University of Southern California Top Questions

The fact that there is no good shopping areas near by.

The income difference. I come from a family with a less-than-satisfactory income and from a neighborhood that could be a little less "ghetto". I feel that a lot of the students here are wealthy or at least can rely on their parents when they need a little boost. I have to take care of myself and rely heavily on financial aid and I feel like I don't have as much as others here do. I feel a little behind in that respect.

How involved and influential Greek life is. Most people are very concerned with Greek life like what frat or sorority you are in. I am not in a sororirty and have never rushed. Most of my friends are involved in Greek life though. I have no biases against it I just think people use Greek membership to judge people too quickly. I think it is taken into consideration too much when you first meet someone, especially on the party scene. It is not uncommon for people to meet you, find out your name, then ask what house you're in.

The worst thing about my school would be the lack of unity in the college of arts and sciences as opposed to the more specialized professional schools, such as the business school. Although there are programs which allow a few students to link their studies between schools, the majority of students in the college are lost and less plugged into the school.

I do not like the stigma associated with greek life. Southern California residents also do not appreaciate the perfect weather. I find many people to be ignorant towards life in other cities/states/countries, and I find that disturbing.

How the school charges for everything. USC does not give anything for free. There are so many fees that it is ridiculous. I can't afford everything. Even though I recieve tuition help, I still need help for my books and school fees - which USC does not help me with.

Parking fees

The surrounding neighborhood.

Aside from the millions of good things about this school, USC also has its own shortcomings. There are many different clubs, events, concerts, and social activities on campus. It’s obviously fantastic, but it makes it hard for active students to keep up. Moreover, most events have overlapping time schedules, limiting you from opportunities that you could have gotten. In terms of hospitality, USC dining halls close at 10pm. Although there are Trojan Grounds and Ground Zero Cafes that opens very late, it is inconvenient for students with basic dining hall meal plans or living far from these two places.

The worst thing about my school is the surrounding area. The geographical location of it is wonderful. It is Southern California, but the surrounding area has lots of streets gangs that makes it unsafe for an individual to be out if they are unfamiliar with the area. The prestigious status of the institution can be misleading, because an individual probably never imagined that a school that is such a popular choice to attend is surrounded by gang activity. So the neighborhood's gangs around the school is my biggest disdain.