<p>@whittgirlprobs I am deciding between Northwestern and USC also. I am from Chicago, so I’m probably getting out of town and heading to SC. Financial package at SC was better as well. </p>
<p>Thanks for the update on CarGar, everyone. Living right on USC’s campus, rather than across the street, has traditionally been considered a really a big advantage for Freshmen. USC used to require all Frosh to buy a meal plan. But possibly this has changed too, because apartments have kitchens. If your student wants (or is required) to have a meal plan, the two main student cafeterias are on campus, so figure in a walk from CarGar for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. On the up side, apartment living gives students more space and a kitchen. They will have RAs and there are cool planned activities, too. Yet if it will be a mix of freshmen and upperclassmen, it may not have the same vibe as a freshman dorm where most kids are actively looking to make new friends and meet new people, and where many leave their room doors open when they are in to say hi to friends walking down the hall. </p>
<p>D lived in Webb last year as a soph and was required to have a meal plan.</p>
<p>@madbean - thanks for the input! I wasn’t exactly sure if CarGar was off campus or not… that does change my view on it. I think I placed it as my 4th and 5th option, but I might change it. I’m less concerned about the social aspect, but I don’t want to completely cut myself off from other freshmen. </p>
<p>how is the international residential college at parkside? good for social interaction, study and dining choice?</p>
<p>New/North, Pardee, Marks Tower and Marks Hall are all on the east side of the campus, close to the dining hall EVK. These are Freshman only traditional dorms - 2 per room, communal bathroom and no AC. My daughter was on the “great outdoors” floor in Marks Tower last year as a Freshman and loved the experience. She was matched with a great roommate and made friends with other girls on her floor. She is currently in CarGar as a Sophomore with 3 of them and they will be together next year off campus. Sadly, USC currently doesn’t have enough dorms to guarantee beyond Sophomore year. The girls could have gotten into a USC owned apt a bit off campus but they opted for something actually closer and nicer that was they rented privately. They wanted to stay in CarGar as juniors but didn’t get a low enough lottery number. I think CarGar is almost all Sophomores and I don’t see it as a great Freshman choice. It’s sort-of off campus in that it’s on the other side of Jefferson Blvd. which borders the North side of Campus but is still very convenient. </p>
<p>One thing that no one ever mentions is that the above traditional Freshman dorms are the least expensive option. I know Parkside and IRC are more expensive (probably paying for the AC) and I believe the rest are in between. Being private pay, the cheapest option had a certain appeal. Then, I’m also probably a bit sentimental about the traditional freshman dorms.</p>
<p>Merging my posts from a couple different threads as I had one in each of the Parkside buildings over last 2 years…Parkside Arts and Humanities is a super nice building. (oops I called it Arts and Letters in earlier post, it is A&H, not A&L) Really new, clean, air-conditioned and good size rooms with great windows. The Parksides are on one edge of campus versus being more central and they are suite style, which many really like cause they aren’t sharing the big bathroom with a floor of people. But some like those traditional dorms, so you just have to decide what you like. Parkside A&H is totally different building and profile of students than Parkside IRC. Parkside IRC is not nearly as social as Parkside A&H. Even Parkside A&H is more on the quiet side certainly compared to the traditional dorms. IRC at Parkside is more international kids, less English spoken in the halls there which can be good or bad depending on your background. Some think it is harder to meet people in that one. I had a student live there, rooms are great, but he didn’t need the social aspect cause he was involved in other things so it was ok, but it doesn’t offer much bonding opportunity, people tend to stay to themselves more. While rooms may be similiar, I think A&H is much nicer. Have a S living in Parkside Arts and Humanities now and he is engineer, 4.0 type that lives with a bunch of STEM people so don’t let the A&H name fool you. All his suite-mates ended up being top achievers in different majors (math, biomed, etc), they do a good job roommate matching at USC if you fill out your profile accurately and truthfully. So a suite will generally be like-minded type group. Good mix of students/majors throughout building. I wouldn’t call it a party dorm for sure, seems to have a good balance to it all around. It is really close to engineering so that is great for my S. Really happy there and it is newer as well, really clean. Suite style and he has made great friends throughout the floor/building. Great study rooms. Highly recommend that one for engineers and certainly others as well. It’s really comfortable which I suppose is why the price is higher. It also looks really good when you drop your kid off there - leaves you with a good feeling on the inside! </p>