University of Southern California Top Questions

I think USC is the perfect size. It is a private institution so the student population is much smaller than that of a public school. A lot of my friends who go to UC's complain about lectures that are extremely overcrowded, but I've never felt that any of the classes I've been in enrolled in (even the larger GE classes) have been too crowded. When people find out that I go to USC, they are really impressed. They know that it is a renowned institution that is impressive both academically and socially. (They don't hide the fact that they're jealous of our Trojan Network, either!) The school pride here is like nothing I've ever seen. It's almost contagious. In high school, I didn't really have much pride for our mascot and sports teams. But becoming a student at USC means so much more. You become a Trojan, and it's not a feeling you can describe...it's a connection you feel once you're here. The most frequent student complaints probably come from DPS, the campus police/security. It's true that the bike impounding and traffic citations are annoying, but their presence is something we need, so just be cautious and follow the rules.

I love USC and I can say that I could not have made a better "total" decision for school. USC was a complete longshot for me as a student and I could not be happier with the friends I've made, the classes I've taken, the experiences I've had, shared with those friends, and those that still remain as I approach graduation. As a first semester freshman, I pledged a fraternity, Sigma Nu--it was the first and one of the most influential decisions of my college career. As a engineering student and a member of an IFC fraternity, keeping a balance of academics and social life has been difficult, but it has been one of the most positive life-defining experiences of my life. People are mostly impressed by attendance of USC and also anticipate a party animal lifestyle, which I must confess is available for those who will seek it. School pride is at its highest, as we continue to receive large donations from families towards improving the scholarship opportunities afforded to students from alumni families. It is even higher in light of, our beloved 3 year starting quarterback, Matt Barkley's decision to return to school and forego an early departure for the NFL draft. One experience I will always remember, as well as the internet, will always be the opportunity I received to be featured in an ESPN article comparing he and I in the midst of our freshman year. Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4602982&sportCat=ncf I will say that USC is not the environment of the Spoiled Children that we stereotyped to be. The campus is located extremely close to the storied "South Central" area of Los Angeles and thus is the setting for several instances of petty crime. We do, however, boast one of the largest, most professional Public Safety forces, who vigilantly maintain our neighborhood, protecting not only USC students, but the surrounding magnate middle and high schools. Attending USC is the most definitive experience of my life. I have made friendships, I will cherish and maintain the rest of my life, professional aspirations, unrealizable anywhere else, and had unique experiences, I could never imagine.

My decision to attend USC was arguably one of the best decisions I have ever made. I absolutely love SC and would recommend it to anyone. I think the best part of USC is the sense of spirited community. I think part of this comes with the nature of the athletic department and the pride USC takes in their sports, but the overall spirit is unlike that of any other school. In regards to size, USC is just large enough to be diverse in its student body, while not being overwhelmingly large. I spend most of my time on campus at the new and may I say gorgeous Ronald Tutor Campus Center. You are bound to run into friends there and I found that it was a great place for lunch dates with my friends. If I am not at the Campus Center, the gym is also a great place to meet people while being productive. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, you can be at the beach in no more than twenty minutes or in Hollywood in nearly the same amount of time. There is no shortage of activities to participate in both on campus and off campus. I am proud to say that I attend USC and I cannot rave enough about it.

Since I started attending USC last fall, I have had a plethora of exceptional experiences that have assured me that my decision to attend USC was the right one to make. The best thing about USC is the student environment and atmosphere. While our undergraduate programs are highly competitive and large, the student organizations that are part of USC ensure that all students interact with one another and enjoy the time they are at USC. When I tell people I go to USC, the first thing they ask me is how fun it is. USC has a reputation of having a great student atmosphere while offering rigorous and challenging academics. When I go to campus, I love spending time at the Tutor Campus Center. Opened only 2 years ago, the Tutor Campus Center boasts a brand new food court, with Panda Express, Carl's Junior, Wahoo's, CPK, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf as well as Lemonade. This new campus center is the hotspot for students and is a great place to meet your friends for lunch and enjoy the surroundings. USC's administration truly hope to help students as much as they can. Each day, I receive emails from my school discussing internships and job offerings. The administration is truly involved with students and wish to help them as much as they can. The most recent controversy on campus was when a fraternity member was photographed having sexual contact with woman from another school on top of one of the buildings on campus. The story headlined on many local news stations around southern California. USC is known for it's school pride, mostly towards our athletics. Recently, USC beat UCLA in a dynamic football game with a score of 50-0. Since that all my professors have been raving about what an amazing game that was. The one experience I will always remember is going to the football games and enjoying the camaraderie with all the students. The one thing I do hear a lot of from students is the issue of the general education curriculum. Myself included feel that it is not conducive to our overall learning experience and that they only hinder our academic standing because of the level of difficulty.

USC is the best school in the universe because you get so much for your money. First, there's the fact that it's located in beautiful, sunny Southern California. Who doesn't want to go to a school where it's 70 degrees year-around? Then there's the fact that it's located close to everything you want to be close to as a young adult. There's the numerous glistening beaches, Hollywood, dozens of world-class theatres, Disneyland, the list goes on and on. As far as the school itself, USC is the perfect balance of academic and social opportunities. That probably has something to do with the fact that the campus--when compared to other big name schools--is relatively small. Only a square mile essentially, the campus size allows for a homey, intimate feel. Every day on campus, I see at least one person I know in passing, which is something that you don't get at bigger schools. USC only has about 30,000 students (including grad students), so it's very likely that you run into friends all the time! And that's something that's important in feeling that you belong at a school. Since my time here began nearly 4 years ago, I have never once questioned my place at USC. Socially, USC has countless clubs to get involved in, as well as an active Greek Community, which about 1/3 of the student body participates in. There's also USC's fabled sports teams, which are a HUGE deal at this school. USC is a football school, and even if you aren't into football coming in, you will certainly be converted come Game Day! The experience of being on campus during a USC football game is indescribable, and is something that you definitely don't want to miss! When I tell people that I go to USC, they are automatically impressed because they know what it takes to get into SC, and they know the kind of education that I am getting. This is something that definitely comes in handy when it comes time to get a job! While USC is a dream school for countless reasons, it should be noted that USC is not in a quintessential college town. So, if that is something you want, USC may not be the school for you. It's located in the heart of LA, which means it is in an urban environment. Obviously, this comes with its unique set of challenges. The campus is so beautiful though that it is easy to forget where you are. That is, until you hear sirens and helicopters every day, and then you remember. Bu some of the best colleges in the nation--Duke, North Carolina, Yale, and USC of course--are in...less than ideal locations. It's just something that you learn to adapt to in going to school here, but it is definitely safe nonetheless. The thing that living in an urban community allows one to do is experience what real life is beyond the bubble of comfort that most USC kids grow up in. Plus, I always say that if celebs and CEOs of Fortune-500 companies have no problems sending their kids here, than I shouldn't worry about going here either! Going to USC is worth living in a sketchy environment for 4 years. trust me.

The best thing about USC is... Well I don't even know where to start... It could be the fierce Trojan pride and spirit, or the amazing SoCal weather and beautiful brick buildings, or it could be the brilliant and driven people I've found here. The undergrad class itself is large, about 18,000 students but the campus still feels intimate. The sizes of my classes have also been great, except for when they are GEs or general electives. These are classes that every student must take to have a well rounded individual, but if there were one thing I could change about these classes it would be the size. Most of them are very interesting besides this. When I tell people I go to USC they are always impressed, it is after all ranked as the 23rd school in the nation (tied with Carnegie Mellon). I am also very proud to go here. I spend most of my time on campus in the Campus Center, where all of the food is. I'll admit it,, I'm a foodie! And the stuff there is delicious, plus its a very social atmosphere where I can sit when my friends and relax. Also, I love the older libraries like Doheny. The big inside study room looks like it came out of Harry Potter! I wouldn't call downtown LA a "college town" by any means, but we have made the area around the school our own. I always feel safe, but also never go anywhere alone at night. Be smart! USC is also only minutes away from great beach spots and the fantastic Staples Center and LA Live complex so there is plenty to do.

When the average American hears the word "USC," images of football often rise up first in their minds. It is true that USC is a big sport school. A huge part of our campus culture revolves around our football team, and game days are always crazy, with current students and alumni alike celebrating all over campus. Another common stereotype is that USC is loaded with rich kids. However, both stereotypes are very limiting and misleading. While USC does embrace its sports culture, the school also boasts its already strong and still growing academic strength. Music is also popular here, with weekly live music on campus, and aspiring musicians holding events throughout the year. Visions and Voices hosts a plethora of arts, music, and literary events, with world-renowned speakers, artists, musicians, and authors. USC Spectrum is another organization that hosts a number of art/music-related events. The stereotype that USC is filled with rich and spoiled kids is completely false and misleading. While the school does have a number of well-off students, there is definitely not a "rich-society" culture. In any class, you can find students from all walks of life. I've personally met students that were very well-off and students who were depending entirely on financial aid. With almost 3,000 students matriculating each year, it's impossible to have a homogenous student population. You can find people from all walks of life here.

In terms of university level undergrad education, pretty much every school is the same, you get out what you put in. You have to look at individual professors, some are good some are bad you just have to deal with it, like the fact that you can't always choose your boss. USC has some pretty good majors like cinema, business, music., journalism, engineering Once I got out of school it's not necessarily not what you know (but grades are important) but who you know in terms of getting your self on track for a career post-college. And USC's alumni are well known for treating their fellow trojans well in terms of helping them find a job and such so that is definitely a boon for the University. There are many different kind of people at the school, including yuppie go getters and burnt-out hipsters so you'll be able to find a group of friends that has similar interests to your own, and if not you will find something that interests yourself. What I would change: price of tuition (I think currently colleges are overpriced due to how the loan system is set up, but that's a story for another day), location is not great, students interact with others but are self segregating (cultural changes are hard to adjust). Reputation: In southern california USC has a really good reputation people are generally impressed that you go to the school. Sometimes if you go elsewhere like the east coast they won't really have any sort of opinion.

USC is the perfect size: it's just big enough where you can maintain a certain sense of anonymity but small enough that you always feel a tangible support system around you. You always run into friends on campus and recognize faces in your classes but you can still run to the University Village, Ralphs, or the Lot in your sweatpants without any concern. Furthermore, everything you need is on or near campus, from Chipotle to Superior (grocery store) to Traddies (the on-campus bar) and everything in between. The opportunities are continuing to expand, as well, thanks to a strong administration who cares deeply about their students and actually listens to them. The Trojan Family is not a myth; the loyalty and camaraderie that defines it are evident in every aspect of USC.

USC is incredible. The administration (though a little politically conservative) spoils its students with brilliant/accessible professors, incredible opportunities to get involved, and personal attention. In my environmental science class we went to USC's campus on Catalina Island, and went snorkeling, sea kayaking, and learned about the island's ecosystem. It was beautiful.