short. Would they really shoot a white person who wore solid blue? I suppose it's possible, if some guy had to hurt an innocent bystander to be initated into the gang, then I guess maybe they could go after what most closely resembles something from the rival gang. Highly unlikely though.</p>
<p>And Ned, USC sweatshirts are not solid red, since they have USC sewed across them. So they wouldn't count as gang-related apparel, haha.</p>
<p>Whoa, I was just wondering about taxis (ha ha.)</p>