@CADREAMIN @WWWard - thank you so much for all your comments. Yes, we are painfully aware of the weather angle since it is snowing here as I write this. It is snowing on April 27 
@midwestCityParent8 Youāre welcome.
Thanks @TreeAlum, for that detailed answer. And the tip to check RMP for reviews. Yes, itās snowing large flakes today!
Hello all! Just wondering about the housing application - my potential suitemates and I are planning on finalizing it today. When do we hear back about our application? May or is it later in the summer?
@excitedtobehere From what I recall, I think that they tell you the freshman room assignment by mid-May.
Iām a bit confused about requirements as far as units for a given degree. So it is stated that you need at least 128 units to get a degree (for example from Dornsife). But then many majors have only 46-48 particular units listed as needed for that major (like for example Cognitive Science degree). What does that mean? That the other ~80 units could be essentially whatever (like toward a different major or minor) but you still need to complete those? That seems a bit strange that a vast majority of courses you would take are not counted/required toward your major.
(I realize that there are some majors where ~100 particular units are listed as required - that makes more sense to me).
@midwestCityParent8 Those Dornsife BA degrees leave lots of openings for 2nd majors ore multiple minors. Also remember you have the GE requirements and in Dornsife, the foreign language requirements. The BS majors in Dornsife also have a lot more. I think the highest they can be required for a major is 80. In Engineering they work around that by having a bunch of the math be prerequisites and not actually towards the major. If a student comes in with a lot of credits and can waive some GEs, they definitely have space for double major or multiple minors, or double major and a minor, and that is what Iāve seen students do.
@TreAlum - thx, that makes sense. What about foreign language requirement? Do I read it right that a student must complete at least 3 semesters of a given language? How does an AP credit from hight school fit in that requirement?
upon further reading Iām still confused. So there are majors that require 128 units. Every student needs GE units - thatās at least additional 32 units. Plus you need (I think) 3 semesters of foreign language - so that is 12 units. All together it would be 128 + 32 + 12 = 172 units.
Normal course load is 16 units/semester for 128 units. Even if you take 20units/semester that would be only 160 units over 4 years. How is one supposed to complete 172 units?
@zeropointzero My son is also in Dornsife and looking for a roommate. I went to school in the NE in the 80s too, and did not have the best roommate situation when the school matched me with someone. He likes New North as well. Maybe we could link them up somehow to see if they want to be roommates or tell them to look out for each other on FB if that is possible. We are from Washington, DC.
Is May 1 the deadline to pick out your own roommate?
@midwestCityParent8 It is likely best to simply look at the requirements for one specific major within the USC Catalogueā¦ http://catalogue.usc.edu/ You can take up to 18 units per semester, all at the same cost. That equates to 144 semester units/credits over four years. That of course does not count AP or IB credits. My older daughter was able to graduate on time with a B.A. and two minors accomplished. And she was required to take three semesters of a foreign language + the GE requirements. Many instead double major. My younger daughter is only going with one minor to leave herself more flexibility for production classes within SCA. I am not aware of any USC major that cannot be completed within the normal four year period. BFA majors require more units, but they also have less GE requirements, including not requiring the foreign language.
@corwhi I have the same question about whether May 1st is the deadline for picking a roommate. I was there Saturday and talked to someone from housing in person who said housing and roommate assignments would go out mid May. However, I forgot to ask exactly when is the latest you can request a roommate. My daughter thinks she heard him say May 1st, but I donāt recall. If anyone knows, can you please share? Thanks.
Thanks, everyone. We have created a USC WBB class of 2023 parents only group. Please join and we can start sharing info for the next 4 year journey.
USC WBB 2023 parents only
I believe May first is the deadline and you find out mid-May. https://housing.usc.edu/
@ccak01 Sorry for the last minute response but I just saw this. I donāt have any insight on the USC Spring admit process, however, I do know a little about Harvey Mudd. Good friendās daughter is a CS major there. She is very bright but it has been a struggle. Very demanding environment without many reliable student support resources because of the small size. Sadly, there have been a couple of suicides since she has been there. She herself, had to take a semester off due to the stress. There is a new dean of students that isnāt helping matters either. Recommend you look very closely at HM and talk with a lot of students/parents. Obviously, those that make through are very well prepared, however, at what cost? Not say that engineering at USC would be any easier but there are many more resources and options available. In order to be a strong candidate as a Spring admit, a good GPA is critical. I would recommend that to your daughter attend a school where she will excel at in the Fall and then transfer in. Best of luck!
@TuckerTroy Thanks for the reply. We are familiar with HMC. Our oldest went there. It is very demanding and many students do struggle there. Our youngest has committed to USC for the Spring admit. It was a tough choice, but USC was always her first choice. Thanks for the input.
what is USC WBB class of 2023?
My D also committed to USc spring Admit. Where is your daughter going to study during Fall 2019?
Hi everyone - I know decision day is coming up. I posted this earlier but wanted to post again for anybody still deciding.
I am a former USC student who received a full-tuition merit scholarship to attend a few years ago. I decided to leave the school due to many issues with the school, programs, administration, etc. I would highly recommend any student considering USC, depending on their major, to reconsider.
USC isnāt the wrong school for everyone, but I found myself highly disillusioned with the university after numerous bad experiences including faculty misconduct. There is large disconnect with how the administration sells the school to prospective students and the actual reality at the school.
I am happy to provide proof/documentation of my scholarship and discuss specifics or answer questions for anyone interested. My goal is to make sure everyone is as informed as possible, and doesnāt make the same mistakes I did when choosing a college.
Please feel free to dm me if you have questions or want details (ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A MERIT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT).
****A number of people were dubious about my credibility which I complete understand. I posted the following response as the reason for not being 100% transparent with my personal information:
I donāt mean to come here to be disparaging on any one university. I donāt think taking personal frustrations by making a blanket statement that the university is bad for everyone is appropriate and I wouldnāt do so. I received a full-tuition scholarship in 2016 and did 4 total semesters worth of classes (including a leave of absence) before deciding to leave recently. I was in the Viterbi school for the 2 years I was at USC. I created a new account from my old high school one because I didnāt want to make this a massive public issue with my personal name / account. Iām happy to provide details to people on an individual basis. I do realize thereās no way to have absolute credibility without being fully transparent on a public post like this, but Iād prefer to not publicly disparage myself.
There were a number of things I did like about USC ā the research opps. were solid and professors were willing to talk to undergrads. The scholarship dorm experience was awesome ā I lived in Birnkrant (although I know its now McCarthy Honors College, so not sure about that). There is also a lot of diversity in majors, and the new facilities on campus are great. A lot of the āprosā are going to depend on specific programs ā the hard sciences and arts are particularly good at USC.
There were (more so) many things I didnāt like and found I did not anticipate correctly about the school before joining that I wish Iād knew. I hope to enlighten prospective candidates (particular merit scholarship recipients) on these things so they can make an informed decision.