<p>My S is loving his dorm at Pardee this year. Just wondering what folks are planning for next year when they'll be sophomores, since most freshmen housing will be turned over to the incoming freshmen. Want to share your wisdom with my S over winter break. Thanks!</p>
<p>Is your son planning to stay in USC housing? Students tend to like Webb Tower/Cardinal Gardens because of the great location. Troy Hall/Troy East also are in a good location and have really nice apartment layouts. I like Regal Trojan because the rooms are very large and the rent is cheaper (relatively).</p>
<p>Haven't spoken to S about housing for sophomore year, but suspect he REALLY likes being able to just roll out of bed & get to class. He's in engineering, but as a freshman, has classes throughout campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts about housing; I'll share the info with him & see what he's planning to do. I suspect he & his friends will be conferring about all of this over winter break.</p>
<p>If he's in engineering, he may like staying in parkside apartments.</p>
<p>Thanks--did think about that & will see what he wants. Parkside does seem very close to the engineering department.</p>
<p>Ooh no, parkside apartments is old. I don't know if sophomore are allowed to stay in parkside suites, but the rooms are amazing.</p>
<p>Most of USC owned apartments are old and although they try to renovate, it takes awhile and reduces the amount of housing during that period (like for Webb Tower)
Parkside Suites is the most recent freshmen building which explains why it still looks good.
Also, a new building shouldbe ready by next year (currently dubbed Parkside 2) but I'm not sure if it's open to upperclassmen. It's supposed to be an arts themed building which should be fun considering the success of the Music Floor.</p>
<p>I'll check with housing & see whether the new building will be available for fall 2007 & whom it's supposed to house. That would certainly have some appeal & be close to engineering.</p>
<p>Just got off the phone with a very nice student employee at Housing. The office hasn't decided what changes they'll make for 2007-2008. They will be meeting as soon as all the students leave campus to figure out their strategy. Once they've done that (still haven't determined who will be living in new Parkside either--frosh or other), they'll be sending out material & updating the website.</p>
<p>They promised to give the students enough time once the Housing Office has figured out what they're doing so the students can make the choices they want, even if it means pushing back the current deadlines that are in mid-January for freshmen.</p>
<p>They're still figuring out what happens to kids currently living in the Great Outdoors & other thematic floors next year when they become sophomores. Will post whatever I learn as I learn it.</p>
<p>I am noticing that the cost for some of the trojan housing apartments includes electricity, and some do not, so it is an extra cost. Scares me, with the cost of air conditioning, running computers, etc. Does anyone know how much extra the electric bills are (average) if electric is not included in the rent? Thanx a lot -</p>
<p>i'm in an non USC housing off campus apartment and I pay about $16/month (it's a 2 bedroom w/ 4 people). It should be about the same for USC housing.</p>
<p>thanx for the info</p>
<p>everyone that i've spoken to says stay away from parkside. they say there's pretty much no social life there. it's also for international students. about 50% of the residents are not from the US. coming from a very diverse high school, this was appealing to me, but i haven't heard good things about it's social scene, so that may or may not be a good thing for your son. it does, however, have some of the best food on campus.</p>
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i'm in an non USC housing off campus apartment and I pay about $16/month (it's a 2 bedroom w/ 4 people). It should be about the same for USC housing.
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<p>16 dollars a month? Is that a typo? IF it's like 160 dollars a month, where do you live exactly? I'm not trying to be a stalker but i need to figure out where to live next yr... thanks</p>
<p>I think they're talking utilities, not actual rent. I would want to know too, though, if there really was a 2 bedroom apt for $160/mo :)</p>
<p>I don't know anyone particularly displeased with parkside. The food is great. Very new building, so everything is nice and clean and modern inside. I know a few people who stayed for their sophmore year there (I believe right now it's a lottery or application of some sort to get in a 2nd year, though I guess that changes with guaranteed on-campus housing for incoming freshman)</p>
<p>Yeah, that was for utilities. I live in City Park and the rent around $500/month including utilites/cable. Most apartments are in the $500-$800 range for a 2BR w/ 4 ppl.</p>
<p>As for a place to stay next year, see what you get through USC housing and then decide. It's a lot easier (no need to buy furniture) and slightly cheaper (no summer rent)</p>
<p>how many freshmen will be returning on campus as sophomores.</p>
<p>Maybe you could post this thread on the main USC board also (I guess that's the USC '11 board).</p>
<p>My S is a freshmen and trying to decide if he wants to come back on campus, but doesn't want to be with a majority of freshmen. I called Housing and the only actual (mainly freshman) dorm that tries to keep returning students together is Birnkrant, on the upper floor. They are planning to mix it up in the rest of the mainly freshman dorms.</p>
<p>They have no idea or approximation of how many freshmen will be returning next year.</p>
<p>I found the Housing office to be really nice and helpful.</p>
<p>I suspect many will be coming back & living in apartments. That's my son's impression from talking to his friends. That's what the Housing Office suspects will happen as well. There are VERY FEW slots for non-freshmen in the dorms because they want them available for the freshmen. My S would rather be with the upperclassmen than freshmen, so I think he & some friends will be getting a suite or apartment somewhere. He's still deciding whether to keep his current room mate (they get along well) or switch. I'm sure I'll hear as things develop further.</p>
<p>My son decided to try for a single in Webb, and if he doesn't get it, probably a non-USC housing apartment. Webb is all upperclassmen, no freshmen.</p>
<p>Marks Hall also has a lot of returning students, despite being a freshman dorm, but it's a special interest community.</p>