To: future USC transfers. From: USC Transfers 2010

Transfer Students
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<p>I thought of making this thread during my final so it must be important.
This thread is for USC transfers who were accepted FALL 2010 (or anyone else)
who would like to post their first semesters experience thus far.</p>

<p>Best of USC? Worse part?
Was it everything you wanted and more?
How was the change from CC to USC like?
How did you do this semester?
etc etc...</p>

<p>Lets tell the future students who are applying to USC our experience.
I kind of wish we had one, so I think this will help a lot of future applicants.</p>

<p>Heres my first semester's experience. </p>

<p>First semester has been tough. At first I was really intimidated by what was to come, it is after all USC. Then after the first few days, I knew I was really intimidated. The students surrounding me were double major this, minoring in that, or all of the above. I was just a psych major. My fellow classmates are most def representing USC well. And with the gifted students, ive also run into...the not so gifted. Making friends was slow. I joined multiple clubs and ended up really finding my place in one, dragonboat. So far the best part about USC for me was the opportunities being offered. Despite not jumping on any yet, it almost seems like the possibilities are quite endless. Nearly everyday I get emails about internships or research opportunities. </p>

<p>This semester was quite hectic. Only taking 16 units, I was still having to find extra time to study. At my CC, it was quite a breeze compared to USC; however, its nothing that I cant handle. I came out this semester with the grades I aimed for and am happy. Im really eager for spring semester and cant wait for it to come around. But till then I am going to enjoy my winter vacation. this is my first winter off in a LONG time.</p>

<p>Btw fellow FALL 2010....we need to do an official meat and greet already. WERE AT SC BABY!</p>

<p>FIGHT ON! ^.^Y</p>

<p>edit: if you guys/gals have questions feel free to post'em :)</p>

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<p>Can you give a little more detail. What classes did you take? House was your housing experience? Did you ever end up making any good friends?</p>

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<p>sure, i took 11 upper div psych, animal behavior with wood. great prof.
took clinical psych, stats, and chinese. they were all okay. </p>

<p>im not living near campus, im commuting from pasadena and you get used to it. there are many ways around the 110 traffic.</p>

<p>yes i have made good friends haha, but the problem is its hard to see them outside of school such as winter break or summer since most students are from out of state or far from LA. but if you live near campus, you can easily make friends much faster than i did. joining clubs helped me a lot too</p>

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<p>Did you choose to commute from pasadena?</p>

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<p>Dainese: what classes, if any, did you choose to take for cat 4 and 6 GE? I’m hearing horror stories already. haha. I’m looking toward taking The Origin of Humanity for cat 4.</p>

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<p>@lax - yes i did choose to commute :slight_smile: my gf and i live here so its not so bad.</p>

<p>@budlight - for GE 6 im taking the holocaust during the spring. and im taking it PASS/NO PASS. you can take 1 GE (as long as its not major/minor course work) pass/nopass :)</p>

<p>for GE 4 ill be taking origins of the mind next fall or whenever its offered :D</p>

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<p>You guys are so lucky you’re done with this stress!!! Good job!</p>

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<p>did anyone mention the backdoor method yet? LOL now thats stressful.</p>

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<p>backdoor method. haha. awww, brings back memories. :slight_smile:
i’m at berkeley right now, but i still <3 usc. fight on and good luck to those applying this year!</p>

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<p>It’s been a while since the last post, but this is a great thread! I’m waiting on my admission decision for fall 2011 and really curious about what it is like to go there :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Could you describe how much harder it is to gen an A in the class compared to community college in regards to their grading system, competitiveness, homework and assignments, exams…etc?</p>

<p>I major in psychology as well (and also will be a commuter), and wondered if transfers were given enough opportunities to join research programs with faculty members. Thanks!</p>

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<p>^I’m curious about whisper11’s questions as well.</p>

<p>And is it even possible to double major/minor as a transfer? It seems like it would be really, really difficult. Do you feel like you would have the time to do so if you wanted?</p>

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<p>Okay, I have to ask- what is the backdoor method?? Some dirty things come to mind, but…uh…
;)</p>

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<p>I think the backdoor method is a way to confirm if you got accepted before you receive your acceptance package by clicking some link/website which, in case you are in, will allow you to pay the $300 deposit. Please correct me if I’m wrong.</p>

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<p>backdoor didn’t work this year. I’ve been floating around the USC board for about five days. USC actually shut down USC connect and the backdoor links yesterday for this very reason.</p>

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<p>@Whisper11 & Princessmahina & everyone else:</p>

<p>Yes, double-majoring, triple-majoring, major-minor, major-double minor etc… is very possible for transfer students; however, you can not declare any additional majors or a minor until you’re already accepted and transferred in. You will get more information about this upon your attending the “new student orientation” during summer and meet with your academic advisor. Many students are pursuing multiple degrees (why not?). The only thing is that you’ll have to apply for these (i.e. into Marshall, Leventhal, Viterbi, SCA etc… and meet their pre-requisites). There’s always time, It’ll just set your graduation date back further (the easiest minor is 16 additional units, which is one semester).</p>

<p>Commuting will be hard and exhausting. The amount of time that is lost due to spending it in traffic, waking up early and getting ready in the morning, finding parking (yes, sometimes your lot gets full) takes away from the time you could use to study, especially if during midterms week and finals week. I thought I was smart when choosing to commute “hey, I can save some money”, I regret not living a foot drag away from campus this semester. Sometimes I feel like just crawling out of bed and walking to class, but I can’t do that; or walk home after a class and take a nap before walking back for another class, but I can’t do that either. Sometimes you find yourself staying on campus so late that driving back home is just not worth it, so you end up sleeping in the library or in your car, only to wake up and continue another full day without a shower. I live just 30 minutes from USC, but traffic takes me back approx. an 1hr 15mins average commute, one way. </p>

<p>Transfer students have the same exact opportunities as students who’ve been there since their freshman year. EXCEPT: IF YOU’RE TRANSFERRING IN AS A JUNIOR (64+ units). Not really. But I feel that the whole “college experience” is robbed from me because of this; 2 years at USC is just not enough to experience all of USC (study abroad, seasonal programs, exploring classes in other departments, making friends… you get my drift). It’s also tough for Juniors because MOST of the top employment firms target freshman and sophomores to offer their leadership and explore programs, I know the “big-4” accounting firms do. I wish I can do some of those. </p>

<p>Getting an ‘A’ in classes? Well, that depends on you really. Classes are much tougher than Community College… much tougher. That’s subjective of course, depends on your major, your instructor, and the class itself. You think GE classes are suppose to be easy because, well, they’re GE? Think again. Instructors are demanding of you; they expect a lot from you; it is USC after all. A 10-15 page, formatted, often times single-spaced, works-cited paper is normal.</p>

<p>But I love my school. I love my Trojans. I love everything we stand for. If I had a chance to attend Harvard, right now, I would have no problems turning down that offer. Harvard is a name without a soul. I love being a Trojan. It’s where I belong.</p>

<p>I hope to see all you guys there soon!</p>

<p>Fight on!</p>

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<p>@Budlightyear</p>

<p>Thank you so much for sharing the detailed information with us! After reading your words, I’m even more motivated to become a Trojan! I just have a few more questions and would greatly appreciate your insight.</p>

<p>When I get accepted, although I applied as a psychology major, I’m thinking of changing it to neuroscience. I checked pre-requisites of neuroscience and found out that I completed it as well. Do you think I can change my major at the orientation? By the way, I have 55 units to transfer so I’ll be considered a sophomore at USC.</p>

<p>And regarding the summer session, is the tuition of the summer session included in the USC’s “Cost of Attendance”? I’m in my mid-20’s and my focus is to graduate as soon as possible. So I definitely want to take courses in summer, but if it’s not included in the COA that USC calculates, I will probably have to take additional loans for summer courses. If you are a financial-aid receiver, how do you manage to pay for summer? Or can I even take some summer courses back at a community college to save money if it’s transferable?</p>

<p>I can’t wait to see you at USC too… Fight on!!!</p>

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<p>@Whisper</p>

<p>You’re more than welcome! I love talking about USC. haha.</p>

<p>To answer your first question, they will ask you at orientation if you plan on changing your major, or would like to change your major, this is where you will tell them about your intent and they will notify you of their decision the same day, prior to your meeting with your academic advisor to select your first semester classes.</p>

<p>Summer sessions are not considered in USC’s “Cost of Attendance” because summer school is optional. There are financial aid funds available for summer sessions, but they’re federal funds from FAFSA (i.e. loans, work study) If you would like to ration some of your federal grants to go toward summer, you can, but it will reduce your award for the regular semester. Summer classes are paid per unit at the regular price ($1,365/unit). I just registered for a 4 unit class in summer; total cost is almost $6,000 (including administration and health fees). I’m thinking about dropping it, seriously. I can buy a brand new KIA for that.</p>

<p>Summer school is possible at community college; however, (a) you will have to get permission from USC before you can attend. (b) you are limited to taking only certain courses such as a diversity or an elective. GE COURSES/MAJOR COURSES ARE NOT ALLOWED OUTSIDE OF USC ONCE YOU’RE ADMITTED.</p>

<p>I completely understand your age predicament, and I completely know what you’re thinking -I just turned… well lets just say my family had a TV with knobs and dials, not buttons, and I looked forward to new episodes of ‘Charles In Charge’.</p>

<p>Don’t rush your way through USC. Enjoy college. It’ll be the best years you’ll ever have in your life, and you’re at a prime age in the perfect school. We have a fantastic football schedule this coming Fall, PAC-12, 7 home games. Dude, you have the rest of your life to work. F that.</p>

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<p>@Budlightyear</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your clear answers!</p>

<p>At this point, I’m strongly leaning towards neuroscience, although I know it may be more challenging than psychology, and hopefully minor in something else. I’m sure I will struggle :stuck_out_tongue: but there is a confidence in me that I can make it at USC.</p>

<p>I feel that I’m more focused and motivated now than ever on my studying, and I truly enjoy my learning experience. When I was 18, I didn’t feel this way. But now that I’m older and more experienced, I can appreciate that I can go to school and study. As you said, maybe I’m at a prime age to be at the perfect school!</p>

<p>By the way, I didn’t know that you had to pay per unit in the summer, and wow, $6000 per class is a serious deal! That’s roughly… 600 times more expensive than community college! lol Considering the financial and the “experience” factors, I now feel it may be better for me to take my time to get through all the classes. Hopefully I will get involved in a research program in summer instead. Do you know if students have to pay to join a research program?</p>

<p>Well, I’m talking like I already got in to USC when I haven’t even had my status changed yet… but that’s how much I want to go there! And I just found out today that I’m graduating from my CCC as a top student this year… I hope USC will also bring me some good news soon!</p>

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<p>Budlightyear, thank you so much! You rock! I’m more excited than ever to begin the application process in the fall:)
Fight on!</p>

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<p>You’re welcome guys! I hope everything works out for everyone. Feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding USC, our traditions, culture, academics, etc…</p>