@WWWard; @CADREAMIN - Do admitted students need to enroll/waive health insurance. I was assuming my daughter would be covered under my insurance. If she is, do parents have to make sure they waive any kind of university mandated/provided health insurance?
If you want to register for classes before orientation, how do you know what to register for? Look up the major’s typical schedule and start from there? When you go to orientation, will they modify a class here or there once you have received personalized guidance?
Last one, my daughter and her new roommate are both flying in for orientation the night before. Looks like USC will put them up for the night and even have some kind of activities for these “early arrival” students. Does USC provide transportation to/from the airport for students flying in without a parent (didn’t see the point in me going out there if my daughter spending all her time on campus).
@jcwjnw99 Yes, if she is on your insurance definetly get it waived, there is a form online to do that. You need to have some info handy (numbers, deductible, etc). Then, make a print out of your info and file it, you have to do this every year, it is great to have it handy for next time - same info needed every year. It will save you a lot of money, but she can obviously still use the health center, just under your insurance plan.
She can put a sample plan together before orientation, but you cannot submit it until orientation. If she logs in to her myusc account she can go to the course registration and make a plan online, it even fills in time slots on a weekly calendar. If she brings this with her to orientation, it gives a starting point and makes registration really fast at end of second day. If she does nothing before orientation, the advisors at orientation would guide student to do an intro class for their major, a couple GE’s and maybe writing or a math class if required, the basic stuff. I think it is way better to be familiar going in, even if you stay on the normal plan they suggest. She has more control over what she takes and gets that way. Frankly, I like them diving into the major if they have any hesitation with it and push the GEs till later - and you can do what you want - you are paying for it. So I had an engineer deciding between EE and CS. So he didn’t do a single GE the first semester, did the EECS classes and decided on CS - I liked he locked his major quickly this way. But if student is sure of major, following course plan is just fine. Also know, the advisor - her advisor specifically - is on hand for orientation - and they are super helpful. My D (third at USC) met hers the first day (yesterday) and apparently spent a lot of time with him and she said he was amazing. So the advisors will guide her for sure. So even if she did nothing beforehand, she would be ok. Having said that - she should go through the course guide and get an idea of what she wants to do - make a sample plan and check out the professors for course to know who to avoid and who is fabulous, etc. The more she familiarizes herself with the schedule of classes and major requirements, the better.
https://classes.usc.edu/term-20173/
USC does not provide airport transportation - cab is about $50, uber is $25-$30 and there is an uber pickup spot at LAX. I agree with letting them go to orientation on their own - it is their time to fly and get out of the nest without us. 
Did I cover everything? Oh, what is her major (for now anyway)? Welcome to the Trojan family!
My daughter’s admitted major is Neuroscience in Dornsife. She’s considering tweaking it to Computational Neuroscience.
She’s pretty excited at becoming a Trojan. Found a roommate, got her double in Birnkrant, chatting away with admitted students in some group chat. The group chat is what prompted her to start asking about registering for classes. I guess it’s a pretty big topic in the chat. She’s all worried that the classes will fill up.
@ CADREAMIN - My daughter’s admitted major is Neuroscience in Dornsife. She’s considering tweaking it to Computational Neuroscience.
She’s pretty excited at becoming a Trojan. Found a roommate, got her double in Birnkrant, chatting away with admitted students in some group chat. The group chat is what prompted her to start asking about registering for classes. I guess it’s a pretty big topic in the chat. She’s all worried that the classes will fill up.
@CADREAMIN - My daughter’s admitted major is Neuroscience in Dornsife. She’s considering tweaking it to Computational Neuroscience.
She’s pretty excited at becoming a Trojan. Found a roommate, got her double in Birnkrant, chatting away with admitted students in some group chat. The group chat is what prompted her to start asking about registering for classes. I guess it’s a pretty big topic in the chat. She’s all worried that the classes will fill up.
Couldn’t get your link up properly. Going too fast, I guess.
Just google usc schedule of classes. My d is also in birkrant!
Don’t worry about classes filling they hold some back at each orientation. And she has so many ahead of her there are many choices. Also if it is a critical path course for her major they will get her in. Aside from the hip and cool GEs, getting classes isn’t a struggle there in general. She’ll be fine!
@CADREAMIN – will you please stay on CC through next year! 
@droppedit - you are so kind, that was very sweet, thank you! Not planning on going anywhere…with all the time and experience at USC I have found that this is the best place to pass it on before it falls out of my head. Besides, I have a freshman this year in a liberal arts major (after Business/Acctg and CS majors there) - more to learn.
Just a friendly reminder - do not miss the waiver deadline for insurance! You will get emails (your student will - be sure they don’t ignore them and forward them to you). You can wait till you get email or be proactive following the steps below:
Note: the waiver site will open as of June 1, 2017.
Requesting Your Waiver Online:
- Wait 5-7 business days after registering for classes.
- Read over the waiver criteria below.
- Go to the Aetna Student Health online waiver request system.
3)The waiver deadline for Fall 2017 is September 8.
https://engemannshc.usc.edu/insurance/waivers/