University of Southern California Top Questions

The best thing about USC is without a doubt the connections you make. There is school pride at USC, you can tell that from the moment you step on campus. Unless you're incredibly antisocial you will go to all the football games freshman year. You meet tons of great people at those games. You stay on campus a lot freshman year, and it's an assett to have a friend with a car or to have one yourself. You never want to hang out in the area immediately surrounding SC, since it's dangerous, and this is especially true at nighttime. During the day though, I've walked around and never had any problems. Regardless, you never want to walk around the neighborhood by yourself. SC has a DPS (Department of Public Safety) that is very good with notifying the student body about criminal activity in the area, so you're always informed. As long as you use common sense, you will be safe at all times.

USC IS THE PERFECT SCHOOL. There so many different types of people and everyone's really friendly. Also, even though students know how to work hard in class, they also know how to have a good time. A lot of students enjoy the Greek system and party on "the row" (where all the Greek houses are located) during the nights and weekends. During the day, my friends and I love spending time just walking around because the weather is so nice. USC is big enough that you don't see people you know everywhere, but it's also small enough to walk to most of your classes is 5-10 minutes. There is SO MUCH school pride, especially during football season because our team is one of the best!

There is an enormous amount of diversity at USC, both among the students' backgrounds and academic endeavors. This creates an expansive learning environment, and is one of USC's greatest strengths. I think the school is perfectly-sized; you'll frequently encounter people you know, but there are always new faces. People seem quite impressed when I tell them I go to USC. When I mention I'm an Animation major, some are skeptical and others are excited. The skeptics should meet the animation faculty. There is an enormous amount of school pride. Some take the rivalry with UCLA a little too far, in my opinion, but as long as you're not harming anyone or being rude, it's all good fun. There are new Cinematic Arts and Commons/Sudent Center buildings under construction, pretty exciting!

USC is an incredible place to go to school, with rich history, great academics, and amazing sports. The campus is beautiful and very unique for a large university. Although USC can seem really big, the classes are moderate in size freshmen year, and can be very small in major classes. Some of my accounting classes had about 15 students in some sections. USC can feel very small, you will see people you know everyday and because most people are really involved with greek life, clubs, sports etc. the campus becomes really small. USC is making a lot of changes very fast, to become one of the top universities in the world. Basically, President Sample, wants to compete with the ivy leagues and everyone at USC knows thats his intentions (although it's hard to fathom becoming an ivy league). New buildings are already being built really fast, including the new George Lucas building at the film school, and the new student commons center which will have a huge cafeteria area and new student study areas and campus organization rooms. The administration is amazing at USC, I can literally walk in anytime to the business or accounting school counselors and just sit down and talk with them, and they have a lot of time to spend one-on-one discussing your classes, major, and goals for jobs and grad school. Also, most professors are very well connected and great with getting you internships, jobs, and reccomendation letters. USC definitely has a network that no other school has, and it has been the best part about going to the school. Many of my internships I have received because I am a trojan.

USC is a decent sized school. We have approx. 32000 students but the campus is too small to accomodate the population. USC does have large introductory classes but it gets better once you move into the upper level classes. USC is in a bad part of Los Angeles, but fortunately, it's located about 3 miles south of downtown. Downtown LA is becoming a more popular place to live and play so it's good that it's so close...especially if you're going to a Lakers game or a concert at Staples. Of course, when people hear that I go to USC, they automatically say its other name---University of Spoiled Children. Again, we do have a lot of rich kids who go hear, but you see that at any school, especially private ones. You just have to find your niche on campus. It takes some people the first two weeks of freshman year or you may have to wait until sophomore year to find it. People are really proud about being a Trojan, which is something that everyone is supposed to have. Recruiters try to sell USC as an opportunity to join the Trojan family. It's true, but I"m waiting until one of my Trojan family members can help me find a job after graduation. In the next two years, USC is building a new campus center that can rival our rival's campus center. It should be great.

The big picture of USC is set within the context of Los Angeles, which can be overwhelming and graffiti gray at first. People say you need a car to get around, which is partly true but I have also gotten around fine in public transportation (others may disagree). Having a car can actually make the city blander once you've been to the main attractions a billion times. The happiest I have been has been without a car, "stuck" on campus. If you find the right people, all you need is that island called campus, with occasional short boat rides off, for a good experience. I think we generally do things right here, mostly because I can't of any complaints. The most activism on campus has been from groups claiming SC's clothing is from sweatshops but the facts are mostly against them. the group is a joke. We're a Green campus (meaning environmental), healthy food choices everywhere, and pretty savvy technology. School Pride is SC and it is shown on gameday. Admittedly, it is not as much as the the midwest, but you definitely see people representing cardinal and gold all across Southern California. Anyone who likes football in Los Angeles but isn't willing to low themselves to be Raiders fans roots for SC. In my opinion there are more Trojan fans in CA than Bruin fans...but there are also more Trojan Haters than Bruin Haters. People hate this school 1.) because we win 2.) because we're private and affluent and 3.) because of allegations of bribing athletes to come here

When I tell people I go to USC, they are shocked and excited because they know it is very difficult to get into the school escpeciall with my major. I spend most of my time at the music school with all my classes and I work at the Thornton School of music office of Admissions. I wish that the amount of partying would go down and that students would get in more trouble for the stuff they do that they shouldn't do.

USC is like the college experience in movies. Its true. Fraternity row is world-renowned (its true) and houses from other schools come to visit whenever they can because of how great the dynamic is on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night. If you're really torn between SC and another school, come to a football game. Even if you hate the sport, you'll come away sold on the school, throwing up a fight on, and chanting the fight song. It happens to everyone. The university's alumni system is no joke. The Trojan Family is something you'll hear thrown around a lot, but it actually is one of the best things about the school, I swear. Since freshman year, my peers and I have been getting calls from recruiters asking if we want interviews. (Think Disney, E & Y, and Nestle.) The preparation the school gives you the 'next step' is unparalleled this side of the Mississippi. USC grads run LA as it truly is a 'professional' university with alumni who fight for their companies' recruiting classes to be filled with Trojans. I kid you not, I would posit that 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my peers had job offers at professional forms for the summer SOPHMORE year by April, meanwhile my friends at other schools were still wondering if their usual spot at Macy's would be available.

it's kinda hard to make friends at first just because there are soooo many people...also the classes tend to be a lot larger too so it's hard to really get to know your professors, but there are ways to work through things like that. overall, the whole atmosphere here is amazing, generally everyone is very nice and sociable. the sports are amazing, especially football...and basically if you're looking for a party, you'll find one...or seven :)

USC is an awesome school. Anything you want to do or learn about can be done at USC. Being in L.A., this means that any kind of food you want to eat any kind of show you want to see is 20 minutes away from your dorm (without traffic, lol). When you tell people in L.A. that you go to USC they automatically say "damn, that's a good school." People are nicer to you when you say you go to USC. They ask you do you go to football games? What's it like going there? Etc. Being from Texas where a lot of people think USC stands for University of South Carolina, I was shocked by how much prestige USC has in Southern California. There is a ton of school pride at USC and you will feel it the first time you attend a football tailgate on campus. People who went to SC' a million years ago show up to BBQ and party before the game. At the Coliseum people paint their bodies and yell until they loose their voices. You'll find yourself high-fiveing people you just met 10 minutes ago. The Alumni network is so great, especially if you are a business student. Companies in every field recruit SC' students. Graduating from SC' gets you a lot of perks.