I will be attending USC next fall as a screenwriting major and am trying to decide where to live. I am from out of state and would like to meet new people and join a sorority! I have heard the the New/North dorms are more social but obviously not as nice as McCarthy. I want to live in a nice dorm with AC like McCarthy but am worried that I won’t have as many chances to meet people. Any Suggestions?
Congrats on your admission. Each individual really needs to decide on their personal priorities. Both of my daughters, coming as they did from Florida to USC, could not even imagine living in a dorm setting with no A/C. They each chose apartment options for their freshman year to have more room overall, private baths, etc. And each were insistent on having A/C. Those decisions though had zero impact on their ability to make friends or socialize. My younger, a freshman, has also already joined a sorority and will be living in their sorority house going forward.
If you live in McCarthy, I am quite confident that you will still be able to meet tons of new people. You can even visit friends you meet in their dorms, etc. and then later return to the greater comfort of your space at McCarthy. That would be my suggestion – as the USC Village is super nice. But for many, community bathrooms, smaller dorm rooms and living without the comfort of A/C is just fine… as they prioritize the perceived socialization that comes with traditional dorm living most of all.
Good luck deciding. But either way, your USC experience is yet to be written and will be primarily self-driven. You will soon be amazed at all the ways and means of meeting new people there. And as you will be within SCA, where you will be spending a ton of time and meeting new people there too, McCarthy and the Village is closer.
Thanks so much! This was very helpful
you’re welcome
Just saw your post, probably too late to add, but there is a lot more to the story. Now, with a deferred rush (in the spring), your first semester dorm matters much more as it relates to social experience. Mccarthy is incredible, but its social scene doesn’t compare to New North. Truly, New North will deliver much more of that party atmosphere, and you will get to meet a lot more kids who will eventually rush. Ignorance is bliss in the matter of picking a dorm, but if you really want that insane social experience New North is the absolute move. Trust.
Be assured you can’t go wrong with housing. My D chose an un-air conditioned dorm over the Village last year because she wanted a more social experience as an incoming Freshman, and it has been the best ever experience. In fact, she has a single and loves every second of it. She made it quite the social center. This year, the sophomores are flooding the Village so in the fall she will be there with all her buddies, getting to experience the best of both worlds. New North is certainly a social dorm, some may think too much, but ya know, you guys are young and adaptable. There are also a million other places to study than your dorm room and a million other things to do than be in your dorm. It doesn’t have to be perfect because so many other parts of USC are. So don’t sweat it. Most students get what they want because everyone wants something different. I know a couple scholarship kids that feel they missed the fun of a true Freshman experience by being in McCarthy, while others like the quiet and being close to Target. And with the stats of the admits, virtually everyone coming in is an honors kid these days, so it’s not like you are surrounded by slackers no matter where you live. Very few are blowing off a $70,000/year education. So be happy you are into such a great school and don’t let the stress of housing bring you down in any way. It all works out!
well said!
@phatgobbler69 Thank you! :)>-