Hey, everyone! I’m an incoming transfer student and will most likely be living off campus. Since I won’t be bringing a car, I’m trying to narrow down my neighborhood choices to safe areas that are no more than a 25-minute public transport ride to USC.
Any suggestions of where to start looking, and what kind of public transport it requires? (Subway, bus, USC shuttle, et cetera?)
Thank you!
Your best bet is around campus (NW of Jefferson Blvd). LA is so congested that you can’t get far with public transportation in 25 minutes, so stick by campus
@flambeau, Downtown LA is now very trendy. The area around LA Live has several newish apartment buildings, and it’s easy to hop on the Expo line (the light rail, so you’re not stuck in traffic) for a straight shot to campus in less than 25 minutes. (USC also has a shuttle that goes between campus and LA Live during limited hours on the weekend). We ran into many USC students at the Medici apartments, but there are quite a few other complexes around.
Here are a some links to get you started with your research:
Expo Line
http://www.metro.net/projects/exposition/
Medici Apartments
http://www.themedici.com/
LA Live Shuttle
http://www.lalive.com/visitor-center/usc-shuttle
Good luck!
Thanks for the replies! I appreciate it.
When you say “NW of Jefferson Blvd”, I’ve been seeing quite a lot of listings on Ellendale Place/Orchard Avenue/W 29th and W 30th…that’s north of Jefferson Blvd but not NW. What do you guys think of that area?
Late to the party here- my daughter is currently living on Orchard and it is fine. She walked to campus but the apartment included parking. All her roommates all had cars as they all interned and public transit for that does not work. If any of you need a reliable and safe car let me know (96 Volvo with aprox 77k miles)
The Medici is more expensive than the Lorenzo, which has a free shuttle and is bikable to campus. I think they are managed by the same company. No reason to go up there unless you want to be in that area downtown.
Ellendale is okay, many students live there.
I ended up getting a place on W 21st Street. The free shuttle comes within a block of it, and supposedly it’s 8 minutes biking distance, so hopefully it’ll be good!
My daughter is going to live on W. 21st as well so I am glad to hear about the shuttle. I will pass the information on to her. She will probably ride her bike but if she gets a flat tire at least there is an option. 
Definitely! It stops right by that cafe/restaurant a block away.