<p>I was admitted to USC in January as a Dean's Scholar and I'm probably going to attend, but one of the things that concerns me is the reputation of the students. Certainly, the "University of Spoiled Children" doesn't help, and I've read/heard from a lot of sources that USC kids sort of think they're better than everyone else and are often rich, bratty kids. I've yet to visit and I've never been to California but I'm not a huge fan of the east coast where I live now, but I know California in general has a more laid back personality than the east coast. Personally, I'm more of a laid back person and probably more on the modest side. I just want to know if what I've heard is true and if I would fit in well!</p>
<p>With ~18,000 undergraduates, there is literally every type person you can imagine. Yes, those people you mention do exist but no one is forcing you to associate with them.</p>
<p>In my opinion the student body has a special dynamic due to the eclectic mix of highly creative students in the cinema, music, dramatic arts and fine arts schools who share dorm halls with students who may be majoring in biophysics, computational mathematics, petroleum engineering or accounting. International students add to a student body that has been ranked as one of the most economically diverse. </p>
<p>The vast majority of SC students are on financial aid. Yes, you will find students who are from wealthy backgrounds as you would at any large elite university. You will also find those who have Pell Grants. Fourteen per cent of the class that entered in August were the first in their family to attend college. There is so much variety in the students you will find friends who share your interests. About 80 religious groups and over 600 clubs are there to welcome you.</p>
<p>As you are now an admitted USC student, does it occur to you that the students you are asking about are… you? If you feel you match the unflattering description from your opening post, then maybe what you have “heard” is true. If you feel otherwise, it is safe to say that, as War Chant points out, there are probably others among the 18,000 students with whom you will have much in common.</p>
<p>I have to say that when we took my son to the Explore weekend, I was kind of expecting to see what the OP was talking about, based (like the OP) on nothing more than internet posts and generalized scuttlebutt (I also expected the campus to be surrounded by scary areas). We experienced the opposite in terms of the diversity of the student body and the campus surrounding area, much of which is the Exposition, Coliseum, Museum and rose garden area. My son had no preconceptions, and would not enjoy the spoiled rich kid types, or jocks, and he was absolutely fine with the kids.</p>
<p>btw, even on the Berkeley tour, they take time to point out that the campus isn’t full of hippies, sit-ins and protests everyday either. (Although Telegraph is still pretty colorful. B-) ) So they still deal with those ol’ stereotypes which by nature, seem to last forever. There are rich kids at every elite private university, but visit USC, check out the diversity, it is something to see. </p>
<p>The USC has a website which includes a list of alumni clubs. Each one has a website. The clubs give a SCendoff to new freshmen before they leave for classes in August. I think every club posts a photo of guests at the SCendoffs. These are not professional photos for USC brochures, but snapshots. I think if you view a few of these you will see a variety of students.</p>
<p>USC students are undoubtedly spoiled; spoiled by the LA sunshine, spoiled by being at the entertainment and communications epicenter of the world, spoiled by the unbounded opportunities on campus, spoiled by the palpable energy and enthusiasm of the Trojan community! </p>
<p>My kids are both happy USC alums. They were both able to find their niches. S was an engineering major and enjoyed Ultimate (frisbee), rock climbing (started a club at USC, which USC helped buy supplies for), geology in connection with his rock climbing), and in SR year took up sailing. D was a cinema major and took up fencing and polo. I don’t believe either of my kids or their friends are ‘spoiled rich kids,’ and we and they feel they got a great education at USC. There are, as has been posted, tremendous opportunities for the students and alums. D was thrilled that they were able to skype with Microsoft in one of her classes and the Microsoft came to their last class to look over the projects that the students completed and give feedback. </p>
<p>They have tremendous internship and job fairs and placements. The facilities are gorgeous. It is becoming more and more gentrified, so that the working class parts of the areas around campus are being purchased when available and converted into student housing. My kids both enjoyed their experiences at USC and D has chosen to rent a place near campus since she graduated, so she can have access to the career resources and career fairs on campus.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much! You’ve all eased my worries quite a bit. All I have to do now is visit and provided I like the campus, and I have no doubt I will, I’m going to USC next year!</p>
<p>Oh yea, USC awards a LOT of need-based FAid. There is a huge range of socio-economic status and background among the student body at USC. Some have access to private planes while others are on full scholarship and everything in between. Good luck & hope you make a choice that works well for you! Fight on!</p>
<p>I’m in greek life, student orgs, and in ROTC. You will meet tons of different kinds of people so have faith in your ability to just be you. Take every opportunity your first few weeks as a freshman to meet EVERYONE and continue that throughout that entire year. It’s difficult to classify the entire student body of 18,000 undergrads into one characterization like “rich bratty kids”. Even in greek life, those kinds of people are rare. My experience at USC has been phenomenal and only gets better every year (currently a Junior). It’s all up to you though, and how you shape and create your own experience here at USC</p>