<p>I have a strong interest in the academics at USC and loved the tour I went on earlier this week, but I am strongly against participating in Greek life and do not want to join a sorority. Are there any tensions between those who participate and those who don't? Do you feel pressured on campus to join one, even though they only make up 20% of the school? What is the extent of their command of the social scene?</p>
<p>I also have the same situation and questions…</p>
<p>I would have asked while on the tour, but my tour guide and her aide were both members of sororities, which would make their contributions terribly biased.</p>
<p>gallifrey,</p>
<p>At SC thee are over 600 different organizations. While Greek life has been at SC for over a hundred years it is just one of the choices available. According to the university only 17% of students are in the “social” IFC and NPC Greek groups. The vast majority of SC students, 83%, are not members. It is an option.</p>
<p>SC now has residential colleges with a faculty “master” in all freshmen dorms. Trips, lectures, special dinners and film previews are planned social activities. During welcome week booths are set up with representatives of various organizations. Students can visit these and ask questions.</p>
<p>SC students have religious, cultural, ethnic, political, musical, athletic, drama, cinema, outdoor and service organizations as social choices. Club sports are popular as well. There are academic support groups in many of the schools, particularly Marshall and Viterbi.</p>
<p>All parties are not on the row. These is much to do on campus and in Los Angeles. During welcome week you will learn more about what SC offers that does not involve Greek membership.</p>
<p>Didn’t do greek life, still loving USC. Plenty of other orgs to involve yourself in and have fun with, no need to go greek.</p>
<p>And how big is the party scene? If you’re someone who would rather stay in your dorm reading a book or something, do you have a lot of other students who you can do that with?</p>
<p>Also, Arctic92, what was it like adjusting from NYC to LA? I live in NYC now and I’m interested in the effect of the change of climate/surroundings.</p>
<p>Not going to lie, the party scene is big… but kids at USC usually have a work hard, play hard philosophy. If you don’t want to party, there are a ton of places on campus where you can sit and read peacefully, such as the Mudd Hall of Philosophy library which has these huge gorgeous stained glass windows. Many students at 'SC are into academics as well, and you can definitely find people to engage in conversations with about literary works - It’s not too hard to find your niche at 'SC. I’ve never had any issues where parties would disrupt my personal alone time… but then again I’m usually the one hosting parties haha.</p>
<p>Are you coming in as an undergrad? The two biggest changes were the climate and the planning of the cities. In LA, you need a car. It’s possible to get around via the Metro, but they make the MTA look efficient and fast, so that’ll give you an idea of how LA’s public transportation is. The weather in LA is amazing - When my friends back home were getting snowed in, I was at the beach in January enjoying a heat wave that brought temperatures up to the mid 80s. The city isn’t as vibrant and is a bit uglier than NYC, but I enjoy the more relaxed pace, the wide spectrum in the urban fabric (Santa Monica vs Gardena, for example), and how the way USC brings together all these people from around the world means that you’ll never have a shortage of friends to explore the Los Angeles area with.</p>
<p>Did you have any specific questions that you wanted answered in particular?</p>
<p>Ah, a Whovian. :D</p>
<p>If we both get in we can form a reading group. With DW viewing parties on the weekend.</p>
<p>I’m a junior in high school and so I won’t be applying for months. But I like to do my research early so I don’t get slapped in the face with the application process come fall. </p>
<p>So is biking not a usual method of transportation? At most universities I’ve seen, biking has been the means of traveling from anywhere to anywhere. During my visit, it didn’t seem that biking was very useful outside of the campus, but I was only there for a day so I can’t really judge.</p>
<p>yes people bike,skateboard,walk or whatever they want. my daughter walks. she had a bike…but no more</p>
<p>gallifrey,</p>
<p>SC is an urban campus. Bikes are used by many on campus and to close by destinations. To take a trip downtown there are two metro stations at the edges of campus. If you wish to attend a concert by the Los Angeles Symphony take the metro, rather than biking on busy downtown streets.</p>
<p>Bikes are useful for the immediate surrounding area, but because LA is built out rather than up, the urban sprawl makes it impossible to bike to where you want it to go unless you plan on staying relatively close. I usually head 10+ miles out from USC just for dinner, so a car definitely is more useful in that case.</p>
<p>Late on the post, but there are a lot of other organizations to get involved with at USC besides for Greek life. I’m in a sorority, but I understand that it is not for everyone, however, don’t misjudge what it means to be Greek, I feel like a lot of non-Greek people don’t really understand that it’s more than just Thursday night parties. Greeks pride themselves in their involvment in other activities so whatever organizations you join there will most likely be a few Greeks! But the Greek community is welcoming, fraternities do host big parties that are open to everyone, probably a third the girls there aren’t Greek. </p>
<p>Of course there are a lot of other activities to join (check out the USC student life page on the USC website), and a lot of other parties to attend if you know kids in apartments, houses, etc. There are also “professional” fraternities (engineering, film, business, pre-law, etc), which are coed and a great way to meet people. </p>
<p>I’m not going to lie though, USC definitely has a work hard play hard mentality, even the kids who aren’t Greek. There will be people like you (and me Freshman year) who would rather watch a movie Thursday night then go out, but you just have to find them! I think one problem is that the immediate surrounding area doesn’t have a lot of other things to do at night. Most people don’t have cars Freshman year, but you can always get a zip car and go explore LA instead of going out (I don’t recommend public transportation, it is really slow!) </p>
<p>People bike, walk, skateboard, longboard, even razor skooter to class! I usually bike because I live off campus and like my 5 extra minutes of sleep :)</p>
<p>I truly dislike frat/sorority culture and I opted not to rush. I have friends in them, I have friends who aren’t in them, I have friends who want to be in them, and I have friends who hate them. Nobody really cares. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a single Row party and I’m enjoying my time at SC.</p>
<p>My d graduated from USC and is her master’s program there. She did not do Greek. She was in the Trojan marching band, danced on the Hip Hop team–Breakthrough as well as the repertoire team–or something like that. She had great friends from all those organizations plus lived on campus for 2 years and met great people at the dorms and in the suites at Parkside A&H. She also attended Bible study with Intervarsity but had great friends that did Cru as well. She has loved every semester at USC for all the opportunities academically as well as the amazing fellow students and their interests. I know this is a late post, but gallifrey, do not worry about the Greek or party life at USC. You will find a place and it will be an amazing experience.</p>
<p>Honestly, despite the prevalent Greek scene on campus, it is not something you are pressured to join. Everyone pretty much minds their own business and there are great parties you can find beyond the row (depending on the type of friends you make). Most of USC students have no interest in getting involved in Greek life and nearly all of my friends are not a part of it. They live in their own bubble and it does not command a huge part of the social scene.</p>