<p>I am attending Explore USC next Thursday(17th). Is there anything I should do in order to get the true USC experience that is not included?</p>
<p>Yeah, skip all the official sessions and spend your time with current students if you can. I am only half-joking! The sessions will give you a highly massaged view of the school, backed up by semi-polished PowerPoint presentations and worthless snippets. I have always hated college info sessions that use PowerPoint and show videos of students who talk about the wonderful time they are having, and USC's are some of the worst in that respect, they feel like they were written by a marketing weenie from Marshall. Allow me to quote a few select idiocies:
1) LA is the capital of the 21st century
2) Welcome to the Trojan Family. To us, it is more than a slogan.</p>
<p>An important thing you will NOT learn at the session is what USC thinks makes IT unique. Sure, if you ask the "Why USC over UCLA" question, you will get a predictable answer --- smaller classes, more personalized attention, no TAs teaching classes, resources are there for you instead of you having to fight for them. However, this answer applies equally well to "Why USC over any state school"?" Ask a slightly more difficult question, e.g., "Why USC over NYU" and see if they tell you anything meaningful, perhaps other than "school spirit" and division I athletics. </p>
<p>To be fair, this is not a unique problem with USC. Despite claiming to be looking for these special, unique kids, very few colleges take the time to understand what is unique about them and find a way to express it succinctly. Judging from the promotional literature, 99% of all schools have a quad with a green lawn and a tree, where students like to gather for discussion groups. Heck, even NYU seems to have that, and they don't even have a campus: NYU</a> > Sustainability</p>
<p>A much better way to get a sense for the true nature of the school is to read the daily newspaper for a few months, get a sense of the topics and tone of the discussion. It tells you a lot about what the campus is like and what students consider to be important issues. I have just learned that USC has a live cam, staring at that for some time can also give you a great idea, without shelling out serious $$$ for attending a session (assuming that you are not a SoCal local). </p>
<p>Last but by far not least, cc411 posted a link to WONDERFUL external article that described in great detail what USC has done over the past decade to break with the "Spoiled Children" stereotype. Unfortunately, I misplaced the link, but I am sure that if you PM her she will be happy to provide it.</p>
<p>Sorry, I know this is a rant that does not answer your question, but I do wish colleges would put just as much effort into describing themselves, as they do in selecting the incoming class.</p>
<p>P.S. Oops, it was rainmama, here is the link. Absolutely great read, thoughtfully written, tons of great info on how USC is different from some other schools, and the direction it is moving in: National</a> CrossTalk -- Vol. 13 / No. 3 -- Summer 2005</p>
<p>This is great information. thank you!</p>
<p>I think your reply was very insightful actually, GroovyGeek. Thank you.</p>
<p>Geek,
That article is now three years old. Even in that short time there have been more donations, increased faculty awards, higher admission standards and additional prestigious student scholarships such as Fulbright Scholars and Marshall Scholars.</p>
<p>I don't know if any housing tours are included or not, but if it isn't (which I don't think it is), try asking current students if you can take a look at their dorm. You can always change your housing preferences, even after submitting the $30 deposit.</p>