University of Southern California Top Questions

USC is an amazing school, no doubt about it. The best thing about USC is the feeling of being a part of the Trojan Family. No matter where you go there is always someone there who can say they went through the same experiences you have gone through. The campus is beautiful and we are often in all the television shows and movies. From my opinion the only people who react negatively when telling them you go to USC are rival schools like Notre Dame, and the top UC schools. Many react to the stereotype that USC students are snotty brats and don't deserve what we have. This is completely false. The USC administration does a great job at handling and dealing with the students. USC has thee most school pride on the West Coast with out a doubt, and is right up there with the SEC schools of the South. Not many complaints when living in this perfect environment.

The best thing about USC is the connections you make with people in your chosen field. The campus is nice--an island in a ghetto--and I feel completely safe here. However, USC could use its space a little more efficiently--many classes have to use spare spaces at the cafes. The gym isn't big enough. The film school is crammed, but that is being fixed by the new George Lucas building that's being built. The school pride here is insane--and infectious. I especially love how hardcore the marching band is. The internet at this school is not very good. It's often down, and the connection is weak in the dorms. I had a particularly bad experience, as I had no internet working for half a year, and the ITS and Housing people couldn't get it together (bureaucracy....). The internet works just fine in the classrooms, though.

USC is what you make of it. It is stocked with outstanding faculty who have joined the world of educators via successful careers. It has talented kids who will change their respective fields. But it also has a bunch of spoiled, privileged brats (and lower-middle class pretenders, like me) who look the part, who walk the walk, and should be ignored.

USC's location in the middle of thriving downtown Los Angeles is a large reason why so many students choose to come here. Any big city has much to offer for university students, but Los Angeles especially is so diverse and huge that it's easy for the students to get off campus and go something fun for the weekend. Everyone in LA recognizes SC; it's cool when you can walk around Olvera Street or Little Tokyo and somebody will shout out a "Fight On!" in your direction. So many people think that USC is in such a bad location and that the area is just too dangerous. However, we have a Department of Public Safety for the USC campus only, as well as USC specific LAPD officers on campus all the time, and we have a fire department right across the street. The campus and surrounding areas are all well lit, and as on any college campus, if you're smart, you're safe. USC thrives on school pride. We bleed cardinal and gold, we have The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe, the World Famous Song Girls, 87 NCAA National Championships, as well as 7 Heisman Trophy winners. What's not to be proud of ?

I love USC. The School of Engineering is amazing. It's like a small school within a big school. Students are really involved and love being here. The professors will help you with anything. There's one professor who will regularly stay in his office until 4am to help his students finish their homework. Los Angeles is a great place to go to college. There's the beach, Disneyland, and Hollywood all nearby. There is a ton of school pride. Football season is a very big deal.

The best things about USC are the student's pride and unity. If I had to change one thing it would be very minor. I would change the fact that student's can only pay for food with their USC card account or cash. I would make the food courts accept credit cards as well, which is the most convenient form of payment. I believe the size of the school is just right. It is large enough where you can meet a large array of people and small enough that you get to learn the people in your major. When I tell people I go to USC I normally get a very positive reaction and comments such as, "you must be smart!" Most of my time in campus is spent in the classroom, however, during my breaks I can usually be found in the computer lab of Leavey Library or on a bench drinking coffee. USC is not really located in a "college town," but resides in the center of metropolitan Los Angeles. My opinion on the school's administration is mostly positive. I have come across only one or two professors who were not benefical or helpful. There is a huge amount of school pride! One can not walk around campus without seeing hundreds of USC sweatshirts and lisence plate holders. I do not hear many complaints from other students. The only complaining I hear is of midterms and papers, which can be heard at every college across the world!

USC has everything--academics, atheltics, and a great social life. The thing I dislike most is that it sucks when you have to leave for winter break, summer, etc. The neighborhood isn't Westwood, but its not that bad if you're smart about not walking around by yourself in the middle of the night, etc. There is so much school spirit here!

The best thing about USC is the school spirit. I feel like every single student at this school loves it and loves being here. This gives the school such a sense of pride and community that is rare to find. The campus is the perfect size and there are enough students so that you are able to see people you know when walking on campus, but you're still meeting new people all of the time.

I love that USC is an enclosed campus, but is still in touch with the surrounding community. There is an enormous amount of school pride, especially during football season.

best thing: exposure to a wide variety of people, enthusiasm one thing i'd change: cheaper food size: just right, i guess people's reaction: enthusiastic then move on to other pleasant formalities most time spent on campus: food or library USC administration: they run it like a business, but they have to biggest recent controversy: Daily controversies courtesy of the Daily Trojan School pride: Fight on Trojans lets go TROJANS! Unusual: Yes the biking is a little extreme frequent student complaints: I think either money or the occasional feeling of the school trying to screw you over