I am interviewing for a presidential scholarship and hopefully will receive it. If so, I will be able to stay in McCarthy. Would you recommend this over other residential colleges? If so, does anyone have recommendations on which room type to choose as there re many different types? Thanks!
Yes, you will have McCarthy as an option if that is what you want and I assume most honors kids choose that (remember it just opened this past fall so no real history) - although I know some kids chose the other dorms - Everyone has their own preference which makes housing pretty easy at USC. Some want AC, some don’t care. The residential colleges per se aren’t all that - it is mostly the building, people in them and location of the building. The “residential college” is just wallpaper frankly. The room types are more a personal preference and money consideration. More people in a suite - more fun or more drama? Can go either way so you just have to decide. Keep in mind college is a time to meet people and get out there! They do an excellent job roommate matching if you are going in without one.
@CADREAMIN Thank you so much, very helpful! It’s a little difficult to find out about McCarthy because it just opened but people seem to really be enjoying it.
It would be better if they had you do housing after interviewing. You will see soon how awesome your choices are soon and good luck! Can’t make a wrong choice, really.
@CADREAMIN I agree! They said I can change my preferences up until May 1st which is nice though. Excited for Explore USC and Interview. Thank you!!
Oh that’s right!!! You really can. My daughter changes hers 5 minutes before the 9am deadline and added something new to her first choice and got it!!
I am so happy that my daughter is a trustee finalist and that she could live in the village. It’s so beautiful. Do you know if McCarthy separates the grades by floor? I know she would like to live with incoming freshman. I’m so excited for her!!! 
@marylousquires I believe McCarthy is freshman only housing.
I just read in the housing brochure that it holds 1500 freshman so that is a really good number.
I’ve been inside the dorm for student org recruiting and it’s very nice. It’s a definite 1st choice. 
A little jealous that us older TSS didn’t get a dorm like that, but again there’s nothing like the classic feel of Birnkrant. 
Shout out to Birkrant! D is loving it there, in all it’s classic glory. back at you @Lilliana330
When do students hear back about housing results?
^^^ Most hear in April. Honors may be different, but I doubt it.
After you apply housing, you can start to look at other students’ profile and look for roommates, and request roommates until early May. Last year, my daughter received housing assignment information on May 16. Then we paid $800 housing deposit.
This is from housing update email on 5/3/17
- Because assignments will be made beginning May 8th, any changes to your housing application including preferences and roommates, need to be made by May 8th at 8:00am PDT as the application portal will be shut down at that time.
- An important note on roommate assignments: If you have requested a roommate, your building, room type, and Special Interest Community preferences (even if you’ve selected *No Special Interest Requested) should match exactly, or you will not be assigned together.