UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STUDENT BLOG
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Navigating Your First Year as a USC Trojan
by Lanie Brice
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Navigating Your First Year as a Spring Admit
by Lanie Brice
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How to Balance Your Social Life During Finals
by Donal Buckley
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Study Tips and Habits to Get Through Finals Season
by Lauren Liang
looking for something to read?
Tools to Stay on Top of All Your Online Classes
By: Karla Leung ‘22
With the move to online classes for a while, you’re probably spending a lot more time on your laptop — those classes that don’t allow laptops can’t say anything now! Of course there are hundreds of productivity tools out there, but these are a few that I use, or that I think would be useful to you all, to keep up and make online classes a bit easier.
Best Ways to Study
By: Talia Walters ‘20
I don’t know about anyone else, but I never learned how to study in high school. I was always the kind of person who would cram the night before in a panicked, caffeine-fueled rage before getting to school the next morning, taking the test, and doing mostly fine. Despite the horror of each experience, I never learned my lesson, and then I got to college, and it was down hill from there. So, to save you the trouble I went through, I’ve curated some handy tips on how to study.
Is a Class Right for You?
By: Talia Walters ‘20
We are in the midst of the most exciting time of class registration during the semester: the three-week add/drop period. Over the next week and a half (decisions must be made by FRIDAY, JANUARY 31st), everyone is able to try out classes, switch out of and into new classes, and drop classes they don’t actually want to take. But sometimes, it’s hard to figure out if you should continue taking a class because you just don’t know what the best decision is. Now, I’ve been around the scheduling block a few times, and I’ve made my fair share of scheduling decisions down to the wire of the add/drop period. So, I’ve come to help and share my wonderful knowledge. Here are 8 questions you should ask yourself when deciding if a class is right for you:
Worthwhile 2-Unit Classes to Supplement your Schedule
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Did you know that every semester you pay for up to 18 units with your tuition? Most students take 4 classes (16 units), but there are a bunch of fun 1 and 2 unit courses you could take to supplement your experience. The add/drop deadline is January 21, so go ahead and try out some classes. Keep reading for a list of worthwhile 1-2 unit courses!
Using Your Winter Break for a Great Spring Semester
By: Antonia Le ‘22
This year, USC’s winter break lasts from December 19 to January 12, which gives students just under a month to rest, relax, and recharge before getting back on the grind. However, I know that I’d hate myself if January 12 came and I spent my entire break being unproductive. If you’re looking for something to do over winter break that will help you start the Spring 2020 semester on a good note, read onward for some tips that might help you!
When To Take A Class Pass/Fail
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
As the year begins to wind down and we make our plans for the next semester, you may or may not be considering taking a class Pass/Fail. While it is still pretty early in the decision-making process, it does not hurt to get a jump start in considering all your options. If you do not know what the Pass/Fail option is, you can read here to find out, but if you do and you are just not sure whether it is the right decision — keep on reading!
Reading Web Reg: A Visual Guide to USC’s Class Scheduling System
By: Talia Walters ‘20
As we’re all buckling down for finals season, sometimes we just need to take a break. And what better way to spend that break than to schedule your classes for next semester! We’re deep into registration season already, but as we get to the last students’ registration times, it might be helpful to look back and make sure we’re getting the most out of our lovely web registration system. If you’ve ever been unsure of how to best use Web Reg to your advantage, this is a step-by-step visual guide to getting the most out of USC’s Web Reg system.
Celebrating My One Year Teacherversary
By: Camila Grases ‘21
Almost one year ago today I joined JEP’s Readers Plus Program as a reading and writing tutor. And while this job is a little different from your regular teacher-in-front-of-twenty-students type of work, it still presented some really interesting challenges for me.
Academic Services & Tutoring for When You Need A Little Extra Help
By: Karla Leung ‘22
Classes can be difficult and it’s always beneficial to reach out for help. Of course, you often think to first contact your TA or professor to get some help in classes, but for cases when that’s not enough, you can always take these convenient and FREE options provided by USC! Classes can be hard, but it’s surprisingly easy to get some extra help!
Why London Should Be At The Top of Your Study Abroad List + Opportunities
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
The 2019 QS, Best Student Cities Rankings, have been published, and once again, London has been ranked as the best city for study abroad students in 2019. And from first-hand experience, I know London is a great city to travel, learn, and break out of your comfort zone.
My Experience in CTWR 431, and Why Everyone Should Take an SCA Class
By: Antonia Le ‘22
I would be lying if I said that I didn’t think about USC’s School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) while trying to decide which college to go to. While I am currently an Applied Math major, I’ve always loved movies and TV, and I’ve always dreamed of taking a class from one of the best film schools in the nation. I’ve made a point to take at least one SCA class a year, and I think that you should too!
ARCG 305L - Becoming Underwater Archeologists
By: Camila Grases ‘21
On Saturday, September 28, I had the privilege of joining students from the ARCG 305L class on a trip to Catalina. The purpose of the trip was to train students to create 3D models of sunken ships in Lake Tahoe— a trip they will be taking during the fall break. The class combines students and teachers from varying backgrounds with the goal of teaching the students how to create photogrammetry models underwater.