<p>... on the USC housing website it says you can live in the Radison Hotel? What? What is this madness? Does anyone know if this is true? Or am I just living a dream? <em>Pinches self</em></p>
<p>Is true</p>
<p>They bought a floor or two of the hotel, because one year they had so many frosh that they did not have enough rooms. So you can have your dorm in the hotel, with daily maid service and I think even room service(don't hold me to that one!)</p>
<p>Actually, USC owns the whole hotel now, and they only put the overflow students in there...so you can't request it.</p>
<p>USC bought the hotel because Parkside was not finished yet, and they needed a place to house the freshmen that were supposed to live there. I lived in the Radisson last year as a freshman. Then, it was from floors 3- 9 (it goes up to 11), but I believe this year there are only two or so floors being used by students. You do get maid service, but it's only once a week, and it's only vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, and taking the trash out. You also get your own bathroom to share with one other person, A/C, awesomely comfy and big beds, a small fitness room, and a pool. Room service you can get, but it's expensive. </p>
<p>With these upsides, come problems though. Of course, it depends on your floor, but for me, it was really antisocial. The doors are too heavy to be propped open, and hardly anyone participated in floor events. I feel like I didn't get the freshman experience, but it was still better than apartments.</p>
<p>You can't select the Radisson when signing up for housing, though.</p>
<p>You people that didn't live in apartments really shouldn't talk down on them so much. My year in Century was a blast. It probably wasn't as social as the dorms, but it was still fun. Like any living situation, apartments (and the Radi) are what you make of them. If you knock on doors and make an effort to meet people, then boom! you live on a social floor. If you stay holed up in your room and don't ever make any effort, than chances are it won't be very social. In the end, you will get out what you put in.</p>
<p>My year in Century was social. Unlike the dorms, the TAs in apartments are way laid back because they can't really regulate as easily. People had parties all the time, they hung out at the pool, and in general we all just came and went out of each others apartments as we pleased. We knew all of our neighbors and never felt anti-social. And we got really, really close with all three of our roommates because we had a living room to hang out in all the time. </p>
<p>In summary, don't knock it if you haven't tried it.</p>
<p>I stayed in Marks Tower, which has smaller rooms but is cleaner. Can anyone comment on Birnkrant or Fluor tower? Also I heard new/north is pretty rowdy, or just really loud.</p>
<p>I stayed in Cardinal Gardens for Explore...but I visited rooms in both New North and Fluor Tower. Each room had a very different feel...Fluor tower was much more calm and laid back...New North was very rowdy and open (even more so since it was a thursday night...everyone getting ready to go out)...I think the type of room you pick really depends on your style.</p>
<p>Staying in Cardinal Gardens was great. The apartment really was pretty social. People were knocking on the door to drop by and say hi, and the RA and some neighbors came over to hang out, it was cool.</p>
<p>Like the girl before said, any situation is what you make it. :)</p>
<p>I put in my housing request for an apartment...so exciting!</p>
<p>anyone lived in parkside? how diverse is it? how diverse are some of the other dorms?</p>
<p>Being an engineering major, was my applying to New/North a bad idea?
Can you still get homework done, and get some sleep in that dorm?
(Although I can balance social life and studying, it scares me when people talk about how rigorous engineering is)</p>
<p>Let's take it this way, are there actually any BAD dorms to live in????</p>
<p>Lobsta- no, not really. All USC housing is really pretty nice, especially compared to the non university alternatives.</p>
<p>Bluevelvet- If you want peace and (relative) quiet, even in a social dorm, close your door. People generally get the idea. Also, there are these new-fangled things at USC called libraries if your dorm does get too rowdy. </p>
<p>Steaky- Parkside houses the international students, so it is more diverse than other dorms, but in general, there are going to be different types of people in every building.</p>
<p>What do you think of Birnkrant? Are the dorm rooms nice looking and clean?</p>
<p>I was hoping someone would answer this question.</p>
<p>We were told during a tour/info session this summer, that housing is only guaranteed the first year. Have you found this to be true? How hard is it to get into a dorm after the first year? Being from the east, I want to know my D will be able to live on campus each year. Also, we've been hearing from people (who probably don't really know), that the area right around USC is very unsafe and not to leave the campus of USC. Again, can you separate fact from fiction with regards to this? Would really appreciate it.</p>
<p>My brother lived in New/North and he liked it a lot. It's definitely a classic college dorm- not exactly the nicest living arrangements but really social. It's also right in the middle of everything. Save apartments and houses for when you get older and know more people.</p>
<p>There are definitely no bad dorms. Birnkrant is just normal. There is nothing amazing about them, they're just college dorm rooms. The atmosphere is a nice balance of being able to study when you want or party when you want.</p>
<p>givethemwings- Housing IS only guaranteed freshmen year. While there is space for some returning students in dorms, most sophomores don't WANT to live in dorms again. Not that they had bad experiences or anything, they just know the dorms are mainly just freshmen, and they are ready to venture out to new housing experiences. Your daughter probably wouldn't want to live on campus for four years, even if it was possible to keep returning. </p>
<p>While it is true that the area around USC is not the best, it is not as bad as people make it out to be. Most returning students live off campus. The school offers a ton of off-campus housing that is still close (mainly North of campus). I live in university housing about a block off campus. The north area is very congested with student living. I would definitely recommend your daughter getting university housing, over random apartment buildings around campus, though. That way she is guaranteed to be somewhat cared for, and it is a lot more comforting to you across the country. There is also Conquest Housing, which is a company that offers student housing complexes around campus, but students are not as pampered there, and it is a lot more expensive, I believe.</p>
<p>I sent in my application for Marks Hall.</p>
<p>Same here.</p>
<p>I think I'm sending mine for Flour Tower.</p>
<p>The topic of dorms came up, so I thought I would re-highlight this link.</p>