<p>T-saver, I grew up in the midwest and recall tornado season each year, with the warnings, and the worry, and watching the sky turn yellow and black, enduring the winds and the rain and following the news to see where it might touch down next, and hearing stories about towns 30 miles away where several roofs blew off, or maybe someone was killed. The ramp up was pretty scary, even when we'd miss the tornado that time.</p>
<p>So now, in L.A., I don't live with all the false alarms and anticipation anxiety of tornados. No coming blizzards, hailstorms, dangerous icy roads, or hurricanes to worry about here, either. Most earthquakes just happen; and within several seconds or so they're over; and the news teams chase around to find something (some toppled bricks, a fallen garden fountain) to show that it really happened. </p>
<p>See, I really do have this denial thing down pat.</p>
<p>We were driving home from Lake Tahoe yesterday when our daughter told us there had been a 5.8 earthquake in LA. We asked her how she knew and she said it was from the SC alert network. I for one am thrilled that SC has a network like that. And, for you non-Californians, it helps to have a sense of denial; also, when we lived in Chicago, I was always scared to death of tornados. And then there were the typhoons in Hong Kong. At least SC isn't like Cal which is literally on top of the Hayward Fault.</p>
<p>Funny you mention Hong Kong; sometimes I would sit there begging for the powers that be to issue the rainstorm warning that meant I didn't have to go to school/work. :)</p>
<p>Cynical Owl, time for a number 8 (or 10?) typhoon day! My husband always said that if they cancelled work ahead of time, the weather would turn out to be gorgeous. Of course, there was the time that the building management threatened to make us pay for the broken windows--the only thing that got them to see reason was our company's manager. I would have thought that typhoon breakage would fall under "acts of God"</p>
<p>Funny, I was never really worried even when living near the coast. However, my school had a tendency to flood towards the end of the academic year (and I missed all 4 times due to study leave).</p>
<p>Congratulations everyone who has a child going to USC and welcome to the USC family. Yes, the alumni are rabid and loyal, although some of us wonder whether we could have gotten in these days. SC has some great interdisciplinary options (Renaissance scholars, etc.). If your child wants to learn something or want to study something new, SC will make it happen.<br>
USC alum</p>
<p>S#2 (third and youngest kid) will now be starting his senior year at USC. I’ve pretty much retired from this forum as I get ready for a new life without the responsibility of kids- and not having to pay tuition anymore!</p>
<p>Good luck to a GREAT group of parents here- you guys are awesome.</p>
<p>We need your help and once I am seasoned I promise to take over from you…we have other great parents here no doubt but we would love to hear as much as you can tell us about USC.</p>
<p>I second what pixeljig said. I would love to have a parents thread here for various questions that I’m sure will come up. So you veterans, please stick around!</p>
<p>How quickly the time goes! My son finished his last final on Wednesday and moved out of his apartment. Starts his job on Monday (thanks USC!) </p>
<p>WIth all the extra AP credits, he is now (total units) a senior. !!! Of course, he’ll be staying two more years. USC has been wonderful in every way.</p>
Woo-hoo! cc411, get the templates over to her before she changes her mind!!! :)</p>
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<p>Update on my kiddo: she just finished finals Tuesday and is back home for 5 days, then back to LA for a fabulous internship thanks thanks THANKS to *a wonderful USC/College Confidential parent <a href=“I%20won’t%20mention%20%5BI%5Dwho%5B/I%5D%20for%20privacy’s%20sake,%20but%20rest%20assured%20it%20takes%20all%20my%20self-restraint%20to%20keep%20from%20starting%20threads%20and%20putting%20up%20billboards%20to%20broadcast%20my%20thanks!”>/I</a>. Like madbean’s son, she is officially a senior but plans on staying two more years. Next fall she is doing study abroad and then back to USC.</p>
<p>Way back when this thread was started she was very worried if she made the right choice choosing USC. All expectations have been exceeded. </p>
<p>Although I just found out about CC a few months ago, the USC threads have been so helpful and supportive. I have a daughter who will be a senior next year. She is having an amazing experience at USC. She too has an amazing internship this summer! My son will be a freshman at USC this fall. I can’t say enough good things about the education my daughter is getting. So excited my son will have the same opportunity! We have truly become an SC family! Fight on!</p>
<p>Mine will be a senior and will be coming home for a week then returns to USC for a summer job. It has been a wonderful experience. My only regret is that I have never been able to visit USC. I hope to go later this summer.</p>