<p>I'll be an engineer next year and wondering whether the "party" atmosphere of New/North is too overbearing. I plan on rushing my first semester, and from what I've heard New/North has a high number of students who do so. I also like that the dorm is close to a Starbucks and a library. Coming to USC without any hometown friends, I'd like the offerings of a very social dorm. Will I be able to get work done if need be? Does it depend more on the roommate?</p>
<p>Hello! </p>
<p>I was a freshman engineer in New North last year and I can personally attest to the fact that it has a really good balance between work and play. The setup is definitely more conducive to socialization (long hallways with most people leaving their doors open all the time) and a lot of people do go Greek, but not everyone! You can almost always find some peace and quiet in the study rooms (at least 4 per floor) which is where I spent a lot of my time studying. My hall also had 2 other engineers and a premed student and we spent a lot of time studying together in each other’s rooms as well as socializing. I was definitely able to find a balance there. I think this can also be said about every dorm on campus- it’s not necessarily the reputation but what you make of it! As long as you are confident in your time management skills you can succeed anywhere. </p>
<p>To learn more about housing watch the short video we prepared here! [A</a> Look at USC Housing! - YouTube](<a href=“A Look at USC Housing! - YouTube”>A Look at USC Housing! - YouTube)</p>
<p>You can also check out blogs about housing (just search “housing”) at viterbivoices.usc.edu</p>
<p>Lyssa
Sophomore - Chemical Engineering (Nanotechnology)</p>
<p>The library is next door and there are 2 actual Starbucks within short walking distance as well as a few other coffee places. If you need to get work done just go to Leavey and find a computer or cubicle or study room and do what you have to do.</p>
<p>Realistically, you won’t be spending too much time in your dorm room so try not to base your social prospects on which dorm building you pick. My friends in New North attest to its griminess and their rude roomies, though it is ultimately up to chance who you end up with. Generally speaking, every building in the North and South area of campus (think Pardee, Birnkrant, Marks Tower, Marks Hall, Trojan Hall) has an almost identical room setup so you won’t be differing too much if you pick one of these buildings. I’m in Trojan Hall right now and it’s sufficient, I don’t socialize too much with the girls here because I’m always out. But if I had to pick the best dorm building I’d say Pardee (or Birnkrant if you are a Trustee/Mork Scholar) because it’s located smack in between the New North zone and the more southern Trojan Hall, right across Doheny library and not too far from the Tuscany area where there is a Chipotle and other exotic eatieries. If you want any semblance of a social presence in your dorm, definitely steer clear of the Parkside area suites. Aside from the slightly steeper price tag, these dorms are far away from the real action on campus and the students there tend to be more antisocial (I lived in International Res College, where 6 of my 7 female suitemates could not speak English).</p>
<p>Side note: how does a roommate get assigned if you don’t request one? Is it random but based on the housing preferences and questionnaire you answered?</p>
<p>Hello</p>
<p>I am also a Fall 2013 USC admit and like you I am majoring in Engineering and will probably be dorming at New/North. I am not to worried about issues studying because I can always just use the libraries. I don’t know how roomates are assigned. I would assume, however, that they just go down the list of matches. </p>
<p>What type of engineering are you majoring in? What are your hobbies/interests?</p>