Still haven’t gotten accepted into the Facebook Group. Anyone else? I would love to get approved so I can start looking for a roommate.
@lkbux64 The one scholarship that doesn’t move to other majors are those in the WBB program. Otherwise it travels with you.
Here’s a rundown of housing choices…of course individual experiences vary and room mates can certainly impact an experience. For the most part, who you live with and around (having ability to meet people) is more important than the physical aspects of building. If you don’t care about AC and want social aspect (not saying party dorm, just super friendly atmosphere with lots of activities and ways to meet people) then Birnkrant, Pardee, Marks Tower are all great and part of the freshman quad. New North is definitely known as the fun dorm. But keep in mind the academic level of USC nowadays, no dorm is Animal House. Birnkrant kept it’s honors reputation (it was honors dorm prior to Village) and there is a Starbucks in the bottom of it. It is known as “8 floors of open doors.” I haven’t known anyone that didn’t love living there. Not fancy and a traditional dorm set up, but its academic/social balance remains strong.
If you want AC and suite set up, then Village, Parkside or Fluor but be prepared for different social experience than the dorms since they are suites or apartments. Some prefer this, others find them limiting socially, depends on the individual. Fluor is nice apartments but more isolating and closed door. Parkside is on the far side of campus, but newer building (relative to some others) and nice suites, close to engineering. Do not only list Village for your choices if not a scholarship recipient - or you will be surprised when you are stuck “wherever” because you don’t list enough choices building wise. If not in McCarthy honors, Village is an outlier of random/leftover spots for freshman (other than honors who get McCarthy). Sophomores fill it up with early assignment that has been done already. There are other places on campus where freshman living is focused. I get AC is huge or a must for some people, but I would suggest adding additional factors to that as the highest priority of your USC living experience if you can. Although there can be a couple periods of heat, it is California, not the south, no humidity. There is a reason shacks go for millions here.
Do not put all five configurations in one building because if full, then they get to make your “second choice” and will put you wherever they want. Give them some choices.
From being around a lot of students over the years, what I have heard consistently is the entire freshman quad area (Birnkrant, Pardee, Marks, etc.) is one of the best places you can live, even without AC. It is where you do the most as a freshman and can meet the most freshman. USC is a HUGE school with 40,000 people, a lot of them graduate students. In the freshman quad area it is great to be grabbing coffee at that Starbucks or sitting out by the pond with other freshman. If you are throwing frisbee in the lawn, or studying at a table outside, it is freshman sitting next to you and walking by. Anyone in that area is a freshman - all those buildings might as well be considered one building, they way everyone interacts. So if you choose or end up in the freshman quad area it will be great too. It is so easy to make friends over there. Parkside has it’s own little community on it’s side (although a lot socialize over at freshman quad side too) and is known to have great food.
Sophomores are given housing priority in the Village, so if you don’t live in the Village as a freshman (most don’t), you have a really good chance of living there as a sophomore (but there are some that don’t get it). If you do, you get to experience two different types of housing in college. It all works out!
Kids that are interested in going Greek tend to live in New North. It has been known that way for years. It has a big sorority/fraternity contingency that chooses to live there.
Don’t worry about living by your “major” school, as freshman you will likely be all over campus with GEs and activities. It’s not that big a campus, everything is pretty close really.
There is a place for everyone and there really isn’t a bad living arrangement at USC, truly.
@lkbux64 you’re welcome
@WWWard @blueskies2day Thank you!!
Does anyone know if USC will give credit for AP Lit and Lang exams? I already received a four on Lang last year, and their website states:
“Students may not receive credit for both an AP exam (or IB or other international exam) and a college course taken before high school graduation covering the same subject matter, nor for an AP and IB exam covering the same subject matter”
Do Lang and Lit count as the same subject matter?
@sonsav you’re welcome
@200287791 No. They are different. Get a 4 or 5 on both, and you will get credit for both.
I am in waitlist. My NMF 1st choice is USC. If I change to other school now, can I get scholar if l am out of waitlist later? If don’t change now, I will lose my safe school’s scholar.
@WWWard @CADREAMIN Could you explain how students are advised in terms of course selection for their first year? I thought I read somewhere a couple of years ago that students are invited to attend local events to register for classes? I may have imagined it because there is so much info it’s hard to retain all of it.
My D was accepted to Animation and Digital Arts major in the School of Cinematic Arts. After reviewing the major requirements, I see that she also has to take six categories of Core Literacies, in which eight courses are required. “All students must complete one course in each of the Arts, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Quantitative Reasoning, and two courses in each of Humanistic Inquiry and Social Analysis.”
Are students allowed to use AP Credits to fulfilll some of the Core Literacies requirements? My D scored 5s on Macro Econ, Micro Econ, and US History. She will also take AP exams for Chem, Euro History and Calc AB this May.
I also learned that there is a foreign language requirement. Could you clarify this statement, “students who can supply proof of at least two years of full-time secondary schooling beyond the age of 14 taught in a foreign language may request exemption from the foreign language requirement.” My D has taken 4 years of Chinese in HS. Would this qualify for the requirement?
^^^What waitlist? @r5r11r What is you major?
@cag60093 Just went through all this GE stuff with my daughter. I believe the foreign language requirement is only for Dornsife I think. SCA doesn’t have a foreign language requirement. As for the GEs, you can see the USC classes by googling “USC Fall 2019 General Education course descriptions”. That shows what is offered in the fall. Google “USC GE 2015 approved courses” for a more general list.
You can also see what you can get for AP an IB classes. Google “USC AP Credit” and there is a link in the middle for the newer (after 2015) list. It will also tell you what GEs can be met.
(I put in what to google because I don’t think you are allowed to post links here?)
Hi,
Just wanted to add as I have not seen it mentioned, USC does not require freshmen to live on campus.
I have two sons, a freshmen & junior, both in Thornton Pop, and they wanted to room together. They found a great apartment a short 5 minute walk from campus. I found it to be a good way to go financially as well as dorms are only garaunteed for freshmen and sophomores. This way they have the same room for 2 years, maybe longer if they choose. Even if living off campus, they can still buy a meal plan. Mine decided to forgo that and cook for themselves.
No requirement to live on campus, but also keep in mind, if not living there as a freshman you won’t be able to get USC housing as a sophomore - guarantee only applies to those living on campus as freshman.
That is correct. In my sons case it wasn’t a concern as they are together for the next two anyways.
@cag60093 Be sure your student googles all that information, they are the one that needs to understand it. I get some need guidance, but let them do the legwork. Our family friend got admitted over the weekend, and the kid just showed me his 4 year plan with all classes laid out each semester that he did the last two days. Parents don’t know a thing, I think that’s fantastic.
@TreeAlum For GEs, that’s true for the most part, but certain majors in SCA do have a foreign language requirement (CAMS did when I started at USC). Most BA degrees have a language requirement.
Students meet with an academic adviser for their School (or a special unit for those Undeclared) during Orientation. If that can be done at the local orientation sessions, I am not aware of it… but that would be helpful. Those students not attending orientation likely interact with an adviser via phone, skype or email I imagine. Both of my daughters attended orientation and registered then. Thereafter, you meet with your academic adviser each semester before registering for the following semester.
For your daughter… you can ask any questions with SCA Student Affairs Email: studentaffairs@cinema.usc.edu if not attending orientation… or via dsigismondi@cinema.usc.edu. The advisers are experts in what GEs are required and when to take them.
As for APs… here’s the link: https://arr.usc.edu/services/articulation/adv_placement_exam_credit.html
By daughter is a B.A. SCA major, and there is a foreign language requirement. It is my understanding that only BFA candidates within SDA, SCA and elsewhere have no such requirement. It can be waived through proficiency, potentially through an AP test score or by taking the placement proficiency test and proving that you qualify to have the requirement waived.
@treealum Yes… what @LayraSparks says is accurate. I think it applies to all BAs, but just not the BFAs.
Has anyone not received their acceptance package yet? I’m from NJ and I still have not gotten mine.
This year the # of those accepted who did not get their USPS delivered package during the prescribed delivery window was alarming… the highest # of posts I recall during the past 5 cycles. I know that they only claim 95% accuracy… but it seems almost like an epidemic this year in terms of admitted students still waiting.
In terms of housing… for those who really want a certain building or unit style… another option to consider is applying for one of the USC housing special interest communities. If approved, it guarantees you an unit on that floor or in that special location, etc. Here is the link to find out more and possibly apply… https://housing.usc.edu/index.php/special-interest-communities/