<p>I love almost everything about USC. Its location in LA, its ties to the entertainment industry/creative student body, its school spirit, and most importantly its unique and varied academic programs. Its one of the few schools that I have come across that offers such a breadth of courses that speak to my passions; I could major in English but take courses in songwriting, screenwriting, photography, cinema, and just about everything else I'm interested in. I love that it combines liberal arts courses with more practical, professional ones.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm sure you all know what's great about USC. My only doubt comes from the fear of not fitting in there socially. I know that most people find their niche eventually and everything, but a lot of people also tell me that it's of extreme importance to attend a school where you "belong" and feel right with your peers. </p>
<p>To put it simply, I'm the type that would hypothetically fit in better at schools like Berkeley and Brown. Interests-wise, I'm into a lot of nerdy and childish things while being uninterested in partying/drinking/drugs. I'm also transgender and pansexual. I fear that this combination will make it hard for me to meet similar people at USC. </p>
<p>Is my fear unfounded? Half of me thinks I should forget the social scene and go to USC (if accepted) based on the reasons above, while half of me thinks I should focus on finding great academic programs/school spirit/location at other universities where I might fit in better socially.</p>
<p>You would be with my D’s people. She is interested in all the things you are academically. She takes advantage of lectures by Spielberg and Kushner plus attending a talk with a transgender author and entertainer. Watching the Avengers in the dorms with friends is more her speed than going to drinking parties and there are tons of people just like her. You will be more than fine at USC! The creative environment thrives along side the athletic prowess and business school. I was worried that she would be lost without a sorority and I was totally wrong. I think being in a house would be fun too but that was not her thing.</p>
<p>Thank you, bound4what! I appreciate your response, and I really hope that would end up being true for me. </p>
<p>SeattleTW, I’m not really considering Cal because I’m trying to transfer in as a sophomore and Cal only allows junior-level applicants. I have had Reed and Oberlin recommended to me many times, but I’m not too sure…they both have much more of a traditional LAC academic program, don’t they? Also, I am primarily looking for schools in California, LA preferably because I already have family and friends there (may be rooming with them instead of living on campus and saving money that way) and am interested in possibly working in the entertainment industry, but I will give Reed and Oberlin another look!</p>
<p>Islander,
USC is one of the most diverse universities in the nation. I think you will find a group with similar academic and social interests. The university has over 600 organizations which reflect this diversity. There are the expected honoraries such as Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Lambda Theta. Also, the majority of SC students participate in service projects or organizations. Hundreds are active in club or intramural sports. What does reflect the diversity is the huge number of interest groups. Over 80 religious groups serve the USC community. Here is a sample of some clubs/groups listed in the student activites site:</p>
<p>Arabic Language Culture Group
Africa USC
Kazan Taiko-Promotes Japanese Taiko Drumming
Students for Justice in Palestine
College Republicans
College Democrats
Latin Fusion-Latin Dance Team
Trojan Marching Band
Adsum Magazine-Literary and Arts magazine
USC Change-Works together to prevent racial profiling
ACLU
Applied Statistics Club
Street Dance Society
Improvtu-Promotes improvisational comedy
Alternative Spring Break in Appalachia
USC Concert Orchestra-For non music majors
Helenes-Women’s service organization
Women in Engineering
Debate
Ad Astra Student Society
Alternative Spring Break-Guatemala
Alternative Spring Break-Isla de Mujeres
Cervantes Club of Arts and Letters</p>
<p>Your fear is unfounded if you’re willing to put the effort in to finding peers (as you would at any school). I know someone worried about fitting in at USC because he liked nerdy things and chose reading over partying. He’s loving being here because he joined the Comic Book Club and found people similar to him, but still diverse in their individual ways. As long as you’re willing to seek out your interests, whether it’s cooking or anime or whatever, you can find people with those interests through clubs or other ways, such as Facebook groups.</p>
<p>Thanks, guys, I appreciate it. I really do feel like USC is the right college for me. It’s the only one that fits ALL my criteria for an ideal school except for the GENERAL social atmosphere, but I’m starting to think that’s something I can work around. Especially because I found out that USC has its own Rainbow Floor living community. That would be pretty great if I got accepted to live there. I might be the only transgender student living there (well, I may not be, but I read somewhere that there are only 10 trans students at USC period), but it still sounds like a place where I could find some like-minded people and a built-in community. The Cinema floor sounds interesting too.</p>
<p>Sit at Tommy Trojan at the center of campus and take it all in. Or if you can, go be a part of the school spirit at a football game. It’s a great place and your love of the Trojan family only grows stronger with each passing year. I’m a minority and I had no problems talking to and enjoying people from all over the planet.</p>
<p>I’d walk through fire to go there again if I could.</p>
<p>I will be attending USC in the spring and have participated in a lot of events that have gone on this semester, like football games, an Elton john concert, welcome week, and just hanging around campus. I already have tons of friends there and everyone is SO welcoming. There are people from all over the world with different cultures, experiences, and things that make them unique. You will definitely find your niche. Also, the Trojans are a family, and we take care of each other. You’ll never feel left out at SC.</p>
<p>The social scene you’re talking about is mostly attributed to USC’s greek life, which is only one of many student organizations on campus. There are plenty of other ways to get involved at USC, socially and otherwise.</p>
<p>I’m quite the same as you! Though majority of the people on my floor are really big on greek life, that’s their scene. My interests lie elsewhere, and it wasn’t hard until I found people on my floor who were into the same things I’m in to: Art, drawing, gaming, marvel stuff, animation and film, etc. One of them is even pansexual, like yourself.</p>
<p>I’m saying all this to say that USC life is very diverse, so it won’t be hard finding people who have similar interests as you and are fun to hang out with. Just don’t feel pressured to change yourself to fit in with the crowd. Leave that mindset at home! College is where you can be who you want to be.</p>
<p>personally having gone to an academic school far away where i felt i didn’t fit in socially, my advice is to remember that you are in college for a job and academics first and foremost. with a selective school like USC, you will be able to find all types of people who go there for academic reasons and therefore a very diverse student body. particularly because california is a very diverse/laidback place in comparison to the east coast. i’ve heard from some people who go there that they did not like the rich kids/snobs there, but once you find your niche you’ll love it there (this is what i’ve heard from a student).</p>
<p>I went to USC a long time ago and definitely did not fit in socially, but got a wonderful education. Lots of wealthy kids from Newport Beach. My daughter went there recently (just graduated) and found it to be a very different place than how I remembered it to be. So much more diversity and emphasis on academics! She loved it, but did have to work a bit to find her social group there. Good luck to you!</p>
She is interested in all the things you are academically. She takes advantage of lectures by Spielberg and Kushner plus attending a talk with a transgender author and entertainer. Watching the Avengers in the dorms with friends is more her speed than going to drinking parties and there are tons of people just like her. You will be more than fine at USC! The creative environment thrives along side the athletic prowess and business school. I was worried that she would be lost without a sorority and I was totally wrong. I think being in a house would be fun too but that was not her thing.</p>