<p>I've had a look at the dorms on the USC website, but they don't look too hot. What do current freshmen think of them? And what chance would an Honors student have of getting a single? Also, what's the level of clickishness at the school? I keep reading that there are some high schools that send many of their students to USC (and who in turn tend to stick together), but I live on the East Coast, and my high school has never sent anyone there.</p>
<p>They are small but my daughter is happy with her dorm room. It was spotless and the bathrooms are kept very clean.</p>
<p>It's true that some schools send a lot of students -- my daughter has found that her roommate (who is quite nice) sticks close with the other girls from her private school, so that's been a bit of a disappointment just because the roomie is rarely around to get to know better (grin). But they get along totally fine. I think those girls are being short-sighted not trying to make more new friends at the start of freshman year, but I imagine that may be an issue at any number of schools, and it may "wear off" as the year goes on. </p>
<p>The important thing is that the overall "vibe" at USC has been friendly and welcoming. There have been <em>tons</em> of activities and gradually my daughter is starting to see some of the same people at different activities or classes and make friends. The Intervarsity Christian Trojan group phoned her tonight to make sure she knows Friday night is game night, for example. The RAs set up lots of activities for the dorms, and she's had fun getting to know the others in her dorm. Overall, while there may be individual small groups that hang tight, the campus seems exceptionally friendly and upbeat, and has provided an impressive array of activities for the first few days. Freshman year can be a big transition, but so far, based on the reports we're getting back, it's gone even better than we hoped.</p>
<p>personally.. i think the rooms are big compared to dorm rooms in other colleges that i visited. Like PBK Mom said, there are some high schools that send 20+ people (mine sent 17).. and so ppl tend to stick together. I haven't actually hung out w/ any1 from my high school yet- i think its cool to meet new people :)!</p>
<p>A few years ago I visited my best friend's niece at Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, I couldn't <em>believe</em> what a tiny little box she was living in. Even the rooms we saw at UC Santa Barbara were slightly smaller than USC.</p>
<p>My room in a 1920s-era dorm at the University of Redlands was palatial compared to USC, but compared to many of the dorm rooms out there, USC's compare very well sizewise. There's enough room to store everything comfortably and not bump into each other walking around. :) It would be nice if they all had sinks, but my daughter's quite happy with the cleanliness in the bathroom so that measures up well too.</p>
<p>its an ok sized room. You won't feel too cramped or anything (I'm sitting in one right now so i know what i'm talking about)</p>
<p>If you are looking for a newer dorm with bigger rooms, I would try Parkside. I live in there now and although it is quiet, it is near great food and was just built 5 years ago. It isn't as "clickish" as the other dorms because there are a lot of international students. In fact, I've hardly met people in Parkside that are from the California area. The only singles I've seen are housed for upper classmen, so I don't think you have a good chance of getting one. I would advise you to get a roommate because it can get lonely sometimes if you are without one (my roommate doesn't hang around too often).</p>
<p>Some of the dorms at USC are really really nice and others are just the normal college ones... aka not great. The key to getting good housing is getting your housing application in early. Everyone who is in one of the worse dorms that i've met say that they either forgot to turn in their application or were just really really late. The chances of you getting a single are pretty good. Many people in my dorm have them and they are really really nice. The space is big (the same of a double), but that really shouldn't be a reason to choose one unless you really have a ton of stuff that all needs to be brought. I am a freshman and was somewhat concerned about the cliques that I thought I would encounter. So far I have yet to experience any. It is so easy to make friends and people are so welcoming that even when groups do tend to form, they are pretty open and inviting. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors obviously have more distinct groups of friends that they formed in previous years, but I still havent seen many cliques (the kind that exist in high school). A bunch of people I know are not the only ones who came from their high school. However, I only know of one girl who hangs out with the other kids from her high schol and that's because three of her best friends are here. I am also from the east coast and my two other people came from my school. Even though we were fairly good friends in high school, we dont see each other that often (not because we've drifted apart, but just because there are sooo many other people to meet). A lot of who your friends are depends on where you are lving. Some dorms are a lot more social and others are pretty quiet. I wouldnt worry about the social part of USC as someone coming from the east coast; everyone here from the east coast that I know has had no more or less of a easy time adjusting. Hope that helps... if you need anything else you can pm me.</p>
<p>The rooms at the Radisson are bigger than normal because it is a hotel in which USC has acquired four floors for students. My son loves it there. He is from the east, and reports no clickishness in the kids.</p>
<p>By the way, 30 years ago, I was from one of those high schools that sent a lot of kids to USC. The first thing we wanted to do was expand our circle of friends with kids from elsewhere in the country! Some of the kids I met then are still friends of mine.</p>
<p>I'm not quite sure what you mean by "what chance would an Honors student have of getting a single?" Students who are finalists for scholarship considerations or other special programs tend to be admitted earlier to USC and therefore can send in their non-binding housing requests earlier. I think I mailed in my submission sometime in mid-April and got my first choice.<br>
A lot of these students who decide to go to USC also can participate in honors programs like Thematic Option and Freshmen Science Honors; they are eligible to go into the Deans' Halls-Marks Hall (not to be confused with the nearby Marks Tower) and Trojan Hall. However, my friends tell me that the Deans' Halls are the worst dorms on campus and complain about the street noise.</p>
<p>I haven't seen any problems with the dorms I've visited so far; believe me, they could be a lot worse. I'm in Birnkrant and really love it; I'm almost tempted to say that my room here is nice than my one back home :) A friend of mine on my floor has a single, and she tells me that she's kind of weirded out by how much extra space she has. And really, the roommate situation is a college must. I'm really glad that I have my roommate around.</p>
<p>As for the social scene-well, there are going to be cliques anywhere you go. Some are more obvious than others, but they're there; some Greek members give off an exclusive vibe but most aren't like that. That said, people are fairly relaxed and welcoming around here; the vast majority will help you out with directions or something similar if you ask. It's Southern California, after all; there's an ever-present sort of amiable vibe. I've met quite a few people from the East Coast who came by themselves, and they seem to be having a really great time.</p>
<p>The one thing I find frustrating about USC is that since there are so many students that it's really difficult to meet up again with the people you initially befriend, especially when everyone has a different courseload and does so many activities. I've found that there are a lot of meetings I would like to attend, but they often conflict with my class times or my courses.</p>
<p>if you want small, take a look at UCLA's dorms. They pack 3 students into a space 2/3 the size of New/North dorms.</p>
<p>My S is a freshman in Pardee Tower (8 stories), with a room mate from Boston. They get along & seem to have enough space without lofting or bunking their beds (one bed on each side of the room, like in the pictures). Son has been pretty quiet about whom he's been socializing with, but seems to be quite busy--playing ultimate frisbee, catching the Dart around LA & walking to explore neighborhoods near USC, watching movie stars walk on the red carpet for the Emmys, etc. The kids I've heard from either LOVE USC are are quite happy there. It is a large school, but if you're in a "school" like engineering or one of the other schools, it makes it a bit smaller (400 entering freshmen in engineering, etc).
Neither son nor I felt his dorm room with the room mate & both of them with stuff moved in was particularly small. Best of all, the elevator was near their room, as was the bathroom & the laundry room (one washer, one dryer). Their room is fairly quiet & cool & the folks on his hall all seemed quite friendly and interested in making friends.
I've heard that UCLA & UCSD & Santa Clara all have promised housing to more students than they "should," so rooms are overcrowded, with students living in the lounges at UCLA & UCSD, etc.</p>
<p>One other bit of info regarding housing- starting with the class of 2010, both F & S classes are promised on-campus housing. After that students apply for a lottery USC owned housing both on and off campus. One other thing to keep in mind- because many [40% I believe] of students there are from the LA area, USC can be kind of quiet on the weekends, as many LA kids visit home and friends in the area. Himom, my son is also in Pardee- 7th floor. His roomate is gone each weekend.</p>
<p>Well, your S can visit with my S & his roommate at Pardee. Since my S is from HI & his roommate is from Boston, neither are leaving town much. I have only purchased tickets for my S to come home for winter break & will be buying tickets for him to come home for the summer.</p>
<p>In addition, I know that the other 78 kids from HI that are entering freshmen & 73 from HI who were freshmen last year are also very unlikely to visit home frequently either. </p>
<p>You are right that beginning with this year's freshmen, our students are promised USC housing for freshmen and sophomore years, yippee!</p>
<p>I think as the kids become less homesick & more comfortable with friends & organizations they've met at USC, more will stick around campus on weekends. Actually, I've heard from prior HS grads that many of the HI kids from other CA & west coast schools come to USC on weekends to visit, since so much more is happening on the USC campus than on their campuses. So far, my S & his friends seem to be having fun exploring the areas near USC on weekends. Hope your S finds a nice group to hang out with & that his roommate might invite him around or hang out at USC more.</p>
<p>A side note on things to do, for future freshmen I recommend joining a Learning Community. Earlier this week my daughter had a free ticket and transportation to see CURTAINS at the Music Center (starring David Hyde Pierce of FRASIER) and next Friday night they are taking them to the Dodgers game. LION KING and possibly a Kings hockey game have also been mentioned. It has been a good way to see L.A. and also meet some people with things in common since the LC's are comprised of students who share two classes.</p>
<p>If you are so inclined, she's also found a couple different religious groups to be a good way to "connect."</p>
<p>My daughter had really agonized over her college decision (debating between USC and a "smaller" school where it might be easier to get to know people, among other things) and she is very happy at USC. Which makes me happy!</p>
<p>At Pardee, they have a "Great Outdoors" Floor, which will have outiings outdoors, of course. So far, I haven't heard/read about what they have scheduled but a friend's son really enjoyed living there & so far, my S does as well.
Sounds like your D is enjoying her living community. What is it called, by the way?
We heard repeatedly that there are lots of USC funds students can apply for to take in outings that are pre-paid if they just have a school group & apply. It's nice when the outings are planned & you just have to sign up & attend tho. It seems USC really tries hard to have lots of activities for all its students.</p>
<p>My daughter's particular Learning Community is comprised of students who are taking both Intro to Cinema and Classical Mythology. (There were a variety of choices to sign up for.) The Mythology professor joined them for dinner and the play the other night, and also came to the L.C. luncheon on the first full day on campus, so that's another perk -- getting to know the professor on a more personal basis despite being in a large "intro" class.</p>
<p>The Outdoors floor sounds like another great idea! I'm very impressed by all USC has been doing to keep the kids busy and "connect" them with students with common interests. Says a lot about positive leadership at many levels.</p>
<p>Yeah, several folks whose kids attend other schools are telling their folks that they feel left out when kids go home for weekends, etc., & many go to USC because that's where the "action" is. I have been very impressed that there is so much to engage the students in on campus.</p>
<p>Some of the schools we toured admitted they have no formal program to help students connect or particular activities for students. They said they will SUPPORT (some way unspecified) what the students want to do but don't plan it, saying there is "so much to do" anyway. That did not impress me, especially since I know my son is more reserved & needs a bit of a nudge to get involved in activities.</p>
<p>A friend of mine is going to write her alma mater in the midwest (where her daughter hopes to attend) and tell them about Learning Communities, as they don't have anything like it there, and she thinks it's a great idea. It would be neat for more big universities to emulate the program.</p>
<p>My daughter is somewhat reserved too, in the sense she's unlikely to create social or activity plans from scratch when she's already in a brand-new environment meeting lots of new people. Having things in place like the LC's, dorm activities, religious groups, and sports (my daughter looked into signing up for an Ultimate Frisbee league but decided she might be overcommitting her first semester, grin) makes it really easy for the students to have "places to go and things to do" and meet others interested in the same things. Activities like departmental BBQs have been another way to get to know fellow students a bit better.</p>
<p>Once USC has on-campus (or immediately adjacent) housing available through senior year, it will be pretty perfect. :)</p>
<p>My S just called. Their floor just returned from a campout in the mountains. He says he & his room mate get along well and are compatible. YEA! He says they're doing a lot of things as a floor & folks on the floor get along nicely.
In prior years, the Great Outdoors Floor has had activities including surfing, hiking, and camping. I think it's great for them to be able to have a change from the urban environment of LA & my S has always enjoyed our visits to national parks. There are some very lovely outdoors areas in & near LA & I look forward to learning what else they do. Maybe they'll go cross-country skiing too!</p>