Racial Concern

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

Hey guys I am a black student from an underrepresented country in east Africa and just had some questions

  1. Are the fraternities dominated by whites? Can I rush and get in
  2. How is racial integration of blacks with others?
  3. How is the social experience? Is there a lot of independent life or just frat parties
  4. What do you think of mechanical engineering at USC
    Thank you all in advance, I Appreciate all answers especially from current graduates or students. Please don’t be biased if you can.
2

I am a parent of two USC students and cannot speak specifically to fraternities but I can speak to demographics at USC. I think of USC like being in Times Square in New York, always alive and so diverse. You hear many languages and interact with many people from all over the world as you move through campus. Besides this, California is probably the most progressive state in terms of accepting diversity in general whether it be racially, gender issues, sexual orientation, religion, economic, etc. Of course it doesn’t mean it is even close to perfect and there are always issues in large populations but as acceptance goes, USC is a great place. LA, San Francisco, and other urban areas across the country are your best bets for a strong foundation and stronger acceptance of diversity. I can say that frat parties certainly do not rule the social scene at USC. There are so many people now (it is as big as UCLA) that there are all kinds of social outlets, frats are just a part of it. Good luck on your college search!

3

Frat guys in my (limited) experience kind of suck when it comes to racial relations. They are mostly white, but they do have black members. I don’t know, maybe not many minorities rush, and that’s all. Beyond that though, while they aren’t usually aggressively racist, they can be insensitive, especially in the south. If you really want to join, your best bet are those on the west coast or some northern schools, like UMich and (fortunately) USC. They’re probably still going to be mostly white, but at least they are less likely to be a**holes.

4

Join the Black Alumni Association and skip the frats. They’ll help you get hooked up to resources and mentors.

Having said that - USC is like the rest of the world. Lots of wonderful people, a few who aren’t. But that’s with any campus. You’ll find a mix of people who like you for you regardless of your background. It’s a large campus so easier to be “who you are” rather than have to “fit in.”

5

To answer your questions seriatim:

  1. Yes and yes and likely yes in at least one frat, although the top frats are less likely.
  2. Excellent because most are fully assimilated into main stream Anglo American culture, that is, most lack Southern or Ebonics accents.
  3. Excellent and diverse opportunities given its location.
  4. Very strong engineering programs across the board.

Good luck.