<p>Write, You’ll go for graduation next year too right? That is the perfect time to visit and see USC. That is something wonderful to look forward to.</p>
<p>I will definitely be there for graduation!</p>
<p>Just wanted to bump this so more parents join the FB Parents Class of 14!</p>
<p>[USC</a> Parents Class of 2014 | Facebook](<a href=“Facebook Public Group | Facebook”>Facebook Public Group | Facebook)</p>
<p>My son just graduated on the 14th. Great ceremony. Steven Sample gave an awesome speech. I had no idea he is that funny, and interesting to listen to. The Valedictorian was very genuine in what she had to say, and i enjoyed her speech a lot. My son was in Viterbi Engineeing. USC is a great University. Viterbi has an excellent Engineering program. I could type a book now, full of information, but i will refrain. Probably the most important suggestion that i could pass on to any SC students, is to get involved, and do so as early as possible. As corny and cliche as that sounds (to “get involved”), it is so true. Join a club, a Frat/Serority. Get involved within your school/major. It will make your college experience a much more enjoyable experience, and when you graduate, you will be glad that you did (for the friends that you met, and for your resume, and for many other reasons as well).</p>
<p>Enjoy all.
Fight On.</p>
<p>Thanks, lovetocamp. And congratulations to you and your son. :)</p>
<p>Thanks and Congrats LovetoCamp!!</p>
<p>Would love to hear other stories and tips in the coming weeks from you :)</p>
<p>My son will be in Viterbi too.</p>
<p>It is the time of year when students are making college choices. Parents, take the time to read these posts, especially if your senior is some distance from California.</p>
<p>I love this thread! I keep finding out new things about USC, so I will post an update: Daughter is on study abroad this semester, and USC continues to impress.</p>
<p>USC provides a contact person IN the host country, and he organizes welcome dinners and outings for the USC study abroad students (at USC’s expense 
). He keeps in regular contact and insisted that everyone check in with him (by email) to confirm they had arrived safely. He provided info on obtaining mobile phones and requested contact information from each student.</p>
<p>USC provides a small stipend specifically for attending cultural-immersion-type events - of the student’s choice - while they are in the host country. There are many students from other universities at my daughter’s host university, and I asked her if they received the same treatment from their home universities - she said NO, most if them do not hear from their universities at all, let alone have dinners and outings hosted by them!</p>
<p>Another note: as long as your child chooses a USC-study abroad program (and there are LOTS), all USC-scholarships and financial aid can be applied to the program. For additional expenses such as airfare, you may request an increase in your COA estimate for the semester which will give you a bit of extra loan eligibility (it won’t increase your grant) to help with the extras.</p>
<p>Welcome to new parents!</p>
<p>alamemom, I know whom you’re talking about, and he is fantastic. The study abroad experience was so much better with him to check in on, especially when transport in Europe was derailed with the volcanic ash. That said, I think the coordinator is unique to the UK programs…I’m not sure if there’s a similar thing with programs in, say, Asia or South America.</p>
<p>Since this is application time I am bumping this thread for parents to read…</p>
<p>Did anyone receive a fund raising call from USC last night asking for donations. The person who called knew my son’s name. I was wondering if it was legit?</p>
<p>bbgg. I did not get such a call and have not in the last 2 1/2 years that my D has been at USC. I don’t know. Don’t we get donation requests in the mail once a year or so?
Have you learned any more about this call?</p>
<p>oh, those are SCallers. A couple of my friends work for them. One of my friends ended up calling her sorority sister’s parents the other day! I think it’s a work-study job where they call parents asking for donations, though I’m not sure. My guess is your SCaller recognized your son’s last name.</p>
<p>I’d forgotten about this thread, so it’s great to see updates. We visited our son (a junior) recently, and I had my first look at the new film school. We got to visit one of the sound stages where S is working on a film, and I was truly impressed by the facilities and the way these kids learn their way around the nuts and bolts of the industry. He has had unlimited opportunities to work with fellow undergrads and grad students; he’s at the point where he has to turn down great opportunities, because he’s just too busy helping out on a huge array of projects. His peers are amazing, and good friends as well as work colleagues. To be honest, I was initially a little doubtful that film school was really a legitimate course of study, but I’m now convinced he couldn’t have made a better choice than film and USC.</p>
<p>Ah, excellent! FauxNom has come over to the dark side! (deliberate G. Lucas reference) So glad your S is taking such advantage of the many opportunities. Mine too. :)</p>
<p>FauxNom,</p>
<p>Thank you so much for posting the update about your son! First, congratulations on your son’s success at USC. It sounds like he is learning so much about the film industry while making invaluable contacts. Second, I can’t tell you how much this statement resonated with me: “To be honest, I was initially a little doubtful that film school was really a legitimate course of study. . .” Bingo! I was struggling with the same reservations, but the more I research USC’s SCA, the more I agree with my son’s determination to attend USC as a film student! Now that his application is submitted, it’s an anxious waiting game. </p>
<p>I don’t know if you have other kids, FauxNom, but after DS1 decided to attend UC Berkeley’s Engineering program, there was no question that he was pursuing a “legitimate course of study,” as you so aptly put it. There’s a certain amount of trepidation involved in the application process as the parent of a student who is determined to pursue a collegiate career in the arts. Is it easier for parents who themselves studied film or some other artistic discipline? All I know is DS2 is Passionate (with a capital “P”) about pursuing a film degree from USC and, FauxNom, your post about your amazing son’s experience at USC will help me tremendously going forward.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your son on his continued success at USC!</p>
<p>Fight On! </p>
<p>(okay that’s the first time this UCLA grad has ever written those words . . . a mother’s love for her son knows no limits I suppose! . . . )</p>
<p>Thinking positively and thinking ahead, I was wondering if any parent had information regarding student discounts such as the one mentioned in this prior post:</p>
<p>“A tip to share - I just learned Southwest has a student discount, which I will check into — we are in Northern California, so it works for us — I’m going to check to see if Virgin America has a similiar rate — because you can’t beat those touch screen monitors, the neon lighting and the black leather seats!”</p>
<p>DS2 would be travelling from Northern California and would not be taking a car with him. Does anybody know about student discounts on Southwest or Virgin America? Thanks in advance for any help!</p>
<p>There is a helpful page for parents or potential parents. On Facebook there is a Class of 2014 Parent page. You can click on this and see posts about all sorts of helpful hints from parents of current freshmen. As I recall there were some posts regarding air fares.</p>
<p>Lots of information in this thread. Thanks a lot for keeping this informative. DS has an interview tomorrow; first college interview for him. Hoping for the best!</p>
<p>Thank you Georgia Girl. I will take a look at the Facebook page. DS2 also applied to Critical Studies, so I plan to look for additional information on that major as well.</p>