<p>I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on USC owned apartments. Are they generally clean? Well maintained? </p>
<p>Basically, what I am wondering is, if offered USC owned apartments, would you take it versus going to look for private owned off campus apartments? Are there any benefits to having private owned apartments?</p>
<p>My situation is this: I am from NY, so to look for off campus apartments, I'd have to fly to LA way before classes start to look around for an apartment. My other option is to take an apartment offered by USC, at $885/month for one room in a 2 bedroom apartment. </p>
<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>USC apartments certainly aren't luxurious, but they are consistent each year so you know what you're getting. The rooms and kitchen are spotless at the beginning of the year, but it's the responsibility of you and your suitemates to keep it that way. </p>
<p>However, the rent can be on the high side, especially given that they usually stick you with a roommate. (Is that $885 a month for a single?) However, one advantage is it's a 9 month lease, and you won't be saddled with an apartment if you aren't in LA for the summer. The rooms are also fully furnished, you do don't have to lug things in and out every year.</p>
<p>One other advantage I like is the access to USC cable TV, which carries TrojanVision. The ResNet internet in USC housing is also far faster and more reliable than what you can purchase privately. Both of these services are included in rent.</p>
<p>My advise is to take the USC apartment. This will give you a chance to come to LA, and plenty of time learn the area around USC, see the renting market and options. I think this way you can make a more well informed decision about what you want in renting vices coming in from NY now under pressure to find housing, you might make a poor decision. Plus Trojan Housing isnt that bad. You can make due with it for 9 months.</p>
<p>I am going for my MS at USC so I will only be there for one year(no summer).</p>
<p>The USC apartment that I might get would be on corner of Adam's street/Severance. Anyone have any opinions on the specific area? It would definitely help me decide what to do.</p>
<p>Also, the apartment is on contract to someone else...he's willing to give it to me because he is moving far off campus. So I need to decide without actually looking at the apartment..and I need to decide whether it is worth taking higher rent at USC vs. going to LA early and trying to find an apartment on my own.</p>
<p>Can you ask the person who has the contract for this apartment to e-mail you pictures of the building and the inside of the apartment, plus any info. about the building (amenities)? I realize flights are expensive, but if you can afford it, I would fly out to see the prospective USC owned apartment. Also, if you decide to look elsewhere, you may need a car which is a big expense. Just something to think about. My husband said the area adjacent to USC is fine but there is a dividing line (I don't know the streets) where there is a significant change in the neighborhood. There are other nice neighborhoods, but that would require a car. I had the experience of moving to an apartment sight unseen and was really unhappy in that apartment. However, when my husband and I looked at other apartments in the neighborhood, the others were also, for the most part, terrible. This experience was not in Los Angeles. I learned from this experience that it is best to see what you are getting into before signing on the dotted line. Keep in mind, that it might not be easy to find an apartment as a student without showing income, and the commute from somewhere in LA is expensive and time consuming.</p>
<p>Adams is a major street and is arguably that magical dividing line. (Although my S1 lived just on the other side of Adams on Portland and would say that it was fine.) Severance is on the USC-side of Adams and I consider that a good area- that's where I lived when I attended USC many years ago! Severance is a short street that starts at 28th Street/Greek Row and ends at Adams so there are a lot of students right in that area. DPS (USC's Department of Public Safety) also patrols that area very frequently.</p>
<p>thanks for the link...i looked at the virtual tour before I posted. The thing is that with virtual tours, they sometimes tend to really clean up one apartment and show it off..it doesnt always correctly depict the condition of all the rooms. </p>
<p>Also, does anyone have any experience with air conditioning in the USC buildings? In the virtual tour, it seems as though the only airconditioning is in the living room, but i dont see anything in the bedroom.</p>
<p>Pretty much all of the off-campus USC apartments lack central air. There is typically a window unit in the common room, but the model maybe be several years old and not very effective. Bringing extra fans for the bedrooms and using the blinds during the day can help. Usually it's the first and last month of school that can get uncomfortable, but it's quite pleasant outside of that.</p>
<p>My D is planning to live in a different university owned apt. next year and she said that in her building, the only air conditioning is in the living room. Perhaps that is standard.</p>
<p>Outside of the first and maybe the last month, you will not need the AC. My experience with the virtual tours on TrojanHousing website is that they are usually accurate, though sometimes that actual apartment you get may have been updated with new furniture/appliances. The area that Hillview is located is in North University Park, which is perceived to be the safest area immediately around USC. Alot of students live in this neighborhood, alot of DPS patrolling and security cameras. The rent for non-university housing in this area can be a little higher than the other areas immediately around USC (i.e. West of Vermont, North of Adams), but with those areas, distance and safety becomes an issue (especially if you are without a car). Nonetheless, students do live in these areas albeit less in number. Considering you are only going to be at SC for a year, that you are across the nation, and you will not be staying for a summer, I would go with Hillview, especially if the $885 is for an entire room to yourself. I live in N.University park and pay $1000 for a studio... which is about the going rate for singles at nice apartments in that area.</p>