<p>No you are not expecting too much. I think I was expecting too little (which is what we are getting) and glad this thread came about. Your exact quandary of getting the most of out course selection over two majors is the help he is needing. Following your lead, I will have him head over to the second major department and see if there is an advisor there that can help him. Thanks!</p>
<p>@ArtsandLetters, I don’t think you are expecting too much. I have similar expectations, though I’ll freely admit that they are colored by my own collegiate experiences. The school I attended was selective, but once you were accepted they did everything in their power to ensure your success (and to ensure that you could afford to attend – I mean really afford, not some letter of the law interpretation).</p>
<p>So far my experiences with USC have made them seem much more impersonal. Which I’ll admit is a bit of a surprise given their apparent aspirations.</p>
<p>Well, I went to a state U with no advising at all, and we had to stand in insanely long lines in a large gym for Dept to see if there was still a punchcard left in the course or section we wanted. And then go back to the end of some other long line. Etc. Nothing could have been harder or more frustrating. And yet… we survived. 
(I think I sound just like Dana Carvey’s cranky old man!) I don’t think you are asking too much either, ArtsandLetters. But in a large school, the process of getting every detail treaked to one’s liking may take many forays out into the advisement process and discovering if one is actually talking to the right office. Sometimes, my kids just don’t want to keep up the hassle. But lately, they see the bigger picture–no one is trying to give them a hard time, there is just a big complex system in play–and they learn their own way around it. Smaller schools would have less of this tangle, for sure. But part of the problem is USC has so many majors and minors, with all their prereqs, etc, that interdepartmental scheduling is not truly addressed. It would be marvelous if they had an office of double majoring that provided specially trained super experienced advisors to help students coordinate schedules and run interference if things are bogging down. I hope USC is listening in to this conversation. I think poor advising that ends up costing a student extra summer/semester should be the university’s liability.</p>
<p>For all those on the edge of your seat (ha) my student made an appt today to meet with advising in the other major he is considering. Makes total sense that you need their experience to put it all together. Also told him to get his second major/minor on OASIS when working with them. Thanks everyone, sometimes CC is soooo helpful! And the good thing about USC is there are plenty of resources to help if you just know to look for them! </p>
<p>Yeah! We’ll be the force of change for sure! Congrats!</p>
<p>Getting the second major into OASIS has been very helpful for me. D wasn’t concerned, but I like to see what’s going on. They can change their minds, even it it’s been in OASIS. I hope your student gets all the info they need, CADREAMIN.</p>
<p>Just FYI, once the second major is in OASIS, there is a little tab button to switch between majors. The GE requirements are listed under both majors, then the specifics for the major you have selected. You have to change the selection to see the next major. </p>
<p>Thanks @Mom2M. That’s very helpful!</p>
<p>Happy to help, when I can!</p>